Page 61 of Like You Love Me

He shook his head. “No. I didn’t want to call my wife from a police station.”

“Understood,” Jaden said with a nod. “But what’s stopping you now?”

There was a long silence. London contemplated calling Bianca but decided to wait until they could talk in person. Afterwards, he planned to go over and check on his sister. He prayed Mona Lisa believed he was innocent.

Bianca heard a vehicle pulling up the driveway, and she dashed over to the window long enough to spot Jaden’s car. She hurried out the front door. The sweater she was wearing wasn’t doing much justice from the cold wind, but she didn’t care. Her heart was pounding so hard all she could think about was her husband being back safe at home. London climbed out of the car, and she looked over at him, and their eyes locked. Bianca saw signs of sadness and rushed down the steps and across the lawn. London met her halfway and drew her tightly to his chest.

“London, baby, I’m so glad you’re home.”

“You don’t have to ever worry about me going anywhere,” he whispered close to her ear. “Nothing and no one will ever take me away from you.”

Bianca squeezed her eyes tightly together. She wanted so badly to believe that everything was going to be okay.

Taking her hand, London led her towards the house. Bianca looked over her shoulder at Jaden, who was watching. He nodded, and she whispered, “thank you.” By the time she pushed the door shut behind her, Jaden had already disappeared around the corner.

“Would you like something to eat??”

“Yes, no, not really.” London drew a ragged breath and then released it. “All I want to do right now is just hold you.”

Bianca gave him a slow smile. “You can hold me, baby, as much as you want.” She moved to him; he engulfed her in the circle of his large arms, holding her close. “I was so scared,” she told him. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“Baby, I do not want you to worry. Your father hired an attorney to get me out, and I have no intention of returning.”

“Does anybody have any idea what happened??”

“No. They were too busy investigating me. But hopefully, now that they have the Hummer and find there’s no evidence of a hit-and-run, maybe they’ll start looking for the real suspect.” London explained hitting a deer and apologized for forgetting to mention it.

Bianca just smiled at him, hoping she looked more confident than she felt. “Come on, let’s go in the kitchen and I’ll make you some soup and warm you up,” she said, taking his hand and leading him through the house. “Matter of fact, let me make some of your mom’s hot chocolate.” Those words got a chuckle out of him because no matter how much Bianca tried, she could never make hot chocolate the way London did.

“Sweetheart, how about you take a seat, and I make us both a cup of hot chocolate while we talk.”

Grinning up at him, Bianca replied, “I think I like that idea a lot better.” They moved into the kitchen, and Bianca took a seat at the island, resting her elbows on the counter as she watched her husband walk over to the pantry and remove a box of chocolate bark. “Denise called and I told her you were on your way home.” London looked around and studied her before Bianca shook her head. “I haven’t heard from Mona. I tried to reach out and give her my condolences, but Camille said she wasn’t up for calls or visitors.”

“That’s too bad because as soon as we have a chance to talk, I’m going over to see her.” London reached for a pot from the lower cabinet next to the stove.

“Do you think that’s a good idea, considering?”

“Considering what?” he asked.

“Considering the detectives had you at the station for hours. Do you think they suspect you?”

He shrugged. “Probably, but she’s my sister, and I’m going over regardless.”

There was a moment of silence, and Bianca just didn’t know what to say. She knew her husband wasn’t guilty. There was never a thought in her mind he would do something like that. But would other people believe that? Would Mona Lisa believe her brother? That’s what worried her. Love made people do the craziest things. Mona Lisa was proof of that, butthiswas more than any wife should have to endure.

After he made the hot cocoa, they both carried their mugs into the family room and curled up on the sofa together. Bianca leaned back against London’s chest as they stared off into the fire.

“What’s on your mind?”

She released a shaky breath. “I’m scared, London. I know you have a great attorney. But I’m still scared.”

London tightened his arms around her. “Me too, but I have faith, and I need you to have the same. Nobody is taking your man from you. You don’t have to worry. It’s gonna work itself out. We’ll see.”

But even as he said those words, Bianca wondered if he really believed that.

London tried to replay everything he had done that evening. Other than stopping at a convenience store to purchase a Snickers bar and a bottle of water, that was the only time he had stopped, and unfortunately, he paid with cash. He hoped like hell he could remember where he had stopped, and there was a camera. The store clerk had been twenty-something and too busy watching the basketball game on his phone than paying attention to who was in the store. London was scheduled to meet with his attorney again tomorrow, and hopefully, they would have an update on what they found with his vehicle. Not that he was worried.

He pulled up in front of Mona’s house and killed the engine on the Lexus. Before leaving the house, he tried calling but hadn’t gotten an answer. Camille’s car was in the driveway. Denise’s Jeep was out on the street in front of his.

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