Page 25 of Unwrapping Deviance

I make no attempt to respond. He doesn’t care anyway because his murky gaze has shifted to the truck and Mira who has rolled the window down and is watching us with confusion furrowing her brows.

Sheriff Brewer shifts his bulk and adjusts the thick belt at his ample waist. His expression is darker when returning to me.

“Whatever sick thing you two are doing, we don’t need it staining our good town. So, get your ... affairs,” he shoots a disgusted, lip curled sneer in Mira’s direction, “in order and head out.”

He pauses to hike up his belt again, cast Mira another side eye that I interrupt by stepping into his path.

“Is that everything?” I fold my arms.

Brewer snaps his eyes to me and narrows them. “No, actually.” He mirrors my stance. “We got your brother in holding.”

I stiffen. “What are you talking about?”

An oily smirk folds the skin around his mouth. “Barely here a day and he was pulled over for drinking and driving.”

“When?” I bark.

“Late last night.”

I let my arms fall to my sides, hands bunched into fists. “No one called me.”

“I’m here now, aren’t I?”

My jaw grinds. “He gets a phone call. You don’t get to keep my brother behind bars overnight.”

Brewer shrugs. “He was in no shape to call anyone, I guess. Honestly, given your ... closeness, I guess we figured you’d realize when he didn’t come back to bed last night.”

His insinuation has me sucking in a slow breath to keep my fist from breaking his jaw. “There better not be a scratch on him, Sheriff. I will take your whole department to court for abuse of power.”

The other man’s face hardens. The gravel crunches beneath his boots as he takes a step towards me. “Do it. Let’s see how long you keep that fancy law job once everyone hears what kind of perverts you and your brother are.” He sniffs, making the fat caterpillar across his upper lip quiver. “Now, come get your brother.”

I watch him stomp back to his cruiser and drop behind the wheel. I stay rooted to the spot long after his dust has settled, and his engine is a faint hum in the distance.

Funny how nothing ever changes in a town as backwards and narrow-minded as Jefferson.

Mira scoots back in her seat when I swing up behind the wheel. Her eyes watch me, waiting.

“We have to make a stop,” I tell her, turning the key in the ignition.

She pulls the belt across her lap. “Everything okay?”

I pull out of the spot and turn in the direction of town.

“Christian was arrested last night.”

CHAPTER SIX

MIRA

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I think it’s my fault.

Christian had been home last night. I left him in the living room with my handprint on his cheek and stormed upstairs.

While I know he’s a grown man capable of making adult choices, am I the reason he’d gone off to drink and get behind the wheel of his bike? A stupid and reckless decision that has my brain rattled with images of Kalen and Sophie. The accident photos plastered all over the papers in a morbid attempt to draw awareness to the risks of driving under the influence. Their smiling photos over their closed caskets.

If Christian had gotten wasted and made the choice to get on his bike, I don’t think I will ever be able to like him. I mean, I barely do after the cruel things he said last night, but this would solidify my feelings for him.

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