Page 28 of Overexposed

The sergeant cleared his throat. “Mr. Harrison, I’m sorry but you can’t force someone to sign a contract. That’s coercion.”

The vein in Seven’s forehead began to throb again. Olivier had folded his arms and I swore he was fighting back laughter at first. But the neutral expression said maybe not. Then again, he was an actor, so what did I know? Jerry looked absolutely miserable and covered his face with his hand.

“I’m not coercing her,” Seven replied. “I just stressed the importance of the contract because we all need to be clear about everything before she leaves.”

“If you’re trying to extort her cooperation by denying her the right to leave, then that is a crime.” The sergeant seemed almost apologetic. They weren’t here about me or Seven, but I wanted out of here and they were my ride.

“Told you,” I said to Seven, then held out my hand. “Phone, please?”

The narrow-eyed look he shot me promised retribution. He could most certainly try. He slapped the phone into my palm, then I turned a smile on the cops.

“Would you mind terribly giving me a ride out of here? My car is downtown.”

The harsh exhale from Gem registered his disappointment. It couldn’t be helped. Not now, and if I was lucky, this would be a moot point.

“We need to question Mr. Griffiths,” the sergeant said.

“Mr. Griffiths would be happy to meet you at your precinct, say in an hour, with his attorney,” Jerry inserted almost smoothly. “We appreciate any and all discretion in the matter.”

The cops glanced at each other, then to the men standing there in the hall. Olivier just spread his hands. “Sorry, gentlemen. I’d like to shower and get dressed, then I’ll be right down.”

He was the sexiest boy next door ever and his earnestness came off as charming without an ounce of being forced.

“An hour?” the sergeant verified.

“Absolutely. Though do you have a card to tell me which one to go to? That might be helpful.”

“Of course.”

“Ma’am,” the second officer said as he pushed the door wider for me. I slid out with a smile and when the officer looked back inside, I pivoted to give Seven the finger.

It took them ten minutes to work out the interview time and then I was in the back of the black-and-white getting a ride back to the hotel. “Do you want to press charges, Miss…?”

“No,” I told him as I rubbed at the back of my neck.

“Do you need to see a doctor about your neck?” The sergeant glanced back at me. The officer was driving.

Just the thought ofmoremedical debt made me nauseated, just as it had when Olivier tried to push the issue last night. “No, thank you.”

“Ma’am,” the sergeant said. “I understand that they’re actors and the sheen of celebrity can make people forgive even the worst of behaviors, but if they hurt you, we can definitely do something about it.”

Seven Harrison fucking owed me for this after being such a prick. Olivier and Gem, however, did not deserve to be painted with the same brush. “They didn’t hurt me at all. In fact…”

chapter

twelve

Stella

Sergeant McBride asked me a few pointed questions on the drive after I explained the assault. He wanted me to come down to the station to make a full statement. There was also the matter of pressing charges against Dillon, should I choose to.

“Mr. Griffiths was a witness?” the sergeant pressed.

“Yes, but whether or not he knows the man in question, I can’t really tell you.” The last thing I wanted to talk about was Dillon. He was crazier than I remembered. I could still feel his hands around my throat as he slammed my head against my car. “He saved me. That’s it.”

That was all I was going to say on it. Any injuries he inflicted on Dillon were in my defense. Dillon himself could get fucked. Officer Bright pulled up near my baby, and I glanced at the car. Thank fuck she was still here and not towed somewhere.

“Yours?” Bright confirmed with a hint of breathless wonder.

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