Page 101 of Rio's Release

“No problem,” Jenny replies for her. “I’ll take them home.”

“Great. Thanks.” I pull Shelby to me and kiss her. “I’ll call you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Ice Cream and Lost Dreams

Shelby—

On Monday, Bella and I meet Jenny for lunch at Blitzy’s, and we sit out at one of the picnic tables.

Jenny takes a big bite of a chili cheese dog. “These are so good. How’s it going getting Bella registered for school?”

I drag a fry through ketchup. “I have to get some paperwork from the school in Cloudcroft. We left so suddenly, none of that was handled.”

“Did Rio tell you any info on what happened with all the businesses in town being shot up?”

“There are things he doesn’t share with me, but I know he thinks it was some biker club called the Devil Kings. He warned me that if I see them, to stay away from them and call his club immediately. They also tried to burn down his clubhouse, though I don’t know what they’re doing to find them.”

“What do you think about all this?” she asks, stealing one of my fries.

“I mean, I think he’s trying to clean up all the corruption in the town, at least from the police department.” I shrug. “He made sure Carson got arrested. I have to believe his club isn’t all bad, right?”

“You really like him, don’t you?”

“Ilike him,” Bella chimes in.

“I’m glad, sweetie,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear, then look at Jenny. “I do. I like him a lot.”

Her eyes get big, and she mouths the words, “OMG, you love him, don’t you?”

I nod, and her phone alerts.

She picks it up and reads it, frowning. “Oh, Shelby.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a news alert, a report about Deputy Carson.”

Everything in me goes still. “What does it say?”

She lowers her phone and stares at me. “He was granted bail.”

“What? How is that possible?” My heart pounds.

“It says his lawyer appealed the denial.”

“When does he get out?” I ask, already wrapping my food up and gathering my purse. The fight-or-flight response has kicked in, and everything in me is telling me to run.

“I don’t know, but this decision is from 9am this morning. He may already be out.”

“Oh my God. I’ve got to go.” I look at Bella and start shoving her food into the white paper bag. “Honey, we’re going to take this in the car with us.”

“Shelby, wait. What are you doing?”

My phone rings, and I look at the screen. Jenny leans to look at it, too, then stares at me.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?”

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