Page 65 of Found By Him

I set my phone down and run my hand over my buzzed hair. “I’m going to have one of the guys sitting outside the house to keep an eye on you while I’m dealing with all this shit.”

“Are you sure, Jack?” she calls out from inside the fridgeas she removes milk, eggs, and butter. “It seems unlikely anyone would know I was here.”

I’m shaking my head before she even finishes her sentence. “I don’t care. I’m not risking it. I don’t know who’s available, but I’ll find someone. I would prefer Ian or Nate to be here with you if I can’t be, but I need them with me. And I want to give Tyler some time off.”

“He needs it,” she says, her voice strained with worry. “Maybe we can have him, Becky, and Tim over for dinner this week.”

Her face brightens. “I would love that.”

I stand and refill my coffee cup. As I pass by, my hand finds her ass, and my lips find hers in a quick kiss. “I’m going to go take a shower and get ready while those bake.”

34

Ella

Aloud knock makes me jump, and the muffin in my hand goes flying across the counter, skittering to the floor. “For the love…” I pick up the muffin and set it on the counter before I go to answer the door, figuring it’s one of the guys.

But as soon as I pull the door open, I freeze.

A uniformed cop stands on the porch. He’s wearing dark sunglasses, so I can’t see his eyes, but I feel them boring into me. “Gisella Easton?”

“Yes?” I grip the door harder to disguise my shaking hands.

The first thought that comes to my mind is that something happened to Jack. But then I realize that it would be one of the guys coming to tell me, not the police.

“I have an arrest warrant for you. You need to come with me now,” he informs me.

Shock rockets through my system. I take a small step back. “Can I call my attorney?” I don’t actually have Chris’s number, but I can call Jack.

“You can call him at the jail.”

“Well, can I grab my phone? I need his number.” My chest heaves as I barely get the question out, sweat lining my back.

“No, ma’am. I can’t allow you to do that.” When I take another step back, his hand moves to his utility belt. “If you make any more moves, I’ll interpret that as resisting and will have to resort to using force.”

Chills wrack my entire body. My skin crawls as he steps up to me and grabs my arm. Before I can take another breath, he twists it behind my back, and I’m secured in cuffs. He kicks the flip-flops that are sitting by the door toward me. My body trembles so badly that it takes a few times to slide them onto my feet. As soon as I do, he drags me from the house and walks me to his car.

He pulls open the door, and both of us turn when a shout comes from across the street. The police officer freezes next to me. Under his breath, he mutters, “Fuck.”

I glance at him in confusion.

A man I don’t recognize, but he’s wearing a logoed Nash Security shirt, jogs across the street. He whips off his sunglasses, his eyes jumping between me and the police officer. “What are you doing with her?”

The police officer scoffs. “I think it is pretty obvious.” His voice drips with condensation.

The man looks at me. “Miss Easton?”

I’m not sure what he expects me to say. I know exactly what he does. “Call Jack. If he doesn’t answer, Nate or Ian.” I give one last pleading look as I’m pushed into the back of the cop car.

My pulse races as reality sets in, a tear slipping down my cheek as we turn out of Jack’s neighborhood. I had gotten so wrapped up in how happy I was with Jack, I allowed myself to forget how quickly happiness can get ripped away from you.

I continue to stare out the window. The police officer is humming from the front seat, the sound grating on my already frayed nerves.

We drive through the city, then we get off the interstate.

And keep driving.

Sweat forms on my skin, dripping down my back despite the overpowering AC. My breathing becomes labored. Something isn’t right.

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