Page 140 of The Reluctant Hero

He leans to the side and motions someone forward.

I turn to see two police officers approaching with stern expressions.

My stomach drops into my shoes. There’s a good chance that these cops are in league with Blake.

Is this a setup? Did someone rob him and make it look like I did it?

“I didn’t do anything, Gabe!” I protest vehemently.

I stand as if I’m going to run, but my feet stick because I have no clue what’s going on. This is a setup. I know it. There’s no way I could figure out how to steal his money. That’s insane.

I turn back to them desperately. “Send them away. This is a setup-”

“Let it go. You’recaught,” Cade interrupts in disgust, his mask of charm falling away wholly to reveal his true thoughts. The man despises me. It’s plain to see and agonizing.

“Please hear me out,” I beg him. I’m desperate for them to listen, but how much can I say with a couple of police officers behind me? “I didnotsteal any money. Send the cops away.Please.”

“With our techs on hand, they found you in under ten minutes,” Mikael says in a dark tone of rage. Of course, he’s mad. He’s practically glued to Gabriel like they’re conjoined twins. I’m shocked he hasn’t punched me in the face yet. “They’re too good to be fooled. The proof took longer, but we got it.”

That’s why they weren’t answering. A united front to keepmeaway, just like Gabriel’s father. They looked into the theft, and whatever they found points the finger right at me. Everything is tied up in a neat bow.

But the phone calls I made started onSaturday. I didn’t find the underground hideaway until Sunday. Why wouldsomeone set me up that early? Do they have a psychic on the payroll who knew I would find that bunker? That makes even less sense than South being Captain Camouflage.

The feeling presses harder. I turn to see the cops closer to me with grim expressions.

“Make them check again,” I desperately gasp as one of the cops grabs my arm to cuff me. It makes me wince in pain as the scab on my forearm breaks again. “It wasn’t me,I swear!”

Damn it, I should have handed over my phone first! Now, I can’t reach it, and my arms are cuffed.

“Take my phone-”

“Just like you swear you’re looking for a lawyer?” Mikael says and crosses his arms over his chest. “And no one has gotten a call from you?”

“Or you swearBlakeis trying to kick people out of the complex you live in?” Cade says and tsks while he shakes his head. “He doesn’t even own it.”

“What?” I ask in disbelief. “What are you talking about? I’m serious! Ican’tget arrested. Ace,look at me.”

“It was all in your apartment,” Ace turns on me, his expression filled with pain. “Right fuckin’ there!”

I rear back in shock as my jaw drops.

Clarity hits with the strength of an anvil dropping on me.

The destruction of my apartment wasn’t some mystery man. It wasAce. He’s broken in several times and I brushed it off like it wasn’t a warning. Somewhere in the last two weeks, I forgot how dangeroustheyare.

If he’s the one that trashed my apartment, was Ace the one in the stairwell? The thought makes my stomach clench in nausea.

I can’t believe it. I don’t want to.

“You?” My voice cracks through the middle as tears well up and spill over my cheeks.

I kissed him. I wanted more with him. With all of them. I guess I don’t have to worry about any of that now.

“Why? Why would you do that?”

It’s an idiotic question, and the answer shouldn’t matter. No matter his reasons, there’s no coming back from this.

Ace turns away from me, and Cade snaps at the officers, “Get her the fuck out of here.”

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