Page 8 of Absolution
“Neither of us has to go to jail,” she reasons.
Her dainty fingers close around mine, so that we’re both gripping the iron bars to my cell. I didn’t realize how cold my hands were until she touched me.
“Your family can ensure?—”
“No.” I recoil as though she’s thrown acid at my face. “I’m not accepting anything from my father.”
She reaches through the bars, grabbing my forearm before I can fully retreat. “Not your father. James is going to help you.”
My lips curl with contempt, and I glare daggers at my brother. He put her up to this. He’s putting her at risk.
“Get her out of here,” I seethe. “If I’m not guilty, they’ll look at her again. They’ll arrest her.”
He scoffs. “She’s physically incapable of inflicting that kind of damage on a man. The police have no evidence to hold her. Especially once I arrange for that drug-laced mug to disappear. There will be no motive or evidence to build a case against either of you.”
“I’ve already admitted that I did it.” I fling at him like the physical blow I so desperately want to deliver. “There’s nothing you can do to save me now.”
Abigail’s fingernails bite into my forearm, commanding my attention.
“If you tell the police that you only said it to protect me from arrest, your family’s lawyers will get your admission omitted from the record.”
My stomach sours with betrayal. “You of all people should understand that I won’t accept my family’s money and influence. I thought you knew me better than that.”
Her lips twist in a disapproving frown, as though I’m being unreasonable.
And maybe I am, but I’ll die before I accept a bail-out from my parents. If I do, they’ll hold leverage over me for the rest of my life. I’ll never submit to their control.
“I’m not asking you to accept anything from your parents,” she insists. “I know you won’t want to hear this, but James has done nothing wrong. It’s not his fault that your mom and dad tried to replace your sister with him. He was a child, just like you were.”
I scowl at him. “He’s not a child anymore.”
“No, I’m not,” he snaps. “And I’ve accepted a man’s responsibilities while you ran off to America. I have to be the heir now. You took that choice away from me. You’ve been free to live as you choose for years. You can be free again if you just listen to Abigail. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in prison?”
Abigail’s hold on my arm gentles, and she laces her fingers through mine. My fist loosens to accept her.
“Choose us,” she urges, her aquamarine eyes shining. “Be with me, Dane. I don’t want to face a future without you.”
Something twists painfully at the center of my chest. “I can’t risk it,” I rasp. “I won’t let them arrest you.”
She squeezes my hand in a pulse of comfort. “They won’t. James won’t let them.”
That gets my hackles up again. “It’s not his job to protect you.”
She’smine.
Her shoulders straighten. “It’s my job to protectyou, and I won’t let you face a life sentence. There’s a way for both of us to walk out of here. Together.”
I reach my free hand through the bars and cup her cheek, tracing the delicate line of her jaw with my thumb. She’s so fragile, even in her defiance. If I’m not by her side, anythingcould happen to her. Some bastard might try to hurt her again, and I won’t be there to kill him for her.
“I’m listening,” I rumble.
I can swallow my pride and bend for her. I would sacrifice anything for Abigail, even if it means putting myself at my family’s mercy.
The spaceoutside my cell is more cramped than inside it. Mum, Dad, James, and Abigail are clustered together, all their attention fixed squarely on me.
“Has the American made you see reason, then?” Mum demands, not even bothering to use Abigail’s name. “You’ll retract your statement of guilt?”
I cross my arms over my chest and fix her with my fiercest scowl. “Yes.”
