Page 52 of Severed Rivalry
“Where’s Ayla?”
“With Halley. Why?”
I need her.
“Put me on speaker,” Liam says in my ear.
I don’t argue, too overcome to fight. Holding the phone out between the two of us, I press the audio button until the speaker phone is highlighted.
“Christian. Sariah Ocotea was taken into custody by Morrison police. Can you get her an attorney? I’m heading to her house since her daughter is alone. Sariah told her daughter to contact me, I’m assuming because Ci is out of commission. The girl knows about Ayla but nothing about me except she was told to call.”
Christian and I stare at each other. We know what Liam isn’t saying. Ayla looks like most young, rich women. She’s approachable, beautiful, and has a warm, welcoming smile. If she walked into a house and up to a teenage girl, that child would easily be able to trust she’s safe.
Liam, on the other hand, will roll up on a Harley with pipes. Once his helmet is off, there’s no hiding the shaved head, the unruly full beard, or the pierced eyebrow. Every visible piece of skin is tatted except for his face.
“Renée is thirteen,” I offer to my brother-in-law, shifting my weight from foot to foot.
Christian lifts his phone from his pocket to dial and begins. “Sherman, I need you to get to the Morrison police station now. Wait—” He speaks toward the phone in my hand. “Liam, Morrison PD or JeffCo sheriff?”
“No clue.”
Returning to his call, my brother-in-law continues, “We assume Morrison PD, could be Jefferson County Sheriff. Coverboth bases. You now represent Sariah Ocotea. Post bail tonight. Make sure she isn’t mistreated.” His eyes hit mine and he nods once as if he sees something I’m not saying. “No expenses spared. She’s one of us.”
My shoulders fall from their position at my ears, and I exhale with a gust. I didn’t realize how much I needed that, knowing she would be accepted. I hadn’t planned on pulling her into the fold like this. To be frank, I didn’t have a plan. Mostly because I didn’t expect shit this terrible to pop off so quickly after we started.
“Keep me informed every step of the way.” Pulling the phone away from his face, he taps twice before resuming his prior position. “Princess,” he pauses as a small smile plays on his lips. “I need a favor. Cian needs one actually. Can you get to the Green Mountain area?”
I extend the paper with the address in my heavy scrawl.
He pauses to listen and before continuing, “Now please. I’ll send you the address. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t critical. Where are you?” He nods to himself. “I’ll call Jacque to pay. Call Ci when you get in the car and have the address programmed into the navigation, okay? And tell Halley we’ll make it up to her.” The gaps in his call are way too long for my comfort. “We can chat after you talk with Cian. Love you.”
My wrist must be rotating in the get-on-with-it gesture that’s universally understood because he stares at my hand and raises his eyebrows in rebuke.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“I’m still here, fuckers,” Liam grits from the device in my hand.
Shit. My brain can’t keep up with everything. I swear the meds have to end tonight. I can’t do this foggy shit anymore.
“How far away are you?”
“Turning onto her street. No ambulance in sight. Lots of neighbors milling about. Let’s give them something to talk about.” He revs his engine, and the roar of the pipes vibrates off the hardwood floors.
I back up several steps until my heels hit the stairs and sink tomy butt on one of the steps. Eleanor sits between my feet with her back to me, tracking Christian’s movements as he paces and listens.
When the bike cuts off, the Bluetooth does too, and I bolt to my feet as if cut off from all sources of information. It clicks over to speaker phone as the crunch of Liam’s boots stops and knuckles rap on a door.
“Who is it?”
Better than last time. Last time she threw it wide for me and welcomed me in. After everything, I’m glad Liam isn’t getting that greeting. Not because my brother isn’t saving my ass right now, but just because.
“Liam Murphy. I’m Cian’s brother. You called me.”
“Do you have ID?”
What television has she been watching?
