Page 41 of His Virgin Vessel

"Maybe not," Asa acknowledged.

"Turn yourself in."

Now it was Asa's turn to start upright. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Do you want to be on the run for the rest of your life?"

"No, not particularly."

"And," I continued, "If my Dad doesn't have a good legal case against you, then what's the worst that could happen?"

"He could get me alone in a cell and beat the shit out of me for banging his daughter."

I shrugged. "I'm not going to lie. That's a risk. Which is why I don't think you should turn yourself into Dad, himself. If you're in someone else's custody, then Dad wouldn't hurt you for fear of getting the arresting officer into trouble. That's what happens when people stick to the rules."

Asa gave me a look, as if he knew I was winding him up a little, but I could tell that he was thinking it over.

"If we're wrong about him having the evidence ..."

"That's the risk we take."

"That's the risk I take," pointed out Asa.

I placed my hand on his heart. "If you think that losing you isn't a risk for me, then you don't know me at all."

Asa smiled and placed his hand over mine. "Sorry. That was unfair of me."

"You can't clear your name unless you hand yourself in. You'll be on the run forever. This is a chance, not just to escape the law, but to put this whole thing behind you. And, once it's behind you, then we have a life in front of us."

Asa nodded. "And I'm sure your dad will be just delighted about that."

"One problem at a time."

Asa looked pensive. "I'm still worried about the Mafia. If they come for me in jail, then I can handle them, but if they come for you, or your dad while I'm in jail ... I know you said your dad can protect you and handle himself, and I don't doubt it for a minute, but I don't like the thought of you or him having to fight my battles, and ..." He glanced away momentarily, as if embarrassed. "If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."

"Why are they coming for you?" I asked.

"To keep me out of the way, so they can go on preying on local businesses."

"You'll be in jail. How much more out of the way do they want you?"

Asa acknowledged that there was some truth in that.

"And, once you're out, then you can tell Dad all about them. Then War Cry can team up with the law to kick the Mafia's butts once and for all!"

Asa frowned. "I think now you might be living in a fantasy world, but ... I can see your point. Besides," he shook his head, grimly, "I don't like running away from my problems. If it wasn't for you, I would have headed back to town straight away to help War Cry. I don't like the idea of leaving them to it." He looked at me, meeting my eyes with a smile on his face. "Let's do it."

I threw my arms around his neck, and we kissed.

"So, if I can't hand myself into your dad, who should we go to?"

"One of his deputies, I guess."

A thoughtful look came into Asa's eyes. "I know just the guy."

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