Page 82 of Her Alien Neighbor

“Seems like you’re having trouble keeping your story straight.”

“No!” I cry out, as the walls of this tiny room feel like they’re closing in around me. “I just got confused about that one thing!”

Officer Burton holds up a hand. “There’s no need to get emotional. Just calm down.”

Seriously? How is one supposed to act in an interrogation? Is everyone that comes in here perfectly calm?

I roll my eyes. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. “I am calm!”

“Listen, Ms. Bradford,” Officer Burton shouts, “if you don’t get a hold of yourself, you’re in for a very long night.”

I’m so screwed.

CHAPTER 23

AXIL

When I pass a police car the moment I turn onto my street, a shudder rips through my body. Who is being questioned now? Mylo again? Zev? What more information do they need? Or were they looking for me? Have they found evidence to link me with Trevor’s death?

I rush inside the house and am surprised to find Zev and Mylo eating Chinese food and watching TV. “Was it Kyan?” I ask, tossing my car keys onto the table by the door.

“Was what Kyan?” Mylo asks with his mouth full.

“In the cop car,” I tell them. “I just passed a cop car when I turned down our street. I figured one of you was being questioned again.”

“Oh,” Zev says, looking surprised. “No, the cops did not show up here. Kyan is still at work.”

If they didn’t come here, then…

I knock the front door off its hinges as I slam it open, running at full speed. I hear Zev yelling at me from the living room, but I do not stop. I do not stop until I reach Vanessa’s back door and start pounding on it. I turn the handle, but it appears to be locked. Looking in the little window, the kitchen looks dark. I race around to the bedroom but cannot see anything since the curtains are drawn. I am panicking by the time I reach her front door, pressing the doorbell over and over in the hopes that she is still here, just asleep, or something.

Nothing. She does not come to the door, which means she is not home. There are only two other homes on this street, so if the cops came to collect someone, it had to be Vanessa.

Charging back around Vanessa’s house, I almost collide with Mylo and Zev as they work on fixing the door. “Move!” I shout, skirting around them to grab my keys. Seconds later, I am back on the road and driving toward the station.

I send Vanessa several texts once I arrive, but she does not respond to a single one. When I go inside and ask if Vanessa is there, I am told I will need to wait until Officer Burton is done questioning her, so I go back to the truck and wait. An hour later, I spot movement at the entrance out of the corner of my eye. It is Vanessa, walking outside, still in her slippers, with puffy cheeks and swollen eyes. I leave my keys in the ignition and race toward her, gathering her in my arms as she continues to cry.

Officer Burton stands just inside the door, shooting me a lethal glare. He wants me to be afraid of him, which is quite humorous, given what I truly am.

Ignoring him, I take Vanessa’s hand and guide her toward my truck. “You were questioned?” I ask quietly once we are both strapped in.

“Yeah,” she says, sniffling. “It was awful. I tried to do well,” she says, staring down at her hands, folded in her lap. “I tried to keep you from sounding guilty or suspicious, but…I–I don’t know. Officer Burton kept tripping me up.”

“It is okay,” I tell her, trying to reassure her. “Do not worry.”

“No, it’s not okay,” she says, dropping her face into her hands and crying harder. “I fucked up. I was nervous and it made me look guilty.”

I put a hand on her back as I drive, gently rubbing. Seeing her like this is gutting.

“If they think I was involved or covering for you…” she trails off, not wanting to state the consequences.

“Nothing will happen to you, Vanessa,” I tell her, my tone firm. “I promise you. I will not let you take the blame for my actions.”

This is all my fault. I was selfish and impulsive, and I let my temper guide my hand. I still do not regret ending Trevor’s life. The world is a better place without him. But if this hurts her, I will never forgive myself.

We drive home in silence as a plan begins to take shape in my mind. If Officer Burton suspects I am guilty, and that Vanessa had something to do with it, he will not stop until she and I are both behind bars. Given that Trevor was his nephew, I am certain he will refuse to accept this as a motorcycle accident and nothing more. He wants someone to blame. He is greedy for it. Because, otherwise, he will have to face the fact that his nephew was a reckless fool.

He also seems eager to link Vanessa to Trevor’s death, obviously because of her previous accusations against Trevor. I am sure this all feels like justice to Officer Burton. I would almost respect his vengeful endeavors if he were not targeting my mate in the process.

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