Page 129 of Rules Of Our Own

“I didn’t,” Jason replies weakly.

“Do. Not. Lie. To. Me.” James’s voice booms through the room.

“Come on, Dad. You know I wouldn’t. Why would I?”

James shakes his head in disappointment and hits a button on his phone. “Send them in.”

The door opens, and two officers step through. They walk up to Jason, who spins away.

“Do not touch me,” Jason hisses.

The second cop grabs him by one wrist, and Jason tries to squirm away, but the officer already has him cuffed. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

Jason looks at me with hatred. “You can’t do this.”

“I assure you, I can.” I repeat back Gerard’s words from when he pulled his funding. “I hear theft of that amount is a felony. I hope you like the colors in prison.”

“You fucking bitch—” Jason tries to lunge at me only to be held in place with a sharp tug of his wrist.

The officer cuts him off, leading him out of the room while reading him his rights. “Jason McKay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering at any time.”

“Don’t drop the soap!” I call after them just before the door clicks closed.

“I owe you an apology.” James says from behind me, his voice a cool professional that makes it hard to decipher.

I spin to face him, the clacking of my high heels echoing off the walls. And shrug. I really don’t care about anything this man thinks. “Consider it forgiven.” Then I push through the door, a freedom settling over my shoulders.

A few moments later, I step out of the elevator into the lobby. Alex and River are standing nearby with wide grins on their faces as they watch a police officer lead Jason away in handcuffs.

Alex is carrying two bouquets of helium balloons that read “Lock him up” in bright red lettering.

A laugh breaks from my chest, and it takes me a second before I can say, “What are you doing here? I thought we were supposed to meet back at your place?”

Alex motions toward the window where officers are leading Jason away. “Couldn’t miss the show!”

River envelops me in a side hug and plants a kiss on my temple. “I’m so proud of you.”

I sink into his chest, comforted by their presence. In that moment, I realized how truly lucky I am to have them both in my life.

I look up, resting my chin on his chest, and grin. “We did it!”

“Nah, Kitten.” Alex cups the back of my neck. “You did it…well, Sidney helped. Do you think she’ll want a present?”

River shakes his head. “There’s nothing she wants that Jax hasn’t already gotten for her.”

Love swells in my chest as they joke around me. “What’s next?”

River brushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear, a warm smile tilting his mouth. “We go home.”

My heart swells, and I have to fight against the burning in my eyes.

Home.

CHAPTER59

MIA

Alex and Riverhold my hands as we stand in front of a crowd of reporters. Misty gives us the thumbs-up from where she stands behind us. Piper, Lucas, Jax and Sidney watch from the side.

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