Page 45 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

“I hurt it when I arrived. I slipped on the ice. It’s just sprained, nothing too badly.” I made myself meet Rory’s gaze. “Father Harrison has done nothing but protect me. Everything he’s said and done was in my best interest.”

“Protect you from what?”

The sheriff moved in and I couldn’t break my brother’s stare. “Don’t leave my side. Don’t—”

“Kathleen Walker, you’re under arrest.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rory snapped. “Jonas is still partially wearing a God damn mask and holding a gun. If my sister shot him, she had reason to. Did you not hear her? She’s here for protection. There’s a reason for that. She’s afraid. I would be too if I was confronted with a man wearing a mask and holding a gun.”

“You weren’t so quick to defend Father Harrison when he was about to be arrested,” Palo cut in.

“He didn’t have time,” Chase said, giving his friend a look.

Rory’s lids lowered the smallest amount and I could see the animosity between him and Chase. “That’s right,” my brother said, shrugging. “Regardless, it appears it’s an open and shut case in my book. Jonas breaks in, my sister shoots him. It’s no secret he’s been hard for money lately. He was probably here looking to rob the place. After all, Father Harrison hasn’t really been here in months. He probably thought it would be empty.”

The sheriff stiffened, glaring at Rory before he slowly nodded. “I guess I’m just partial to my officer. Seeing him like this, I guess I tried to ignore the facts. I apologize, Father, Mr. McIntyre.”

I took in their faces. Rory and the sheriff didn’t have to use words for me to know they were somehow communicating with each other.

“It’s quite alright. Happens to the best of us,” my brother said. “If you’ll excuse us, it’s late and I’d like to take my sister home. She’s been through quite the ordeal tonight. She needs rest.”

“Of course.” The sheriff nodded and Rory directed me a few steps closer to the door.

“Kit’s not leaving with you.”

Rory came to a stop and turned back to Chase, who had moved in closer to us.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. Kit stays.”

My heart started racing and I looked between the two of them. Although I feared my brother, I feared the priest more—even if I was drawn to what he could give me. The emotion caused too many questions to begin to surface. If I left, what would Chase do? Would he come after us? What did he plan to do? Take me from Rory, right here in front of the cops? He’d surely get arrested then. I shouldn’t have cared, but I did. The small part of me still wanted that dominance he held. The…protectiveness.

“I’d like to stay with Father Harrison if he’ll continue to have me as his guest. Maybe just for a few days.”

“It’s not even a question,” Chase said through clenched teeth. “You’re staying.”

Rory stiffened, holding me tighter. “Kit needs to come with me. We have a lot of things to discuss.”

“We can go to my office,” Chase said, pointing to the stairs. “We’ll have privacy there.”

“All due respect, Father, I appreciate you wanting to help Kathleen, but this is something she and I should deal with privately. I’m more than capable of taking care of her.”

I took in the cops, wondering if I was doing the right thing. “It’s okay, Rory. Let’s go upstairs and talk with Chase.” I swallowed hard, eyeing the group as they began watching. Shit was going to get bad if my brother and Chase got into it here. I couldn’t let that happen.

“Chase? You’re on a first name basis now?”

My lips separated and I glanced over nervously. “Well…”

“Of course we are. I told Kit it was okay to address me however she wanted. Let’s get this over with.” Again, Chase pointed to the stairs.

Rory let out a deep exhale and we headed up the stairs. Whispering sounded in the background from Palo and the men, but at least the sheriff was distracted. I didn’t trust him not to turn this around and change his mind.

“Last door on the left.”

Chase’s voice was deep and although I wanted to look behind me, I didn’t. I was so torn on what I should do. If I went with Rory, I knew I’d be able to jump on a plane at the earliest convenience. But could I leave here without knowing what was going to happen? Chase had his men, but he’d be alone. He was too unstable and that scared me most of all. The fact was, I was in a lose-lose situation and I knew it.

Rory stepped inside the office and I broke away to flip on the light. A hand locked on my bicep and I stiffened. Chase led me around the desk, easing me to sit in the chair behind the large oak table while Rory watched us cautiously from the seat in front.

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