Page 13 of The Ties That Bind

He was doomed. “Cops are coming,” he managed, his mouth feeling like it was full of sawdust. The cops would never believe him. And Elle… He looked her over, from the damp hair sticking to her forehead to her bedraggled dress. The dark circles around her eyes. She looked every bit the victim.

There was no way she would side with Alec over her father when the police arrived. It would mean prison for him, and an investigation into both her parents. They could lose the house, have their assets seized. She could lose everything.

Sirens rapidly approached, and soon a megaphone crackled from just outside. “This is the police. Everyone, come out with your hands up.”

“Play time is over, kids.” Dr. Reid stalked toward them, hands already raised. He stopped next to Elle, looking down his nose at her. “This misguided attempt at rebellion is done, Arielle. I really expected better from you.” He strolled past, unruffled by the blue and red flash of police lights and small army of armed officers waiting for them. They were on his side, after all.

Elle’s small, warm hand squeezed his, but Alec couldn’t relax. He was going to jail, and who knew what would happen to his sister without him. A barrage of images flashed through his mind of Caitlin scared and alone, counting on him, slowly realizing he wasn’t going to save her. He squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to stem the onslaught. He couldn’t bear to think of what would happen to her now.

“It’s going to be okay,” Elle whispered. When he didn’t budge, she added, “We should probably get out there.” She stood on tip toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “Come on.”

Somehow she still didn’t understand what was about to happen. He smiled woodenly, then schooled his features into his trademark cocky, I-don’t-give-a-fuck look. He moved mechanically out the door and into the glare of three police spotlights. He remembered belatedly to raise his arms, Elle copying the motion and shooting him nervous glances that she tried to pass off as confident smiles. They were more like grimaces.

The doctor was already nice and cozy with the police. He stood behind a cop car talking to an officer, motioning at Alec while looking at him like he was dog shit he’d found on his shoe. The officer nodded in agreement, coming to the same conclusion.

“Let the girl go, and we can talk about this.” An officer wearing a flak jacket withNegotiatorspelled out in giant letters stood a few feet in front of the rest of the police, hands up in a conciliatory manner.

Alec sighed, turning to look at Elle. “You should go.” The words broke his heart, but he had to protect her.

She dropped her hands in surprise. “Like hell I’m leaving you.” She carefully reached for one of his hands, making sure the officers could see there was nothing in them, then wrapped her fingers between his. “He’s not holding me against my will,” she called out.

Alec blinked. “What are you doing?”

Her eyes burned into his. “What’s right.” She turned her attention back to the police. “Alec has done nothing wrong. Myfather,on the other hand, has a lot to answer for.”

Her dad bristled when a couple officers turned to eye him suspiciously. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about! My poor girl is traumatized after what thatanimaldid to her!” He reached into his pocket, and one of the cops swung his gun toward him. “What are you—”

“Please keep your hands where I can see them, sir.” The officer quickly patted him down while the doctor looked scandalized. He pulled the phone out of his front pocket and handed it to Dr. Reid.

“I have the ransom photo right here.” He swiped through his phone and then showed it triumphantly to the officer nearest him.

Alec’s heart sank. He was a dead man.

“Oh my god, dad!” Elle rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “Itoldyou I sent that by accident!” She covered her face. “This is so embarrassing.”

What the hell is she doing?

She steepled her fingers against her lips. “Alec and I were roleplaying.” When no one responded, she huffed. “You know, duringsex.Do none of you people have sex?”

Alec wanted to crawl into the sewers and never return. He loved sex, but he wouldneverflaunt it in front of the women’s fathers. This was almost worse than being arrested.

“If you’ve all heard enough about my sex life,” Elle continued imperiously, “the actual criminal here is my father. He’s been writing fake prescriptions as part of a drug ring, and more importantly, he’s holding Alec’s sister hostage. He’s been forcing her to act as a drug mule for him.”

He didn’t know when exactly it happened, but Alec realized that the officers no longer had their weapons pointed at him. In fact, they were slowly swiveling their guns to pin down the good doctor.

“This is absolutely ridiculous!” her father sputtered. He pointed frantically at Alec. “Arrest him!”

“Do you have any proof?” The negotiator stepped closer to Elle.

“Check the locked desk drawer in his home office. I bet you’ll find a prescription pad for a ‘Dr. Keller’.” She used air quotes around the name. The officer spoke quickly into his walkie, sending a team to her parents’ house. “And I can think of a few places he might be hiding Caitlin. Start here…” She started listing addresses while Alec looked on in amazement.

“Sir? Sir, do you have a picture of your sister we can use to aid in the search?” Elle gently shook his arm to bring him back to earth.

“Sorry. Yes, hold on.” He pulled up the most recent photo he had on his phone. It was from last Christmas. Caitlin had been clean for the first time in a long time, and they both looked so hopeful. She’d fallen back into bad habits by the new year.

Alec and Elle allowed themselves to be patted down, and then all they could do was wait. Dr. Reid was kept near the police cars, sweat pouring down his patrician face. His eyes kept darting to his daughter in disbelief.

For her part, Elle seemed relatively calm on the outside. But Alec knew her now, and gripped her hand tightly, offering whatever support he could.

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