“It can’t be put off. Get dressed and come downstairs.”
I hurried myself into one of his T-shirts and a pair of my shorts and took the stairs two at a time to find him standing in the living room with Cash. His eyes had that same worried look as Kane’s. Taking a seat next to him on the couch, we listened to his half-brother update us on Jethro’s condition and what Mason planned to do.
“Jethro’s awake, but he’s in bad shape. You really hurt him. Mason’s not really in a talking mood, but from what I gathered, he’s not going to be easily placated.”
“What does that mean?” I asked as I squeezed Kane’s hand tightly, afraid if I let go I’d lose him. “Because he survived, they won’t do anything right? I mean, I know from when Aaron hit me once and I called the cops, they wouldn’t do anything because he said he didn’t do it, even though it happened in our house. So it’ll be okay, right?”
Kane turned to look at me and shook his head. “No. His being awake is better than if I’d beaten him to death, but I’m not going to avoid charges.”
I looked up at Cash hoping to hear him say something different, but he just nodded. “Kane’s right. It’s a sad truth that two men fighting gets more attention from the law than a man hitting a woman.”
“But he was defending me. Doesn’t that matter?”
Cash didn’t answer. I saw by the look on Kane’s face that it didn’t. “No,” he said quietly. “Not really.”
“I’m going to talk to Mason again in the morning and hopefully I can convince him money can make this go away. He’s a councilman, but the man loves money more than justice and the law. I just wanted to stop by to let you know and make sure you’re okay, Abbi. I’m sorry this happened. I didn’t know what kind of person Jethro was when I left him with you.”
“I understand. I don’t blame you, Cash.”
Another knock on the door made my heart stop for a moment, and we all turned to see two cops standing on the porch. My emotions overwhelmed me as Kane stood from the couch. Reaching up to grab his hand again, I cried, “No, don’t. Don’t go.”
“Don’t worry. Just run upstairs and get me some clothes so I don’t look like I belong on some episode of Cops, okay?”
I didn’t want to leave that room just in case he let them in and they took him away before I could get back, so I ran as fast as I could up the stairs and grabbed a pair of black pants, a grey long sleeved shirt, and his boots he always wore and ran back to find the police standing in my living room. Everything got confused for me as they explained why they were there and that he’d have to go with them. Kane took his clothes and said something as he dressed, but nothing seemed to make any sense. All I knew was that his leaving scared me to death.
He left his boots unlaced, and stepping toward me, took my face in his hands. “Cash will make sure you’re okay. I won’t be gone for long. Don’t worry, angel. I’ll be okay.”
The tears rolled down my cheeks as he spoke because I knew he was saying goodbye. “Don’t leave. Please don’t! You were only protecting me.” I turned to look at the cops and tried to plead his case. “He was protecting me from being hurt. He doesn’t deserve this. Don’t take him away.”
The police stood stone-faced as Kane turned my face back toward him. “Abbi, listen to me. I won’t be gone for long. It will be okay. I promise it will. I love you, angel. Don’t worry. Just promise me you’ll be here when I get back.”
“I’ll be here,” I sobbed. “I love you. I’m sorry.”
He kissed me and whispered against my lips, “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”
Then he turned and silently held his hands out in front of him for the policeman to close the handcuffs around his wrists. I listened to one of the men recite those words I’d heard so many times on cop shows, but now each right he mentioned seemed so important. “…You have the right to an attorney. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.”
He hung his head and nodded to Cash as they walked him out, “Take care of her until I get back.”
“I’ll have Jessup on it first thing, Kane,” Cash said just before the screen door slammed closed and Kane was taken away.
My legs buckled underneath me, and I collapsed onto the couch, unable to stand I felt so sick. Closing my eyes, I tried to block out the image of the man I loved being taken away to jail because of me, but it wouldn’t go away no matter how much I tried. Cash sat down next to me and gently put his arm around me, pulling me close as I cried uncontrollably.
“We won’t let him stay away, Abbi. I promise. Stefan and I will make sure he comes home as soon as possible. For now, you can stay with Olivia and me so you aren’t alone in this house.”
I shook my head against his shoulder as I continued to sob. “No. This is the house he gave me. I won’t leave until he comes back. I need to be here when he comes back.”
Cash didn’t argue with me, likely because he knew disagreeing with a hysterical woman was a useless idea. I promised I’d call him day or night if I needed anything, but all I needed was Kane back home with me again.
I took Angel to bed with me and cried myself to sleep thinking of the man I loved spending the night in jail. I couldn’t just sit back and hope Cash could convince the councilman to help Kane. He’d gotten in trouble because of me. I had to do something.
Straightening Olivia’s sundress in the glass window outside Councilman Jennings’ office, I took a deep breath and told myself I could do this. I needed to do whatever it took to help Kane. He’d protected me over and over. The least I could do was try to convince Jethro’s brother to see what Kane had done was all for me and not because he was a bad man.
I knocked on the door and heard him yell for me to come in. Steadying myself, I pushed the door open a crack and stuck my head in. “Mr. Jennings, may I speak to you?”
“Please come in. I’m always available for my constituents.”
I stepped into his office and instantly felt unnerved by the resemblance between Mason Jennings and his brother. The same slicked back hair, the same greasy look that screamed corrupt man.
“I’m not exactly here as a constituent. My name is Abigail Linde. I work at Club X as a dancer. Kane is my boyfriend.”
In a far chillier voice than when he thought I was there as a simple voter, he said, “I see.”