“For the nightclubs and dancing.” My parents had loved to dance.
“Maybe at first.” Terrance sighed as he lost his snarky attitude. “But after he won his first craps game, he was hooked. He was a good man.”
I wanted to yell at him and hurt him for what he’d done. But the despondent look on his face when he talked about my father led me to believe he missed him, too. Whether he did or not, Terrance had to pay for what he’d done. No matter the consequences.
“My dad trusted and respected you. He’d be disappointed and furious to know that you broke that trust.”
He lowered his gaze to his shiny shoes.
“Stop disappointing the people who love you. You’re going to be a grandfather, Terrance. Get help. Reconnect with Zach.” Family was so important. “You have a great son.” I hardly knew anything about Zach. On the surface he seemed mad at the world, but he gave me the impression he wanted his father’s attention. “And I envy him. He still has a father.” Tears pricked my eyes.
Oscar placed his hand over mine. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
A lone tear fell, and I latched onto Oscar’s stubby fingers. I should’ve been demanding Terrance give me all my money back, not grieving and playing psychologist. But my dad would have done the same, trying to make Terrance see reason. Yet all the reasoning in the world wouldn’t return the lost money.
Terrance stared out the door.
“I can’t force you to do the right thing,” I said. “But the courts can. So it’s up to you. If you cooperate, I’ll consider not pressing charges.” Mr. Davenport had said I could bring a civil suit against Terrance.
“Close this one up.” A cop came up to the open door.
“Wait,” a female voice said. “Throw this one in.” The petite officer came into view with Kross at her side.
His white shirt was bloody. His hair was disheveled, and anger was stamped in his blue eyes.
I let go of Oscar’s hand and got up.
“You’re not going anywhere,” the female cop said. “Sit back down.”
“Where are Kelton and Dillon?” I inched closer to the door.
Kross shook his head. “Not sure.”
“I said to sit your ass down,” the female cop ordered in a tone that made the hairs on my neck rise.
Kross’s blue eyes prodded me as he climbed in, forcing me backward and into my seat.
“Are you okay?” Kross dropped beside Terrance.
I nodded and shivered at the same time. Maybe they’d escaped. That would be great. Kelton had that job on the line. And Dillon. Well, he was always trying to stay under the law’s radar. Thanks to me, not anymore.
The two cops that had been standing watch outside hopped in. The female officer closed the doors, and the sound made me shiver again.
27
Kelton
The van bounced along the city streets, jarring my body. I didn’t know if Lizzie was in the other van or not. When someone had yelled “Cops!” I’d tried to get the fuck out of there. But people were frantic, rushing toward the exit. Someone had pushed me from behind. Lizzie had gone down. Then fucking Terrance had practically thrown me out of the way. I’d tackled him to the ground. I’d wanted to unleash all the frustrations I had for this man for not only stealing from Lizzie, but for how he’d treated Zach. Sure, Zach and I weren’t on speaking terms, but we were friends. Zach wanted his father in his life. He’d always told me how envious he was of my relationship with my old man. Unfortunately, I hadn’t gotten to wield my fists. Dillon had grabbed me, and we’d found an exit tucked away in the far corner of the poker room. It hadn’t helped though. The cops had been waiting in the alley. I wasn’t even sure where Kross was.
The driver banked a hard right, and my shoulder knocked into Dillon. The van was packed with at least ten of us from the poker game.
“She’s probably in the other van,” Dillon said.
Motherfucker was clamoring in my head over and over again. My life was flashing before me. I was on my way to jail. My career as a lawyer could end before it had even begun. Davenport’s question played in my head in between the cuss words. “Have you ever been in trouble with the law?” Where was Jeremy Pitt when I needed him? Three years before, he’d been instrumental in keeping Kade, Hunt, and me out of jail for a brawl that had broken out among the three of us and two of our high school enemies. That night a gun had gone off and someone had almost died. Luck had been on our side, particularly since Jeremy Pitt was in bed with the Boston Police Department. No such luck tonight.