As soon as I was able, I called the one person I knew who would help Keiran at any cost.
“What’s going on? Word on the street is you’re a regular 007.”
“Dash, I need you.”
“What’s going on?” His voice was no longer playful. He already sounded as if he might lose it, and I hadn’t even told him why.
“Listen. I didn’t call Keenan because I can trust you to keep it together. He’s as temperamental as his brother is. I was arrested last night.”
He swore, and I could already hear him moving in the background.
“Where’s Keiran?”
“I don’t know. I was at school when they picked me up. I can’t say more over the phone, but Keiran may be in trouble.”
“I’m on my way.”
“I need you to call Thompson.”
“Consider it already done.”
“Ok,” I said slowly. The receiver trembled in my hand as I replaced it. A sense of helplessness assaulted me when my only connection to my life and freedom was gone—at least for the next few hours. As it turns out, the next few hours were the hardest. The detectives were able to harass me one more time with threats and theories before Thompson finally arrived.
“Lake, I apologize for the delay. We couldn’t get ahold of Keiran. I’m afraid he was arrested last night, as well.”
“Oh, God. Laurie Finch?”
“Yes. It appears she made a statement two days ago pointing Keiran as the confessed murderer of Mitch, and she also confessed to bribery.”
“I don’t understand. He didn’t kill Mitch. How could he have confessed to it?”
“I intend to find out. He says he didn’t make a confession.”
But what about the money? “Did he say anything else?”
“He told me what I needed to do my job.”
“His words?”
“Yes. Now, we have a bail hearing scheduled for you at the end of the week.”
“I can’t wait that long.”
“Unfortunately, we have to extradite you due to the breach in jurisdiction. Besides, it’s too late an hour to get you before a judge, not to mention the hours of travel to get you before the right judge. I had to pull some heavy strings to get you in this week as it is.”
“Will Keiran be there?”
“Yes, but I want to warn you with Keiran’s priors, it won’t be easy. I want you prepared for the possibility that his bail will be denied.”
I nodded my understanding and watched him go. When the guards came back in, I hardened myself for the next thirty-six hours. To do that, I momentarily let go of everything that could weaken me.
Two days later, we were extradited to Nevada for the bail hearing. I never got to lay eyes on Keiran until the hearing later that week. I was brought in before him, but when he finally walked in shortly after, the sight of him didn’t offer relief. My stomach lurched at the bruises on his face. Other than that, he didn’t look any worse for wear, but it was enough to make me feel sick to my stomach.
His eyes immediately found mine and searched me over. Once he was satisfied I hadn’t suffered the same fate, he smiled to reassure me. When I didn’t smile back, his face dropped and he questioned me with his dark gaze.
“Before we begin,” the judge spoke—her hard gaze and ramrod posture told me she wouldn’t be easy or sympathetic, “I’d like someone to explain this custody’s appearance.”
“Yes, well, we had a hard time subduing him during interrogation.”
“He was in handcuffs, was he not?”
“Your honor, Keiran Masters was able to assault Detective Roberts.” The district attorney gestured to the detective in question who looked like he suffered a broken nose.
“What brought on this attack?”
“We told him his girlfriend, Lake Monroe, was also taken into custody.”
Oh, Keiran…
“Are you pursuing additional charges?”
“No need. We’ll have enough to put him away for the rest of his life.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, counselor. Not in my court.” Maybe she would be reasonable after all. I stood with my future in the balance and wondered how Keiran could be so calm. I looked over and found him watching me, and I knew he was more worried about me than about the hearing.
“Let’s proceed.”
The hearing took longer than the first had. I went into this with a little hope, but by the end, I was sweating a river and ready to let my tears join the party.
“I’ll allow the release of Lake Monroe at fifty thousand dollars. However, Keiran Masters will remain in custody until the trial, which will be set at a later date.”
“Your honor—”
“My ruling has been made, counselor. Keiran has proven he is more than capable—and willing, I might add, of violence.”
What?
No.
Keiran was good. Why couldn’t anyone see just how good he wanted to be?
I had to endure them taking him away again. He took one last look at me over his shoulder and asked me with his eyes to keep it together. I never felt as alone as I did when the door opened and he disappeared from sight.
“Dash is waiting outside to take you away from this place,” Thompson informed.