Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men #9)(91)

“As if I’d let that piece of shit touch her,” I boomed, scowling at the officer for even suggesting such a thing. “I shoved his arm away before he could, and then it was on. He swung at me. I ducked. He swung again. I didn’t duck so well. I shoved him by the chest backward away from us. He swung again. I didn’t get to duck at all. Then Julianna tried to pull his arm away, so he whirled on her like he was going to hit her. But I jumped on his back, and that’s when we went to the ground. He landed first, which is probably why his arm is hanging all wrong like it is. And after that, it was just kind of a free-for-all. We both went after each other, punching and cursing.”

I shrugged, wondering if I should’ve mentioned every detail about what had just gone down, but whatever. I wasn’t going to lie. If it landed me in jail…f*ck it. I would’ve done everything the same exact way if I’d had a second chance.

Then again, jail would mean I’d have to call Noel. And having Noel learn about this… Fuck.

That wouldn’t be so cool.

Since the cop was still busy scribbling down my account, I leaned in toward Julianna. “Do you think they’re going to call Noel?”

“I doubt it,” she whispered back. “You’re eighteen, remember?”

“Oh, right.” I blew out a relieved breath. “Sweet.”

Her eyes widened as she glanced at me. “How is that sweet? Being an adult means you could very likely go to jail right now.”

I still wasn’t too concerned about that. I mean, really, how long could a person spend behind bars for a freaking fistfight? Brandt had gotten into fights all the time back in his day, and he’d never gone to jail.

Okay, maybe I was being a bit delusional there. Oh well. Jail would be an experience.

“So…he swung first?” the officer asked, glancing up as he came to the end of his notetaking.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“And you acted in self-defense the entire time?”

When I nodded, he turned his attention to Julianna. “And you corroborate his story, ma’am? Anything to add or change?”

“Yes.” She nodded immediately. “I mean, no, I don’t have anything to add or change. He said it all exactly how it happened.” With a hard glance to me, she muttered, “Probably even shared more details than I would’ve. So, yes, I support his story all the way.”

“Okay then, folks.” He nodded and flipped his notebook closed. “Thank you for your time. I’m going to go check to make sure none of the other officers have any more questions and then we’ll let you be on your way, all right?”

Both Julianna and I blinked at him in surprise. I don’t think either of us expected him to let me go just like that.

A second later, I gushed out a grateful nod. “Yeah, okay. Thanks, man.”

He nodded and turned away. Julianna let out a squeak of excitement before squeezing her arm around mine and kissing my shoulder. “Oh, thank God. I was so sure you were going to get arrested.”

I kissed her temple. “Have a little more faith in me than that, baby doll. I can talk my way out of anything.” Then with a wink, I sent her a salacious once-over. “Or into anything.”





JULIANNA’S CHAPTER | 26





“I think I’m done with this pansy-maker,” Colton announced, pulling the ice pack away from his eye. The paramedics had given it to us when they’d first arrived and checked him out. It was beginning to drip with condensation as he held it out away from him.

“I’ll go return it to them,” I offered, taking it from his hand.

“Thanks, baby doll.” He kissed me in gratitude.

Red and blue lights flashed over me as I approached the ambulance where they’d just restrained the drunk who’d fought with Colton enough to successfully get him inside. I could see two paramedics in the vehicle with him as they wrapped his arm with a temporary sling, while a third stood just outside the opened doors, talking to a pair of cops.

One of the officers noticed me and nodded respectfully. “We’ll take him to jail once they get him checked out at the hospital, okay, ma’am?”

I smiled gratefully and turned my attention to the EMT. “He says he doesn’t need this anymore, thanks.”

The guy took back the cold pack and glanced at the two departing officers before returning his attention to me. “They said all this was over a racial thing.”

I nodded and sighed, rubbing a spot on the center of my forehead where a headache was starting. “Yeah. It was.”

He shifted confidentially closer. Since he was the only other black person on the scene, I thought he was going to offer up some words of encouragement. But he said, “You know this wouldn’t have happened if you’d just stayed with your own kind, right?”

My mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”

He would’ve said more—his lips were parting to say more—but he darted a look over my shoulder and immediately shut down. I glanced around to find Colton joining us.

My poor boy was utterly spent of all energy. I was afraid he’d pass out any second as he closed his eyes and leaned into me to rest his forehead on my shoulder. “The cop just released us,” he reported. “I want to go home now.”

He was so drained, he slurred his words. I pulled back, instantly worried. “Are you sure you’re okay? You weren’t this tired a few minutes ago.”