Fearless (Broken Love, #5)(17)

They knew I was there when Mitch was killed.

I was a murderer.

I’d spend the rest of my life in jail.

They’d even gone as far as to taunt me with the possibility of Keiran breaking up with me over the loss of his father. It took everything I had not to snort at that one. He would be angry that I lied and put myself at risk, but he wouldn’t mourn a single second over the loss of his father.

“Monroe.” Hearing my name called with hostility brought me back to a time when I was afraid of my own shadow. I reminded myself that girl was gone and met the officer’s stare. “Your lawyer is here. You’re free to go.”

“My lawyer? Are you sure?”

He didn’t bother to answer and placed the cuffs around my wrist through the space built into the bars before releasing me from my bacteria infested confines. For the hours I spent caged inside, I had more than enough time to conjure up all manner of grime that likely infiltrated my skin by now.

My heart rate accelerated with each step. The guard released me from my cuffs and I collected my clothes in a clear ziplock bag, changed, and was signed out in less than fifteen minutes. I remained stunned and silent through it all.

“Fourteen minutes and thirty-eight seconds. Good job, boys. You get to keep your jobs after all.” A large man with salt and pepper hair and an exceptionally white smile hurried to my side. When he extended a hand, the cuff of his jacket pushed back, revealing a large Rolex. This man was money, which meant he meant business. “Hello, Miss Monroe. I hope you are well.”

“How—who are you?” I looked around waiting for the punch line.

“Thompson of Thompson & Bain. I’ll be taking your case.”

“Who hired you?”

“Keiran Masters. I’m a friend of a friend of a friend.”

“Meaning?”

“I represent Richard Simon’s legal matters.”

My shoulders relaxed. Willow must have called her dad. “Where is everyone?”

“Outside. They thought it would be best to wait outside. Just in case things didn’t go as planned,” he added at my look of confusion. I knew what he wasn’t saying. We all knew it was better to keep Keiran as far away from police as possible.

Take a deep breath.

Release.

Before leaving the precinct, Thompson instructed me to appear in court by nine sharp and not to leave town. It was a condition of my unusual release.

“Ok. Let’s go.” I was eager to get this over with. I wasn’t going to run away from Keiran this time. I stuck my hand in my pockets to keep them from shaking and pushed the door open with my hip. I’d forgotten I hadn’t seen daylight for almost twenty-four hours and immediately, used one of my hands to shield my eyes from the sun.

“Damn, man. That was quick,” I heard Dash speak from my right. My eyes were still adjusting, but my body had already sensed Keiran. I felt him move closer. The heat of his body scorched me faster than the sun.

When my eyes were finally adjusted, I witnessed the emotionless set of his face. His eyes were the exact opposite. I was completely enthralled by the storm raging inside.

“Come with me,” he growled.

He didn’t give me a chance to speak as he took my arm, leading me to his car parked nearby. I attempted to gauge his mood, but he avoided meeting my gaze, so I was left wondering as he got in and drove off. My phone buzzed shortly after with a text from Willow.

I glanced at Keiran in the driver’s seat. The muscle in his jaw clenched, and his knuckles were nearly white as he gripped the steering wheel. The engine of the car raced as he pushed it faster than the speed limit allowed.

Don’t go home with him, Willow’s text said.

He won’t hurt me, I texted back and immediately silenced my phone. I knew who Keiran once was just as I know him now. He wouldn’t hurt me, and I wouldn’t let him if he tried.

We pulled into Keenan and Sheldon’s driveway and he cut the engine. We listened to the car settle in silence as the rain began to lightly fall.

“How was I released so early? Shouldn’t I have been brought before a judge before making bail?”

“There was never a warrant for your arrest.”

“Come again?”

“They never had probable cause that you were the one to murder Mitch so a warrant was never issued. You were taken under false pretenses. It was a set-up.”

“But how can that be? I—” I stopped when I realized the hole I was digging was just getting deeper with each word spoken.

Keiran’s eyes dilated until he was seething with anger. “You what? Are you about to tell me you killed my father?” When I stared ahead, he punched out at the steering wheel causing the horn to blare. My guilt was written in my silence. “Damn it, Lake!”

“Calm down.” I refused to cower no matter how intimidating he could be.

“Don’t fucking say that. Don’t tell me to calm down.”

“I’m not fighting with you in the car, Keiran.” I snatched his keys from the ignition and yanked open the door. Storming to the door, I left him to follow or sulk alone in the rain.

“Get back here!”

The rain was pounding down hard now, drowning out his roar. I ignored him and threw open the front door. I guessed everyone decided to leave Keiran and me to sort out our shit since we were completely alone.