Fidelity (Infidelity #5)(21)

The door opened and we stepped outside. My party dress was little covering for the cooled night breeze. Immediately I wrapped my arms around myself as goose bumps prickled my skin.

“Mrs. Spencer?” the officer asked.

“No, Officer, I’m Miss Collins, Alexandria Collins.”

Under the tall tarmac lights, he eyed me up and down. “You appear to be dressed for a wedding.”

“For a party, actually.” My teeth chattered. “I was told you wanted to speak to me. I’m assuming it wasn’t about my attire.”

“No, ma’am. We need to speak to you about your husband.”

“Officer, I’m not married.”

“She’s not—”

“Ma’am,” the officer interrupted both of us as Nox and I spoke simultaneously. “He’s very upset, demanding that you…” He turned toward Chelsea. “…both of you come to the police station.”

It was then that he took a step back and scanned Chelsea. “Ma’am, are you Miss Chelsea Moore?”

“Yes.”

“What happened to you? Did someone harm you?”

“Do you have the authority to stop these two women from leaving Savannah?” Deloris asked.

“Not at this time, but the court can demand they return. Wouldn’t it be easier to stay?”

It would, but I didn’t want to. I turned to Nox. “I want to leave. If I have to come back, I’ll come back.”

“Mrs. Spencer,” the officer said, “we’ll need your contact information.”

I wasn’t willing to argue my name any longer, but unfortunately, I didn’t know my own contact information. I wasn’t sure where we were going and the only phone in my handbag was the one Alton gave me. I didn’t know the number. I turned toward Deloris. “Can you please provide him a way to reach both of us?”

Deloris nodded.

He spoke again. “It wouldn’t take long, if you would reconsider. Your husband has been very insistent.”

“Officer, for the last time, I didn’t marry Edward Spencer. Besides, the last I heard, the last I witnessed, he was being arrested. How can he possibly be making demands of the Savannah-Chatham police?”

“It’s that there is press. Your father—”

I stood taller. “Officer…” I looked to the pin above his badge. “…Michaels, the man you’re referring to is my stepfather, not my father. I’m not married and even if I were, I’m an adult and capable of deciding where I will and won’t go. Right now, since you obviously don’t have the legal ability to retain me, I plan to accompany my friends onto that plane.” I motioned toward the waiting craft. “I appreciate your position, but I am leaving Savannah of my own free will and will voluntarily return when I must.”

Nox moved behind me. “If there isn’t anything else…”

“We’re paying the pilots, and this discussion is costing us by the minute,” Deloris added.

Nox’s hand settled in the small of my back as he led me toward the plane’s steps.

It was as my thin heel touched the second stair that the gentleman with the lanyard who’d stayed back came forward. “Mr. Demetri?”

We both stilled.

“Yes?” Nox replied.

“Sir, Mrs. Spencer—or Miss Collins, whoever you are, ma’am—is right. We cannot stop her or Miss Moore from leaving; however, you may not leave.”

“What?”

“Sir, there has just been a warrant signed by the judge.” He took a step back. “Come down the stairs peacefully.”

“On what grounds?” Deloris asked.

“Mr. Lennox Demetri, you are under arrest.”

“No!” I reached for Nox’s hand and turned toward the police. “For what? He’s innocent.” As I spoke I looked at the hand in my grasp. In the car I’d noticed that Nox’s knuckles were swollen and lacerated. I doubted that it happened with the one punch he’d given Alton, but nevertheless, it could be used as evidence.

“Princess,” Nox said, “go with Deloris. There’s someone who needs you.”

My momma.

The thought tore at my heart. She was stable. That was what the text said. I couldn’t… I wouldn’t make this decision again.

My head moved from side to side as tears filled my eyes. “I need you.” Turning toward the police. “Please, I’m Alexandria Montague Collins. Surely that means something. I’ll personally vouch for this man. He’s innocent of whatever charges my stepfather wants to drum up.”

The man with the lanyard removed the gun from his holster. “Mr. Demetri, step down from the plane.”

Nox pulled me close until our lips touched. The connection created a peaceful stillness within the eye of a hurricane. All around us the perilous winds blew, destroying lives with their vicious lies and betrayal, yet with just the two of us, the world was right. As our lips separated, he said, “Go.”

“No. I won’t leave without you. Not again.”

We both took a step down.

As soon as Nox’s shoes hit the tarmac, the officer who’d been speaking with him earlier came forward with a pair of handcuffs. The pressure in my chest was suffocating. In the course of a little over two hours, I’d watched two of the men in my life be handcuffed and taken away.