Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail(30)

I blinked.

Her smile grew wider as she whispered, "I love it! I was hoping that boy would burst some pizzazz in you. You need some nights like these. You're too good, too uptight at times."

"Wha—huh?" Josh gaped.

Viola glanced over and barked, "You. What's your name and relation?"

I pushed him away. "He—he—he's no one. He's leaving. He's going to sit over there." I pointed across the waiting room.

Josh stood up and sat down in the corner, but at a slow pace.

Viola took his seat. "I know I should be the uppity grandmother, but I just can't. You've never been involved when he's gotten in trouble and you're involved this time. You were there! I am basking in this moment because I know you'll punish yourself ten times over from what a normal guardian would do. That's why—" She indulged in a sweet smile and patted my head. "—I can't do anything except hug you. I'll make margaritas when we get home."

Her arms wrapped around me and I stiffened. My face was pushed into her smock and I mumbled to it, "You are completely abnormal."

Viola laughed and then sighed, replete. "God, child. I have been waiting for your rebellious streak to unearth itself. I've been worried that even Brady couldn't get some of that naughtiness out."

"Grandma!" I hissed.

She shook her head and her curlers whipped back and forth. "Rayna, it's not healthy to be as straight laced as you are. This is a good thing. If you get pregnant, that'd be bad." Her hand patted my shoulder. "I know you're too good to be that stupid. And thank god that Brady hasn't impregnated some girl too. Now, talking of Brady—let me at Bailor. Where is he?" She whipped around, fixed the clerk with a determined scowl, and stalked back across the lounge.

Pregnant. That was the only word I'd heard. There was no way I was pregnant…

"That's your grandma?" Josh slipped back into his seat.

I shook my head, lost in my own hazy hell. I could not be pregnant. No way.

"She's scary. I think you saved my life." Josh laughed and shook his head. "Now I get why Uncle Frank always growls when Kid talks about you. I wouldn't want to go up against that either."

I perked up. "Kid talks about me?"

"Constantly. I think he does it because it drives Uncle Frank crazy. Kid gets a kick out of that." He frowned. "I shouldn't have told you that."

I shrugged. "I get it. Brady likes to drive my grandma crazy too."

Josh grunted, annoyed.

Then a back door opened with a harsh bang. Deputy Doug led the way, followed by a stoic Frank Stephens. A bloodied and bruised Kid followed next and his shoulders were tense underneath his shirt. I caught a swooning look from the clerk when she saw the long tear in Kid's shirt, but she felt my gaze. Her eyes snapped to mine and I heard her "harrumph" before she turned back to the desk.

"Dude," Josh greeted as he stood beside me.

Kid grinned and bypassed his dad to thump his cousin on the shoulder. When Josh returned the favour, Kid suppressed a grimace, but Josh wrapped an arm around his shoulder to give him a one armed man-hug.

The clerk still watched him underneath her eyelashes. She reminded me of a hungry cat eyeing up a bowl of cream.

"Are you pressing charges?" Josh questioned just as Kid's eyes met mine.

I jerked in shock at the look of apology and regret. What would Kid would be apologetic for…and towards me? Then I remembered Brady.

He was pressing charges.

"I understand, Mr. Stephens. I can promise that this will be the last altercation between the two boys. The restraining order will come into effect at midnight and this should be the last you see of Mr. Remington," Deputy Dog rasped out. He stood to his fullest height and held a firm hand out to Frank, who ignored it and instead swept cold eyes towards his son. He narrowed them for a brief second and an inaudible look was passed from father to son, but it was gone the next instant as Frank Stephens scanned his nephew and landed on me.

Chills went down my back.

I'd always known about Frank Stephens, how he had terrorized half the town into selling their businesses. Viola had ranted and raved about the injustice of our system when he'd hiked up the prices in every store and gas station that he owned. He would've been banned from having a monopoly over the town if it weren't for a small family-owned gas station. The stories hadn't mattered to me because I had never seen the infamous Frank Stephens in person and now that I had, I wished I hadn't come.

He stood tall with a muscular build underneath a three-piece suit. With sandy brown hair that looked swept carelessly to the side and piercing blue eyes, I could see why the Senior Kidrick was rumoured to go from affair to affair. He exuded a cold disdain that was mixed with strong confidence. None of that mattered to me, but I sucked in my breath at the sight of pure hatred in his eyes when he stared at me.

"Dad," Kid growled in warning.

Deputy Doug cleared his throat.

I couldn't look away from Mr. Stephens. I desperately wanted to, but I couldn't for some reason.

"Let's go, Dad." Kid moved back across the room and stood in the line of fire between his father and me.

I jerked at the sudden loss of…whatever it was. When my hand trembled, I flushed and tucked it in my back pocket. Then a door to the left opened and everyone heard the sound of locks turning in a back room. A police officer led the way and I tensed even more when I heard the familiar sound of my best friend's swagger.