Rowdy (Marked Men #5)(73)

I could see she was spinning herself out of control and Rowdy was at a loss as to how to get her back on track. I stepped around him and grabbed her wrists to pull her hands out of her hair.

“Ayden, breathe for a second.” Her whiskey-colored eyes flashed at me and for a split second I thought she was going to take a swing at me, but she did what I said and took a series of deep breaths and I noticed her hands unclenched. “We’re here. We know he didn’t do this and we are ready to help him fight to prove it. He won’t be alone.”

“I’ve been here for over three hours waiting for them to bring him out. It gave me too much time to remember what this is like. Seeing your brother or anyone you love in handcuffs sucks.”

“I know, honey, but this time trouble found him, he didn’t go looking for it. That might happen from time to time and it wouldn’t matter if you are here, in Austin, or on the moon. Your brother just has that way about him.”

I wasn’t lying to her. It was there in Asa’s wicked grin and effortless charm. Boys that pretty and that smooth were bound to end up in hot water from time to time even if they were actively trying to avoid it.

I think she was going to say something back, but just then Rowdy called her name as Royal and a man also in a dark blue police uniform guided Ayden’s brother to where we were waiting. Royal wouldn’t meet Ayden’s gaze, so she settled on looking at me. I could see in her dark eyes a hundred different levels of turmoil as she said, “Sorry it took so long. Getting the paperwork together took longer than it should have.” She sighed. “You’re lucky they let you bail him out without having to go in front of a judge first.”

Ayden gasped and Rowdy swore when Asa stepped around the police officers and the damage to his face became clear. One of his eyes was swollen entirely shut, his lips were puffy and swollen, and there was a gash across his chin that looked gory and nasty. It looked like it probably could have used a stitch or two to hold it shut.

“Oh my God, Asa! Are you okay?”

He caught Ayden before she could plow into him the way she had done to Rowdy and then winced when she hugged him too tightly.

“I’ve been better.”

“You need to go to a doctor, or let Saint look at you.” She sounded like she was going to cry.

“Naw, it’s nothing that won’t wash off.” His eyes flicked over to Rowdy and they exchanged some kind of guy look that clearly communicated he was in way more pain than he was letting on. “Thanks for getting me out, Ayd.”

That was what sent her over the edge. Big fat tears started rolling off her inky lashes, and even though it obviously pained him to do so, Asa pulled her closer to hug.

“It’s fine.”

“Why didn’t you tell them you didn’t do it?” Rowdy asked the question to Asa, but he was looking at Royal and I saw her wince. Her partner scowled at the lot of us and crossed his arms over his beefy chest.

Asa didn’t answer but he looked over his sister’s head right at Royal. The two of them had a weird stare-off until her partner obviously got sick of it and instructed all of us, “He has a court date in a few days. Try and keep him out of trouble until then.” He made a face. “Next time I doubt so many people will be willing to pull strings to spring him loose so quickly.”

He nudged Royal as he turned to walk away. She bit down on her lower lip and looked at me somewhat pleadingly. How I became the ally I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t hold anything against her. She was normally so full of fire and sass it was odd seeing her sort of reserved and almost apologetic.

“I was just doing my job.” It was a job she loved and was good at. I knew that even though I had only spent a handful of hours in her company.

“We all know that, Royal.” I was trying to reassure her but her gaze had locked on to Asa and I don’t think she was talking to the rest of us at all.

Ayden pulled away from her brother and looked at the redhead balefully. “I can’t believe you tossed him in a jail cell with his face looking like that and kept him overnight.”

I saw a pink flush race up Royal’s throat and she opened her mouth to defend herself, but Asa cut it all short.

“Stop. If I was someone else, someone better to begin with, none of us would even be here. I used to know better than to underestimate a slick kid with a lot of hate and entitlement. Leave the pretty cop alone, Ayd. She even apologized when she put the cuffs on me last night.” He winked at Royal out of his good eye. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t need to spend any more time in a police station than necessary.” He smirked, at least I think that’s what it was supposed to be, but considering the current mangled state of his handsome face, it was hard to tell. “Even if they are like a second home by now.”

Ayden gritted her teeth and told him, “You’re not funny,” as she hurried to apologize to Royal for biting her head off.

We were all ready to be anywhere but here, so I gladly followed Rowdy as he headed toward the front doors of the station. Ayden was right on my heels and I didn’t miss hearing Asa tell Royal before he followed us, “It’s a shame, Red, you, me, and handcuffs could be a whole lot of fun in a different context.” Only Asa would be throwing out lines while he looked like crap and still smelled like jail and dried blood.

I thought I saw Royal blush again and I know for sure I saw her jaw drop open just a little bit, and immediately thought they were both asking for trouble. Asa was a careless flirt and obviously not going to be interested in a girl that had arrested him. If he was, it was all about the game and revenge for a guy like him. Royal was lively and full of spirit, but I had seen the hint of vulnerability in her when she walked the sexy southerner out to us, and a guy like Asa would devour that, and her, if he got the opportunity. I thought it was probably for the best her badge and gun were enough to keep him from seeing how gorgeous and wonderful she was underneath them.