Hard to Fight (Alpha's Heart, #1)(64)

I cross my arms. “Tell me about the abuse.”

Dean’s body flinches. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Dean. Tell me why you used to hit Kelly.”

Dean’s eyes widen and he stutters out, “I didn’t hit her.”

“But you did. We have phone records and statements from neighbors.”

“That doesn’t prove anything!” he yells.

“We also have a statement from a lady named Janet, who you raped and beat before you met Kelly.”

All the color drains from his face. Bingo.

“N-never heard of her.”

“Really?” I say, pursing my lips. “Funny, she seemed to know you pretty well.”

“This has nothing to do with that psycho Raide Knox and his case.”

“It has everything to do with it. I’m just going to come out and say it, Dean: You’re in serious trouble. We have evidence that proves you have been aggressive and violent in not just one, but two of your relationships. We have proof you took Raide and also a woman named Grace, and held them captive.”

Again, Dean flinches. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

“You do know Grace was wired, don’t you?”

His skin goes slightly paler, which tells me it was him who removed the wires. It also tells me that he now knows he’s f*cked. He says nothing, but his eyes dart to the left in fear.

“So we have proof you took her, we heard the whole thing. Now, why would you take an innocent woman if you’ve done nothing wrong?”

Dean loses it. “That f*cker was chasing me!” he bellows. “He wouldn’t let up. I was unsafe and I was doing what I could to protect myself from being his next victim.”

“But he didn’t kill Kelly, you did.”

“You know nothing!” he roars. “I didn’t kill her.”

“You did and I have a strong investigation as well as evidence against you. You’ll go away, do you understand me? I’ll make sure of it. Not to mention you’re going to be charged with assault and rape while I’m at it.”

I thank the heavens for Dean’s fried brain, for all the drugs he’s done, for his stupidity, because he bellows, “You don’t understand. You don’t. It wasn’t my fault.”

“Why don’t you tell me what happened and we’ll go easier on you,” I say, not meaning a word of it. I know that with cowards like Dean, offering anything that can save their worthless asses is always good motivation. “The harder you make this for us, the harder we’ll make this for you.”

“She made me do it. She f*cking made me do it.”

I keep calm even though everything inside me is wanting to scream with joy. “How can someone make you kill them?”

“She wouldn’t listen!” he screams, his eyes wide and frantic. “I tried to make her. Tried to make her see that I was good for her but she just wanted to run back to her brother all the time. It wasn’t meant to happen, we got into a fight. You have to believe me.”

“You took an innocent life, Dean.”

“She just wouldn’t stop!” he bellows, and his entire body jerks. “She made me do it. She made me stab her. I just wanted her to listen to me and she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t listen.”

That’s all I need. I stand and walk around the table. “Dean, you’re under the arrest for the murder of Kelly Knox, as well as the assault and rape of Janet Liason. You may speak, but be warned that anything you say or do can be used against you in the court of law.”

And just like that, another one bites the dust.





Chapter Thirty-two

Grace



My phone ringing jerks me from my sleep.

It’s been four days since Raide was locked up, and I’ve barely heard a thing about what’s been going on with him. All I’ve seen are stories on the news. I’m still staying at my parents’ house, because I can’t face going home. I rub the sleep from my eyes and stare at my flashing phone. It’s late, around 10 P.M. I glance at the screen and see it’s York.

With a yawn, I pick it up and press it to my ear. “York?”

“Grace, honey, sorry if I woke you.”

“What is it?”

“Good news. We arrested Dean tonight. He admitted to the murder.”

I blink. My entire world stops spinning.

“Grace?”

“He—” I wheeze. “—confessed?”

“Yes, he confessed. He’s under arrest? awaiting trial. He’s been denied bail. He’s going down.”

I burst into a fit of tears, my entire body sinking back onto the bed. “And Raide?” I croak.

“They’ll be going to trial on Monday. Raide will be cleared of charges, however, he still skipped bail.”

“How long do you think he’ll get?”

“Probably three to six months.”

That’s not life, though. I can live with three to six months.

“Thank you so much, York. Thank you.”

“No problem at all, honey. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Night, Grace.”

“Night, York.”