“We told him his girlfriend, Lake Monroe, was also taken into custody.”

Oh, Keiran…

“Are you pursuing additional charges?”

“No need. We’ll have enough to put him away for the rest of his life.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, counselor. Not in my court.” Maybe she would be reasonable after all. I stood with my future in the balance and wondered how Keiran could be so calm. I looked over and found him watching me, and I knew he was more worried about me than about the hearing.

“Let’s proceed.”

The hearing took longer than the first had. I went into this with a little hope, but by the end, I was sweating a river and ready to let my tears join the party.

“I’ll allow the release of Lake Monroe at fifty thousand dollars. However, Keiran Masters will remain in custody until the trial, which will be set at a later date.”

“Your honor—”

“My ruling has been made, counselor. Keiran has proven he is more than capable—and willing, I might add, of violence.”

What?

No.

Keiran was good. Why couldn’t anyone see just how good he wanted to be?

I had to endure them taking him away again. He took one last look at me over his shoulder and asked me with his eyes to keep it together. I never felt as alone as I did when the door opened and he disappeared from sight.

“Dash is waiting outside to take you away from this place,” Thompson informed.

“I can’t leave him.”

“You have to. I suspected this would happen, and so did he. I don’t know him well, but something tells me he can take care of himself and able to think better knowing you’re safe and out of here.”

Was he right? Could this be better?

“Go. I have to look after Keiran.”

I nodded and sought the nearest exit. Each step I took toward freedom felt more as if I was abandoning him.

Dash was waiting outside just as Thompson promised. He rushed up the steps just to walk back down with me. I’d never admit it to him and risk inflating his ego, but he was very adept at reading a girl’s emotions. It was probably what got him laid so much in high school.

We reached the bottom of the stairs where he turned to me and looked me over much the same way Keiran had done but without the sense of possession.

“How are you holding up?” he asked as he hugged me.

“It’s a miracle I’m even still standing at all. I don’t think I can feel my legs, but I can feel everything in my stomach and it wants out.”

“Makes sense. You look like you’re about to turn green.”

“I don’t understand why they won’t release him.”

He let me go to shove his hands in his pockets and released a deep breath. “I’m not really surprised. The courts tend to be harder on people with priors and Keiran is far from a saint.”

“Not helping,” I grumbled. He opened his passenger for me and gestured me inside then got in on his side.

“Your man’s a badass, babe. What can I say?”

“Is it wrong to wish he never helped that woman?”

“He didn’t do it for her. He did it for you. Everything he does is for you. Every move he makes and doesn’t make is all because of what he thinks will make him worthy of you.”

“Except doing the right thing backfired on him. I doubt I’ll be a factor next time.”

“Let’s hope there isn’t a next time, and even if there were, you should know Keiran isn’t so easily moved. He wants you, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”

I realized he might have been right and decided not to argue. Besides, my inability to believe in him is what got us into this. Keiran gave up revenge against his father for me. His ability to be good was something I would never question again.

“What do we do now?”

“Thompson says they’re after Keiran now, but they’ll likely try to get you as an accomplice. We need to work on your defense.”

“They said he confessed to Laurie.”

“We both know that’s bullshit.”

“I think I just needed to hear it from someone other than my own head.”

“What? You don’t believe he’s innocent?”

“No, that’s not it. I know Q killed Mitch. I was there. I might as well have orchestrated the whole thing. I had no idea Q felt so strongly about Mitch.”

“He doesn’t, but he owed a debt to John. Otherwise, he’d have been left dead in a dumpster or a ditch.”