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“Sure,” I said. As if I cared what she believed. “What was it that you think that I did?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Your brother called and said that someone broke into his place. Stole his money, his car keys, and his car.”

I snorted. “I didn’t steal anything of his. I was here, all night.”

“You’re going to have to come down to the station,” she said. “He has video evidence that you were there.”

I laughed. “I’m sure he does. You do know that AI exists, right? I’m sure that I’m ‘caught red-handed’ for you to see. Did I wear nice clothes? Were any identifying marks just readily available?”

Her lips thinned.

“I was here. All night. One, I was working on a beta video game with a friend, who can vouch for me that I was here with him. I also have billable hours, and not only am I recorded the entire time for my YouTube channel as well as several other channels, like my live stream, but I also have my security system that says that I was here.”

I pointed at the wall of windows. “Also, smile. You’re on camera. And I’ll be sharing this with your boss how you forced your way into my house.”

Dempsey looked at my setup. “I’m going to need proof.”

I scoffed. “Of course you do.”

I walked to the wall of monitors and pulled up last night.

“Whose truck is in the driveway?”

I ignored her, skipping the part where Black came over and into my house.

“What was that part that you skipped?” she pushed.

“The part where it’s none of your fucking business,” I said. “You’re interested in a specific time frame. Not that one.”

She started to push me out of the way, ready to force it, but I hit a button and locked the entire system down.

She growled and reached for her cuffs.

“I don’t think so.”

Black stepped out of the room, making my heart pound.

Dempsey paused in her reaching for me, handcuffs in her hand.

“One,” Black said, “you were informed that harassment of Jessamy Darling was not to be tolerated. I had this discussion with you before your hiring and just this week. Two, I have heard nothing about Leo Darling and his accusations. We’ve had several briefings of AI as well, with a lot of stuff being faked now. Easily. You can’t force your way into people’s homes. You also can’t walk into their property when there’s a gate, code or not. That was for emergency services. And there was no emergency here.”

Dempsey’s mouth fell open at the sight of Black coming out of my laundry room.

He also didn’t hide his sex hair, shoeless self, or familiarity.

“She was with me last night,” he said. “All night.”

Dempsey stiffened.

“I don’t know what it is that you have against her,” he said. “But if she wants to press charges here, I’ll let her.”

I crossed my arms over my braless chest, causing the sweatshirt that I wore to ride up even higher.

Neither Black nor Dempsey missed it.

Dempsey took in my clothes, and I could tell that she was steaming mad.

I was in Black’s shirt.