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“You need to,” he said. “We have to fix shit in this county. Without you at the helm, that won’t happen.”

I gritted my teeth.

“Boys.”

I looked over my shoulder and frowned.

“Could you help me?” Holly asked Denver. “Jessamy had to go.”

I searched for her. “She doesn’t have a car.”

Holly winced. “I forgot about that.”

That’s when my cruiser fired up and started down the street.

“Son of a bitch.”

Denver threw his head back and laughed.

Seventeen

Might give out a few free samples of my attitude today.

—Text from Jessamy to Black

Jessamy

I parked the cruiser at my place.

I was going to get into so much trouble.

But I found that I didn’t care.

I wasn’t doing so well, and I needed to leave.

Plus, I didn’t want to talk to Black.

I wanted to escape.

Should I have stolen the police cruiser to do that?

Probably not.

But somehow, I knew that he wouldn’t be too mad about it.

I parked it around the back side of my house and left the keys under the mat on the floorboard.

I then sent him a message.

I’d been sitting on his number for years, having it in my phone book just in case.

I’d never used it, though.

Not until today.

I closed the door, then walked to the back of the house and used my thumbprint to get inside.

I set the alarm, then took the longest shower that I could, luxuriating in the hot water that my new hot water heater could now handle. I’d had it replaced recently and I was in love.