Page 116 of The Complete Truth Duet
And then we were getting out of that life for good.
I couldn’t decide what Thomas was playing at. My court date wasn’t for another few days and I’d figured he’d drag it out as long as the law would allow.
But whatever the reason, if it got me River back, I wasn’t going to complain.
As Drew pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Thomas’s Cadillac. Dread filled my stomach, but with the countdown on, his reign of corruption was nearing an end.
I froze halfway out. “What are you doing?”
Drew also stilled, his door open, one of his boots on the asphalt. He quirked an eyebrow. “Going with you?”
“No. You’re staying here.”
“You’ve lost your damn mind, woman.”
“You walk in there with me, he’s going to assume you’re my boyfriend. I’m not handing him one more person to use against me next time he gets pissed.”
“He can assume whatever the fuck he wants, but he gets the wild hair to put his hands on you again and I’m gonna be there to lock that shit down real quick.”
And that was exactly why I couldn’t let Drew come inside with me.
Over the last week, I’d learned that, while in jail, Manuel had filled Drew in on all things Thomas Lyons. It didn’t surprise me in the least that even four years later, Manuel was still fuming. He firmly believed that no one crossed a Guerrero. And Thomas had not only turned on him, but he’d used Manuel’s own daughter to put him away—the ultimate stab in the back.
It also didn’t surprise me that Drew had spent the last week ranting and raving about Thomas. He hadn’t been able to look at me without getting pissed over the bruises on my face and neck. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if they came face-to-face. Thomas’s monstrosity of an ego would never allow that confrontation to end in Drew’s favor.
“He’s not going to pull anything,” I assured him. “It’s a group home for teens. I won’t be the only one in there. He’ll be on his best pretentious-lawyer behavior. Come on, Drew. He got the charges dropped. Don’t give him another reason to stir up more trouble for us.”
“They were bullshit charges to begin with. He’s hardly a hero.”
“No. But I’m getting River back. Let’s try not to make any waves today.” I climbed the rest of the way out of the truck, facing him as I straightened my mint green tank-top and smoothed my wind-tousled hair down. “What about this…” I retrieved my phone and punched in his number. A muffled ringing came from his back pocket. “You can listen. If you hear anything that doesn’t seem right, you’re only a few yards away.”
He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Penn would literally body-slam me for even considering this.”
Some days were easier than others. Sometimes the thought of Penn slashed through me like shrapnel. Other times, the memory of him gave me peace and comfort. And that day, as I was only minutes away from getting my daughter back, I actually smiled at the thought of Penn’s angry scowl.
“Please, Drew.”
He retrieved the phone and answered by putting it to his ear and saying, “This line disconnects and I’m busting through that door like the Kool-Aid man.”
I giggled.
He glowered—definitely related to Penn.
But before he had the chance to change his mind, I said, “I’ll be right back,” and shut the door.
Holding my phone, I jogged up the sidewalk to the front door and then knocked.
A woman in her late forties with a severe case of resting bitch face answered. “Can I help you?”
I smiled wide and genuine. “I’m here to pick up my daughter.”
Her nose crinkled as she gave me a confused head-to-toe. It was everyone’s reaction when they found out I had a teenage daughter. I’d always looked younger than I was, which at twenty-nine was a blessing when it came to forking out cash on anti-wrinkle serum, but not so much when it came to convincing people I was a fit mother.
“River,” I filled in when she didn’t reply. “Guerrero.”
Her eyebrows shot up, but it didn’t soften her judgmental glare.
Thomas’s large frame appeared behind her. His lips tipped up in a slimy grin as he met my gaze, his words aimed at the woman. “Cynthia, I’ll handle this. Get the child.”
“Sure. No problem,” she said, strolling away with the speed of a slug.
My pulse quickened and I clutched the phone tighter, careful not to press any of the buttons.
“Cora,” he greeted, shoving a hand into the pocket of his slacks. “Do come in.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, stepping over the threshold.
He glanced over his shoulder in time to see Ms. Cheery exit through a door leading deeper into the building. “I trust you’ve been in touch with Catalina.”
I shifted my gaze to the wall and used my free hand to worry my necklace. “She won’t be back.”
