Fuck. No, I don’t. No, I fucking don’t because I only signed the papers today.
“No,” I ground out.
He nods, taking notes on his little notepad.
“Hold tight. I’ll be right back.”
The door closes, and I shut my eyes, focusing on breathing. I’m going to need a restraining order. I’ll have to do that next. There’s no other option at this point. I don’t want to keep using Harmon for the pull he has, but… I will for this. To keep my sisters safe, I will do anything.
The door is opened again. “So, we can’t find anything to verify what you’re saying. She’s got a scratch on her arm, so we’re taking you in.”
“You’re what?” I shout. “Taking me in for a fucking scratch. Have you looked at me?”
“Calm down, sir. We’re taking her in too, so we can get this sorted.”
“This is bullshit! I didn’t fucking do anything! She showed up here screaming her head off, and she attacked me!”
The officer ignores me and shuts the door.
I’m so angry my vision starts to go black.
The only good thing about lying in this cell is how quiet it is. They took my mother to a different area because all she did was scream. It would be nice to know they took her to a psych ward or something, but she’d probably love that. Free drugs.
Once the heavy door was closed, I couldn’t hear a damn thing from the other side. There is no one else in this section but me, but it’s only a couple of cells in a short hallway. The bed is hard and cold, but it’s quiet… peaceful.
The door opens, waking me, and I open my eyes, shooting up when I see Harmon standing on the other side of the bars with a young officer.
“Harmon—”
The door swings open and the officer steps aside to allow me out. It almost feels like a trick, but I move quickly, staring at Harmon in surprise.
I’m not surprised he’s here; I called him. But I’m surprised he was let into the back to come get me. I can’t say I’m thrilled for him to see me like this either.
Once I’m out of the cell and standing feet from him, I want to leap into his arms. But I don’t because even though he hasn’t said it directly, no one can know we’re together.
No one can know he’s gay. He’s told me it’s a secret, that he’s worried about it ruining his company. So, as much as I want to show him how grateful I am that he showed up for me, I hold back, and that crank around my chest tightens even more.
“You fellas have a good night. Sorry about the inconvenience,” the officer says as he holds the door open for us to leave.
Just like that?
Just that simple…
I’m slowly learning what it’s like to have money and power.
Harmon doesn’t say a single word to me as we leave the station and get into his car. He starts it but doesn’t go anywhere. We sit. And though he’s done nothing to make me feel this way, I feel like I’m about to be scolded.
Everything hits me all at once, and the tears fall like rain.
Harmon’s arms are around me, his soft voice soothing me. I can’t stop crying though. Wracking sobs fall out of me. My body is shaking. My vision is blurry. It comes and comes and comes, and there’s no stopping it. I don’t even know what it all is. I can’t think clearly, all I can do is let it all out. Right here in Harmon’s arms, in his car, parked in the police station.
“It’s okay,” he says. “You’re okay.”
“No,” I breathe out. “No, this is not okay! I can’t—I c-can’t—”
“It’s okay,” he says again, still hugging me.
“I called you and…” I take a deep breath. “I called you and not my sisters because I didn’t even know their numbers! I called you for help because I memorized your number and not theirs. They’re probably so worried about me. I don’t know if they’re okay, if they know, if they saw anything… No one would tell me anything, and I—fuck! I hate this!”