by Hannah Ford
“I had them wrap it up,” Noah said. “I thought it would taste better at my place.”
I smiled. “It will taste better at your place,” I said.
“Then let’s go.” He took my hand and led me through the main part of the restaurant toward the front door. I liked that he was holding my hand, that he was showing the world that we were together.
I liked belonging to him.
When we got out onto the sidewalk, I looked around for his car.
“The car’s waiting down the block,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to take it, or if you were more comfortable walking.”
“I’m okay with the car.” I appreciated that he was asking me this, loved that he wanted to make sure I was okay with taking the car after I’d been hesitant before. And I was okay with it now. I felt foolish for not trusting him, for going against my instincts and thinking he might have done something wrong.
Noah wasn’t a murderer.
He was the man I was falling in love with.
We were halfway to the limo when it happened.
Three police cars pulled up to the sidewalk, their sirens blaring, throwing beams of red and blue light onto the concrete.
Two cops got out of the car, guns drawn.
“Noah Cutler,” one of them yelled. “Put your hands up in the air! Right now, put your hands up in the air!”
My heart pounded in my chest, the blood rushing in my ears. Noah dropped my hand and stepped away from me. I went to grab it again reflexively, but he was already moving away, out of my reach.
“Really?” Noah asked, sighing. “It had to go down this way?”
The cop reached into his pocket and pulled out his handcuffs. “Noah Cutler,” he said. “You’re under arrest for the murder of Katie Price. You have the right to remain silent…”
He kept talking, reading Noah his rights, but I couldn’t hear him. It was suddenly like everything was happening in the slow motion haze of a nightmare I couldn’t get out of. I was rooted in place, unable to move, unable to talk, unable to even process what was going on.
“Call Worthington,” Noah instructed me before they loaded him into the back of the police car.
I tried to pull out my phone and call Professor Worthington, but I couldn’t. I was frozen in place. And I stayed frozen in place, watching as the sirens started back up and the cruiser pulled back onto the street.
Bile rose up in my throat and I leaned over and dry heaved onto the sidewalk.
Noah had been arrested.
Which could only mean two things.
One, they had evidence implicating him in Katie’s murder.
And two, things were about to get even more complicated.
Finally, I pulled out my phone and dialed Professor Worthington.
“Professor,” I said when he answered. “We have a problem.”
END OF BOOK FIVE -- Click here for Book Six, WHAT HE PROTECTS, available now! If you are enjoying the series, please consider leaving a review on BOOK ONE.