“I can’t. I can’t do that.” The words were breathless. “Please, Dev. Don’t make me do that to him. You don’t have to arrest her. We could let her leave—”
“No. We can’t. I don’t have a choice.” He crawled his fingers forward and clasped her hand in his. “We don’t have a choice. But we can try to protect Bodie. Okay? You can tell Melody you want to show her something. Tell your mom and Bodie you’ll be right back. I’ll wait outside, and we can do this fast. Before Bodie even knows what’s happening.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Oh my god. This’ll break his heart. He was so happy to see her. He was so excited about starting a new life…”
Dev glanced across the room again. Now Charity’s family all sat in the booth watching them. “You can’t cry, Char. You have to be strong. For Bodie.” He forced a smile. They had to pretend like nothing was wrong. “If she runs, I’ll have to go after her. We can’t let that happen. Okay?” It was asking so much—too much—he knew that, but there was no other way. “You’re so strong. You can do this,” he told her. “Just for a few minutes.”
“And then what?” She staggered a step back. “What am I am supposed to tell her son when I come back in without her?”
It didn’t matter how she told him, Bodie would be devastated. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, honey. If there were any other way, I’d do it. I just don’t want to risk Bodie seeing her get arrested. I don’t want him—”
“Aunt Charity?” Her nephew appeared next to them.
Dev had been so focused on Charity, he hadn’t been watching.
“Mom says we don’t have time for breakfast anymore.” Bodie sounded apologetic. “She said we have a long drive and we have to go. She told me to meet her in the car.”
Shit. She knew. Bodie probably told her he was a cop. Dev slipped past Charity and Bodie, moving swiftly toward the door. “Stay here,” he called behind him. “Both of you. Stay here.”
“What’s going on?” Panic shrilled through the boy’s voice.
“Everything’s okay,” Dev heard Charity say behind him.
But Dev already knew nothing would be okay. There was no way to contain the situation now, and he couldn’t think about it—about what this would do to Bodie or Charity, he had to be a cop. He had to do his job.
Dev bolted out the doors and spotted an old Honda Civic he didn’t recognize. He sprinted to the car just as Melody slid in behind the wheel.
Before she could start the engine, he ripped open the driver’s side door. “Step out of the car.”
“No.” Her hand shook hard as she jammed the key into the ignition. “No! You don’t understand! I didn’t want to do it! He made me! Cody made me!”
“Don’t say another word,” Dev cautioned. “And don’t make this harder on everyone. Your son is right inside that restaurant.”
“Mom!” Bodie shot through the door with Charity and Tammi right behind him.
“Hold him back,” Dev yelled.
“What’re you doing? What the hell are you doing?” Charity’s nephew screeched. Dev cast a quick glance over his shoulder. Charity and Tammi closed in on either side him, both wrapping their arms around him.
“No! Mom! What’s happening?”
Dev blocked out the kid’s cries before they made his knees buckle. He leaned down so Melody would look at him. “Step out of the car and come with me nice and easy, and I won’t cuff you,” he said quietly.
Tears stained her cheeks, but she kept the keys in the ignition.
Behind him, Bodie was sobbing. Dev had handled plenty of messy situations in his career, but none of them had made him want to sob. I’m sorry, kid. Damn, he hated this. There had to be a way to minimize the damage. If Melody could just understand what it was doing to her son…
“You can’t run,” he told her. “There’s a warrant out. Even if you get away now, you’ll always have to look over your shoulder. Is that what you want for your son?”
“No.” Her hands covered her mouth and caught a sob. “I want him to be happy. He deserves to be happy.” Dejection hunched her shoulders as she climbed out of the car and stood before Dev, her hands clasped behind her. “I’ll go. I won’t cause any trouble. I swear. Please don’t cuff me in front of him.”
“I won’t,” he promised. “We’ll walk over to my car, and once we’re at the station I’ll read you your rights.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
Dev took her arm and prodded her across the parking lot.
“Where are you taking her?” Bodie screamed. “Don’t take her away from me! Please, Dev! Let her go!”
He didn’t turn around. He couldn’t. He simply stared straight ahead and marched Melody to his SUV.
“I love you, Bodes,” she called, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I love you, and I’m so sorry.”
Only when Dev opened the back door of his car did he catch a glimpse of Charity. She still held on to her nephew, her arms wrapped tightly around his upper body, both of them shaking with wrenching sobs.
Charity careened through the kitchen, but she was too slow to keep up with Bodie. She hadn’t even fully stopped the truck when he’d jumped out and run into the house.
Somewhere down the hall, a door slammed, the sound shuddering through her. She should’ve done what Dev had asked right away. She should’ve acted before Melody decided to leave. Then Bodie wouldn’t have seen. He would’ve been hurt when she told him, but not so traumatized.
In the truck on the way back, Charity had told him what his mother had done—why Dev had to take her in—and Bodie had said nothing. He’d simply fixed a robotic stare out the window, giving no indication he heard or understood.
Heading down the hall, she pictured her nephew’s smile again, that bright, brilliant smile. The glimpse of hope she’d seen on his face earlier. It had all been ripped away from him, but she would bring it back. Someday he would smile again like that, even though he’d been hurt. She would make sure.
She crept to the guest room and tried the knob. Locked. That’s what he was used to doing. Retreating. Dealing with things on his own. But he didn’t have to do that anymore. Every time he tried to hide, she would remind him that she was there for him. Always. “Hey, Bodie. Let me in.” She rapped her fist lightly against the door.
There was nothing. No rustling or footsteps, or even an angry reply. “Come on. We need to talk about this.”
When the silence threatened to stretch into forever, she jiggled and yanked on the door handle until the lock popped open.
The disturbance didn’t seem to rattle Bodie. He had collapsed onto the bed, his arms over his head while he sobbed into a pillow.
Charity rushed to his side and knelt next to the bed. “It’s okay.” She squeezed his shoulder. “I promise you everything’ll be okay.” She would love him enough for a whole family. She would be whatever he needed.
“She doesn’t care about me.” Bodie didn’t raise his head or move his arms or even glance in Charity’s direction.
“That’s not true.” She struggled to keep her voice even. “I know she loves you, Bodie. How could she not? You’re brilliant and funny and thoughtful. She came back for you, even though she knew she could get caught.” Her composure broke. “She doesn’t know how to take care of anyone. Not even herself.” It was the same story as her own mother’s. Always looking for a man to take care of her…doing whatever he told her, no matter how much it threatened the people she loved. “You’re the best thing in her life, and you always will be.”
Bodie pulled his arms away from his head. “She’s going to jail for a long time. Isn’t she?” His eyes were downcast, full of pain. Even though she wanted to, Charity couldn’t lie to him.
“Most likely.” She could only hope Melody would cooperate. Maybe then the authorities would go easy on her. “I’ll do my best to help her. To make sure she gets a good lawyer.” Though she didn’t even know where to start.
“A lawyer won’t matter,” the kid mumble
d. “She’s been busted before. For drugs and stuff. She thinks I don’t know, but I do.” Anger laced his tone. “I’ll never get to go home.”
Charity’s heart thumped harder as she eased onto the bed next to him. “This is your home too. As long as you want it to be.” She glanced around at the white walls and bland navy curtains and generic down comforter on the bed. “I’m not much of a decorator.” Obviously. “But we can redo this room and make it yours. So you’ll have your own space. You’re already familiar with the school. I know it’s not perfect, but at least you get to dissect frogs.”
The comment drew a tiny quirk in the corners of his lips.
“I travel a lot, but it’s mostly in the summers, so you could come with me,” she went on, not caring that she sounded like she was making a sales pitch. “And maybe you can start competing too. You’ve got the talent for it.” When he rode Ace, he was strong and tough and determined.
“Really?” Bodie looked at her like he needed a lifeline. “You think I could compete? At a real rodeo?”
“I know you could. They have junior competitions all over the country.” She would train him and give him everything he needed to pursue a passion. “I’ll do my very best for you, Bodie.” Tears filled her eyes again, but this time she didn’t blink them away. “It won’t be perfect. Or even easy to live with me, probably.” She’d been on her own for so long, and she could be just as headstrong as him. “But I want you here. With me.” More than anything else, she needed him to know that—he was wanted. “It doesn’t matter where your mom is, we’ll go see her. We’ll be there for her too.” Melody would need them. Somehow, like her mother had said, they’d have to find a way to be a family, even if they couldn’t be together.
Bodie looked at her with bleary eyes. “I’m so mad at her. And Dev. He knew, didn’t he? That’s why he asked me questions about her. So he could bust her.”
“No.” She stroked his hair. “That’s not why he asked you questions. He was trying to help us find her. He cares about you too. He wanted to try to protect you today, but everything happened too fast.”
“He could’ve let her go.” Her nephew’s jaw tightened, pulling his mouth into a scowl.
“He had to do his job, Bodie.” Dev would always have to do his job, even when it meant hurting someone. She’d seen the pain in the deputy’s expression when he looked back at her before driving away. She felt it too. Pain. Shock. Disbelief…
“I hate him,” Bodie whispered. “I—”
There was a light knock on the door and Charity’s mother stuck her head in. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“I’ll be right back,” Charity said, giving her nephew’s hand a squeeze.
In the hall, her mom led her away from the door. “Dev’s car just pulled up out front. I thought I should tell you before Bodie realized he was here.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, barely holding on to her emotions.
“I’ll go sit with Bodie.” Her mother drifted past her, and Charity hurried to the front door.
She opened it quietly and slipped outside, not wanting Bodie to realize they had company.
“Hey.” Dev walked up the porch steps and reached for her, but she jolted back, hands raised in the air between them, telling him to back off. This wasn’t his fault. She knew that, but she didn’t want to be touched or comforted or talked down. She wanted to scream.
“Is Bodie okay? I’m so sorry,” he murmured, sounding less like the cop who’d arrested her sister and more like the man who’d kissed her. “I should’ve figured out another way. I should’ve been able to protect him.” His shoulders fell and he lowered his head as if he felt the weight of it all as intensely as she did.
Charity didn’t know what to do with him. Not right now. She couldn’t fault him for doing his job, but the trauma of holding back her nephew while he screamed still shook her. “Bodie will be okay.” She believed that. “But right now I think you should go. He’s still so upset and—”
The door opened behind them with a sudden whoosh. Bodie peered out. “What’re you doing here?”
“He was just leaving.” Charity hurried to her nephew’s side, taking his hand in hers. “Let’s go inside.”
He yanked out of her grasp. “I don’t want to go inside. You lied to me! You pretended you were helping me but you really wanted to find out about my mom!”
“No.” Dev backed up a couple of steps as though giving them space, but he seemed determined to stay. “I’m sorry, Bodie. I didn’t lie. I wanted to help—”
“Where’d you take her? Where is my mom?” He aimed the questions over Charity’s shoulder at Dev, but the deputy said nothing. He simply stood there steady and calm, hands clasped behind his back.
“Answer me!” Bodie yelled. “Where’s my mom?”
“She’d being held at the county jail,” Dev said. “And then she’ll be extradited back to Oklahoma.”
“Because of you!” Her nephew slashed an arm toward Dev. “It’s your fault! She could’ve gotten away!”
Dev didn’t deny it.
“It’s not his fault,” Charity said, falling to her knees in front of him. “Your mom made bad choices. There’re consequences.”
“But they never would’ve found her if it wasn’t for you. We could’ve moved away!” He swiped at the tears running down his cheeks like they made him angry.
“I’m sorry, Bodie.” Dev approached them. “I had to do my job. I know it’s hard to understand but—”
“Get away from me!” Bodie bolted inside the house and slammed the door.
Dev started to follow. “I should talk to him.”
“No.” Charity blocked his path inside. “You need to go.”
“You shouldn’t have to deal with this yourself.”
“I have to. From now on. He’s my responsibility.” And he would come first. Always.
“I can help.” He took her shoulders in his hands and man, that look on his face tempted her to give in. “Please let me help.”
“I can’t. He doesn’t want you here.”
“What about you? What do you want?”
What she wanted no longer mattered. “Your being here will only make things worse. Please, Dev. Just go.”
He stood there a moment longer, looking at her as though asking her to change her mind. She couldn’t. It was so tempting to run over to him and collapse, to let him hold her up, but this would be her life for the foreseeable future—an angry teen who needed stability, not more drama and angst.
Dev must’ve seen the resolution on her face. He walked over and pulled her into a rough kiss, melting every joint in her body. Then he let her go, walked to his car, and drove away.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dev turned in his weapon and went through the law enforcement security screening along with his assigned guard.
It had been a while since he’d visited the county detention center, but his reputation had preceded him. He’d already had three employees stop him to talk about the upcoming election. He’d played along, but he’d already made up his mind. First thing Monday morning, he’d officially withdraw from the election. Until then, though, he’d use the attention to pull some strings so he could meet with Melody Stone.
Your being here will only make things worse. Charity’s words still stung, but he understood what was behind them. Since he couldn’t be there to support Charity and Bodie right now, he’d been doing some digging on the best way to help Melody, and he’d found some good leads. With everything Charity would have to put in to care for her nephew, he figured this was one burden he could take off her shoulders.
The guard paused on the other side of the screening area, waiting for Dev to cinch his belt back around his waist and shove his wallet back into his pocket. He wasn’t on duty today, but he’d worn his uniform anyway. Looking the part of the official would only help his cause.
“Won’t be long and you’ll be running things around here,” the guard commented as they walked do
wn a sterile hallway.
“I guess we’ll see.” Dev glanced around, viewing the place through new eyes. He’d never paid much attention to how desolate it was—the bleak white walls, beige linoleum floors, and harsh fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. Thankfully, the jail had done away with in-person visits for inmates’ families, opting instead for video visitation. He’d hate for Bodie to have to see his mom in a place like this. With any luck, Melody would end up serving her sentence in a minimum-security facility. At least, that’s what the lawyer Dev had hired said he would push for.
The guard paused next to a door and gestured for Dev to go past. “You can wait inside.”
“Thank you.” He stepped into the room and took a seat at the small table. That was the only furniture—the table and chairs. Otherwise it was as sterile as the rest of the facility. He’d met with a lot of inmates here, but never one whom he had a personal connection with. It changed things, made him more aware of how depressing it felt—like he’d stepped into a void.
The door opened again, and the guard led Melody in by the arm. Her hands were cuffed in front of her waist and leg irons shackled her feet. The orange jumpsuit she wore seemed to be three sizes too big, or maybe she simply looked defeated and small.
Dev stood when she walked to the table. The guard led her straight to a chair and then backed into the corner of the room and stood watch.
“What’re you doing here?” Melody’s dull blue eyes peered up at him, but she didn’t raise her head.
Dev sat across from her. “Why did you come back to Topaz Falls?” He wanted to hear the answer before he told her about the lawyer—to make sure it hadn’t been a mistake. “You could’ve stayed on the run. Maybe no one ever would’ve found you in California.” She could’ve started a new life by herself. “But you came back.”
Her long sigh wasn’t angry, just weary. “I followed the news. Heard they caught Cody. So I knew if I didn’t come back for Bodie now I’d never see him again. I thought I could grab him and disappear before anyone knew.”
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