Fallen Angel by K. S. Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

Maybe I do. I don’t want to think about them long enough to figure out what they are. Because I know. I know who threw the first punch. And that’s all the cops are going to care about tonight.
    But it doesn’t matter that I’m not talking. Plenty of staff members saw it too. And they’ve got no problem backing up one of their own.
    ***
    “Y ou’ve got the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as I have told them to you?”
    “Yes, sir.” I nod, but not to answer him. To let Bam Bam know I’m okay. She looks terrified, watching me from where she’s standing. And she wasn’t even scared when she barreled in between us and got hit in the face by that piece of shit. “Officer, please. Can I just have a moment?”
    His gaze travels back and forth between me and her and I think he understands. “Miss? You can keep your friend company for a minute while I finish up.” Then, she gets closer and he gets a better view of her jawline. “Were you hit tonight?”
    She nods, but her eyes are still steady on me. “Yes, sir.”
    “Who hit you?”
    “Moe Hollis. I was trying to break up the fight.” Her soft fingertips gently trace around the corner of my mouth where I can feel the blood drying already.
    The cop leans in closer to talk to her. “Listen, if he hit you, you can press charges. I don’t know if it’ll stick, but it would probably help offset what happened to your friend here tonight.”
    Slowly, her face turns away from mine. I hate that I dragged her into this mess. I should have walked away. Should have gotten in the car with her the way she asked. She never would have seen me like that. Like this. Never would have had a hand laid on her. Wouldn’t have a bruise the size of his fist on her beautiful face. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at her again without wanting to beat the shit out of him.
    Myself. That’s another story. It’ll be a while before I can pass a mirror in peace, I know that much.
    “Okay. Yes, I want to press charges.” Even her voice sounds different. Her words are still fierce, but her tone isn’t.
    “Alright.” The officer nods at both of us. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
    As soon as he turns and walks off, she takes another step in my direction until she’s so close our bodies are almost touching. Well, they are touching. Parts of them anyway. Her knees are bumping into mine. They’re shaking. And every so often it’s causing her to overcompensate while she tries to maintain her balance, and her hips sway into mine. More than anything, I want to hold her. Make her feel safe, the way I should have when this whole thing started. But I can’t because my fucking hands are cuffed behind my back.
    “Who do you want me to call?” she asks quietly.
    “Ava. She’ll know what to do.” She’ll also shit a canary when she finds out about tonight, but that’s okay. She’ll make that wait. First she’ll fix this, because cleaning up after people is what Ava does best.
    “I already did that. She’s not answering, but I’ll keep trying. I’m pretty sure she and Blaise had plans tonight.”
    “Bam Bam.” I need her to look up at me. To face me.
    “What?” But she refuses.
    “Look at me.”
    She shakes her head. “I can’t.”
    “Why?”
    “Because.” She covers her face with her hand. “You’ll see it.”
    The bruise. After the way I flipped when I saw her get punched, I’m not surprised she’s scared to let me see the results. But it’s too late. I’ve already seen them. “I can handle it. I promise, I won’t flip out again, although I’ll never forgive myself for letting him leave a mark on you.”
    Her face tips back, her eyes are pooled with tears and something else, something new I’ve never seen in them before. Something I’ve never seen when