Page 140 of Cuffed (Everyday Heroes 1)
“Man, we don’t have the auth—”
“I don’t care about parental privilege.”
“Get inside the house,” Davis growls.
I look at Nate and then back to Keely. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about her piece-of-shit father, but I know what I have to do, and Nate is going to kill me for it.
Without warning, I stoop down and pick Keely up. “She isn’t going back in there.” I half expect to be attacked from behind as I walk down the path. I prepare for it, but it never comes. Though, Nate is swearing and Davis is shouting.
Or possibly Nate is holding Davis back while I jog away with his daughter.
With the evidence.
I don’t have a plan. I don’t have anything thought out other than there is no way in hell I am letting her go back into that house with that jerk and her compliant mother. Keely’s little hands grip my neck, and her sniffles fill my ears.
All I can say is, “I’ve got you, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
I press my hand to her back and make it as big as possible so she feels protected, but I fear there will never be enough protection for her.
The system fails.
Look at Emerson.
Nate’s call from his on-person radio goes out for backup as Davis’s shouts fill the quiet cul-de-sac.
By the time I reach the cruiser, my hands are shaking. I know I’m in the wrong, but I don’t fucking care.
“What are you doing, man?” Nate says as he jogs down the path, out of breath and more than flustered.
“Where’s the mom?” I say, worried about what else we’ll find inside.
“Not home.”
“Bullshit. Search the house. Make sure she’s all right.”
“On what premise? You know we can’t do that.” Nate blows out a breath as neighbors start coming out from their houses and standing on the curb as the blue and red sirens light up the night like a carnival attraction.
“Well check.”
Keely clings to me, her whimper at the sound of her dad bellowing is all I need to hear to know I’m doing the right thing.
“Hey, sweetheart, is your mommy home?”
“She’s in the shower,” she barely whispers in my ear.
I glare at Nate as another cruiser burns down the street and comes to an abrupt stop beside us.
“Hey, Keely?”
“Yeah.”
“I know you’re scared right now. There’s lots of shouting and lights flashing, and I know you’re confused, but I need you to trust me,” I say into her ear as Nate gives the new officers on scene a rundown of what’s going on. “Have you ever wanted to see the inside of a police car?” She nods ever so slightly without lifting her head from my shoulder. “It’s super cool. Can I show you mine?”
Another nod as I open the back door and slide into the backseat with her still clinging to me. It takes a minute for us to adjust and get comfortable, but her fingers never let go of their grip.
For a little girl used to seeing the worst in people, she is so trusting. The thought kills me. Her innocence has been tainted. Her ability to believe in happily ever after skewed.
“See? Nice and cozy.” Outside the open car door I see Officer Lou talking to Davis on the sidewalk and assume Amelia is inside talking to Lou’s partner. Nate’s at the trunk of their car on his cell with someone—probably CPS.
