When we talked, I was very clear that I intended to tell the truth. A statement he just scoffed at before insisting I not to talk to anyone. He said we would have a meeting to figure out what to say. We wouldn’t, but I didn’t bother to tell him that. My days of having my words controlled by that man were over.
“I didn’t even think about us getting home,” Roman said. “The SUV we came in is at the marina, and we won’t all fit in it, anyway.”
“I have a car here. It’s the one your father and Reverend Adams drove up in. They all rode back home together. So I can give you a ride if you want,” Gavin said.
“That is a great idea,” Ryan said. “I’ll ride shotgun with you. Roman, you and Trey can have the back seat, and Rand and Fredrick can take the boat back to the marina and get the SUV.”
“Why do I have to go deal with the guy at the marina?” Rand whined.
“Use some of your charm on him…you’ll be fine. Besides, this way I don’t have to listen to your horrible taste in music all the way home,” Ryan teased.
“I have great taste in music.”
“No,” Roman said, siding with Ryan. “You have shit taste in music. Now let’s get home.”
I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until Roman gently shook me awake to let me know we were home. I wasn’t sure when I fell asleep, but since I barely remembered any of the ride, I assumed it was fairly quickly.
Ryan, Roman, and I climbed out of the car, but Gavin stayed behind the wheel. “Do you want to come and get something to eat or drink,” I asked him before I shut the door.
“No, I had better get this car back to your father. I might as well get it over with.”
“Roman, do you have any of your cards?” I asked.
“Sure,” he took out his wallet and gave me a card. I passed it to Gavin.
“If you have any problems, you call us.”
He let out a sigh and nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “None of this was your fault. Anyone of us would’ve let Corey in the house. You know that, right? My father didn’t even properly brief you on the situation before he left you there, so you did nothing wrong. So seriously, call Roman.”
I looked up at Roman, and he gave me a little nod and knocked on the car window. Gavin rolled it down, and Roman reached in and clasped him on the shoulder. “Seriously, Gavin,” he said. “Call me.”
Chapter 35
Roman
I couldn’t wait to get rid of all these people and get Trey alone, but as we walked into the house, I realized that wasn’t going to be a quick process. Ash was sitting at the bar waiting for us. As soon as we made it through the door, he jumped up and practically launched himself at Trey.
“Oh my god, I was so worried when Fredrick said they couldn’t find you. And then when I got your text that you were okay, I just about died from relief. But are you okay? I mean really okay? Let me look at you.”
Trey let out a quiet chuckle and shook his head. “Ash, I’m fine. Really.”
“You promise? You don’t need to go to the hospital or anything?”
“I promise. I’m a little tired, but I’m okay.”
“How about if you two chat for a few minutes while I get you a bath ready, then you can soak for a few before you go to bed?”
“That sounds divine,” he said, smiling up at me.
I gave him a quick kiss and headed up the stairs. I did want to run him a bath and pamper him a bit after his ordeal, but I also needed a minute to myself to decompress.
There had been times in my life when I’d been scared. Swat isn’t an easy job. And some of the things we saw, some of the things we did, were enough to keep you up at night, but I’d never been as frightened as I was today. This whole day had been such a roller coaster, from Trey not coming home, to me being arrested, to realizing that he was in real danger, it had been one hit after another. It felt like I was living in an episode of that show where the whole storyline takes place in twenty-four hours.
I started the bath and then turned, bracing my hands on