This Much is True - Tia Louise Page 0,71
out. I found her.
She smiles, and when our eyes meet, hers are warm and glistening.
Leaning across the seat, I kiss her long and slow before I get out. Hell yeah, I found her, and I’m never letting her go again.
Before I get out, I think about what I’m about to do. “Everything’s going to change.”
“It’s going to be amazing.” Her voice is quiet, eyes bright.
Leaning in one last time, I kiss her soft lips, then I’m out the door, heading inside to call my lawyer and start our new life.
Only life never goes the way you choose.
Pacing my apartment, I listen to the phone ring. Checking the time, it’s after eight. I guess my lawyer doesn’t get into her office until nine, but she’s got to have an answering service or a machine or something.
A loud banging on my front door makes me disconnect. I’m holding the phone, looking down as I go to it, thinking about that text Hope sent, thinking about another road trip.
“Can I help you?” My voice has an edge. I’m not expecting a delivery.
I don’t think Clyde would come here, but I’m not certain. I am certain I could kick his ass, but would he bring a gun?
“Open the door, Dunne. It’s Deputy Blank.”
My chin draws back. What the hell is my parole officer doing here? I turn the locks and remove the chain. I’m just turning the doorknob when it flies inward on me, causing me to take a few steps back.
“What the hell?” The words barely leave my lips, before I’m surrounded by masked cops, jerking my hands behind my back. “Hold up!”
My phone slips from my grip and falls, hitting the wood floor with a crash. My stomach crashes with it, and I try to dive for it.
My struggle gets me a knee to the ribs, knocking the wind out of me. Still, desperation twists in my chest. That phone is everything.
“Stop resisting, asshole.” The men gripping my arms aren’t asking questions or reading my rights. Handcuffs are slapped over my wrists, and they jerk me upright, pushing me towards the door.
No… My throat is tight. My heart thuds fast in my chest. My entire future is slipping away with that shattered phone lying on the floor.
Hope…
“Why are you doing this?” My voice cracks.
I’m still struggling, needing to get my phone, but the more I twist, the tighter they grip my arms, pulling them behind me so hard, I think my joints will pop.
“Please…” I gasp, blinking the heat in my eyes.
“Don’t make me tase you.” The biggest guy growls at my ear.
He’s holding my arms behind my back, and he drags me up so straight, my feet nearly lift off the floor. It hurts like hell, then his black boot heel lands directly on my phone’s face.
“God… NO!” I shout. “I’ll go with you. Just stop… My phone.”
The first guy, the smaller of the two, looks down to where his partner’s foot is on the device holding my key to freedom. “Is this your personal device?”
His sarcasm makes me sick. I’ve only wanted to kill a person one other time in my life.
“I need that to call my son.” For some reason, I don’t trust them with the truth.
I don’t know why they’re doing this, and all I can think of is Deputy Blank’s disgust at me walking around on parole. She hates me.
“I told you,” she steps between the officers and me. “You should’ve thought of your son before you started dealing drugs.” Deputy Blank circles around to the door, her hands on her hips. “We got a tip this morning you’ve violated your parole. You went to South Carolina without prior authorization. Authorization I already denied.”
Fucking Becky. It’s interesting how easily murder takes up residence in your mind. I now want to kill two people.
“I wasn’t running. I’m not a flight risk.” Struggling strains my voice, but I do my best to hide my rage.
“Tell it to the judge.” She nods to the door. “Take him to the car. You’re going back to prison. This time for good.”
The men lift and shove me into the hall, not even caring that my phone is on the floor broken and stomped on. I look over my shoulder at my whole world lying there in pieces.
If Hope comes back, I’ll be gone, and she won’t be able to reach me. If the landlord comes, he’ll think I’ve skipped town and have the apartment cleaned.
They’ll throw my broken phone in the trash. My