Yeah, well, not as fucking sorry as I am.

I reluctantly pull my weapon from my holster and rip the badge from my chest, slamming them both on the desk.

Dixon walks around and grips my shoulder. “I have your back, son, you know that. We will get this squared away. I promise.”

I can’t even respond back, I have no words. Shaking my head, I storm from the office and out of the department, only to run into Terrell. “Hey, what the hell just happened in there? I heard you almost took off Larson’s head.”

“IA has suspended me, pending an investigation for excessive force on West.”

“What?” he shouts. “Are you fucking joking?”

“No.”

“They didn’t suspend Prichard while doing his investigation. Why you?”

I shrug, still not understanding any of it either. “Fuck if I know but to make matters worse they’re offering that motherfucker a deal.”

Anger flashes in his dark eyes. “Why the fuck would they do that? Especially with the evidence we have.”

“They want the others, something I had already planned on doing. And this won’t stop me. They may have taken my gun and badge, but I’m not giving up. I will make sure everyone who was involved in hurting Liv is brought down.”

He nods. “You know I will, too. Just…be careful, Taylor. We need you ’round here, brother. There ain’t many good guys left. If you need anything, I got your back.”

I clasp his shoulder, his loyalty easing my bitter turmoil. “I appreciate that, man. More than you know.”

We say goodbye with a promise to keep in contact daily so we both stay informed.

I climb inside my truck and find myself heading out to my mom’s, knowing she needs to hear this from me before anyone else tells her. On my drive over I think about what that bastard Larson said about my dad, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s right.

The thought makes me nauseous.

I pull into my mother’s driveway and exhale a long breath. Since my father died, my mother hasn’t been the same. His death was hard on us both. It’s days like today where I miss him even more. I could use his words of wisdom right now and to know he isn’t looking down on me with disappointment.

By the time I walk inside the front door my anger has slightly diminished.

My mother greets me as I walk into the kitchen. A plain white apron tied around her waist.

“Grayson, hi,” she says with a warm smile.

“Hey, Mom.”

Her smile vanishes, sensing my dark mood, and concern quickly takes its place. “What’s wrong?”

I drop in the chair, debating how to tell her. “I was suspended.”

“What?” She gasps. “But why?”

I swallow hard. “For using excessive force in the arrest of Reggie West.” I don’t need to explain who Reggie is, she knows, the whole town does by now.

She watches me, her eyes soft but assessing. “Did you?” she whispers, and I can see the fear in her eyes.

I nod. “Yeah, I did…I think.” With a frustrated groan I press the palms of my hands to my face, feeling the heat on my cheeks. “I don’t know, Mom. I don’t know what to think.”

She sits across from me, placing her hand gently on my arm.

I lift my eyes to hers, wondering where to begin, and decide to start from the beginning. I explain what went down with the arrest. Filling her in on everything. She remains patiently quiet. I watch for any kind of judgment or disappointment, but I see none, only understanding. I then proceed to tell her about the plea bargain he’s being offered.

“Oh, Grayson, I’m so sorry. I can see why you’re so conflicted and upset.”

“I’m pissed. He deserves to rot in prison for what he did.”

“Yes, he does. I’m surprised they are suspending you for the investigation. He did attack you and the other officer first.”

“Yeah, he did and that’s a big part of what happened, but…that isn’t the only reason why I hit him.”

“Oh?”

I hesitate, hating to repeat the words that bastard said to me, but somehow I do. I tell her exactly what he said.

She sucks in a sharp breath, placing a shaky hand to her heart. “Oh my God.” Tears glisten in her eyes.

“After he said that I lost it. I kept my control in check until then. But I just couldn’t let him get away with it, Mom. All I could see was Liv’s beaten body, and I…I snapped. And the worst part is…I don’t regret it.”

With a sniffle she wipes a lone tear tailing down her cheek. “I can understand that.”

“Do you?” I ask, my voice raw and gruff.

She nods. “Yes, I do. I’m not saying it’s right but your emotions were running high. He hurt another deputy then you, and most importantly Olivia, who is someone I can tell you care a great deal about,” she says. “I think anyone in your position would have done the same. I also think that after the investigation is done Internal Affairs will see that, too. You’re a good boy, Grayson. I’m proud of you.”

I look back at her, and ask her something I’m not sure she can answer. “What about Dad?”

“What about him?” she asks, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“Do you think he agrees? Would he still be proud of me?”

Her face softens. “Oh yes, Grayson, he would be so proud of you. Don’t ever doubt that.”

I shake my head. “I just…I don’t know what to do. All I want is justice for Liv. This town is in an uproar. This case is an even bigger mess. How can I look her in the eyes and tell her everything will be okay when I’m not even sure that it will be?”

She reaches over, placing her hand on the side of my cheek. “You do what your father told you to do, ‘seek the truth and you will find justice’. Just keep doing that, son, and I know you will find justice for her.”

Closing my eyes, I remember the day my dad said those words to me.

They now hold more meaning than ever before.

CHAPTER 14

Olivia

Making jewelry has always been a passion of mine. Even when I was a little girl, Pap would buy me the jewelry making kits you see at the general stores. He cursed about finding those beads everywhere, but whenever I made him one of my special creations he always went on about how great they were, no matter how awful they looked. I’ve gotten a little better since then, and I do pretty well for myself. Now it gives me something to do besides sit around and read all day while I heal.

Sitting at the desk in my bedroom, I just finished making my third bracelet when the sound of a tractor draws me from my thoughts.

My brows furrow. “Pap’s back from fertilizing the crop already?” I murmur to myself.

Getting up, I look out the window and gasp in surprise when I see it’s not Pap but Grayson. All the breath leaves my body and my mouth goes dry at his shirtless state, as he jumps off the tractor.

What on earth is he doing here? And on Pap’s tractor? He doesn’t let anyone touch his equipment.

As he heads toward the barn I scoot off my bed then take a quick look in the mirror, and groan at my appearance. My hair is a tangled mess since I didn’t dry it after my shower last night. I pull it over my shoulder and work it into a loose braid, then shed my comfy lounge clothes and throw on my new, soft yellow sundress. It’s loose but flattering and hangs about mid-thigh. It shows a little more of my faded bruises than I would like, but I remember that Grayson has seen me at my worst… That thought causes a bout of insecurity and nausea to run through me. I shake my head. “Stop being ridiculous.”

With a deep breath I dig for a little more courage, before I walk out of my house with a confident stride. Excitement swirls in my tummy as I make my way to Grayson, thinking about the last time I saw him. When his possessive lips claimed mine and changed my world in an instant.

Will he kiss me again? Or was it a one-time thing?

These are questions I’ve been asking myself since that night, almost to the point I’ve driven myself crazy over it. I finally came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t overthink it and just let things happen as they are meant to, whether they form into something more or not.