Page 98 of Connor's Claim
“The police are here.”
I stilled. That didn’t sound good.
“For you.” In spite of my terror, Arran continued. “They said they received a report that you were being held here against your will and wanted to speak to you. That’s all.”
I opened the door, expecting to see uniformed officers filling the hall, but it was only Arran with Genevieve at his side.
She gave me a sympathetic look. “A quick conversation will do the trick.”
“You don’t think they’ll try to take me?”
Arran snorted, his thumbs in his beltloops. “They can try. Gen’s going to sit with Shade so he can listen in over her phone. He’d want that, even if he can’t do anything.”
I shrank in on myself, suddenly afraid, as if I was a naughty child going in front of the headteacher. My father had sent them in, I knew it. “You’ll stay with me?”
Arran inclined his head. I stepped back inside with Genevieve and changed my clothes. Leaving her with Connor and a promise to him that I’d return soon, I exited.
In the time it took for the lift to reach the ground floor, I was sweating.
“My office,” Arran directed.
We moved down the corridor. Two police officers, a man and a woman, waited outside Arran’s room, watched over by one of Arran’s crew.
“Everly Makepeace?” The woman stepped forward. At my nod, she slid a glance over Arran that was decidedly frosty. “We’d appreciate a moment alone.”
“Arran stays with me,” I stated.
She thinned her lips. “As you prefer.” In the room, she got to the point. “I’m Police Constable Sanders, and this is my colleague, PC Smith. We received a report this evening that the daughter of the mayor had been kidnapped.”
I held up a hand to stop her. “You know my name, so please use it. How is it relevant who my father is?”
The two officers exchanged a look.
PC Sanders began again. “I need to ascertain if you are here in this establishment voluntarily or under force.”
“I’m here because I want to be.”
She pursed her lips and eyeballed a silent Arran once again. Then slowly, she took in the office. The furniture. The bright light. For some reason, her expression of disbelief followed by pointed scrutiny pissed me off. She didn’t give a damn about my safety. This was an intimidation tactic borne from my father’s outrage at me leaving. He’d sent more messages, none of whichI’d read, just as I’d ignored his calls. Trust him to step up his attempts.
I launched into an attack of my own. “Let’s get this straight. You’re here because my father or one of his cronies pulled strings to get me back under his roof. I’m twenty-seven years old. An adult. I can live wherever I choose. Did I break the law in moving out of his house?”
“No, but in circumstances like this?—”
“But nothing.” I advanced on her. “He wanted me out, but his method left a lot to be desired, and I won’t suffer his control anymore. I’m exactly where I want to be. I will never return to him and am here by choice. Can I make myself any clearer?”
She watched me.
“Anything to add, Police Constable Sanders? If not, I’m going back to bed.”
At length, she inclined her head. “I appreciate your time.”
She could appreciate that all the way back to toadying up to my father. With Arran arranging for them to be seen out, I returned upstairs.
Genevieve left me, and I locked up then climbed back in bed with Connor. Stroked his hair and told him what had happened. That I was fine and in no danger. Filling in my thoughts and feelings to what he would’ve heard over the phone.
God only knew what he’d have to say about it in the morning.
Chapter 33