Page 48 of Hook

I laugh at the irony of it all. At least I know Bea is safe.

Twenty

Bea

“No stop!”I scream again and push against the guys with all my might. Semi and Torch hold me back but I can’t understand why they are. Hook doesn’t deserve this.

All he did was try to save me.

"Let him go!" I plead, my voice cracking with desperation. The police officers continue to wrestle Hook to the ground, their faces stern and unforgiving. I look around frantically, searching for any sign of support from the rest of the BCMC. But their expressions are blank, almost indifferent. Semi and Torch's grips on my arms tighten as I struggle harder.

"Please," I beg, tears streaming down my face. "He was just trying to protect me!"

The cop closest to Hook glances up at me, his eyes cold. "Ma'am, this man is a known criminal. Step back and let us do our job."

I shake my head violently, my hair whipping around my face. "No, you don't understand! He's changed. He saved my life!"

Hook's eyes meet mine from where he's pinned to the asphalt. Despite the officer's knee digging into his back, his gaze is soft, reassuring. "It's okay, Bea," he calls out. "As long as you're safe, that's all that matters."

My heart constricts painfully in my chest. How can he be so calm when they're about to take him away? I scan the area again, desperately hoping to see Brick's towering figure appear around the corner. But the street remains empty save for us and the police.

"Hook!" I cry out as they haul him to his feet. "I won't let them do this to you. I'll find a way to fix this, I promise!"

He manages a small smile as they lead him toward the cruiser. "Don't worry about me, Bea. Just take care of yourself."

The car door opens with a foreboding creak. I watch, helpless, as they guide Hook's head down and into the backseat. The sound of the door slamming shut echoes through the night air like a gunshot.

As the cruiser's engine roars to life, I feel something inside me shatter. The fight drains from my body, and I slump in Semi and Torch's grasp.

I feel defeated, that is until I see Brick running up. He’s got a laptop in his hand.

“What is he doing?” I turn to ask Semi.

He smiles and shakes his head. “He’s being smarter than all of our dumb asses.”

“What?” I question but instead of waiting for Semi to answer I walk a little closer to Brick who is trying to reason with the police officer.

“I’m the one who called you. I sent you the first two interactions between these men and Lenox. You can see from both his face, her face and from the video that Lenox isn’t the aggressor. It’s self-defense. Just let me show you.”

I hold my breath as Brick shows them a bright as day surveillance tape equipped with audio of Lance threatening to kill me and Hook.

There’s no denying it.

The officers huddle around Brick's laptop, their faces illuminated by the screen's glow. I watch anxiously, my heart pounding in my chest as they review the footage. Surely, they'll see the truth now. Surely, they'll let Hook go.

But to my dismay, the lead officer shakes his head and closes the laptop. "I appreciate you bringing this to our attention," he says to Brick, his voice firm but not unkind. "However, we still need to take him in for questioning. This doesn't change the fact that he has a prior record."

"No," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the rumble of the engine as the cruiser pulls away. "This can't be happening."

Semi places a comforting hand on my shoulder, but I shrug it off, too numb to accept the gesture. I watch the taillights disappear around the corner, taking Hook with them.

As the other officers begin to disperse, I notice one man lingering behind. He's older than the others, with salt-and-pepper hair and a weathered face that speaks of years on theforce. He approaches Brick, his keen eyes taking in the BCMC members gathered around.

"Detective Reeves," he introduces himself, extending a hand to Brick. "I'd like to discuss this situation further if you don't mind."

For the next hour, we stand in the tow yard, the detective peppering Brick with questions about the video, about Hook's involvement with the club, about the events leading up to tonight. I listen intently, hanging onto every word, praying that somehow this will make a difference.

As the night wears on, the street grows quiet. The neon signs of nearby businesses flicker and dim, and a cool breeze carries the scent of rain. I wrap my arms around myself, shivering not just from the cold but from the fear of what might happen to Hook.