Day 5
If you wanted to live the Pogue life, you had to get accustomed to the likelihood that everything would go wrong. There were no get-out-jail-free cards here, definitely no collecting-$200-at-go, and the chance card was surely going to fuck you over.
It was this spirit that brought Kiara just a foot away from one of Kildare County's finest.
"See, I know this looks bad," she said, "but he started it!"
The audible moan of pain that came from Joshua on the floor underscored her point a fair bit.
The police officer arched a brow and folded her arms across her chest, which somehow had the effect of drawing their attention to the shiny black belt which held her gun and radio.
"This scrawny thing, lying on the floor, started it? Is that the story you wanna go with here?" the officer asked.
Kiara's eyes slid over to Rafe. He wore a pained expression. Clearly, he was no fan of cops, not that Kiara needed him to tell her that.
She bit down hard on her tongue, wondering if this officer had been close to Peterkin. Beside her, Rafe lowered his head, as if in shame. As if he could read on her face just what she was thinking about.
But that would be crazy.
Rafe took a step forward, positioning himself in front. Jumpily, the officer's hand moved to rest on her top of her gun.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Look, he tried to hit on Kie. He was being real...touchy. So maybe I..."
Kiara's face flashed with annoyance (at Rafe), which the officer seemed to interpret as PTSD from a baby-faced cashier trying to grab her ass.
"Overreacted," Rafe finished, finally finding the word.
"Okay, well, let's get you two down to the station and get some statements. We'll see if we can sort this out." The officer then reached for her radio, saying into it, "Get an ambulance down to the Stop N' Go, we've got a kid who needs to be checked out."
She turned her gaze back to Kiara, adding, "There's people looking for you, you know. Your parents must be worried sick."
Either worried sick or on a potential parents' tour at a boarding school in Wyoming.
A ride in the back of a police car wasn't exactly what Rafe had in mind for the afternoon. He was hoping to be at Tannyhill by now, with a beer in hand, and giving his dad a call to let him know that Singh was a fucking snake.
They weren't handcuffed or being charged with anything. Likely the police officer knew that even an idiot kid from the Cut wouldn't press charges against Rafe Cameron.
Kiara was pressed up against the window of the backseat, trying to keep as much physical space between them as possible. The air was sticky. Can't they afford A/C in this thing?
The sights of her home flew by. Surf shops she'd been to, her old school, and the best part of the beach to spot turtles. Even if she wasn't as free as she wanted to be, at least she was home. Plus, her parents would bail her out, if needed. Throwing money at their problems was one of their biggest pastimes.
Despite her best intentions at avoiding the Cameron in the room, her eyes still found him. He was looking back at her, a tense set to his jaw.
"This is my first time," Rafe said softly. His voice was husky and emotional, never putting on false pretenses around her. "In a cop car," he added.
Kiara rolled her eyes. "Hopefully not the last."
She meant it. She wanted to see him pay for what he'd done. There had to be some justice, right?
