****
“No
more dirty Seuss for you, Samuel!” Those were the only words Tate managed to
get out before Evan Chambers shoved him into the back of his police cruiser and
slammed the door shut—in his damned face.
“Cockmonkey,”
Tate growled through the window, not backing down. He was furious. No, he was
outraged and furious. What was wrong
with people? First, Sam was setting him up to take the fall for something he
didn’t do. Then there was Evan, who was being a hard ass and arresting him on a
trumped up charge without listening to his side of the story. How was Tate
supposed to get Evan to understand that he hadn’t stolen a fucking thing?
Outside,
Sam exchanged words with Evan, who nodded and waved his hand toward the car.
Sam grinned and grabbed the handle before opening the door. “Tate, Tate, Tate.”
He clucked. “You shouldn’t have stolen Lolita from Second Chance Love. You know
Winnie would have given you a good deal.” His face turned pitying. “Are you low
on the dough? I can loan you some money.”
Tate
lunged at Sam, his handcuffs keeping him at a distinct disadvantage. “I’m going
to kill you,” he snarled.
Sam chuckled as he jumped back a
step. “You’ll have to get out of jail first, my friend.”
Tate closed his eyes. He sucked in
several sustaining breaths before lifting his eyelids again. “Once I explain
everything to Evan, you’ll be lucky if he doesn’t arrest you.”
Sam leaned in, moving real close to
Tate, and then murmured, “I doubt it, Tate. He’s arresting you for stealing a latex
blow up doll from a midwife at a consignment shop. Do you think he’s that
stupid?”
Apparently overhearing, Evan popped
up over Sam’s shoulder. “Don’t answer that.”
Tate didn’t need to answer because
this was all bullshit. He wasn’t being arrested. He was being kidnapped. He didn’t
know why they were doing it. All he knew was that they were.
Stubbornly, Tate set his jaw. He
sat back, refusing to respond, which made Sam cackle. “I know you don’t see it,
man. But I’m helping you.” His expression sobered slightly. “Like you did with
me.”
Tate immediately knew what Sam was
referring to. Back when Sam was conflicted about his love for Brett and Ethan,
Tate had stepped in. He’d opened up and shared his and Will’s story with Sam.
In the end, their talk nudged Sam in the right direction. Now, Sam was married
to both Brett and Ethan, and the three of them were heavily involved with Athena
Xanthopoulos. Sam constantly told Tate that he ‘blamed’ him for everything. Of
course, Sam said it with a wink, nudge, and a crooked smile.
“Fuck.” It all clicked into place.
This wasn’t about him. It was about him and
Haven, which meant… “Oh God,” Tate groaned. “You’re going to arrest Haven, too.”
That got Tate moving. He squirmed and jerked. He even bucked a little. But it
was to no avail. He was royally stuck. “You can’t, Evan.”
Evan, the smart ass, winked. “I’m
not.”
“Cooper is,” Tate finished.
****
Have a wonderful weekend, y'all. XOXOXO!
Love and cherries,
-Mia
Thank you, Mia!
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