Chapter 26
Kevin’s face flushed crimson. He’d never been cursed at like that in his entire life. Rage boiling up inside him, he wanted to beat David right then and there.
As everyone stood around watching the fun, Luis walked in and demanded, “What’s going or here? Others might mistake this station for a supermarket after a brawl.
His voice was calm, almost playful, yet the moment he spoke, the room snapped to attention. Everyone who had been rubbernecking scrambled to look busy
“Mr. Bennett, is this lady free to go now?” Sophie stepped out with Zina, her voice gentle as she asked.
But the moment she spotted the Sinclairs, Sophie’s expression tightened into a frown. Professional restraint kept her from speaking her mind, though her eyes said plenty
Zina felt an intense gaze burning into her. Bracing herself for the Sinclairs‘ fury, she softened her expression and looked up
only to lock eyes with a pair of starlit ones that belonged to Luis
Luis’s breath caught. Then his stolen glances gave way to unabashed admiration.
He’d never met a woman like her–delicate as porcelain on the surface, yet with eyes so resilient. He was pulled in a magnetic tide and couldn’t help to unravel every layer of her.
“Mr. Bennett?” Sophie promoted.
Luis jerked out of his mental fog, and steadied himself quickly.
“Let the young lady wait in the break room” he said, forcing his tone as normal as possible, “She may leave once we’ve wrapped up the formalities here.”
As if sensing Sophie’s impending protest, Zina grasped her arm and cut in, Ill comply with the arrangements.”
Sophie sighed, finally guiding Zina toward the break room.
Long after Zina vanished down the corridor, Luis’s gaze remained fixed on the empty doorway, an unfamiliar sensation lingering in his chest.
Inside the interrogation room, Kevin knew that letting this drag on would do him no favors. Forcing a smile, he tried to explain, “Officer, this whole thing is just one big misunderstanding.
“My daughter was fresh out of prison. We were worried she’d have a rough time getting back on her feet, so we figured… marrying her off might be the way to go.”
“Have you no decency? Hold on, prison?” The officer’s eyes suddenly went wide with realization.
He yanked out his phone, scrolled to a video, and squinted hard, matching the figures on screen to the family standing there. His face darkened with pure loathing. “So it’s you lot!”
Kevin’s eyes instantly lit up with hope. Thinking he saw an opening, he quickly put on a pitiful, weary look. “You recognized
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Chapter 26
us, Officer? Life has been cruel to us. If not for being backed against the wall…
Before Kevin could finish, the officer slammed his hand down on the desk. “Cut the song and dance. This is a police station.
“You think we don’t know the truth? People like you are rotten to the core. What kind of parents treat their own daughter like that even try to marry her off to some thug? Your conscience is long dead.”
This young officer’s eyes burned with righteous fire. He believed this was his moment to strike down evil and serve justice. He drew breath, ready to unleash his fury.
But before he could get another word out, his captain strode in and rapped him sharply on the head. “Focus on the interrogation. Quit stalling.
The young officer pursed his lips but obeyed, grudgingly plodding through the formalities.
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