Page 6 of Professional Consult

I crane my neck back so I can see my attacker. “Are you fucking crazy?!?”

He presses a massive hand to my head, forcing my cheek to the step. My purse is ripped from my arm and my hands are forced together behind me.

“Everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

“Don’t you know who I am?”

Cold steel wraps around my wrists.

You have got to be kidding me…

I’m forced upright and dragged a few feet. An elderly police officer that looks like she belongs in an old-timey kitchen baking cookies dashes up the jet stairs.

“You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney—”

“I’m LexiFREAKINGDash—” I blurt out, “—of course I can afford an attorney!”

I struggle against him, twisting my body, trying to kick out his damn knee, but he’s like a solid brick wall. Completely immovable.

“…one will be appointed for you.”

As bad as things are, they manage to get a whole lot worse when the cameraman approaches, camera glued on me.

There’s no way this is going to play out well. Even when I’m eventually let go and apologized to, which I will be, the video that lives on will be watched and re-watched throughout the entire world. They’re going to hear me scream out,“I’m Lexi FREAKING Dash,”from now until the end of time. It will come up in every interview, every appearance.

“You’re going to regret this,” I grind out as low as I can, hoping the audio doesn’t pick it up.

The older policewoman comes into view again at the entrance to the aircraft, holding up a bag. “Found it!”

Found what?

I squint my eyes, trying to make out what she’s so excited about. She bounds down the steps, her delight only matched by her eagerness to show Clint’s asshole brother what she’s holding.

“Right under her seat, like he said.”

“My seat?”

The bag in question is filled with colorful gems that catch the sunlight and cast a rainbow on the pavement. And then, it hits me.

“You think I’m peddling stolen jewels?”

“It sure as hell looks like it,” Luke’s voice growls.

Again, I’m dragged, this time to the back of their cop car.

“There is no way I’m going into the back of that thing! God knows how many people have puked and shit themselves.”

“Funny how you think you have a choice,” he says, opening the door and pushing his big hand down on my head to guide me inside.

His sheer size makes me unable to resist. I bumble my way in, then cast him a scathing glance, truly hating that I’m somehow still taken aback by how gorgeous he is, despite him shoving me into his police car.

“You piece of shit,motherfucker!You’ll pay for this—”

SLAM!

CHAPTER3

LUKE