Page 46 of Rhett

Nova nodded. “Yes. Josie didn’t complete her ‘claw the Hunter to death’ mission.”

I winced when Bonnie leveled me with aWhat the fuck!glare. “Why did she attack my granddaughter?”

I crossed my arms, widening my stance. I didn’t like her accusatory stare. “I don’t know, but I intend to find out.”

“And you best believe that I’m pressing charges,” Nova said.

“I can’t arrest her, Nova,” I replied. “According to Others law, you’re presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

“Innocent?” Nova’s lips pressed into a thin line, and then she said, “She attacked me in my bedroom. Are you calling me a liar, Sheriff?”

Nova stared at me like she was seeing me for the first time and didn’t like what she saw.

“Don’t go twisting my words,” I clipped out. “All I’m saying is that according to Others law, I can’t arrest Josie for attacking you without evidence and/or a witness to the crime.”

“He’s right, Nova. If he arrests her without proof, that would set off a powder keg of trouble we don’t want.”

“Exactly,” I replied. “The owl-shifters would accuse my pack of breaking Others law, and they would be right, because the law is clear.”

“Oh, I see.” Nova’s eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. “I’m a Hunter, so my word doesn’t count in this town.”

Bonnie patted her arm. “We just have to work harder to convince the residents that you mean no harm.”

Nova snatched her arm away and glared at Bonnie. “Convince them that I mean no harm? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Calm down, Nova,” Bonnie soothed.

“I will not calm down.” She made air quotes. “I’m the victim here.”

Bonnie’s fists clenched. “All I’m saying—”

Nova cut her off. “I’m not interested in hearing what you meant, Bonnie,” she retorted. “Once my car is fixed, I’m out of here.”

“Nova, Others law—” I started to explain.

“Fuck your law!” she shouted before storming up to me.

The hurt that I saw shining in her eyes made my stomach plummet.

She tugged off my T-shirt and threw it in my face. The garment landed at my feet.

“Go fuck yourself, Sheriff Stick-Up-Your-Ass.” She bit the words out from between tight lips before stalking away and up the stairs.

“We messed that up big-time,” Bonnie murmured.

“Our hands are tied.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “This is a damned-if-I-do-and-damned-if-I-don’t situation.” Which was why being the town’s Protector wasn’t an easy job. “If I arrest Josie, it would spark a war within the Ridge. Everyone is already whispering about Nova being a Hunter. Do you really think they’ll take Nova’s side against Josie’s?”

“I know whose side they’ll take, Rhett, but it doesn’t make it right.”

“It makes no sense debating right or wrong when we’re dealing with townsfolk with so much pent-up resentment against Hunters.”

“Including you?” Challenge dripped from the words.

“Yes.” My gaze bored into hers. “But the big difference between me and them is that I give a shit whether she lives or dies.”

I stormed out of Bonnie’s house without another word.

CHAPTER12