Page 82 of Rhett

The muscles in my body relaxed when I heard the trust and belief in Nova’s voice.

Bonnie pulled Nova into a tight hug. “I don’t like this, but I’ll go along with it because I have to.” She released Nova, peering at me. “Forgive me for throwing a tantrum. I let my fear do the talking. I know by your actions and not just words that you’ve always done right by this town. So I know that you’ll do right by my granddaughter.”

“Damn right, I will,” I asserted. “It’s tearing me up inside that I have to do this, but if the townsfolk get their hands on Nova, I won’t be able to stop myself from retaliating.” And I would, ripping apart anyone who dared to hurt Nova. “Let’s play this by the book.”

Bonnie nodded. “Agreed.”

I walked up to Nova, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“I know,” she whispered, cupping my cheek. “Let’s get this over with.”

Stepping back, Nova turned, and we all slowly walked out of the house. Opening the door to my cruiser for Nova, I slammed the door after she was safely inside, then hopped in, taking off. Bonnie followed in her vehicle.

Inside my cruiser, it was silent all the way to the station, each of us lost in our own thoughts until we finally reached our destination.

“Well, that didn’t take long,” I growled, staring at the crowd thronged around the station.

“There the Hunter is!” someone shouted.

“About time,” another person replied.

My pack—Quinn, Imani, Piper, Mack, Emmett, Brody, and Jasper—was out in force, corralling the crowd, pushing them away from the station’s entrance, giving us a safe path inside. Freya, Nyx, Izzy, Rose, and June were arguing with the residents stupid enough to actually bring fucking torches.

“Rhett,” Nova said softly, placing a hand on my thigh and squeezing. “Get your shit together. You have to do this.”

I was in a fucked-up predicament. Torn between protecting the town and protecting my woman.

“What I have to do,” I snarled, releasing my death grip on the steering wheel, “and what I want to do are two different things.” I glanced over at her, lacing my fingers through hers. “They’ll try to kill you if we don’t find Sam, bringing him in for justice.”

“Then find him, Protector.” She leaned over, giving me a tender kiss. “Now let’s go.” She unlaced her fingers from mine. “My mob is waiting.”

I loved Nova’s strength, courage, and humor in the face of this explosive and dangerous situation. It fortified me for what I had to do. Put my female in jail for a damn crime she didn’t commit.

Taking a deep breath, I exited my cruiser, ignoring the screaming and yelling crowd as I came around to open Nova’s door.

“Go home,” Quinn boomed to the people.

“We have a right to be here,” Blanche, the owner of the town’s gas station, said.

“And I have the right to rip those ugly rollers out of your hair,” Freya countered.

The crowd began chanting, “Justice. Justice. Justice” while surging forward.

“Get back!” Mack shouted, pushing the residents. “And Josie, if you don’t put away that rolling pin, I’m going to arrest you.”

“She better put it away,” Bonnie shouted. “Because I’m one step away from beating her ass with it.”

Nova held out her hands to me.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You have to do this by the book, Rhett. Handcuff me.”

I scowled. “No. I’m not doing that shit.”

“Rhett, just fucking do it,” Nova argued. “Have you forgotten your job?”

She was right. I had to do this by the book. Reluctantly, I handcuffed her wrists in front of her body. Nova and I walked around the cruiser to face the belligerent crowd.