Page 63 of Shallow

And that’s the moment I remember I have two bags of cocaine stuffed between my breasts. That’s also the moment I choose to put Carrick’s promise to thetest.

Turning away from his touch, I grab his shirt and jerk him toward me, my heart pounding in my ears. “Listen, I have enough cocaine on me right now for them to put me away for a very long time if they search me. And theywillsearch me, Carrick. I’m the driver, and I’m obviouslyhigh.”

“What are you asking,Shiloh?”

Before my name leaves his lips, I already have my hand shoved down the front of my shirt. Pulling out the baggies, I tuck them tightly into his fist. “Put these in your pocket.” I pretend like I’m holding his hand and nod encouragingly. “They won’t search you. You’resober.”

He hedges, and I’m about to shit my pants as two uniformed officers approach the car. At the very last second, Carrick closes his eyes and shoves the baggies in his jeans pocket. I exhale the breath I’d been holding and melt against theseat.

The larger of the two cops opens my door and nod inside. “Is everyone okay in here?” After we answer to his satisfaction, he asks us to exit the car, and after we do, they separate us in a divide and conquer technique I’ve seen a million times on crime drama TV shows. As I suspected, I get searched, but due to my quick thinking, they find nothing. Since I haven’t had a drop of alcohol, I pass the Breathalyzer test with flyingcolors.

That’s when all hell breaksloose.

“Sir, I’m going to need you to step over here for a moment,please.”

Panicking, I run to where the huge cop is motioning for Carrick to stand. “Why do you needhim?”

“Ma’am, if you could please just stepback.”

“No! Tell me what you want withhim!”

He motions to my eyes. “Miss West, we know illegal drug use when we see it. Thankfully, you don’t have anything on you, because your family has been very generous to our fallen officer fund. However, our suspicions give us probable cause to search Mr. Kincaidtoo.”

“You can’t do that!” I scream, grabbing his arm. “You can clearly see he’sfine.”

Under the pale streetlight, I see Carrick’s eyes widen. As the officers lead him away, he glances back at me, his mouth open and his face paling by theminute.

We both know what’s going to happen. The only difference is we foresee very differentendings.

It takes seconds for the officer to reach into Carrick’s pocket and retrieve the bags I’d begged him to hide. Holding them above his head, the officer laughs, shaking them like trophies. “Seems like we got us a real winnertonight.”

His partner grins and reaches for his handcuffs. “Looks like possession with intent to distribute tome.”

Carrick panics, struggling as they pull his arms behind his back and read him his rights. “Wait! They’re notmine!”

Tightening the cuffs, they slap him on his shoulder. “They all say that,boy.”

Jerking frantically, he turns a pleading gaze my way. “Shiloh! Tell them thetruth!”

I want to cry again, but I won’t. I’ve always been honest about the fact that I’m selfish. If it comes down to saving myself or someone else, I’ll choose me every time. Maybe I’m hardwired to be heartless. I don’t want to be this way, but sometimes you just play the cards you’re dealt, accept your role in life, and liveit.

My role is a freshly signed modeling contract in Los Angeles. Not to live in a six-by-eight-foot jailcell.

I see the pain in his eyes as he realizes what’s about to happen. It’s better this way. He’s the last person I ever want to hurt, but eventually, I abandon everyone, leaving them behind to pick up thepieces.

I warned him I’d make him hate me. He didn’tlisten.

“Miss West? Is this true? Do these belong toyou?”

Knowing this is the last time I’ll ever see him, I should look him in the eye, but I don’t. Conjuring the most innocent face I can force, I shake my head. “No. I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’ve never seen those bags before in mylife.”

* * *

Present Day

They lockedhim up for two years. His parents had to borrow money and take out an extra mortgage on their house and liens against the motel just to pay his fines and court costs. The whole thing was over with before it even gotstarted.

Cary’s baby sister died while he was behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. He never even got to saygoodbye.