Page 91 of The Havenport Collection

Declan

I was still trying to understand what had happened. The police had arrived, and I held Astrid close as she sobbed into my shirt. Her body was shaking like a leaf, and she could barely stand up. I didn’t know the details, but I could put the evidence together.

That piece of shit Max Shapiro was on the floor screaming and crying to anyone who would listen that Astrid had attacked him.

I didn’t believe a word out of that weasel’s mouth, but one thing was certain.

She had done a number on him. His nose hadn’t stopped bleeding, and I could already see two telltale bruises forming under his eyes.

His shoe and foot were all messed up, and one of Astrid’s sparkly shoes was lying on the floor beside him.

The police thankfully pushed back the crowd of onlookers and approached Astrid gently.

“Ma’am. I am going to ask you to come have a seat so we can ask you some questions.”

She nodded.

As I helped her over to the chair, Max kept yelling, “Officer, arrest her. She assaulted me. I want to press charges.”

Astrid glared at him as she stood up. “Shut up, Max. You are lucky I didn’t do worse.”

“You cunt. That’s big talk coming from you. Now that your dumbass bodyguard is here, you think you can threaten me.”

“It’s not a threat, Max. It’s a fucking promise.” She stomped her foot. “And don’t ever speak about my boyfriend again, you cocksucker.”

“You are such a dumb cunt,” he yelled back.

Astrid flew at him, fists flying. I grabbed her by the waist and hauled her back into me.

“Calm down, Astrid,” I said into her hair as she tried to pull away from me.

The police officer tried to interject, putting his body between Astrid and Max, but she dodged around him and stood, hands on her hips, in front of Max’s prone body.

“I will break your ugly-ass face again, Max. Don’t ever put a hand on me or any other woman for that matter. We both know I can fuck you up, and I will happily do it again.”

I grabbed her and picked her up, trying to get her out of this situation.

“Did you hear that, officer?” Max shouted. “She threatened me again. I am in fear of my life. I’d like to file a protective order.”

Astrid growled. “Killer, you are making this worse,” I pleaded with her.

She turned to the police officer, her face a mask of calm.

“Officer, this man attacked me. I acted in self-defense.” The police officer looked skeptically from Astrid to Max, who was still slumped on the floor, bloody and bruised.

His wife had gotten him some ice in a towel that he was applying to his clearly broken nose. Served him right.

“This woman assaulted me! My foot! My nose! Arrest her at once.”

“Now, now. We are going to bring you both down to the station and discuss this,” the police officer said. He gestured to his fellow officer who was pushing the crowd back.

“I want to press charges. This was assault and battery,” Max ranted. “She clearly has some kind of special training! She is a deranged ex-employee who thinks she’s in love with me.”

His wife gasped and glared at Astrid.

I put my arm around her waist, protectively.

“I did no such thing, officer,” Astrid explained.

“I was headed to the ladies’ room when that gentleman grabbed me, slammed me into the wall, and threatened me.

I defended myself—successfully, I might add—against the attack.

And I would like to press charges against him as well as secure a protective order. ”

Despite the best efforts of the police officers, a crowd had gathered.

Astrid stood, tall and unwavering. She was not embarrassed—she was a total boss.

Listening to what that prick had done to her made me want to bash his face in further, but even I could admit she had done a damn good job on her own.

She curled into my chest and I whispered in her ear, “Good job.”

She smiled at me.

“Ma’am, we are going to have to take you both down to the station while we sort this out. There are witnesses, and we are going to ask the hotel for the security footage. But this is much easier if you cooperate.”

“Wait a minute,” I interrupted. “I don’t see why you need to arrest her. She was just defending herself.” Max could rot in jail for eternity, but Astrid did nothing wrong.

“That remains to be seen, sir, and based on the injuries sustained by both parties, we need to investigate thoroughly.”

I felt sick. My girl was getting arrested. For defending herself against assault? Astrid was right, the patriarchy was a motherfucker.

I looked through the assembled crowd, and I found a stern set of gray eyes boring holes through my skull. Justice Wentworth. She strode over and assessed the situation.

“What on earth did you do, Astrid?”

“Mother, I was attacked. I was terrified and I fought back.”

She nodded. “Astrid, you know I can’t be associated with this type of behavior. I am going to go home.”

The police led Astrid away in handcuffs. I listened as they read her the Miranda rights. My heart clenched and I couldn’t breathe. Logically, I knew she was in the right, but I couldn’t bear to see them handle my woman like that.

The officers were nice enough to give me the address of the police station where I could meet them and Astrid once she was booked.

I went back to our table to grab my jacket and Astrid’s purse and saw Judge Wentworth headed toward me.

“A person in my position can’t be associated with this type of thing. I trust you can handle this?” she demanded, glaring at me with her arms crossed.

“Yes,” I replied tersely. “If by situation, you mean bailing your daughter out of jail then yes, I can handle it.”

She smiled and I hated her.

“She was assaulted and she is scared. And now she’s being arrested,” I continued, waiting for Astrid’s mother to act like…well, act like a mother.

She shrugged. “It will all work itself out, I’m sure.” She started to walk away and then turned back around. “You know, I can’t help but think that this is your influence. Astrid has never behaved like this before,” she said icily.

“She was attacked by a vindictive man who took advantage of her and got her fired. I think your anger is misplaced, ma’am.”

“I understand the factual circumstances. But unfairness is not a reason to jeopardize your future. What happened tonight will have serious consequences. And I can’t help but think that you led her down this path.”

I was dumbstruck. Who was this woman and how could she live with herself?

Her daughter was being arrested and she was just leaving?

After her child had been physically assaulted?

What kind of mother did that? My mother certainly wouldn’t.

The thought of my mother here made me chuckle.

I could only imagine the verbal tongue-lashing these poor police officers would receive.

But now I had to focus. Astrid needed me.

For months, I had struggled with my overwhelming desire to protect this woman.

The irony, of course, is there was no one who needed my protection less.

But I still wanted to give it to her. And in the one moment where she needed me, the one moment where I could have helped her, I wasn’t there.

It should have been me kicking that guy’s ass.

It should have been me being led away in handcuffs.

The guilt I felt was crushing. But there wasn’t time to dwell on it. I had to get my girl out of jail.