Dangerous to Know & Love (32 page)

One man took their names, and then he got to Daniel. He didn’t even ask to see his ID.

“Turn around and face the car, Colton. I am arresting you on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to distribute.”

Lisanne gasped as the officer cuffed Daniel’s hands behind his back. Kirsty caught her arm as she darted forward.

“Lis, no! That won’t help.” Then Kirsty spoke up. “Excuse me, officer. My father’s a lawyer and I know that…”

“Listen, kid,” said the smaller of the two policeman, “if I had a dime for every rich kid who told me their dad was a lawyer, I’d be a wealthy man – not arresting punks on the highway. My advice to you is get back in your expensive car, keep quiet, and stay away from street scum like that.”

He pointed at Daniel and gave Kirsty a warning glare.

“You have the right to remain silent,” said the bigger cop, to the back of Daniel’s head. “Anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law.”

Lisanne collapsed against Kirsty, whose arms were wrapped around her, tightly.

“You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police,” the cop continued, “and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning, if you wish. If you decide to answer any questions now, without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to answer my questions without an attorney present?”

Daniel didn’t speak, and Lisanne knew he hadn’t heard a single word.

“I said do you understand these rights?” snapped the officer, and he pushed Daniel’s head so it thudded against the SUV’s roof.

“Bastard,” muttered Isaac under his breath.

Daniel was escorted into the police cruiser. He didn’t look back as they drove him away.

Vin walked back to them, white-faced and shaken. The police had completely ignored the reason he’d been pulled over – the bogus accusation of ‘failing to maintain a lane’.

Kirsty turned to Lisanne.

“I’m just going to ask you once, Lis – has Daniel got anything on him? Anything at all?”

Lisanne shook her head.

“He looked so mad when I asked him that!” she said, tears stinging her eyes.

Vin spoke quietly.

“They knew he was in the car.”

“What?” snapped Kirsty.

“They knew Dan was in the car. I mean, they didn’t ask me his name or anything. That big cop, he just said, ‘Has Colton supplied you any drugs today, or in the past?’ That was before they checked everyone’s ID. They
knew
who he was before they stopped me. Like they were waiting for us.”

“I have to call his brother,” said Lisanne softly.

“No,” said Kirsty, authority ringing in her voice. “Vin, drive us to the police station.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Help Daniel,” she said. “Like I said, dad’s a lawyer, and I
know
they can’t do what they just did.”

“Honey, I know you want to help…”

“I mean it, Vin. I’ll get dad on the phone – he’ll tell me what to say.”

An hour later, a dazed looking Daniel left the police station escorted by a victorious Kirsty, to the whoops and cheers of Vin and Isaac.

Lisanne burst into tears.

“Hey, baby. Don’t cry,” he said, wiping her cheeks with his fingers. “It’s all good. I’m fine.”

Vin picked up Kirsty and whirled her around, as she laughed happily.

“What happened?” choked out Lisanne between her tears.

“Your friend was awesome,” said Daniel, with a huge smile directed at Kirsty. “Totally ripped them a new one. By the time we left they were calling her ‘ma’am’.”

“Thank you very much,” said Kirsty with a delicate curtsey. “I have to agree with Daniel – I was totally awesome… Well, my dad was totally awesome – he talked me through everything I had to say.”

“But I don’t understand,” sniffed Lisanne. “Why did they arrest you? You hadn’t done anything.”

Kirsty looked serious.

“Honestly, Daniel. I think you’ve got a case for police harassment. Vin was right – they were looking for you and from what they
weren’t
saying, they wanted to use you to get to your brother.”

Daniel pulled a face.

“Nah, I’m staying well away from those fuckers.”

Kirsty sighed. “Dad says you should get out of town for a while if you can. Have you got somewhere you can stay until this calms down?”

A slow smile lifted Daniel’s lips.

“Yeah. Is the offer still open, baby?”

“Excuse me?” gasped Lisanne, completely bewildered by the change of direction.

“Is the invitation for Thanksgiving still open?”

She flung her arms around his neck, fresh tears trickling down her face.

“Yes,” she mumbled into his chest, even though he couldn’t hear her. “Yes,” she said again, looking up at his beautiful face.

Chapter 14

Zef stood with his arms crossed as Daniel shoved clothes into his messenger bag.

When he was facing him, he said, “So you’re going with
her
– the singer.”

Daniel nodded. Although his expression was neutral, his jaw clenched.

Zef scrubbed his fingers over his face, an expression of frustration that his younger brother had seemingly inherited. Then he shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Whatever. It’s probably just as well you get out of town for a while.”

That was the plan, but Zef’s words worried Daniel.

“What’s going on? Those cops were really gunning for you. I’ve been looking over my shoulder ever since – they weren’t messing around.”

Zef shook his head slowly.

“Things have gotten… complicated.”

Daniel frowned in irritation and confusion.

“I don’t get it. We don’t need the money. Since… since mom and dad… the insurance paid off the mortgage and there’s the trust for my tuition fees. I’ve got my summer job in the auto shop – I could work weekends, too. If you got a job…”

“Who’s going to give me a job, man? I mean, seriously? With my record? I couldn’t even get paid to stock shelves at Wal-Mart.”

“Go back to school – finish your degree.”

“You don’t understand – you’re just a kid.”

Daniel bristled.

“Is that what you think?”

Zef shrugged then shook his head.

“Nah, man. Not really. I’m just saying that it’s more complicated than you think.”

“Then
tell
me – I’m sure I can keep up.”

Zef pulled a face.

“Look, whatever. Go enjoy Thanksgiving with your girl. Maybe we’ll talk when you get back. Come on, get out of here! Enjoy yourself. Don’t be a pussy.”

Daniel gave a small smile, then his face became serious again.

“But we’ll talk when I get back?”

“Yeah, maybe. Now go on – get gone.”

Zef pulled his brother into a hug and whispered, “I’m sorry, kid.”

He knew Daniel couldn’t hear him.

Daniel drove up to the dorms as a crowd of noisy college girls spilled out, shouting and jostling, lugging heavy cases and piling into cars. It was cheerful bedlam. Cheerful for all the ones who were going off to spend time with their families. Daniel felt anything but cheerful – he was as nervous as all hell at the prospect of staying in the Maclaines’ house. He’d asked Lisanne if her dad had a gun, ignoring the accompanying eye roll, and even Googled the location of the nearest motel just in case things didn’t go entirely to plan.

He kicked the bike’s stand and leaned down to pull Lisanne’s Thanksgiving gift out of the saddlebags. One of the two gifts he’d gotten her. He wasn’t sure she’d like it, but she definitely needed it.

He’d tried to gift wrap it – he’d even bought some expensive paper and ribbon. But then the paper wouldn’t fit and the ribbon kept unraveling. In the end he’d used so much Scotch tape that the damn thing looked as attractive as road kill. Which was why he’d stuffed it inside a plastic bag.

He managed to push his way through the crowds of hormonal girls, wondering if getting his ass felt up had been an accident, when he bumped into… what the hell was her name? He racked his brains while her eyes widened as she realized whose chest she was currently eyeballing.

“Oh, Daniel!”

“Hi,” he said, amiably.

He started to go around her when she grabbed his arm.

“You made a mistake not calling me back,” she said with a challenging look.

He couldn’t help smiling. Girl had balls.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” he said, winking at her. “Terri.”

She pouted and tossed her long red hair over her shoulder.

He took the stairs two at a time until he was standing outside Lisanne’s room. He knocked loudly.

Lisanne yanked the door open, her ears ringing from Kirsty’s high-pitched squealing, and grinned up at him, her cheeks pink and her eyes bright. Daniel couldn’t help bending down and kissing her sweet lips. The moment skin touched skin, the spark of electricity flared and he couldn’t deny it, but deepened the kiss, aching to feel her body pressed against his own.

Several girls milling around in the hallway whistled and called out comments that nice female college students ought not to know, even if they were anatomically correct. Perhaps it was lucky that Daniel didn’t hear them, not that he’d have cared. But Lisanne did – her face was scarlet as she tugged him inside and shut the door.

“What?” he asked, bemused.

“Nothing,” she lied, then continued as she saw her answer annoyed him. “Just some sophomores eyeing up
my
boyfriend.”

Daniel laughed. He liked her being possessive.

Kirsty raised her eyebrows and sighed theatrically.

“Hello! I am in the same room as you guys! I do exist. There is life beyond the Lisanne—Daniel bubble.”

“Sorry, Kirsty,” mumbled Lisanne.

“Yeah. What she said.” Daniel’s tone wasn’t entirely serious, and he smiled. “Hey, Kirsty. Didn’t see you over there.”

Kirsty groaned. “Oh God, now I’m invisible. It’s finally happened. The sooner you two get over the honeymoon phase the better for us mere mortals.”

“Oh, right!” snorted Lisanne. “And you weren’t shrieking because Vin sent you a cute text saying, ‘Oh, Kirsty! You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Your eyes are like two sapphires on a really big blue ring, and turtledoves sing every time you enter a room...’”

Kirsty threw a cushion at her.

“Shut up already! He didn’t say that – not exactly.”

Daniel felt like backing out of the door. The estrogen levels in the room were off the chart and high enough to melt the balls off a brass monkey. Probably. It was no place for a human male.

“Um, yeah, I’ll wait for you outside,” he said.

“What? No, I’m ready.”

Lisanne threw herself at Kirsty and hugged her tightly.

“Text me every day, promise?”

“Of course. And tell me how it goes at your place. Oh and remember what I said – you totally have to have sex in your childhood bedroom,” replied Kirsty, muttering into Lisanne’s neck.

She gasped. “Kirsty!”

“I’m just saying – it’ll be awesome. Trust me.”

Kirsty winked at Daniel, who’d been having some inappropriate thoughts of his own when he’d seen his girlfriend kissing another woman, but he hadn’t heard the conversation. He shook his head to clear it and suddenly decided it would be wise to hold Lisanne’s present in front of him.

Lisanne gave him a strange look, probably because his eyes looked like they were about to dribble down his chest. She picked up a small bag.

“Is this okay?”

“Um…”

“Will it fit in Sirona?”

“Who’s Sirona?” asked Kirsty, curiosity coloring her tone.

Lisanne giggled. “His bike.”

“He named her?”

“I know!” laughed Lisanne.

“Hey!” said Daniel. “I’m standing right here!”

“Now you know how it feels,” muttered Kirsty.

Lisanne grabbed hold of Daniel’s hand and tugged him out of the room.

“Bye, Kirsty! Happy Thanksgiving!”

“Yeah,” said Daniel. “What she said.”

“What’s up with you?” Lisanne said to Daniel. “You’re acting weird – all sort of wigged out.”

Daniel looked around him nervously, pulled her into an empty corner next to the janitor’s closet, then thrust the present at her.

“For you,” he mumbled. “It’s nothing much, and it’s not new or anything, so if you don’t like it that’s fine, but I thought you could use it and… yeah… yeah.”

Lisanne’s face slowly changed from confusion to comprehension to pleasure.

“You… you got me a present?”

Daniel nodded. “Yeah, but it’s pretty crappy. It’s not new but I thought… I dunno… you don’t have to…”

Shit! Why was giving a girl a present so hard? Because you’ve never done it before, moron.

“Daniel, I love it.”

He stared at her, utterly bewildered. “But… you haven’t even opened it.”

Lisanne reached up and kissed his cheek. “I love it because it’s from you.”

The tips of Daniel’s ears reddened, and suddenly the ugly carpeting seemed incredibly fascinating.

“It probably won’t fit,” he muttered, almost to himself.

Lisanne pulled the package out of the bag. She held back a smile as she saw his futile attempts at gift wrapping. Jeez, it looked he’d wrapped it blindfolded – and using his toes.

She tried to tear off the paper, but there was so much Scotch tape, she couldn’t make any headway.

“Um, could you help me?” she said, biting back an urge to laugh.

“Fuck,” muttered Daniel.

When he couldn’t tear it with his hands, he used his teeth to rip it open, then handed it back to Lisanne.

Finally, finally Lisanne got her gift opened.

Inside was a black leather biker’s jacket, size small. It was worn soft with use, the leather faded and scuffed, the sleeves curved at the elbows by years of wearing.

While Lisanne held out her arms, Daniel slipped it over her shoulders, then pulled up the zipper.

It fit perfectly.

Damn if she didn’t look sexy in leather.