He sighed, gripping the wheel even tighter, his face flushing more by the second. “Yes, you are. It’s part of the deal I worked out to keep you out of jail.”
Jail? He couldn’t arrest me for dating Luke. He could hate me, but it wasn’t illegal to love.
The rage inside only continued to burn bright, fury exploding from every corner of my being. “What are you talking about? They pulled us over for no reason!”
“He runs drugs, Josephine.”
I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief as I sunk my nails into the seat, hoping I’d tear his precious leather. “You’ve finally lost it, huh?”
I didn’t even care if he hit me again. I wouldn’t have him drag Luke through the mud just to make himself feel better.
“He had drugs in his car.” He met my eyes in the mirror again, their fury fading. “He’s sitting in the back of a police car. You’re here, aren’t you? That’s because you’re my daughter, and I love you. I’m trying to save you while there’s still something left to save.”
“I don’t need saving. Especially by the devil himself.” He was lying, as usual. “There weren’t any drugs in there.”
He let out a long, low breath, a slight chuckle biting its tail. “Funny, they found plenty for none being in there, and according to Luke, it was yours.”
My gut twisted, rage spiking. I wouldn’t sit there and listen to him dog the man I loved. I knew how Luke felt about addiction. We’d cried for hours together over it, his pain about his mother’s choices cutting to the bone.
I eyed the door, wishing we were coming to a stoplight so I could free myself. I was suffocating on the lies. The hatred. I couldn’t bear it.
“Maybe he sells them. Who knows? God knows the Barretts have always been desperate for money. Maybe with his grandfather dying…”
“Don’t.” John was a good man, far better than my father would ever be. “Luke doesn’t use drugs or sell drugs. You and I both know that.”
“You know nothing. You’re a child, Josephine.”
“I’m an adult.” I eyed the forest flying by, realizing he wasn’t heading back to Briar. He was heading to Portland. “Let me out of the car.”
I didn’t care where we were. I’d walk a thousand miles through hot coals to get away.
“I can’t do that.”
I jiggled the handle, discovering he’d set the child safety locks. Panic set in. I needed to be free. I needed to find Luke.
“You will. You can’t hold me against my will. It’s kidnapping. You already assaulted me. I’d hate to see you end up in jail.”
He didn’t take the bait, his eyes glued to the road ahead. “Josie, I called in a favor and worked out a deal. No charges will be filed as long as you leave the area discreetly.”
Bile rose in my throat, nausea shoving the panic aside. “What are you talking about?”
Leave the area? Charges? We were fine. It was a misunderstanding. I’d be with Luke in a few hours.
“I told you: there were drugs in the car, and Luke is pinning the blame on you. I worked out a plan to get you out of the fire. Things will be hot for a while, so I need you to lie low at your uncle’s while it cools.”
I choked back a sob. “Dad, there were no drugs in that car.”
“Josie, I love you. You’re a smart girl. Did you check every surface of that car when you got in it? Do you know where he gets his money? He can’t be making enough at the shop alone to afford that car.”
My heart dropped, but I knew he was wrong. Luke earned everything he had. “He works hard.”
“No, honey. I know it’s painful to hear, but he was going to let you take the fall for him. I couldn’t let that happen. I know you love him, but you need to think of what’s best for you.”
I shook my head, tears flowing freely again, the anger I built as a dam crumbling. “He would never do that. He loves me.”
“Josie, he did it. It’s not even a question anymore.”
I wiped furiously at the tears, breath hitching with a sob. “I don’t believe it.”
“You don’t have to. You just have to ask yourself why he would do that. He knows you have a future. Is he trying to hold you back?”
I thought back to all our fights about my trip to tour schools in North Carolina. Was this his way of holding on? Even though I already decided to stay in Portland for school?
“Betrayal sucks, honey. I know. But you need to listen to me. I love you, and I want what’s best for you. Luke Barrett isn’t it. He almost let you rot in a jail cell for his crimes. I won’t let that happen to you.”
I still couldn’t believe it, the betrayal slicing to my core, the man I loved nothing that I thought. He wasn’t my knight in shining armor. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, preying on a dumb girl. For what? Fun? Was I a cover?
“You and I don’t always see eye to eye, but I love you. You forget that you’re my daughter, my firstborn.” He took a ragged breath, close to tears. “I know you love him. That’s why I’ve let you do your thing until now. This is different. When your livelihood is threatened, it crosses a line.”
“Why would he blame me?” After everything I’d done for him? After the years of friendship? Of love? Did I really mean so little?
“He’s scared. He’s facing serious charges, sweetie. This isn’t the juvie league anymore. He’s a big boy now facing big boy consequences.”
The only difference was now, I wouldn’t be there to save him.
Luke
It’d been a month since I danced with the devil, taking the interesting approach of trying to fuck my demons instead of conquering them.
Josie turned
