I just shake my head because I can’t believe he actually did that.
I want to be pissed at him and tell him that I can take care of myself. But it would be a lie. The only reason I’m upset is because he’s going to jail, and there’s nothing I can do to stop that.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Cannon
“Well, lookie here who’s back again so soon,” one of the big, burly police officers says when I’m taken into the station for processing.
“What?” I ask him, assuming he means I’m back to visit Conrad.
“Didn’t you just get bailed out?”
“No.”
“Then you must have a twin, boy,” he says with a cackle.
“Yeah, I do. Conrad Erikson. He’s been in since Sunday,” I explain.
“No shit?” he asks, and I shake my head, not finding the situation nearly as funny as he does.
I fucked up. Big time.
I don’t regret hitting Bailey for the shit he said to Madison. No, that felt damn good. I just wish it didn’t mean I had to leave her like this. I have no doubt that the son of a bitch is going to keep me here until at least Monday when Conrad has his hearing. And dammit, my brother was counting on me to take care of Hannah and our parents. I let him down.
“Do you think you can put me and my twin in the same cell?” I ask even though I doubt the officer will grant my request.
He glances behind me at someone else, maybe a superior, and then says, “Oh, yeah. I think that’s already been arranged.”
Shit. I don’t like the sound of that. But whatever happens, at least I’ll be locked up with Conrad.
About two hours later, when they’ve finally taken my mugshot and fingerprints, strip searched me, and made me change into the khaki-colored cotton stretch pants and baggy shirt, I’m finally taken to the cellblock. There are not many of them, but they’re each big enough to hold a dozen or so men.
I almost wish I had a camera to capture my brother’s surprised face when I’m shoved inside with him.
“Cannon?” he exclaims, jumping down from his top bunk in his matching khaki-colored outfit. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he asks, but then he’s hugging me so tight I can’t breathe. I got to see him yesterday morning during visitation but only for about ten minutes, and there was no contact allowed. Here, well, I guess it doesn’t matter in the cell.
I hug him back and when he pulls away, I tell him, “I’m sorry. I did something incredibly stupid.”
“What?” he asks.
“I punched Bailey and knocked him out during the live debate with Madison.”
“Jesus,” he mutters, running his fingers through his hair. “What were you thinking?”
“Well, he was bad-mouthing Madison, called her a bitch and a whore and disrespected the Kings at the same time. I just lost it…”
“Fuck,” Conrad says with a sigh. He shows me the way to an open spot of bench where we sit down side by side. “I hate that you’re here with me, but it’s really good to see you.”
“I’m guessing I’ll be here for a while too,” I agree as I glance around at what will be my home for the next few days. There are several rough-looking guys hanging around, watching and listening to our every word, but most of them seem amused now that there are two of us.
“How is Hannah? Mom and Dad?” Conrad asks in a rush.
“The same as they were yesterday morning,” I assure him. “Everyone is okay, just sad that you’re in here. And now I am too, so I can’t protect Madison or be there if they need me…”
“Roman will make sure Madison is safe,” Conrad says. “You know he will. He’ll help out with Hannah and Mom and Dad too if they need anything.”
“I know, but it’s not the same. I fucking hate being away from her.”
“Hannah told me about how she found you and Madison Sunday night when the cops came,” he admits with a grin. “She was upset during visitation and didn’t know what else to talk about. You’re fucking Madison, aren’t you?” he asks.
“Something like that,” I agree rather than use the other term that would make him laugh his ass off at me. “At least we were, until I told her we shouldn’t anymore.”
He turns to look at me straight on. “You turned her down?”
“I didn’t want to, but I was starting to…I care about her,” I finally admit. “And the two of us can’t work out. She’s got her public image to think about, and I don’t want to do anything to make her lose this election or any other ones in the future.”
“You’re in love with her,” Conrad says simply.
“Yeah, yeah, I think I am,” I agree with a groan as I slump my back and head against the brick wall.
“Sorry, man.”
“Me too,” I reply right before a group of officers line up outside the bars.
“Everyone except the twins get to bed,” one of them says as he unlocks the door. By the time he opens the cell door, the other inmates have all scattered to the bunks in the back, leaving me and Conrad in the open front area.
“Oh fuck,” Conrad says, and we both get to our feet like we know what’s about to go down.
There are six officers with batons and just the two of us, unarmed.
Fuck, I don’t like those odds as I ball my hands into fists. But I’ll be dammed if I don’t do some damage of my own before I go down.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Madison
I sit around the police station with Jake and Lucas, drinking their nasty coffee until almost midnight when someone finally tells us the exact same thing I heard on Sunday – Cannon won’t see a magistrate until Monday. When I asked why he couldn’t see one tomorrow since it’s Friday and the courts are opened, I was told that
