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Will strode out the back door and headed for the barn The sun was up He could already feel its heat shriveling his skin It was going to be a long day

Stella was sitting at the bar enjoying a smoke while Nick and the waitress—whatever the hell her na the tables and chairs The Blue Coyote ht not be the classiest place in Texas, but she did like things clean

They’d almost finished when she heard a business-like knock at the front door Glancing through the plastic blind slats, she could see Abner in unifor htened in the pit of her stoood But she had to let them in

Abner avoided her eyes as they walked in and whipped out their badges Clearly he’d had no choice except to make the arrest But the little Judas would pay the price later on

Abner gave a subtle nod in Nick’s direction The taller of the two men stepped around Nick, jerked his wrists behind his back, and whipped out a set of handcuffs Nick was shaking, his eyes bulging like a frightened animal’s

“Nikolas Tomescu,” the shorter man snapped, “you’re under arrest for the ht to remain silent”

“No!” Nick found his voice “I didn’t do anything! Tell them, Sis! Tell them I’m innocent!”

They shoved hi police vehicle Stella sagged against the bar She’d always protected her brother, but right now there was nothing she could do She’d never felt more helpless in her life

Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw the waitress standing at the end of the bar The woman’s features quickly assuh to see the earlier expression on her face

The skinny bitch had been s like a satisfied cat

CHAPTER 13

By the ti like a child Heartsick, Stella watched the vehicle pull out of the parking lot She could have argued with the officers but she kneouldn’t have done any good The iron-jawed deputies had ignored her Abner had refused to look her way

She would deal with Abner later But not while there was a chance she’d still need him

Nick was innocent Stella knew it to the depths of her heart He looked tough and , let alone a man And even if he’d done it, he wouldn’t lie to her He wasn’t clever enough for a big lie like that

Whatever happened, she couldn’t let hio to prison Nick would become a victim in prison, abused and tormented Prison would destroy him But she couldn’t dwell on that now She had to focus on how to save him