“Yeah. It is. Now, why don’t you tell me your side of the story before you piss me off enough to put you in jail for something.”
She gasped. “You can’t talk to me that way.”
“Yeah, I can. You’re on my turf, little one. Better get used to it.”
Gen almost closed her eyes but it was too fascinating to miss. Her usually centered friend glowered, muttered something violent under her breath, and slammed her butt down on the uncomfortable chair.
“Where’s Wolfe?” Gen asked.
“With Officer Devine. Ms. Meadows, you can start. What did you see or hear before you called us?”
Arilyn recounted her side of story with just a bit of a sulk. Gen took it slow when it was her turn, trying not to leave anything out. She gave Petty her cell phone so he could see the initial call from the hospital and her subsequent one to David. Petty kept focus, interrupting with an occasional question. Finally he closed the folder and looked up.
“We’ll go over the facts and be in touch.”
Arilyn leaped to her feet. “That’s it? That’s all? Aren’t you going to arrest David?”
“Are you pressing charges?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Gen said. Arilyn jerked her head around. “I can’t right now. I just want to get Wolfe out of here and go home.”
Her friend grasped her hand. “He assaulted you,” she said quietly. “I know you’re scared, but we’ll all help you. Report it.”
“Not now. Please, A, don’t push this. This is so much bigger. I have to think of the hospital, legal issues, publicity, Wolfe. I’ll apply for a restraining order against him so he’ll stay away from me. I never want to see him again.”
Arilyn bit her lip, obviously frustrated but not wanting to push. “Fine. Let’s get Wolfe and go home.”
“Sorry, ladies, we’ll have to hold your friend overnight.” Officer Devine, aka Beauty, strolled over and looked at them with a bit of sympathy. “He violated the restraining order and assaulted Dr. Riscetti. We’ll have to wait for bail in the morning when the courts open.”
Gen battled tears, then realized Wolfe would hate her crying. She swallowed them back, tilted her chin, and swore she’d be practical. She’d been the one to drag him into this mess, and she was going to get him out. “Did he call for a lawyer?”
Devine shook his head. “Not yet.”
“We have some work to do, then. A, let’s get Kate on the phone and talk to Slade. Then we’ll call Max. He always knows what to do.”
“Got it.”
“Can I take you ladies home?” Petty asked.
Arilyn treated him to a glowering look. “I think you’ve done enough.” She paused. “Or not.”
The man actually sputtered out a laugh. “I’ll be in touch, Dr. MacKenzie.” Suddenly he turned his head and gave Arilyn a blistering look. “And you, Ms. Meadows. I will see you soon.”
It was more of a threat than a promise. Arilyn tried to keep her cold dignity, but stumbled once on her way out. His chuckle told her he’d caught it.
Gen decided not to bring up the odd dialogue between them and got to work.
Fifteen
NOW, THIS IS something I hope to avoid when my son is of age.”
Wolfe looked up. Maximus Gray, his stepfather’s close friend, general badass, and partner in La Dolce Maggie bakery—a local New York chain born from the Contes’ original bakery in Italy, La Dolce Famiglia—stared at him through the bars of the jail. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt dribbled with baby saliva and an array of interesting stains, he still looked more intimidating than most men Wolfe knew. A touch of humor twisted his lips.
Wolfe got up from the bench and walked over. “You will. First thing I’ll tell Max Jr. is to call his old friend Wolfe to bail him out. You’ve always been cranky about losing sleep. Hey, who contacted you? I didn’t get a chance to make my one phone call.”
“Gen. What happened?”
“A clusterfuck.”
“Sounds familiar. Give me the story.”
His muscles relaxed. He related the whole story, sparing nothing. Usually he was stubborn enough to get himself out of his own messes, but there was one goal in his mind that left all others to the side.
Get back to Gen as quickly as possible.
He couldn’t do that in jail.
Max scribbled a few notes. “First thing to do is get you out. I’ll make some calls. Riscetti’s restraining order sounds fishy. No prior evidence, so maybe strings were pulled. Is Gen okay?”
“Think so, she’s strong. But I need to get out of here, Max. I need to be with her.”
Max nodded, looking thoughtful. “You guys together now?”
Wolfe let out a half laugh. “No. Just friends. Why has the whole family been intent on hooking us up since day one?”
He waited for Max to laugh with him, but he was strangely silent, probing his face as if he suspected something Wolfe didn’t even know. Wolfe tried to keep calm, hoping no one ever found out about that one stolen, perfect kiss between them.
“Because you both fit,” Max said simply. “Not that I didn’t want to see her happily married. Glad she ran from the asshole before it was too late. She’s always been wicked smart.”
“Yeah. This guy’s good, Max. He set the whole thing up, got her to quit the hospital, and likes to control her. I’m worried. I don’t want him near Gen.”
“Got it. Let me take care of some things. Want me to call Sawyer and Julietta?”