Chapter 5

The sergeant tried to remain professional, but she was completely unhinged.

"It was an entrapment! She left the car unlocked to set my son up!"

I pushed through the double doors into the lobby. The moment Brenda spotted me, she lunged.

"Harper! Drop the charges! Tell them you gave him permission!"

"No."

"Harper, he's your cousin! Think of the family!"

"Your son stole my property, drove under the influence, and nearly killed an innocent woman," I replied coldly. "The victim is lying in a hospital bed with a shattered femur and brain trauma. You think dropping charges erases that?"

Her eyes bugged out. "You can't put your own cousin in prison!"

"If he had just dented a pole, maybe we could have handled it through insurance. But he almost killed someone and fled. This is a criminal matter. It's out of my hands."

"Criminal matter my foot! You're his family!"

"Did he care about family when he broke into my car and stole my savings?"

She choked, momentarily at a loss for words.

Then, horrifyingly, her demeanor shifted in an instant. Her face collapsed into pleading desperation, and she grabbed my wrist.

"Harper, please. Auntie is begging you. I'll get down on my knees, please!"

She actually began sinking to the floor.

I yanked my hand back and stepped away. "Don't bother, Brenda. Even if you crawl on the floor, the district attorney is pressing charges. Not me."

She froze halfway down, realized her stunt wouldn't work, and snapped upright.

The mask of humility vanished, replaced by sheer malice.

"Fine, Harper Vance. You think you're so clever?" She pointed a shaking finger at my nose. "If my son goes to state prison, I swear I'll go straight to your corporate office! I'll make a scene every single day until HR fires your ungrateful ass!"

I looked at her, not blinking. "Try it."

"You think I'm bluffing?! I'll tell your bosses what kind of heartless monster you are! I'll ruin your reputation!"

I took a step forward, towering over her. "If you step foot near my office, I'll have you arrested for criminal harassment and trespassing. Instead of threatening me, you'd better start scraping together cash for the victim's medical bills, because their lawyer is going to sue you into bankruptcy."

Her face twisted in terror. "You..."

Just then, the front doors swung open.

My parents rushed in. Mom's eyes were swollen from crying. My dad, who rarely showed emotion, looked grim and exhausted.

"Brenda!" Dad called out.

Brenda whipped around, seizing on them like a lifeline. "David! Look what your daughter has done! She's sending Leo to prison!"

Mom shot me a conflicted, guilty look. I remained totally expressionless.

Dad walked over, stepping firmly between Brenda and me.

"Brenda, Leo brought this on himself. Stealing a car, driving drunk, running over a pedestrian—none of that is Harper's fault, and she's not taking the blame for it."

Brenda gasped, stunned. She clearly hadn't anticipated Dad standing his ground.

"What did you say?! You're turning your back on your own nephew?!"

"He committed serious crimes. He has to face the consequences."

"David Vance! Did you forget who lent you money when you were struggling to buy your first house?! Did you forget how Leo used to call you his favorite uncle?!"

"I haven't forgotten," Dad's voice deepened with simmering anger. "And over the last ten years, I paid Leo's vocational tuition, I cleared his gambling debts, and the loan I gave you for your house remodel was never paid back. I never held that over your head. But this is a felony hit-and-run, Brenda. I cannot, and will not, bail him out."

Brenda's expression curdled into pure hatred.

"You're all dead to me! Every single one of you!"