It took all my energy not to punch him in the face. I probably would have if he hadn’t been standing behind a wall of iron. “Maybe I should leave you here.” My tone was sharp, threatening.
Ty seemed unbothered as he rolled his eyes. “Come on, it wasn’t a big deal.”
I turned toward Colton, who was back in his seat, feet propped up on the desk as he watched us.
“What happened to the victim?”
“Victim?” Ty spat, obviously disgusted with my choice of words. “That buffoon was not a victim.”
Colton’s lips tightened against a suppressed smile. “He’s in the ER.”
My stomach dropped as my head snapped back to Ty. “He’s in the fucking hospital?” I growled, clenching my teeth.
Ty held his hands out, palms up. “Whoa,” he said. “Calm down. All I was trying to do was defend an innocent girl’s honor.” Ty batted his dark lashes, as if that had any effect on me. “It’s not my fault the jackass disrespecting her wanted to fight.” He shrugged.
The keys bit into my clenched hand so hard I thought it might bleed. “And the alcohol had nothing to do with it, I’m sure.”
Ty shrugged again but didn’t deny.
“He’s not going to press charges,” Colton offered.
Some of my anxiety eased.
I glanced at him. “You sure?”
Colton tilted his chin up. “Yup. He was a pretty big dude. I think he was embarrassed that Ty got the better of him.” His eyes drifted to my brother, an impressed glint in his expression.
I stood there a moment, considering my options. Maybe it would do him some good to get booked. He probably wouldn’t get much, maybe community service. But all his information would be in the system then. He’d have a record. I pressed my lips together, assessing.
Ty tilted his head slightly, his brows narrowing as he noticed something in my expression he didn’t like. He curled his hands around the bars of his cage, his eyes widening like they had when we were kids and the man who’d been our father had come home. The look hit me right in the gut.
“You aren’t going to leave your only brother in jail, are you, Atty?”
Fuck. Him.
I knew the game he was playing. And even though I didn’t want to participate, he was right. I couldn’t leave him in there.
I shoved the keys into the lock, my movements jerky, and the door sprang open. I didn’t say anything to Ty as I spun around and tossed the keyring onto the desk. It landed in front of Colton’s boots with a tinny thump.
“Thank you,” I managed to say to Colton before I spun around and headed toward the back door of the station.
Ty’s footsteps followed. “See ya next time, Colt,” Ty called.
Colton snorted. “Better not, kid. One of these days I’m gonna book your ass and you won’t see it coming.”
I could almost hear Ty’s smile as I pushed through the door.
The two of us didn’t speak as we got into my cruiser and headed home.
The silence between us grew heavy, like a storm cloud waiting to erupt. We started to cross the bridge over the Blue Cypress River that separated the small town of Cypress Falls from the bigger college town over the river. I chanced a glance at Ty, instantly regretting it as I took in his expression. He had his head leaned back lazily against the seat, eyes lolling closed as if he could barely keep them open. He didn’t feel bad at all that I’d just had to come bust him out of a jail cell.
“I’m tired of this shit, Ty,” I growled, forcing myself to drive the speed limit even though my foot itched to pound down on the gas pedal.
Ty sighed, turning his head toward the sparkling, clear water of the river below. “I know.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Seriously, you can’t keep doing this. I’m trying to get a promotion. The chief won’t consider it with the amount of trouble I’ve been letting you get away with.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, which was getting broader. He was starting to fill out, leaving his teenage lank behind for muscle. And maybe he should leave behind other childish things too.