I stared at him. “Four million dollars later.”
He shrugged. It wasn’t his bill to pay. “They’ll get you processed. Go clean up. I’ll take you to lunch, so we can discuss your next strategy.”
The guard was waiting to take me back to out-processing. “I can’t do lunch, today, Baxter.”
He looked at me. “We have a defense to prepare.”
“I’ll let you get started on that. I have something else I have to do.”
“Something other than keeping your ass out of prison?”
I shrugged. If he knew Kennedy, he might understand why I wasn’t going to be able to make the lunch meeting.
* * *
I joggeddown the steps of the courthouse. I had dressed into the same clothes the cops picked me up in yesterday. I made sure my watch was secure. I had my sunglasses, wallet, and phone. I hit Kennedy’s number.
Just as it rang, the door opened to a black SUV parked in front. I saw one long leg and then the other. My chest seized and I picked up my pace. I had to stop myself from a full sprint. I would have knocked down five reporters who jumped in front of me.
“Mr. Corban, do you know where Crew West is?”
“Have you heard from his family?”
“What evidence do the police have that you can dispute?”
“Were you surprised the bail was set so high since you’re from New Orleans?”
I dodged the questions. I smiled and ran around to the other side of Kennedy’s vehicle. I didn’t give a damn that Kimble was the one standing guard. I ducked in the backseat and he took off.
Kennedy unbuckled from her seat, maneuvered into mine, and crawled into my lap. “You’re okay. You’re out,” she whispered, pressing her face into my neck. She smelled amazing.
“Is this a good idea.” I knew the press was ready for a photo of anything they could get their hands on.
“Very tinted windows. Practically opaque,” she replied. “How are you?”
She wrapped her hands around my neck. Our eyes met.
“Need a shower, but I’m out.” I grimaced. She leaned back to observe me. She took complete inventory of me.
“This is new.” She ran her index finger along my jawline. Kimble swerved and I gripped Kennedy’s waist.
“I think I’ll shower and shave.”
She bit her lip. “We’re headed to my compound. I thought you could use a break from the spotlight.”
“You don’t think the cabin is the best place for that?”
She huffed. “No more cabin for either of us.”
“I can live with that.” I was exhausted. My muscles were heavy from the lack of sleep and the awkward positions I had to sit in the cell. “But the cabin wasn’t all bad.” I smirked.
Kennedy laughed and buried her head in my shoulder again. “I’m so glad I’m taking you home.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
* * *
I leftKennedy in her office when we made it back to her house. I almost felt too tired to climb the stairs to her second-floor apartments. I lugged my body to her room, walked straight to the shower, and turned it all the way to hot.