His muscles stiffened as her eyes bored into his.Sierra.“No,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry, but I’m doing what I have to do.” She cupped his face in her hand. “Alex can give you more details.”
“Julia…we’ll figure out another way.”
“I’m already working on that. When we have another way–”
“No. Julia, I don’t want you doing this.”
She sucked in a breath as she gave him a blank stare. His muscles tightened as frustration boiled below the surface. His wife stood in front of him, willing to protect his daughter…their daughter. And while he admired her bravery, he hated every second of this.
He wanted to protect her. To take her from the police station and hide her in the safety of Harrington House. But he couldn’t.
He reached for her hand, their fingers intertwining. No words were needed, their shared glance spoke volumes of fear, love, and their unbreakable bond.
The door burst open before he could react, and two detectives entered along with Mitchell.
“That’s a very touching scene,” the detective said as he collapsed into a chair. “Sorry to interrupt it, but you’ve got some questions to answer, Mrs. Harrington.”
“I’ll be okay,” she said to him with a fleeting smile.
“Julia, do whatever Mitch tells you, okay?”
She nodded before she gave him a peck on the lips. “Go home.”
“Like hell,” he said as he pulled her tighter against him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said.
“Again, it’s all very touching, but we really need the room, Mr. Harrington.”
Grant stepped back, glaring at the man. “I’m sure this makes you feel like a man, treating a woman like this. If I find out you’ve stepped out of line even once–”
“I’ve got this handled, Grant,” Mitchell said as he placed a firm hand on Grant’s shoulder. “We’ll speak as soon as I’m finished here.”
“I’ll be in the waiting room. I’mnotleaving without my wife.”
Mitchell nodded as Julia sank into her seat. He backed from the room, pushed by Mitchell toward the hall.
His last glimpse of Julia burned into his mind, her pinched features, worry etched into her face as she faced the detectives. It twisted his gut into a knot that refused to leave even after he’d settled into a chair in the waiting room.
He leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees as he scrubbed his face. The tension made him want to punch a hole through the wall, but he held his temper. The urge to burst back into the interrogation room, grab Julia, and run coursed through him, driving him to leap from his seat and pace the floor.
Each step through the cold, sterile waiting area added to his fear and frustration. His fingers curled into and out of fists. His wife was facing those hostile detectives to protect his daughter. He needed more information. He dug his phone from his pocket and dialed Worthington’s number.
“Mr. Harrington, wonderful to hear from you. Will you be home soon?”
“No. Julia’s…” He slid his eyes closed, barely able to get the words out. “No. Have Alex Stone call me immediately.”
“Yes, sir, of course. I will pass the message along now.”
“Thanks,” Grant said.
“Is there anything I can do, sir?” Worthington asked, his footsteps echoing through the phone’s speaker.
“No,” he said, squeezing his eyes closed, his voice coming out as a plea instead of a statement.
“Mr. Harrington, has something happened? Are you being charged?”
