He’d call the police.

Then they’d find me.

They’d find us.

And we’d be in trouble, and Joker would find out I’d done something stupid. He’d have no choice but to deal with his father as his father pressed charges against me. It could all blow sky high as I’d have to explain my actions were due to my biker boyfriend enduring abuse.

And with all that, Joker might never forgive me.

And I didn’t like to think of what Hop and Shy would do.

Or—I swallowed at the thought—Tack.

Eek!

I jumped a foot when I heard the back door open.

Joker was home.

Time to face the music.

I turned my head to the side and saw him round the corner, shrugging off his cut.

He threw it over the back of a dining chair, turned, caught sight of me, and stopped.

“Baby…” he whispered, his face taking on an expression I never wanted to see again. “Is it Travis?”

Slowly, I stood, saying, “No, sweetie. Travis is fine.”

“Then what—?”

“I did something stupid,” I blurted. “And the police could be here any minute. Or they could arrest me at LeLane’s tomorrow once they’ve tracked me down. Or they could—”

“What the fuck?” he cut me off to ask.

“You’re gonna be mad,” I told him.

“Then I’ll be mad, but tell me what the fuck is happening,” he shot back.

“I saw your dad in the grocery store,” I said hurriedly, and I didn’t think it was good that his entire torso swung back almost like he was evading a blow. “I saw your reaction,” I pushed onward. “It upset me. I found out his address. Then I went to his house and keyed his truck.”

No torso swing on that.

Joker blinked.

“Unfortunately,” I went on, “I had to ask Elvira for her help. I was using girls’ night out as an alibi, and since we’d never had one of those and I asked for one out of the blue, they knew something was up. They followed me. And after I keyed his truck, they joined me at his house. As we were discussing whether or not to set his house on fire… that was Tabby’s idea, incidentally, not mine,” I added swiftly so he wouldn’t think I was totally unhinged, “your dad came out.”

“Fuck,” he hissed.

I closed my eyes tight, opened them quickly, and kept speaking.

“He saw his truck and he got a little angry. To get away, I was…” I didn’t think it would be good to tell Joker his dad put his hand on me so I skimmed past that part, “well, forced to get physical. I forgot I had my keys in my hand when I punched him. He fell back and when we were running away, I saw that I’d broken skin and he was bleeding.”