Grayson lets out a frustrated sigh. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell.

He frowns at the screen and then answers the call.

“Tyler…wait, what? Hold on. You’re where? Jesus Christ, Tyler!” There’s a sigh before Grayson says, “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Yeah. Yeah. Just wait until I get there.

“Shit!” he curses, slamming his cell back in his pocket.

“What happened?” I ask, touching his arm to bring his attention to me.

“It was my brother, Tyler. He’s been arrested,” he says, meeting my eyes. “Drug possession.”

Chapter 16

Suddenly things start to make sense to me. I heard Grayson say those words and instantly knew, in no uncertain terms, that the man in front of me is in the position he’s in because of his brother.

“I have to go to the police station,” he says urgently, interrupting my thoughts. “I need to bail him out.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Well, I can’t just leave him there.”

“I’m not saying you should leave him there. I’m just saying it’s not a good idea for you—currently out on bail—to turn up at the police station to bail out your brother who has been arrested on a similar charge.”

He steps back from me, thrusting his hands through his hair.

I want to tell him that I think I know what’s been going on. That I know what he’s been hiding from me. But I know that now isn’t the time to confront him on that.

Later, I definitely will. Right now, I need to help him.

With a fire in my belly and adrenaline racing through my veins, I take my cell out of my bag and dial Ben’s number. Grayson opens his mouth to speak. I hold my finger up and stop him.

Ben answers on the third ring. “Mel.”

“Ben, I’m just going to get straight to the point here—I want off the Grayson Knight case.”

“That’s not possible.”

“I won’t prosecute a man who I believe to be innocent.” My eyes meet Grayson’s. I see the flare of surprise in them. There’s something else in them, too, something that makes my stomach flutter and tighten.

Ben laughs. “Grayson Knight is definitely not innocent. And you will continue with his case. If you don’t, you’re fired.”

“You don’t have to fire me. I resign,” I say, and hang the phone up before he can respond.

I’m staring down at my phone when Grayson’s hands touch mine. “Mel.”

“Did I just quit my job?”

“It sounded that way.” His voice is gentle, his grip on my hand tightening.

“Holy shit.” I breathe out.

I just quit my job.

My job.

I love my job, and I just quit it.

“Are you okay?” Grayson asks.

I stare at him blankly. “No…I’m not sure. I think…I can’t believe I just did that,” I say, shaking my head.

“Not to seem like an insensitive asshole, but I have to go bail my brother out of jail.”