Chapter 35

Jade POV

I spend most of the day going through the cases. Dad sends me. I already know about most of these, but there are a few here that I did not know about until today. I need to find a way to trip her up about the rape to get Dakota in the clear. Dad has gone through a lot of the security footage from the resort, trying to find her planning anything, but there was nothing. He did find out a lot about his new interest in that woman that Dakota was tangled up with, and now he is tangled up with her. That is none of my concern, and I am trying hard to stay out of it.

Dakota is trying to keep focused. I know it is hard on him to just sit here in this house and not get out and clear his name, but if he only stays out of my way, I can handle this independently.

Dakota comes in as I am finishing going through everything dad sent me. “Learn anything new?” Dakota asks me.

“Yeah, I did,” I say to him.

“Anything I can help you with?” Dakota asks.

“No, I got it,” I say to him.

“ I have to ask, were you interested in me at all, or was it all to get dirt on Melanie?” Dakota asks.

“I tell you what when this is over, we can have that conversation, but for now, we need to focus on getting you free,” I say to him.

“That sounds like a maybe,” Dakota says.

I laugh at him. “Hasn’t fucking around with women got you into enough trouble?” I ask him.

“Yeah, it has, but they were all crazy,” Dakota says.

“Maybe that is true, but you have to accept your part in all of this,” I say to him.

“My part? What do you mean?” Dakota asks.

“Seriously, you don’t think you should have seen the red flags and run. Instead, you kept going right back and jumping into bed with Tonya and Melanie,” I say to him.

“True, I did, and trust me, I wish I would not have ever got into bed with either of them,” Dakota says.

“Well, look at you, learning something,” I say to him.

“Yeah, I guess. I did really want to get to know you when I was trying to talk to you,” Dakota says.

“No, you didn’t; you were only trying to make Tonya jealous. It would be best if you admitted it to yourself. You were just as obsessed with her as Melanie is with your cute ass,” I say to him.

“I was a little lustful,” Dakota says.

“You were a lot lustful, and you know it. I can’t blame you. She is hot, but you need to get your head on straight before you start trying to dive into a relationship,” I say to him.

On that note, Dakota leaves the room. He goes back to the second bedroom. He needs to think about what I have said to him. I get that. I was a little harsh, but he needs to hear it. He needs to get his shit together.

My phone buzzes. It is my client. I text her, * I have new information I am about to email to you* she texts back *thanks*

This is about the extent of any of our communications. I know she wants to find her son, and I hope I can help her with that. She needs peace, and Melanie needs to go to jail. There is no telling how many men she has become obsessed with and then done away with when the relationship did not go the way she thought it should in the end.

I get an alert about Melanie on my phone. I check my email. She is on the move. She has packed up all of her belongings and has moved out of her apartment. She is not getting away from me. She will not ruin Dakota’s life with a lie. I want the truth.

I text my dad; as much as I hate to ask for help from him or his whore I need something. *do you think Tonya would agree to meet Melanie?* I wait for him to text back. *why?* he texts me.

*She is on the move, and we need to find out why* I text him.

* I will ask her and let you know* he texts.

If Melanie meets Tonya, then maybe she will tell her everything. If she feels the need to confess, I think Melanie would do it to Tonya, and I want to be there to get all of the details. Then maybe we can get the charges against Dakota drop. Could I get lucky enough for Melanie to tell Tonya about the missing man, Luke? Perhaps I could coach Tonya on what to say. It would be dangerous for her, but she owes Dakota.

My phone dings. It is my dad. * she said she would do it*

I text back * good. I will be over soon. I need to talk to her about what to say*

*We are at my house* dad texts.

He has her at his house. What is with this woman that she can wrap men around her finger so quickly? Second thought, I do not want to know what she does to keep men falling all over her. I am sure it is vile.

I text dad * I will be on my way in a few, love you*

I put my phone away. I walk down to the second bedroom to tell Dakota. I knock on the door before I enter the room. I wait for a second and then go into the room.

“Dakota, I am going to meet up with my dad. We have a plan. Will you be okay here by yourself for a few hours?” I ask him.

“I will be fine, and I promise I will not leave the house,” Dakota says.