The Bond Between Us ( Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 1033

Jason had picked up on the rumors swirling around Anastasia and Rowan.

Herman, for one, used to get pretty jealous about the whole thing.

Honestly, the only guy who could ever get under Herman’s skin like that was Rowan.

Rowan had gone up against four kidnappers on his own to save Anastasia, then just vanished without a trace. Whatever else you said about him, Jason had to admit he respected the guy for that—cop or not.

Jason had just finished handling Asher’s case. Rowan had worked with Asher, sure, but strangely, there wasn’t a single innocent party among his victims. Still, the charges Rowan was facing made Asher’s look like child’s play. He was looking at a much heavier sentence.

Rowan looked Jason straight in the eye and said, “No, I’m not doing this for anyone. I just want a clear conscience. I believe in paying for what I’ve done—I don’t want to spend my life hiding. Autumn set up the kidnapping of Mrs. Salstrom, and since I witnessed it, it’s my duty to help the police.”

Jason didn’t buy that for a second. He was sure Rowan’s decision had at least something to do with Anastasia.

“So why did Autumn kidnap Anastasia?” Jason pressed.

“Because of Julie,” Rowan replied. “Autumn is Julie’s real mother. Anastasia and Herman both know.”

Jason actually felt a jolt of shock. This was more dramatic than he’d expected.

The case was a total mess now—dragging in the governor’s wife and digging up old secrets from the Salstrom family.

“Jason, I’ll do everything I can on this one,” Rowan said. “But some things are above my pay grade.”

“I get it,” Jason replied. “Ask away, Officer Luke. I’ll answer everything I know and cooperate fully.”

“You should brace yourself,” Jason warned. “Once I leave this room, both the Salstroms and Mr. Walker will know you turned yourself in. And Mr. Walker’s definitely going to get involved. Also, I heard Autumn’s pregnant.”

He hadn’t seen it coming. Asher had just died yesterday, and now Rowan was surrendering...

“Yeah. Rowan identified Autumn as the one who ordered Anastasia’s kidnapping,” Jason said. “I’ve got to take a team over to the Walkers’ place now.”

If this went sideways, Jason’s career was as good as over. Honestly, ever since Rowan had handpicked him for this case, Jason knew he was playing with fire. If he did his job, he’d upset Mr. Walker. If he failed, he’d upset even more people. There was no turning back—he just had to keep going.

On the way to the Walker estate, news had already reached Mr. Walker. He was in the middle of a meeting when his assistant quietly leaned over and said, “Ma’am’s in trouble. She’s been implicated in Mrs. Salstrom’s kidnapping. Jason from Einsberg PD is on his way here with a team.”

Mr. Walker’s expression darkened. He turned to a colleague and said, “You take over for now. I’ve got something urgent to handle.”

With that, Mr. Walker stood up and left the conference room. Everyone around the table looked at each other in shock—he was known for his dedication, and nobody could remember him ever leaving a meeting halfway through.