Page 33 of The Rookie's Second Chance

My door swung open even before he reached it, and we wasted no time with words. Our eyes locked, and I pulled him inside, pressing him against the door as it slammed shut. The warmth of his lips met mine, his hands finding their way around my waist, pulling me closer.

His scent—woodsy with a hint of spice—surrounded me, and I lost myself in it, letting go of the fears, the frustrations, the unsolved case. For a few stolen moments, it was just us—two souls desperately seeking solace.

I trailed kisses along his jawline, my fingers working at the buttons of his shirt. His response was a soft groan, sending shivers down my spine.

But just as the world began to blur and all that remained was our entwined bodies, the shrill sound of Jake's phone pierced the room.

I pulled away, our heavy breaths syncing as we both cursed under our breaths.

"Don't answer it," I whispered, a teasing lilt to my voice.

He gave me a wry smile, picking up the device from the side table. His expression changed instantly, face hardening as he read the caller ID, "It's the station."

He took the call, and I watched as the color drained from his face.

"What? Are you sure?" he barked into the phone, eyes darting around the room, each word cutting through the previously intimate atmosphere.

"Fuck," he whispered, ending the call. He looked up, the urgency evident in his eyes. "There's been a break-in at my place."

I could feel my heart rate quicken. "What did they say? Is everyone okay?"

He was already moving towards the door, pulling on his jacket. "I don't know. They said to head home, but Mandy's been blowing up my phone, saying she's scared and doesn't know where I am."

I followed, grabbing my keys. "I'm coming with you."

His face showed gratitude and concern. "Kayla, it might not be safe."

"Like hell I'm letting you go alone. We're in this together."

The drive to Jake's house was a blur. Sirens blared as we tore through the streets of Silver Creek, anxiety mounting with every passing second.

As we pulled up, the scene was chaotic. Blue and red lights flashed, casting an eerie glow over the place. officers milled about, and my heart sank seeing the shattered glass of Jake's front door.

We both jumped out of the car, sprinting towards the entrance. An officer approached us, his face grim. "Looks like someone's sending a message, Jake."

Jake barely acknowledged him, pushing through the crowd to find Mandy. She stood there, wrapped in a blanket, mascara smudged, but physically unhurt. The relief was palpable as Jake enveloped her in a hug.

"What the hell happened?" he murmured into her hair.

She sniffled, wiping away tears. "I don't know. I just heard a loud crash, and then... I hid in the bathroom."

I moved closer, feeling an inexplicable pang of jealousy but pushing it aside. Now wasn't the time. "Did you see anyone?" She shook her head.

"No. But they left this." She handed over a crumpled note.

Jake unfolded it, and I caught a glimpse of the hastily scrawled message: "Stay out of it."

Jake's place was eerily quiet, the shattered glass and upturned furniture a stark reminder of the violation that had just occurred. I watched from a distance as Jake gently ushered Mandy into the living room, his protective instincts glaringly evident.

"You okay, Mandy?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

She nodded weakly, sniffling. "Just... just shaken, y'know? Never thought this shit would happen here."

"I know," Jake whispered, wrapping her in another hug. The intimacy of the gesture, his hand caressing her back soothingly, left a sour taste in my mouth. I took a deep breath, reminding myself of the circumstances. Mandy was scared, vulnerable. It wasn't about Jake and me right now.

Still, watching Jake with her, the way she leaned into him, seeking comfort and solace, stirred feelings I didn't want to acknowledge.

Jake set about making tea, his movements deliberate, a method to bring some semblance of normalcy to the chaos. "You want some, Kay?" he called out.

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