Page 74 of Whatever You Want

He shook his head. His expression was a mixture of awe and disbelief. “I don’t know if I want to shake you or kiss you right now.” He pressed his lips together. “Thank you for thinking of Brina, but let me make something very clear. I give you my word that whatever actions I take, I will have both our daughters’ best interest in mind. I think you have underestimated how much you and Madison mean to me.” He bent down and took my mouth in a slow kiss.

I knew he meant those words. I just had a sinking feeling that things were going to get much worse before they got better.

I sat at my desk, clicking my pen, going over the notes in front of me. I’ve reviewed the witness transcripts so many times that my eyes burned. There had to be a way to connect this asshole to the murder. I was just about to pull the gruesome crime scene photos out of the folder and lay them across my desk when a tall shadow appeared in front of me.

Mike Ramsey, my partner, slid into the metal chair opposite of me. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the desk. “Fingerprints are in on Ava’s car.”

I lifted my eyes to meet his. “Okay.” I tucked the photos back into the folder and set them aside.

“Prepare yourself.” There was caution in his voice that I’d only heard him use a handful of times during the ten years we worked together.

He hesitated, linking his fingers together. “Vanessa’s prints were all over your girl’s SUV.”

I blinked once. Twice. I knew it. I fucking knew it, even though I didn’t want to believe it. Yet, who else could it be? Ava didn’t have any enemies or ex-lovers with an unhealthy obsession, but I did. And now, she didn’t just cross a line, but she stepped into a situation she would not be able to get out of. I would see to that.

His pudgy fingers rubbed at his mustache. “Listen, buddy. I know you are in a shit situation. Do you want my advice?”

I rubbed my eyes, exhausted from only getting three hours of sleep. “Not really, but you’re going to give it to me anyway.”

I wasn’t trying to be a dick. I was just tired. So damned tired.

Mike sighed. “You’ve been different since you’ve been with Ava. Don’t let Vanessa fuck it up. Do what you gotta do to protect the people you care about. You don’t owe your ex-wife anything after the shit she’s put you through.”

“So, what are you saying?” I asked, spinning around in my chair to stare out the window. I’ve put up with a lot of crazy shit from Vanessa, but she took it too far this time.

“Your ex-wife ain’t right in the head. We can arrest her.” I looked away from the window, meeting his eyes. “There is enough evidence to bring her in.”

I sat there for a few minutes, taking my time to process everything. If only I could turn back the clock. Put a stop to this somehow. I reached for the water bottle on my desk. My throat suddenly felt dry. “If I do that,” I lowered my voice, “then I lose all control of the situation. Once she’s charged, the DA will get to decide what happens.”

He paused, looked around, and leaned forward in his chair. “Don’t tell me you are thinking about protecting her?” he asked in disbelief.

I shook my head. “No, I’m trying to find a way to deal with her and protect Ava and the girls at the same time. They are my priority.”

“You shouldn’t even be in this position.”

I pinched my lips together. “Doesn’t change my current situation though, does it?”

He tilted his head to the side. “There is an official police report filed. We ran prints. You can’t cover this up.”

“That’s the last thing I plan to do.”

“Care to explain?” he asked, trying to figure out where I was going with this, but I hadn’t figured it out myself yet.

I hated that Vanessa had forced my hand, but I didn’t have any other choice. I would not jeopardize my professional career and personal life for my ex-wife.

“I have a few ideas.” I pointed my finger at him. “And don’t worry, everything will be done by the book. I just need some time to figure a few things out. “

He rubbed his hands across his knuckles. “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, brother.”

I reached into my desk drawer to grab my keys. “Believe me, I wouldn’t wish this shitshow on my worst enemy.”

“Where are you going?”

“To fix this mess once and for all.”

My hands tightened on the steering wheel as I sat in front of Vanessa’s office building. I checked the time on my phone, knowing she would be leaving work at any second. I was doing my best to get my anger under control, but I was at my breaking point.

I spotted her long dark hair blowing in the breeze as she chatted with one of her coworkers on their way out the door.

---