Page 90 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

“I feel like a fool, Alec.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t sit here and think this is your fault. Don’t allow yourself to think that you’re not smart enough to figure things out on your own. He’s your father, and despite the shit he’s put you through lately… you still care for him. That much I do know.” He sighs. “The night before my parents overdosed, I got into an argument with my father. He was strict, but with reason. I was a kid who wanted nothing more than to be a kid. They didn’t make that easy on me, considering a lot of money was spent on other things instead of food. But even through everything, I still loved them. It still broke me when they died.”

My heart sits heavy on the edge of my chest. I lean my head against the seat, the soft leather brushing against my ear as I turn my head toward Alec. His eyes drag me into a sense of calm.

A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. “Thank you for sharing that. I hadn’t known, and it was… it was nice to hear.” My eyes widen. “Shit. I’m sorry, that came out wrong. What I meant was it… it was, um, relatable.” My face scrunches. Embarrassment replaces the anxiety I was holding.

He laughs. “I knew what you meant.” His hand presses against the back of my head, his touch soothing. He pulls me close, pressing his lips against mine in a deep, passionate kiss. I feel his fingers tighten, causing my heart to race. Before the kiss deepens, he breaks it and rests his head against mine.

“How do you know this is going to work?” I mumble, having second thoughts.

The back of his knuckles brushes against my cheek in an up-and-down motion. “I don’t. But listen… if we don’t try, we’ll regret it. You’ll regret it. This isn’t going to be pretty, and it’s damn right terrifying. But we’re here because we need to know the truth. Think of your mom.”

I nod, but the reality of the situation hits me hard. Stepping into the building and entering my father’s office will undoubtedly provoke his anger, especially because I have Alec with me. I can manage a lot of things myself. I have. This, though? I can’t do this alone. Not after my father put his hands on me.

This plan could very well lead us down a path we both desperately want to avoid, but I can’t live with myself knowing my mother’s killer is still walking the streets, even if it is my father. I also can’t live with how much he ruined Alec and Callie’s lives.

I suck in another large amount of air. The fall of my chest helps me enough to feel confident again. “I’m ready.”

Alec nods, and we both get out of the car. I stay close to him as we cross the lot and enter the first set of doors to the police station. When the second set opens, a noticeable hush falls upon the four walls of the main entrance. Billboards hang upon the walls. Two chairs beside the front door line neatly next to a small round table with pamphlets and flies. My eyes fall on the glass door where Officer Brentley sits behind. His dirty blond hair is neatly styled back.

I swallow harshly as Alec and I approach the desk. Alec keeps his hand on my lower back, and the soft movements of his thumb keep me from collapsing.

Brentley looks up and smiles welcomingly, illuminating his blue eyes. “Summer, it’s nice to see you again.”

I clear my throat. “It’s nice to see you too. Is my father here?” I try to keep my voice steady, but it shakes with each word that I say, and I can only pray that Brentley doesn’t notice.

“He got back a few moments ago for lunch. He’s in his office. I can page him and see if he’s free.”

I shake my head, blinking rapidly. My insides are cramping in ways I wish they wouldn’t. “No. No need. I actually want to surprise him.” I fake a big smile on my face, but at the same time, I’m trying really hard not to throw up all over this dark brown floor.

Brentley’s thick eyebrows crease. His eyes move from Alec to me. The tick of the clock is only making my insides curl more, and the nausea slowly sneaks upward.

Finally, after what feels like an unsettling few minutes but was only about thirty seconds, he nods. “Very well.”

Brentley’s arm reaches to the left and pushes the red button to unlock the side door. He rises from his chair, grabbing the handheld metal detector just as Alec and I both move to the door.

“Apologies. Standard procedure,” he notes to Alec, knowing that I am used to this.

With a smile, Alec and I both raise our arms to allow Brentley to run the detector over us. Once we’re both cleared, Alec follows closely behind me as I take the lead and maneuver my way through rows of desks with computers in the center of the large room. I have this area of the station memorized. Having to come here after school to wait for Dad to get off his shift while Mom wasn’t home had me curious.

Heading toward the far back, where my father’s office is located, I take Alec’s hand in mine.

“He has his own office?” Alec whispers.

“He and Brentley are the two officers that have been here the longest. Somehow, they approved him to have his own private office. However, I’m starting to think he suckered them into getting his own office to hide information.”

The closer we get to my father’s office door, my heart picks up speed, pounding against my chest like a wild animal.

“Are you ready?” I ask Alec, even though he should be the one to ask me.

“I’m ready when you are.” Alec quickly pulls his phone out of his pocket, glances at the screen, and then stores it back in his pocket.

“Right.” I breathe.

Raising my shaking hand, I knock on the door once, twice, and a third time.

It doesn’t take my father long to say, “Come in.”

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