Page 62 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

I close my eyes, my insides still scattered, and I breathe in softly. “OK. I’m going to leave my phone here, talk to Brentley, and when I come back out with his key card, you’re going to…”

“Sneak in the side door, take the stairs on the left, and find the room that has ‘Confidential’ blasted across the door. Got it.”

I nod, opening the door, but before I close it, I bend over to look at him. “Oh, and Alec? Thank you for this.”

His lip quirks upward. “I’d do anything for you, Sunshine.”

My throat is suddenly thick and dry. I shove it aside, but my stomach cramps. Taking in a shaky breath, I paste a smile on my face and stride into the police station until I’m face to face with Allen Brentley.

He’s flipping through some kind of magazine that I can’t see from behind the glass that protects him from potential criminals… is that what I am going to be?

When he notices me, he jumps out of his seat and swipes his key card to open the door. I watch his movements like a hawk seeking its lunch.

“Summer,” he says, surprise written all over his face as he runs his hand through his mustard-colored hair. “I didn’t expect you to come here.”

I stutter over my chuckle, hoping he doesn’t notice the difference in my laugh. “You know me. I’m full of surprises.”

My eyes fall to his belt where his key card is clipped to one of the loops. He wraps his arms around me, and I do the same, holding my breath for what’s going to come next.

Chapter Twenty-four

Alec

My body vibrates with adrenaline, and it’s so fucked up that I’m finding a thrill out of this. It wasn’t an easy decision, coming along with Summer to break into a room full of confidential files. In the police station, nonetheless.

I’ve worked hard to keep the peace and my life at bay, yet here I am, potentially screwing all of that up without even feeling a wee bit guilty.

Still, what do I gain from this?

Perhaps it’s because I’ve experienced the same emotions she’s currently going through, and I understand that the sense of solitude is truly one of the most difficult feelings to endure.

From my peripheral, I see Summer round the short corner where the front door sits. She moves diagonally from my parked spot, gradually picking up pace until she breaks into a run as soon as she's out of direct sight from the door.

I swiftly reach around the back, grabbing my black beanie and gloves that I always keep stashed for winter. Retrieving my sunglasses from the center console, I step out of the car and join her a few feet away.

Summer passes Brentley’s keycard to me at the same time I hand her the phone. “How did you…?” I go to ask, but she cuts me off before I can finish the question.

“It doesn’t matter.” She rushes out through short breaths.

I’m taken aback when her arms fly around my neck, pulling me in a tight embrace. Instantly, I wrap my arms around her waist. My cock jerks slightly behind my jeans, loving how perfectly her body molds to mine.

Her warm breath grazes against the crook of my neck as she whispers, “Be careful.”

Summer drops her arms to her side, and I’d love nothing more than to pull her back into me and forget this whole fucked up plan. But I don’t.

Instead, I nod, slipping on my beanie and my gloves, leaving my sunglasses for last before running to the side door. I take a quick, deep breath before using the keycard to unlock it. The door buzzes, and my teeth slam together on their own accord with the loud noise.

I’m swarming with something that feels like excitement, but the fear that clogs my insides won’t allow me to breathe correctly.

Still, I shove the door open and slip inside.

Without skipping a beat, I do exactly as planned. I stay against the right wall and walk with my head down, and ears peeled until I’m at the stairwell.

I dash down the stairs with all my speed, arriving at another door. The muscles beneath my skin pull tight, and I force a steady hand to push against the metal bar, creating a slight opening so my body can slide through effortlessly.

Keeping my back against the wall, I look around the dimly lit hallway. It’s empty, thankfully. But that doesn’t tame down the tension I feel within myself at the thought of someone making their way through at any given moment.

I glance up to the corner where Summer mentioned the camera is positioned, its lens pointed directly at me. My leg bounces as I contemplate a temporary method to disable the camera, concealing it to ensure I remain unnoticed.

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