Page 21 of Mine to Dominate

She heard his frustrated growl.

“Is that the way we’re going to play this?” he asked.

“Hey, you’re the one that wanted to play the game.”

“Goddammit, it’s not a game. There’s shit going on, and I’m afraid you might get in the middle.”

“Who’s to say I’m not already in the middle?”

He was silent for a long time. “What’s going on, Honey?”

“Nothing, and you can’t call me Honey. It’s against the department rules.”

“Fuck the rules. Talk to me.”

She wished she could but had no idea if anyone was listening to their conversation. “I can’t, Sheriff. I don’t care what excuse you give. I think you made the right decision.”

“What decision is that?”

“That we stay colleagues and not take it any further.”

“That’s not what I said. Listen, let me come over so we can talk.”

“No! I’m sorry, Sheriff, but I can’t deal with this right now.”

He was quiet for so long, she thought he’d hung up on her.

“I’ll get to the bottom of it sooner or later, Little Sub.”

God, how had her life turned into a fiasco? “I’ve got to go.”

“All right. Get some sleep.”

She hung up and then held the phone on her stomach. How had her life become so complicated so quickly? She went from a small-town dispatcher to a secretive, angry woman who disliked how her life was going, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

There must be a way to get through to Darrell. He’d have an idea of what to do. She wasn’t going to use her own phone, but maybe she could ask to use someone else’s tomorrow? She felt better having some kind of plan in place.

She knew she should eat something, so she made some toast and ate it as she got ready to take a shower. After the shower, she pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt just in case she needed to run, set the gun on the pillow next to her, and closed her eyes.

Chapter Eleven

Kayla walked into the building the next morning.

“Good morning, you look a little better,” Carol said.

“I feel better. Hey, can I ask a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Can I use your phone without you asking me why?”

Carol was stunned but reached into her purse, pulled it out, and handed it to her.

“I’m going to make the call out back. Can you stay here for me?”

“Sure. Go ahead. Take as much time as you need, Hun.”

She walked out the back door and made the call at the back of the building, which was deserted except for the employee cars in the small lot.

---