Page 23 of Mine to Dominate

“Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Darrell asked.

“I was going to ask you the same question.” Dammit. He wasn’t going to get the answers he needed yet.

“I overheard her on the phone with you. Are you coming to town tonight?”

“Yes. I’ll be at her house. Why don’t you meet me there but come from behind her place? There’s a place to park your car on the other side of the acre of woods behind her house. No one will be able to see it.”

“I’ll be there.”

“You sound as worried as she does,” Darrell commented.

“I am, and I have a funny feeling my problem and hers are intertwined.”

“We’ll get to the bottom of it tonight.”

“Hell, yeah, we will.”

For the rest of the day, Kayla and Zeke ignored each other, and he kept up the pretense that they did not like each other because it seemed to calm her down.

It took a herculean effort not to pull her into his office and demand she tell him everything, but he told himself it wouldn’t be long before he knew.

He heard the shift change but didn’t get up to see her go. He stayed another hour before heading to his rental house. He made sure to study everything and everyone for some clue but got nothing.

Zeke dressed in black jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots and waited until it was fully dark before he snuck out the back of his house. He kept a few lights on and even had the TV for sound to keep anyone from knowing he wasn’t there.

Her place was only a few miles away, so he decided to run. He’d try to stay out of sight, but if someone saw him, they’d think he was exercising.

Chapter Twelve

Kayla peeked out her back door window, anxious for Darrell to get there. She ensured the front of the house had a light and TV on, but all the shades and curtains were closed tight.

Her heart jumped in her chest when she saw a dark figure striding her way. The breath left her lungs when she recognized it was Darrell by how he walked. She unlocked the door.

“I’m here, girl.”

“Thank you so much for coming.”

He hugged her against his chest. “Everything will be all right. Let’s go into the kitchen.”

“All right. Do you want coffee or something to eat?”

“Just coffee. I shouldn’t because it’s so late, but I think it will help.”

“You’re staying here, right?”

“Hell, yes. Until I know you’re safe, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m not sure it’s me in danger.”

“Who else?”

“Zeke.”

Darrell’s eyebrows rose. “Okay, start from the beginning.”

She set down a cup of coffee and then sat across from him. “Let’s see. Well, Zeke and I hit it off.”

“I was hoping you would. He’s a damn good man.”

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