Page 61 of Until Daddy

“Carissa McAllister?” A uniformed officer unlocked the door.

She pushed through the other women in the room, recognizing most of them as she passed them. They’d all called friends or family and were waiting to be picked up, too.

“Yes. Here I am.” She waved a hand to signal her arrival. Finally! She was going to tear into Jade for taking so damn long.

The officer eyed her and gestured for her to follow him. She was nearly skipping as she followed him down the narrow hallway and through another door.

Her happiness was short-lived, however.

Jamison stood at a desk not five feet away from where the officer led her, glaring at her. Not a disappointed look, not even an irritated look like he normally had when she’d gotten herself in hot water. He was angry.

“Uh, maybe I should wait until my friend comes.” She took a step back but the door had already shut. The officer gave her a disgruntled look.

“He’s right there.” And with that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

She didn’t move. She willed her feet to get moving, promising them the cutest strappy sandals she could find if they would just get her out of there, but instead she just kept staring at Jamison. The detective she’d talked with earlier was telling him something while jotting things down on a pad of paper, but Jamison wasn’t listening.

He crooked a finger at her, beckoning her to him.

She swallowed hard but still didn’t move.

He raised an eyebrow and bent his finger again.

One foot started to move, then the other. Before she could convince herself this wasn’t a bad dream, she was standing in front of him.

“Jamison, I—”

He held up a hand to stop her. “Not one single word. You stand right there until I’m done, then I will take you home.”

So cold. His voice chilled the air.

“I’ll get more information for you within a few days, but do you think you can do it?” Jamison addressed Detective Warren.

The detective looked up, glancing at Carissa then at Jamison. “Yeah. I think I can. Might take some time though.”

“That’s fine. I’ll call you tomorrow, Damien.”

“Jamison—” she tried again.

“No.” He shook his head.

“Talk to you later, Jamison. And good luck to you, Ms. McAllister.” The detective didn’t look very much like he wished her luck. In fact, he looked almost as stern as Jamison when Jamison took her hand.

“Let’s go.”

She didn’t try to pull back from him.

Carissa let him walk her to his car without a word of complaint. She knew this would happen. Knew he’d be pissed if he found out. Jade shouldn’t have called him!

Once they were in the car, buckled in and driving, she chanced a look at him. His jaw was clenched, his knuckles were nearly transparent from the grip he had on the wheel.

“Are you okay? You weren’t hurt?” he asked with a steel-like tone.

“I’m okay,” she whispered.

He still didn’t look at her.

“Is something wrong? I mean, besides the obvious?” she asked.

---