Page 94 of The Fate of Us

“I’m Detective Wells and this is Detective Stone. I know the cops asked you questions already but we just need to ask you a few more.”

I nod and tell them everything I told the officers. Detective Stone walks away to inspect my car as an evidence team gathers the note and whatever the hell else they are doing. The other detective joins his partner and I wrap the blanket tighter around me as my mind goes in a million different directions.What the hell is going on?

“Anna.”

I stiffen at Noah’s voice.

“Are you okay?”

I turn to look at him. He looks miserable. His eyes bloodshot like he hasn’t been sleeping, his hair a mess like he’s been running his hands through it over and over.

Just seeing him has my heartrate increasing. I want him so bad. I want him to comfort me. I want him to make this all go away.

But I need to stand my ground. I cannot give in so easily.

I shake my head, knowing he wants an answer.

He closes the distance between us immediately wrapping his arms around me. “Baby, you’re freezing.”

He must feel me shivering. I am not sure if it’s because I’m cold or nerves.

“Come sit in my car. It’s warm.”

I silently agree even though I don’t want to.

He opens the door for me and I crawl in. He reaches over me and adjusts the dials on the console to turn up the heat. He opens the liftgate of his SUV and grabs another blanket, wrapping it around my legs.

“Detective Taylor.” I hear someone shout.

Noah looks me in the eye, worry etching face. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

He shuts the door and I watch him walk over and talk to the other detectives.

I close my eyes and lean my head against the headrest. The smell of Noah’s cologne infiltrates my nose. I miss that smell. It smells like home.

I must doze off because I am startled when I hear a door open. I open my eyes and find Noah sitting in the driver’s seat looking at me. “They will have your car ready for you tomorrow. I’m taking you home.”

“I’m sure Liam will be off work soon. He can take me.”

Noah looks over at me, seriousness written in his eyes. “You are coming with me.”

That really wakes me up. “I can’t, Noah.”

“I don’t care if you can’t. I need to make sure you are safe.”

“It was just some random violence.”

“Niko told me he told you about the case. I am not taking risks with your life.”

I look at him, rage building inside of me. “You should have thought about all those things before you agreed to let Claire move in.”

He sighs and rests his forehead on the steering wheel. “Anna, my biggest regret is doing that. It’s driven you away. Every day that passes that I wake up without you by my side my heart breaks more.”

Godammit. Why does he have to say those things?

I reach over and grab his hand. “Noah, I still love you. I tried not to. I tried to let you go but it’s fucking impossible. But I can’t be around her.”

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