Page 104 of Safe With Me

Her hooded eyes popped open as she sucked in a gasp.

“They got him? It’s over?”

The hope swimming in her hazel eyes matched the one kicking up my pulse, but I was afraid to feel it until I saw him.

“I don’t know about over. He was speeding into town on the main road. I don’t know if he’s been here or just arriving. Keith wants me to sit in while they question him and see if he reacts.”

“See if he reacts?”

I grabbed her hand and laced our fingers together, for her benefit and mine.

“If this is him, he’s been following us closely enough to know who I am and who my family is. From what you’ve told us and how it sounds like he reacted to being brought in, if he knows who I am, he won’t be able to hide his hate. Either way, he has no other reason to be here but you.”

“Seriously?” She rubbed at her eyes. “So this could be him just getting here, and the rest could be a different problem?”

“Unfortunately. I’m hoping this is all him and we can charge him. But while I’m at the station, I want you to go home and lock the door until I come back.”

“Okay.” Lila grabbed the comforter and wrapped it around her naked body as she stood.

“I have to believe that we’re close. Whoever is behind all this is going to be caught, and we can all move on. They’re too angry not to slip up.”

“That does sound like Ted,” she coughed out a laugh. “Be careful. Both at the station and on the way there.”

I bent to kiss her lips, soft and sensual but quick enough not to start anything. As much as I wanted to race to the station and get all this over with, I wished I could just get lost in her for the next few hours and pretend none of this had ever happened. That we could just be in love without anyone torturing us because of it.

“I’ll be okay. Get dressed, and I’ll walk you across the street before I go.” I cupped her cheek. “We are almost there. I don’t think it’s going to be something we’ll ever laugh about, but it’s going to be rearview soon enough.”

“I know. I believe in you, Officer Russo.”

I shut my eyes as she kissed my cheek. She’d have to believe in me enough for the both of us.

I rushed to get ready and stood outside Lila’s door until I heard all three locks click, and I hurried to my truck.

“Mike?”

I clenched my eyes shut at the sound of Amber’s voice. She liked to jog around town in the early mornings and sometimes passed through the neighborhood, but I didn’t have time to talk to her or anyone else.

“Hey, Amber. Sorry, I can’t really talk. I’m due at the station.”

“You’re doing overtime on your day off? I was going to ask you if you were up for lunch later. I’m supposed to help Claudia do inventory this morning, so I thought I’d go for a long run first.”

“Not today, but listen,” I said, glancing at Lila’s front door. “Maybe when you finish with Claudia, can you pay Lila a visit? I’d feel better if someone was stopping by.”

She pulled her brows together. “Sure, I can do that. Is she in trouble or something?”

“Something. I can’t get into it now, but I’d owe you.” I tried to smile as I stepped into my truck.

“She’s really something special, I guess,” she said, squinting at me.

“Yes, she is,” I said, gripping the steering wheel as I thought of meeting my girlfriend’s once and possibly current stalker, fury pumping through my veins at all she’d gone through and had never deserved. This had to stop now.

“Are you all right?” Amber asked, studying me as she stepped back.

“No, but I will be.” I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly before turning my head. “Have a good run. And thank you.”

She smiled back at me as I shut the door, fighting the urge to floor the gas pedal as I started the engine and pulled away from the curb.

I made it to the station in record time and rushed inside, ignoring all the heads swooping in my direction as I headed for Keith’s office.

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