Page 68 of The Naughty Elf

“Ginger.” The growl in my voice sounds so harsh, so menacing that I flinch.

She does, too. A little hitch in her breath tells me if fresh tears aren’t already spilling down her cheeks, they’d be on their way.

Fuck. They’re my fault this time.

After a long minute of silence, she whispers, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

I nod. “Okay.”

It’s the only thing I can offer her right now. Even if I want to interrogate her for every detail so I can know—so that I don’t accidentally do something to trigger her right now. So that I can be sure Kaleb will get every ounce of punishment he deserves.

Typically, the silences between Ginger and I are companionable. She holds my hand or rests hers on my thigh as I drive. She leans into me, hums along with the radio, teases me about being a minimalist. Whatever that is.

But right now, she’s huddled against the door to keep as far away from me as possible. Her arms are wrapped around herself and herforehead is against the window.

I hate it. I hate everything I’ve done to put her in that position.

I need to get her home, settled in a familiar space, and feeling safe enough to unpack this with me. She shouldn’t have to deal with this alone.

Her door is open the moment I park, and she grabs her things from the back before I can help. If she doesn’t want my help, I get it. We take control of the things we can when we feel stressed. I understand this.

I’m fighting my every instinct, but I force myself to give her what she’s asking for rather than what I think she needs.

Ginger opens her door, shoulders stiff as she tosses her bags inside. Turning to block my entrance, she holds out a hand, finding my chest.

My lungs shake as I silently beg her not to shut me out with my eyes. I don’t move. Don’t say a word, and I can see when she decides to hide.

“No.” Her fingers curl against my shirt before it’s gone. “Just—no.”

Stepping back, Ginger shuts the door on me.

30

ASHLEY

Imeet Jackson in the office after the commotion. Kaleb speeds off and Sawyer and Ginger leave right after. The news makes me wish I’d been the one to catch that asshole, because he would not have walked away.

“Are we just going to let this happen?” I ask, so fucking ready to track Kaleb down and hammer his face with my fist.

“Not a chance. But we’re going to be smart about it.” His usually carefree features have darkened into something dangerous.

“I know places where no one will ever find his body.”

Jackson sucks in a deep breath. “Me, too, but I’ve already called Sheriff Bentley. We’re going to file charges. Blacklist him. Make him live with the consequences.”

I can think of more cruel ways to make him pay.

“This is the better way. I promise you.” Jackson grabs my shoulder with a steady hand. It pulls me out of my spinning thoughts.

I’m counting my way through the anger. The only thing that tamps it down in the slightest is my worry over Ginger’s quitting. That woman doesn’t quit. She can’t quit.

I’m already aware of her tendency to run. It just means we need to chase after her, make sure she knows we care. Right? Fuck, I have no idea what I’m doing. All I know is that I want to tear something limb from limb. Someone. Fucking Kaleb.

My phone dings twice, and I’m greeted by a text from Sawyer.

She won’t let me inside.

I’m waiting in my truck.

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