Page 74 of Derek

Sonja was in the office trying to pull up the security footage when she someone started pounding on the front door. It took her a moment to realize it had to be Derek or Paula. She got up and went into the main room, was pleased to see it was both and she wouldn’t have to deal with a second round of pounding. She let them in.

“We have to go out the back to see what she did,” Sonja said.

“We did that already, baby,” Derek replied.

“Oh, I guess I didn’t think of that. I’ve been trying to work the security system, but I can’t get it to show me the parking lot camera. Come back to the office. Maybe one of you can do it.” Sonja turned.

Derek sat down behind the computer screen and started clicking around the program. It took him only a few minutes to find the right spot. “Here’s the camera. Now, you click here to rewind the feed.”

They quickly took it back to the point where only Sonja’s car was left then moved forward again. About an hour into the footage, a small figure wearing a hooded sweatshirt appeared at the corner of the building.

Sonja leaned forward, her stomach twisting into a hard knot.

The person methodically slashed her tires then pulled a bag out of the dumpster and opened it over the car, repeating the action when appearing dissatisfied with the results from only one bag.

Sonja’s breath hitched. First the café. Now this.

The same sickening violation twisted through her—her space, her things, her life being so casually desecrated.

When they were finished, the figure turned toward the camera and looked around. Derek said, “That’s Angie. Got her, red-handed.”

“Are you sure, Derek?” Paula asked.

“As sure as I’m sitting here with the two of you,” he answered.

Paula studied the screen, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll accept your identification. Maybe our techs can blow the image up a little for a better view. This is pretty small for court. We can certainly get her locked up for the vandalism as well as violating the restraining order. I’ll see if we can’t look a little harder to find her. Can you email me a copy of the footage?”

“Easily,” Derek said. “Is there anything else we can do?”

“I’ll get a team over here to see if she left any evidence behind. It looks like she’s wearing gloves, but she could have left footprints. Otherwise, I suggest you two get out of here and save the car for tomorrow.” Paula got up. “I’ll wait out back for the lab boys.”

Derek turned to Sonja. “Let’s go, babygirl.”

Sonja didn’t move, her arms wrapped around her body, her fingers gripping the fabric of her sleeves like she could physically hold herself together.

“I don’t want to leave my car here like this,” Sonja said. Her throat was tight with the effort to keep her voice steady. “What if she comes back later and does something more permanent?”

“You’re going to have to have it towed anyway.” Derek turned on his Dom voice. “It can wait. The cameras are still on. I doubt she’ll be back tonight.”

Sonja stared at the screen, at the image of Angie’s hooded figure, at the casual destruction she had left behind. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and the muscles in her jaw ached from clenching.

She wanted to scream. To throw something. To march outside and rip what was left of her tires right off the damn car.

But none of that would fix anything.

She sucked in a sharp breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

Derek didn’t push. He just held out his hand.

After a long moment, she took it, letting him pull her up.

“Can I have a hug, Daddy?”

“Always, babygirl. Always.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

Derek sat at his desk the next day with his head in his hands and pressed the heels against his eyes and rubbed. He couldn’t erase the pain from what he was about to do. Despite the restraining order, despite the support from the police and his friends, Angie kept stirring up trouble. Derek couldn’t and wouldn’t risk Sonja’s safety. Derek lifted his head and groaned as he considered the ramifications of breaking up with Sonja where his family was concerned. As he leaned back in his chair, it seemed to groan in sympathy with his troubles. His family was over the moon for Sonja now that his mother had abandoned the idea of more grandchildren. They were going to give him hell for breaking up with her so soon after he’d introduced her. He rose from the chair and started to pace the room, trying to come up with a plan.

He pushed himself away from the desk, stood up, and started pacing the room.Why did I tell Angie about Sonja? It’s like I aimed a loaded gun at the woman I love!

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