Page 78 of Undercover Desires

“I’m not. This is what I want,” he says defiantly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, pulling out of his grip and walking down the hall to the emergency exit. I can feel his eyes on me, and I know he needed more from me, but after what I just witnessed, I can’t give it to him. I saw a different side of him, and it scared me. Not only that, but right now, this whole town freaks me out. What in the actual hell is going on here? It’s worse than I originally thought, and it makes more sense that Caleb is investigating Reader; they must be on to all of this. When I hop in my car, I see Kobe leave the building as well. He gets in his own car.

As I drive home, I glance back and see him shadowing me. He’s following me, and he’s not even trying to hide it. I pull into my driveway, a strange mix of emotions swirling within me. I get out of my car and turn back to look at him. He turns his car around and comes to a stop right outside my house. He opens his window.

“Just making sure you got home okay. I meant what I said tonight, Arabella. When all this is done, you and I, we will be a thing. I’m not letting you go.”

“Okay,” is all I say back. I can see his sincerity, but I can’t give him anything else tonight. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell him again. I want him to know I’m not shutting him out for good. I just can’t handle this right now, and I need space.

“Alright. Tomorrow. Go inside so I know you’re safe,” he demands.

With trembling hands, I insert my keys into the lock, the events of the evening weighing heavily on me. As I step inside, an eerie feeling washes over me. I can immediately tell that something is amiss. Quickly, I flip on the light switch, and the sight that greets me is overwhelming. My nanna’s house, a place that should be filled with cherished memories, is in a state of chaos. Shattered old photo frames litter the carpet, and the bookshelves have been emptied onto the floor.

Confusion grips me; the door was locked when I arrived. I close the door behind me, and I hear Kobe drive off. What the hell am I walking into?

I rush to my room, finding it in the same state of disarray, my belongings scattered haphazardly. My heart sinks as I drop to my knees and check beneath the bed for my computer. It’s nowhere to be found. Panic courses through me as I realize the extent of what’s been taken. My computer held a treasure trove of valuable information, and now it’s gone.

Desperation sets in, and I retrieve my phone from my pocket, urgently checking the video surveillance footage from tonight. This has to be just some kids looking for something they can pawn quickly to get some fast cash. Right.

In shock, I watch as Detective Reader brazenly enters my house, heading straight for my room and swiftly making off with my computer. How did he know exactly where to look? He leavesa trail of destruction in his wake, tearing apart the place within moments. It’s a horrifying realization of how far he’s willing to go to protect his secrets. Has he been watching me?

The questions swirl in my head as I sit alone in the chaos of my ransacked home. Why would Detective Reader steal my computer? It’s clear he doesn’t trust me, but what could he be looking for? I scan the room, overwhelmed by where to even begin cleaning up this mess.

Part of me considers calling Kobe, he wouldn’t be too far away, but after witnessing his violent tendencies tonight, I’m not so sure if he’s the right person to involve. His actions against that guy were extreme, and I don’t want to risk exacerbating the situation or jeopardizing Caleb’s ongoing operation. Kobe could easily make things worse for himself, and I can’t bear the thought of him suffering because of me. No, I need to handle this on my own for now.

I quickly send a text to Caleb, requesting a conversation as soon as he can spare the time. He’s the one person I can trust in this mess, and I hope he can offer some guidance. He knows what’s going on with Reader better than anyone.

I retrieve my gun and place it under my pillow before locking my bedroom door. If Detective Reader were to return tonight, I’ll be ready to defend myself. I doubt he would; he achieved his goal and sent a clear message. He’s in control of this town, the police station, and apparently, the illegal drug trade. And me.

I turn off the lights and crawl into bed, my mind racing with possibilities. There’s so much I need to understand about Detective Reader’s transformation from a law enforcement officer to a drug dealer. Was it his daughter’s death that pushed him over the edge, or is there more to the story? I feel a sense of urgency to uncover the truth, to protect myself, and to unravel the mystery behind his actions. I need to understand why he would do all of this.

I close my eyes and think about Kobe. He might have scared me tonight, but I already know I can't walk away from him. What we have when we're alone is like nothing I have ever experienced before. Tomorrow I will work out what to do. I’m sure in the light of day this will all somehow make sense, and I will find a way to make this work.

CHAPTER 32

KOBE

Maeve’s office feels smallertoday, impossibly so, as if the walls are closing in on me. I pace back and forth, unable to sit still, my anxiety reaching boiling point. “Fifteen hours, Maeve. Fifteen.”

“Okay, Kobe, why don’t you take a seat, and we can talk about why you’re so on edge today that you had to call me in on a Saturday,” Maeve says calmly. More calmly than she should be, but she knows she will be compensated for the emergency call out.

“I can’t sit. Or eat. Or sleep. I’m losing my fucking mind. Fix me. Jett’s fight is tonight, and I need to focus.” I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the ends. I’m wound up so tight I don’t know what to do.

“Sit down, Kobe.” Maeve’s voice grows firmer, making me feel like a silly child who is misbehaving.

I reluctantly take a seat on the couch, my leg still bouncing nervously.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” she asks, pulling out her notepad and pen, her voice even.

My mind races with flashbacks of the night before. Arabella coming to me all dolled up, then what happened next. Parts of it, anyway. Most of it is a blur once that asshole tried to throw her under the bus. I lost my shit completely and let him have it. I don’t remember a lot of what happened after that, but I know it was a shitshow of violence that left her wide-eyed and scared. At least she wasn’t there to witness Kahil meet his maker.

“It’s so complicated,” I begin, glancing at Maeve, debating how much to reveal. I trust her, she’s familiar with this world, but I don’t want to push our friendship too far. “Arabella knows I know who she really is, and we decided to work together. But last night...” I trail off, my worry clear.

Maeve looks me over. “How did you end your last conversation with her?” she urges me to go on.

“She said she needed space to think it all over,” I grumble, recalling our last interaction and the uncertain look on her face. No, scrap that—the shit-scared look on her face. That was from me. I scared her, and that was the last thing I wanted to do. Stupidly, I thought I was showing her just how important she was to me, but I fucking messed it all up.

“Sounds like she was being honest with you. She needs some space; let her have it.”

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