Page 47 of Mine to Protect

All in my head.

No one was watching me.

Repeating the mantra, I shifted the truck into Drive and coasted down the gravel path.

* * *

“You’re kidding.John, please tell me you’re joking.” My voice cracked. Beneath my thighs, I worried over both thumbs, shredding the raw cuticles with an index finger. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, but—”

John’s raised hand cut me off. “One-week suspension. Be glad I’m not firing your ass, Birdie. Honestly, if it were anyone else, I would. I know why you did it, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that you disobeyed a direct order.”

The heels of my palms ground against my eyes as I attempted to rub away a looming headache.

“During the suspension, you’re not to conduct any park business, including aiding in the investigation of the missing women.”

My hands fell back to my lap and clenched into tight fists. “Is this about disobeying your order or about me working with Cas and Chandler so closely?”

He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Go home to Texas, Alta. Visit your family, take a vacation. Get out of Estes Park for a week. Hell, take all your stacked-up vacation days and take two weeks off.”

Anger and a sliver of embarrassment shoved me out of the chair, eager to retreat from the suffocating office. Hand on the knob, I clenched my teeth as I gritted out, “You know what working on this case means to me, helping these women and their families. Don’t take that away because you’re jealous. Please, John. I’m begging you.”

Only the shuffling of paper responded to my plea. Crestfallen, I stared him down, willing him to not do this.

“You’re too close to the case, to them. It’s too dangerous for someone like you. Take the time, Birdie. Take care of yourself for once. Maybe talk to someone, get some help.”

He glanced up from the desk with sympathy in his soft gaze.

Anger built within me. The bastard earned my trust, got me to tell him my story, my past, and now was using it against me to get whathewanted. How did I not see this whole time that he felt sorry for me, maybe even liked the idea of rescuing and repairing the broken girl?

“Fuck you,” I ground out before stepping into the hall. The walls shook at the force of me slamming the door closed.

My fingertips tingled, itching to hit something, hit someone. My anger needed an outlet before I exploded. Focused on the floor, I stormed down the hall only to collide with a willowy figure as I turned the corner.

“Alta,” Sadie said, her soft gaze and smile vastly different from my scowl. Her dark brown eyes zeroed in. “I was looking for you.”

Still boiling, I shoved past her, not wantingherto be the one I vented my anger out on. Making nice with the new girl was not in the cards at the moment. “Not now.”

A surprisingly strong hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking me to a halt. My gaze focused on her hot palm touching my skin. “Don’t be mad at him. He’s just looking out for you.” It could’ve been my imagination, but her grip tightened. “Having someone like John wanting to look after you, that must be nice.”

“It’s not.”

Sadie’s dark eyes widened a fraction. “Right, I guess now that you have someone else, you don’t need him around.”

“I’ve never… wait, someone else?”

“You’re beautiful, you know. In a common type way, I guess.”

“Um—”

Her free hand jutted out, holding a small square of paper. I examined the side decorated with hearts and bubble letters. “I found this on your truck and pulled it off. Didn’t want you to miss it.”

All the blood drained from my slack face. “What did you just say?” Hesitantly, I reached between us and pulled the stiff card from her fingers.

“I can see why he likes you.” With an awkward smirk, Sadie shouldered past me toward John’s office. “Enjoy your time off. Birdie.”

16

Alta

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