Page 60 of Stay for Me

I bent my head and rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m never going to be free of her, am I?” I rumbled to the empty space.

As usual, I didn’t get an answer. Instead, the phantom pains returned, full force, eating me alive as the memories of the flames danced in my mind.

Chapter Eleven

Diana

“Getmeoutofhere!”

Lucas’ growling demand, laced with a mix of hatred and impatience bounced off the cinder block walls of his holding cell, his bloodied knuckles wrapped around the iron bars and he tried to force his head through. His eyes were bloodshot, his lips dry and crusted over.

“Diana.”

I looked over my shoulder to find Chase, in uniform, leaning against the wall. He jerked his head in the opposite direction and, before I moved, I took one more look at my ex.

“Babe, let me out,” he snarled, reaching for me.

I calmly took a step back, savoring the momentary feeling of power the jail cell gave me. He couldn’t touch me.

Never again.

“I’m not your babe,” I said, my voice sharp. “I’m not your woman. I am not youranything, Lucas.”

I gave him my back before the final word left my lips, silently hoping this was the last time I would ever see him. Chase was in the hall, talking with one of his newest officers in a hushed tone. She was young, twenty-five at most, and around the same height as me—but in much better shape. The trousers of her uniform stretched down her long, toned legs, her crisp tan button up tucked in neatly. Her dark auburn hair was twisted back into a tight bun, not a single stray poking out. Freckles dotted the bridge of her nose, and she had a beauty mark on the right side of her upper lip.

Chase had told me about her when she was hired, but that was three months ago. Her first day had been yesterday, and she’d spent all night dealing with my horrid ex.

“Whatever we have to do,” Chase said as I came up to them.

The new officer pulled her eyes from her boss, a smile stretching across her face. “You must be Diana,” she greeted.

“Diana Harper,” I introduced myself, holding out my hand.

“Cassandra Mining,” she replied, shaking my hand. “You can just call me Cass.”

“Lovely to meet you, Cass. Thank you for staying here all night to keep an eye on the shitshow in your holding cell.”

Understanding flashed in her eyes. “Of course, Ms. Harper.”

Chase cleared his throat. “Cass, I need that report on my desk by noon, yeah?”

Her brown eyes swung to him. “Yes, sir,” she answered before giving me a small smile.

Then, she turned around, heading for her desk and it was just the Sheriff and me.

“Did you get home alright?” I found myself asking, looking back at him. He still look exhausted, but better than I saw him last.

Chase’s lips twitched. “Yeah, Di. I made it home alright. Let’s talk in my office.”

My butt wasn’t even in the plush chair across from his desk before he asked the one question I’d hope he wouldn’t. The second it was out in the open, my stomach plummeted to the floor, dragging my heart down with it.

“Why was Mags at your place last night?” Chase shut his office door, and I closed my eyes, my head dropping as I listened to him move to his desk. After a moment, when I didn’t hear the familiar sound of his desk chair being pulled out, I dared myself to look up.

I shouldn’t have done that.

Judging by the look on his face, I really shouldn’t have whispered, “He came for me.”

Chase’s jaw jumped, and he moved in front of my chair, leaning back against his desk, gripping the edge of it. My hands began to shake, and before he could notice, I folded him together in my lap, mirroring the same position I usually took in court. Then, I leaned back, lifted my chin, and waited for his assessment.

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