Page 32 of The Alpha's Assistant & The Dom Next Door
I can’t imagine the last time I said anything to an on-duty police officer that gave me this much satisfaction. “I’ve been here two and a half years. She doesn’t even live in thisneighborhood.”
Looking at Shayla’s bleary outrage and incredibly shitty parking job, I put two and two together. “Maybe she’s just an aggressive drunk, but twice in one day is too much forme.”
“Oh, so drunk and disorderly? And possible drunk driving? Tom, get the breathalyzer.” Jamie gives Shayla a knowing look that takes a lot of the wind from her sails. Then he turns back to Emmeline. “We’re going to have to document this, but right now, with her behavior, it can only work in your favor if you end up pressing harassmentcharges.”
“I’m getting a protection order,” Emmeline speaks up, her voice choked but clear. “She can’tjust—”
Shayla lets out an incoherent scream and lunges at Emmeline. I leap the gate and bolt across the lawn, but both cops are on it, grabbing her and pulling her back. She starts fighting them, flailing and screaming, while I bound toward Emmeline and pull her out ofrange.
I gather her against my chest and turn us so my body is between her and her crazed sister. She shivers against my chest, her face pale. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Just let them do theirjobs.”
“You can’t do this! You can’t! Thisismy house! They’rebothmy house! I’m the oldest! Everything that bitch has is mine!” I look over and see that Shayla is fighting them with everything she has as they drag her toward the squadcar.
“We’ll take care of this,” Jamie promises. “I’m gonna need statements from all of you, though. Can you take care of things here, and come in to give statements first thingtomorrow?”
Emmeline nods against my chest and I nod at Jamie. “Is nine allright?”
“That’s fine. Call me if anything changes.” I have no idea how he can keep such a calm tone while stuffing a screeching drunk into the back of his cruiser, but now that the cuffs are on, he’s doing exactly that toShayla.
“Fuck you! I’ll kill that little bitch! None of you know your place!”She hits her head on the doorframe on her way into the car, and threatens Jamie with a few badly-aimedkicks.
“Thank you!” Emmeline manages very shakily, and I start stroking herhair.
Once they’re gone, I take Emmeline back to my place to calm down. Jenny greets us at the door with a sleepy puppy leaning against her leg. “What happened?” she frets,bouncing.
Crap.I’d hoped that she would sleep through this mess like she does almost anything else, but looks like I miscalculated. “I’m sorry, baby,” I say as I bring Emmeline through the door. “I had to help Emmeline with aproblem.”
“Okay.” She frowns in worry as she sees Emmeline’s tear-streaked face. I close the door behind us, and she chirps, “Who was that loudlady?”
“My sister,” Emmeline replies softly as I lead her over to the couch and help her settle ontoit.
“Oh.” Jenny thinks about it a moment, then smiles. “You’re nice. I’m sorry your sister’sbad.”
Emmeline lets go of me reluctantly as she sits down. “Me too, sweetie. I’m sorry she woke youup.”
“I have to get her settled again,” I apologize to Emmeline, who smiles tearfully andnods.
“Go ahead. I’ll manage now that she’sgone.”
I peer at her, wary of a martyr streak. “You sure you’reokay?”
She nods. “I’ll be fine.” She turns to Jenny, who is waving as I scoop her into myarms.
“Goodnight, sweetie. The bad woman’s gone, so you try and rest now,okay?”
“Okay!” Jenny says perkily. I walk out with her as she waves over my shoulder, the puppy bumbling along behindus.
I’m a lucky guy. My little girl doesn’t freak out at the prospect of a nut bothering the neighborhood. She trusts me when I say she’s safe, and she’s sleeping peacefully within fiveminutes.
When I come back down, Emmeline has calmed down a lot. She sits on my couch with her hands in her lap, and I realize for the first time that she’s in my home in nothing but her nightgown, slippers, and robe. Blue and cream. Cute, and—fortunately for her—warm. But the glimpses of her shape underneath make itsexy.
“Are you okay?” I ask her as gently as I can. She swallows and nods, and I settle onto the couch nearby. “Can I do anything foryou?”
“Um,” she looks at the ceiling, eyes tearing up again. “You’ve already done somuch.”
“I do it because I want to,” I reassure, and she smiles briefly, with a touch of embarrassment. “No, seriously, don’t think you owe me something. Even if you weren’t hot, and kind,andadorable, I would do this. Thought I covered thatalready.”
“I’m just not used to it, not since my dad died. I’m ...very sorry if I make it awkward.” Our eyes meet briefly, and I see the shame and pain in hers and hold up ahand.
