Page 12 of Arrested By My Mate

“Smelled?!”

He nods, smiling at my outburst.

“Oh, well, I use this body wash that’s super common. You can get it literally anywhere. So, see? It’s just a mix up.”

“It’s not your body wash or any other shampoo or perfume. It’s you,” he insists.

“Could it not be?”

“No.”

We stare at each other for a minute, and I take a deep breath.

“This is going to suck,” I mumble, and he frowns, opening his mouth to, I’m sure, ask me what is going to suck, but I don’t give him the chance.

I tip over the chair behind the desk I was leaning on and take off. I run as fast as my little legs will carry me and I make it all of the way to the front door before I collide with a strong chest.

“Stop her!” Tucker yells behind me as the guy grabs me.

“I don’t want to be part of this,” the new guy yells back, and I stomp on his toes.

“I don’t want to be part of this either,” I add, but they both ignore me.

Tucker grabs me and carries me back over to the cell. I glare daggers at the guy who stopped me, and he rubs his foot, staring back at me.

“You have to let me go!” I scream at Tucker, but he shakes his head.

“I can’t do that. You belong with me, and I can’t risk you leaving. I can’t lose you. Not now that I finally found you.”

“So, what’s the plan then? Just keep me as your prisoner forever?” I spit at him, and he turns around and doesn’t answer me.

He heads over to his desk, and I look toward the front door, but his friend is long gone.

“You can’t keep me here forever,” I tell him, and he nods, but doesn’t answer me.

The crackle of his radio interrupts me before I can say anything else, and he gives me an apologetic look before he grabs his things and takes off.

“Dammit!” I shout once I’m alone.

I’m not sure how long I’m alone before the man from earlier comes back in. He’s got a bottle of water and some chips in hand, and he gives me a worried smile as he heads my way and passes me the food through the cell.

“Thanks,” I grumble.

“Sure.”

“Can you let me out?” I ask him, knowing that it’s a long shot.

“No.”

I sigh and sit down on my cot.

“Who are you?” I ask after a bit.

“Crew. I’m the deputy around here.”

I nod and pop a chip in my mouth.

“You know that your sheriff is crazy, right?” I ask, and he smiles slightly.

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