Page 95 of I'm Yours

“Holy shit,” Justin says beside me.

“What is this?”

“He’s been watching her for a while. These are pictures we found on his computer and phone.”

“Oh my gosh,” Sadie whispers with a shaky voice.

There are dozens of pictures of Sadie. At the studio, with me at the diner, at her home, walking into the grocery store. How long had he been following her? Some of these pictures look like they’re from earlier in the summer based on the way the trees look in the background. I swallow down the bile in my throat. What a bastard. I wish he were still alive so I could beat the shit out of him.

“Where does the sheriff come into all this? Why?”

Henry looks at Nell and she nods. He pulls out more papers from the folder. “The two have been working together for a while. Lee has just as many pictures of you. My guy found stuff dated way back to when you worked at Eve’s. I don’t know more than that. Just a couple men obsessed, it seems.”

I shake my head. “No. That’s such a bullshit reason,” I grumble. “That can’t be all there is to it. They fuckingkidnappedher. Made her…” I can’t even say the words out loud. Every time I think of it, I feel sick to my stomach.

“I agree,” Nell says quietly. “They’re beyond sick.”

“She’s a beautiful woman,” Henry says, like that explains it. Sadie squeezes my hand and her shoulders shake in silent laughter. That’s the entire reason Sadie’s uncomfortable around him but like I told her earlier, I think that’s just the way he is. How Sadie can have a sense of humor right now is beyond me. “Just like her mom,” he adds and the way he looks at Nell relieves any bad feelings I have.

Nell preens under his attention and leans over to kiss his cheek.

Sadie clears her throat. “Thank you, Henry, for your help,” she says, leaning into me.

“It was no trouble. I’m just glad I was able to help.”

The doorbell rings and Justin stands. “I’ll get it.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Are you staying here tonight?” Nell asks.

Sadie looks at me and I nod. “Planning on it. Not really ready to go back there. I mean, I’d just pulled into the garage when they showed up so it’s not like they were inside the house but still… I can’t. Not yet anyway.”

“Want us to get some clothes for you?”

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course not.”

“Thanks, Mom. How are you doing? Okay?”

“Worrying about me?”

Sadie grins. “Always. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I understand. But I’m good. Henry makes sure of it, too.” She and Henry gaze at each other and it’s impossible not to see the love there.

“You scared the shit out of me!” I turn and see Kandace rushing to Sadie’s side.

Justin’s grinning as he follows.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. But holy shit, I didn’t realize how attached I am to you.”

The two talk for a little while until it looks like Sadie is about to fall asleep sitting up.

I walk everyone to the door, including Justin who says he has an errand to run.

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