Page 34 of Starting Our Chance

19 Duke

As I threw my truckinto park, I glanced down at yet another message from the overly dramatic Samantha. Felicity—who I rarely talked to, let alone texted with—had sent a message just as I was leaving the farm that said I didn’t need to panic. She was with Loretta. That reassurance was the only thing that kept me driving the speed limit.

Samantha had called me right away, and it took over five minutes to get a clear answer from her as to what had happened. Someone had pointed a finger at Loretta as being the arsonist. Not only did I know who had pointed the finger, but I had evidence in my jean pocket that it was the same man who had started the fire. The police station was where I had been going before receiving the first bout of frantic messages from the women.

Now that I was at my destination, I rolled my eyes at Sammy’s latest message before hopping out in front of the police station. I had to pause in the entry way for my eyes to adjust to the dim florescent light, especially after leaving the brilliant Georgia sun.

“Nice of you to join the party,” I heard someone sneer. I turned around. Dylan was lounging in an industrial chair, one leg casually resting atop the other.

“What the fuck?” I drew in a harsh breath. “You have a death wish, boy?”

“I’m here to see justice serviced.” Dylan waved a hand about to emphasize the location. “And I’m just as old as you are, so who you calling boy?”

The snarl that erupted from my lips was feral, animalistic, and I launched myself toward him. Watching him flinch was priceless, his hands raised to his face, and I could see a cry for help on his lips. But he wasn’t going to need anyone to pull me off him. My rational mind stopped my movements, and I froze mere inches from his face. “You aren’t worth the lickin’ you deserve.”

Although his breath was unpleasant, I hovered over him for a moment longer. When his eyes dropped, I rose. That was how you subdued a rodent. Now he knew who was boss.

I turned on my heel and strode to Jamie-Mae, the receptionist who was behind a glass wall. The thing about small towns was that everyone knew everyone. And so, I asked Jamie-Mae to let me speak to Officer Wilkerson. It didn’t take long for my friend on the force—one of many—to usher me into the inner workings of the precinct.

In Wilkerson’s office, I dropped the USB drive on the desk. He invited me to sit, but I preferred to pace back and forth on the rough carpet. It wouldn’t take him long to see what would prove Loretta’s innocence. Still, I wore a path in the industrial flooring while I waited.

“Well, this blows up the eye witness’ statement,” Wilkerson chuckled and clicked to the next video.

I flexed my hands open wide as I trod the carpet. He needed to hurry to the next video so that the weasel didn’t leave and could be arrested in the trap he was setting for Lore.

“Holy shit, Man, this could convict Dylan of felony arson. Thanks.” Wilkerson jumped out of his seat. “We’ll go arrest him; you wait here.”

“Take me to Loretta.” I wasn’t asking. Wilkerson gave me a nod and called out to some deputies to go cuff Dylan in the lobby.

I knew I had to be patient, but the thought of not grabbing my girl right now was killing me. Because she was just that: my girl. And I couldn’t wait to hold her and remind her of that fact. She is going to see that no matter what, I’m the man to help her.

Rubbing my clammy palms together, I balanced on one leg then shifted my weight to the other foot. I watched my friends on the force do their thing, but my eyes kept flicking down the various hallways. Somewhere here was my overly freaked out woman who did not have to suffer a moment longer.

When Wilkerson was done relaying information to the proper channels, he turned back to me. Finally, thank fuck. I followed him to a door where Loretta was sitting in a metal chair, hands clasped on the desk before her. I peered over Wilkerson’s head as he told her she was free to go. Her eyes lifted and met mine.

And the smile that lit up her face said everything I needed it to.

Loretta pushed her chair back and quickly came over to me. I threw an arm around her shoulder, not caring who saw. “Let’s get you home,” I murmured into her hair.

After giving me a squeeze, Loretta followed Wilkerson through the maze of halls. I was keenly aware of the loss of her warmth. But the halls were too narrow and there were too many people to hold her hand or walk with her under my arm. We’ll be in my truck soon enough, I consoled myself. And then I would kiss Lore until her mind was lost under my touch and she forgot all about the present—if only for a few moments.

Just as we were approaching the great doors into the lobby, the buzzer alerted that the great doors were opening. Loretta stopped dead in her tracks, and I could see that she was steeling herself at the sight of Dylan. I came up right behind her to lend my strength. But she didn’t need it.

Loretta tipped her chin up into the air and didn’t dignify the bastard with a comment. Dylan, however, hissed at her as he struggled against the two cops holding him, “They told me to. And they are coming for you, Lore. You might have escaped them this time, but they’ll be around the corner.”

That was it. No one talked that way to my girl. I took two steps, gently pushing Loretta behind me. My fist came down hard and collided with Dylan’s smug jaw. I felt the crack and knew I had done damage.

The next moment, Wilkerson was at my side with a hand on my shoulder. He said he wasn’t going to restrain me, but he was making me aware that I couldn’t just go around punching people. “You’d best be leaving, Duke.” I knew it was the only warning my friend was going to give.

Reigning in my anger, I reached for Loretta’s hand and pulled her through the doors and out to the front. My friends on the police force hated Dylan—hell, everyone in this town thought he was utter shit. So, there would be no more trouble on that end.

When the sunlight hit us, Lore pulled free from my grasp. I tried not to focus on how much that stung. I watched her cross her arms—a protective measure—as she strode through the parking lot in front of me.

I kept my mouth shut when she gave a slightly bitchy retort to my simple question about where we should head. It was the haggard expression on her face that clamped my mouth closed. I could see that Dylan’s words had had a strong effect on her. With an exasperated huff, she walked around the truck to the passenger side, muttering about taking her to her vehicle, which was still at the café.

Instead of unlocking the truck, I followed behind her and slipped my arm around her shoulders. Her initial jerk told me that she wanted to pull back. Careful not to suffocate her, I didn’t pull her into me but rather rested my arm around her, waiting while I inhaled her scent. Lore smelled like some classy, exotic lady.

There was something about her that had always demanded I protect her. It probably had something to do with how my pulse picked up whenever I saw her. How my mind was consumed with thoughts of her—our past, the present, and a bevy of possible futures.

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