Page 88 of Ruined Vows

“What the—” I swallow down thefuckbefore it can make it out of my mouth. This guy looks like a real old school bastard in his mid-to-late sixties.

“Then he broke into hotel security,” I say low and vehemently. I don’t want Kira overhearing any of this, even if she was dead to the world when I left her back on the couch with the luggage. Which, as I glance over, I now see DPD is tossing for evidence. Jesus, they seriously think one of us did this? What the fuck? “My client’s already filed two complaints on him, if you’d just look. He’s broken into her home twice and done similar damage, leaving behind pictures and mutilated animals.”

The officer shrugs. “Coulda been you for all we know.”

“I didn’t even start working for her until two weeks ago!”

He just shrugs again. “I can’t begin to understand the mind of a criminal. Now, you gonna make me work overtime when it’s my night to get off early? ’Cause I’m happy to drag you down to the station so we can continue this interrogation.”

I wish I could say I was surprised at this bullshit. But I’ve never known the DPD to do anything that didn’t directly benefit or make life easier for themselves. Welcome to the criminal justice system in America.

Maybe if we threw around her father’s name, we could get some action. But frankly, she’s too tired tonight. And I don’t get the feeling the cop is lying about what he saw on the hotel footage. The DPD might be lazy, but I can’t see any reason in this particular case why they’d be colluding with a stalker.

It still makes me want to punch something—like this bastard captain’s face for example—that they aren’t doing more to protect her. But that wouldn’t help her and might get me tossed in the drunk tank, which would leave her unprotected for the night.

So I swallow my temper in a way I wouldn’t have a decade ago and head back to where Kira’s laid out on the lobby couch.

She blinks sleepy eyes up at me. “Did you catch him?”

Her trusting gaze breaks my fucking heart. I don’t even have my PPO certification in hand yet. She deserves so much better. Better than me. Better than that asshat police captain back there. Better than the bitch mother life dealt her. Better than her fuckwad fiancé.

I just start shoving her clothes back into her luggage.

She keeps getting the shit end of the stick, but if it’s the last thing I do, I’m gonna finally convince her she deserves better.

She’s still young, but I’ve got faith that she’s gonna see it. And see it one day soon if I’ve got anything to do with it.

“C’mon. I’m gonna get you somewhere safe for the night.”

Her shoulders slump. “He wasn’t on the security footage?” Even exhausted, she’s still quick on her feet.

I shake my head.

“Where evenissafe then? If he can get to me at a nice hotel like this with security and an electronically locked door on the sixteenth floor?”

“I know a place. Come on, Red. I got you.” I finish with the luggage, stack it so I can pull it with one hand, then reach down and lift her off the couch into my arms. I don’t care who’s watching. I know she’s exhausted after the adrenaline rush at the club. I don’t know what subdrop feels like, but I’ve seen it plenty of times. I’ve seen subs’ knees buckle and watched them literally go down in a dead faint. I’m not risking not catching Kira before she hits the ground.

Best if I just carry her until she gets her wits about her. Especially if her goddamn stalker is still nearby. He hung around last time and for all we know, he could be watching her right now.

I glance around. We’re in a public place. It’s late and I don’t see anyone else in the lobby besides staff. But considering the blank tape, he could very wellbestaff. I check every face, but don’t recognize any. None of them are any of Kira’s students, anyway.

The hotel security could have been hacked, though. He might be watching us through cameras. I glance around at the black orbs placed strategically around the ceiling. Fuck. Either way, it’s time to get the hell out of here.

“Where are we going?” Kira mumbles, head resting against my chest again.

“Somewhere safe. Don’t worry for once. I got you.”

“I trust you.” She closes her eyes and breathes out.

Fuck but her saying those words to me after a night like tonight makes my chest clench hard.

THIRTY-FOUR

KIRA

When I finally blink myeyes open, there’s bright sun shining in through a window. Immediately I shoot up in bed.

Shit. That sun istoobright. That’s not early morning sun. That’s afternoon sun, and I have class.

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