Page 12 of My Secret to Protect

‘Can I see these texts?’

I open the messaging app so he can see the multiple threads and hand him my phone.

‘These are all from different numbers.’

‘Yes, every time I try to trace the number, he changes it.’

‘Miss Campbell…’

‘Chief,’ I correct, a sinking feeling forming in my stomach at the turn up of the corners of his mouth, his ruddy cheeks rising.

‘My apologies,ChiefCampbell.’ He fully smiles at me now as he pulls off and disposes of the glove, and I take a slight step back. ‘From what I can see, none of this, other than the invitation, links back to Detective Joseph.’

My lips part but he doesn’t give me a chance to speak as he picks up the phone on his desk and dials.

‘Come down here for a second, would you?’

‘Chief Cane, you must see how this all adds up,’ I plead with him to see what’s happening.

‘We’ll get this cleared up, honey.’ I’m about to argue the ‘honey’, when the door behind me opens, and that scent surrounds me. I’m nauseous as Nolan passes me to stand next to the chief and smiles wide.

‘Bree? What are you doing here?’ Then he turns to the man in the chair. ‘You lining up your replacement, old man?’ He slaps the chief on the shoulder, and they both laugh. ‘Well, you can’t go far wrong with Bree.’

He grins, and I shake my head, disbelieving. What the fuck is happening right now?

‘Nolan, Miss Campbell here has some concerns she wants to clear up.’

‘ChiefCampbell,’ I snap, ‘not Miss, not Bree, and not honey.’ The two men look at each other, and I see it, that look, the ‘Uh oh, somebody is hormonal’ patronizing look that some men have a habit of giving when a woman gets upset, or angry, or any emotion that has us expressing ourselves. ‘I know you’re stalking me, you know you are, so I’m here to make it stop. The messages, the gifts, this—’ I gesture to the box, and he has the balls to look confused. ‘It’s breaking me, Nolan.’

‘Detective Joseph,’ the Chief sasses, and I want to punch him in his smug fucking face.

‘I can’t sleep. I can hardly eat. Please, stop.’

‘Bree, sorry, Chief Campbell, I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Nolan,’ I sigh his name.

‘Bree,’ he shrugs, ‘I sent you the dress and shoes and the gala invite, yes, because I thought it would be a great networking opportunity for you, and I wanted to do something nice. But the rest of this stuff, I’m lost. I would neverstalkyou. We’re friends.’

Son of a bitch. I hold his stare, and if I didn’t know better, I’d fucking believe him, so I’m not surprised when the chief does exactly that.

‘Well, looks like we got that cleared up,’ Chief Cane says, leaning back in his chair, and I feel the exaggerated rise and fall of my chest as my blood heats and my breath quickens with the anger coursing through me.

‘Bree, if you need me to investigate the concerns you have, I will absolutely help you figure out who’s doing this to you.’ His voice is so caring, so sincere, and I shake my head.

‘You asshole.’ My voice trembles as I stare into his eyes, and he fucking smirks, just for a second but I don't miss it. ‘I’m going to prove it’s you. I hope you know that.’

‘Now, Miss Campbell, don’t make me have you escorted out.’ The chief stands and meets Nolan’s now sympathetic-looking gaze.

‘I’ll walk her down, chief,’ he offers, tapping the chief’s arm in a friendly gesture that tells the older man he has thissituationunder control.

‘Fuck you!’ I snap as I turn, yanking open the door and rushing from the room.

I head for the corridor and the stairs but don’t get far before a strong hand grabs my wrist and pulls me back. He pushes me to the wall and pens me in with his body. I’m frozen as I look up into his hard, cold eyes, and he gazes down at me, the heat and mint of his breath on my nose and lips.

‘This is my place of work, Breanne. What the fuck do you think you’re doing coming here and saying these things about me?’ His voice is hard, cold, and unlike anything I’ve heard from him before. A sob threatens to lurch from my throat before I push it down. I won’t cry, not now, not in front of him.

‘You’re ruining my life, Nolan.’

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