Page 28 of Defending A Promise
“Fuck. He was one of the troops killed with River, right?”
I only nod.
“Shit. She’s really had a time of it, hasn’t she?”
I nod again as I watch a few cars hit the brakes as they realize they’re speeding and see the both of us sitting in the parking lot. It’s actually pretty comical. We all know they’re going to speed up again as soon as they’re out of sight.
“So, now what?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I suppose we have to wait it out. Right now, she and Nicholas are staying with me. Her parents are in Europe somewhere, so we just have to wait and hope that forensics gets something from her parents’ house, or he makes a stupid ass move and I kick his ass. Quite honestly, I’m hoping for the latter.”
“What school is the kid going to?”
“Little Tykes over off of Main Street and Flamingo Drive.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure to hang around that part of town as I’m doing my patrols.”
“Thanks.”
The radios crackle to life, “PD324 respond to domestic at 812 Federal Highway.” The dispatcher calls Jax.
“PD324 responding.” He responds on the radio.
“PD334 responding as backup.” I answer as well.
“10-4 PD324 and PD334.”
We both flick on our lights and sirens to get through the Monday lunchtime traffic.
It’s been a long day and I’m finally on my way home to see Riley. I’ve resisted calling and texting her in fear of freaking herout and coming on too strong. After dinner last night, she and Nicholas went to bed, and I slept on the couch again. We haven’t had any time alone to talk after our kiss, and I’m really hoping to have some alone time with her this evening.
“Riley? I’m home.” I call out to her as I come in the front door. It’s weird not to have Bella greet me as I walk in, and alarm bells are going off in my head. Something doesn’t feel right. “Riley?” I’ve got my hand on my gun as I walk through the house looking for whatever is spooking me.
“In here.” I hear a small voice coming from my bedroom.
I open the door slowly, still with my hand on my gun at my hip and I find a white as a ghost Riley sitting all curled up in a ball on my bed with Bella lying next to her with her head on Riley’s lap. I like the fact that she’s in my room and on my bed, but not like this. Something’s wrong. Really wrong.
“Baby, what’s going on?”
She looks up at me and that’s when I notice the tear stains on her face. “This is never going to end, is it?”
“Are you alone?” I look into my bathroom and through the French doors outside to the back patio, but don’t see anyone or anything amiss.
She nods and then hands me her phone. Her hands are shaking like a leaf.
I take her phone from her hand and sit down next to her on the bed. “What’s going on?”
“He’s still following me. This is never going to end and I’m going to lose Nicholas,” she sobs and I pull her into my arms.
“That’s not going to happen. I will not let that happen, Riley.” I caress her hair down her back as she cries into my uniform shirt. I can barely feel her through my bullet proof vest, but I don’t dare let her go right now to take it off. Not when she’s this upset. “Tell me what happened today. What’s on your phone?”
I swipe open the phone to the text messaging app and find a picture of a smiling Riley at Mia’s grand opening the other night. She’s standing inside Magical Moments talking to Mia and Ian. Scrawled across her image in the picture is a giant red X and the words ‘He’s mine. I want him’. My heart sinks as my blood boils and I close the phone. “Riley, where’s Nicholas right now?”
“School. He’s probably safer there than with me,” she sobs.
I start rocking her back and forth as I hold her. “Shh. That’s not true. I’ve got you. Let it all out, baby. I know you’ve been strong for so long carrying all of this weight by yourself. I’m here now. I’ve got you. I’ve got you both.”
As she cries herself out, still shaking like a leaf, I text the desk sergeant and ask that a unit sit at the school until we get there to pick up Nicholas. She quickly agrees and lets me know that she’s got a unit down the street and will be there shortly. I then forward the text message to Kowalski and Smith.
