Page 65 of Watch Me
“We should go before we’re late.”
“I need another minute,” I replied and without another word, leaned over and took her face in my hands.
I needed more than a minute. I needed to get lost in Reagan the only way I could at the moment, so I kissed her as though it would be our last. I kissed her as though my heart was breaking because it was. Some asshole was playing a fucking game with my life and was giving my ex ammunition to take my kids from me.
“Okay,” I finally said after I pulled back. “I guess I’m ready.”
After we both got out of my truck, I rounded the back and grabbed Reagan’s hand. She pulled away from me, and I stopped walking, wondering why the hell she had letgo.
“Maybe we shouldn’t hold hands?”
“And why the hell not?”
She shrugged and blew out of breath. “I feel like it might fuel Jessica’s fire.”
“I don’t give a shit. She can’t dictate who I date,” I snapped. I was a ball of emotions. I hadn’t seen my kids in over two weeks, and I hadn’t solved the fucking murders. But Reagan was still breathing and safe, and if I wanted to hold my girlfriend’s hand, I was fucking going to hold my girlfriend’shand.
“I don’t want—”
I followed Reagan’s line of sight when she stopped talking. Jessica was walking toward the elevator, looking at us. She, of course, didn’t have my kids with her, but she wasn’t alone either. Her father was with her. They didn’t stop, but their steps faltered a bit. While Jessica kept her gaze on Reagan and me, I grabbed Reagan’s hand and began walking again. Reagan didn’t say anything as we followed behind Jess and her dad, and after a curt nod at Jessica’s father, the four of us rode the elevator up to the floor the hearings wereon.
“You know you’re violating the order, right?” Jessica spat in the awkwardsilence.
“Then have me arrested.”
Technically, Reagan and Iwereviolating the temporary order, but I didn’t give a shit. Plain and simple. I didn’t care anymore because as soon as the hearing started, I was going to get my kids back. I would keep my kids safe, and if Jessica didn’t want to be anywhere near Reagan and me, that was on her.Shedivorced me, and she had to have known I’d eventually date again. Granted, no one knew a serial killer would threaten my girlfriend, but that wasn’t a good enough reason to keep me from my boys. I couldn’t control acriminal.
The elevator dinged, and without a word, I pulled Reagan out of the lift with the hand I was still holding. I saw my attorney sitting on a bench outside a courtroom and walked towardhim.
“Randall,” Igreeted.
He stood and stuck out his hand. “Ethan.” Then he turned to Reagan and shook hers as well. “Reagan.”
“Morning,” shereplied.
“Ethan, your case is first on the docket.”
“Great, let’s get this over with.”
We walked into the courtroom and sat on the opposite side of where Jessica and her father were. When the bailiff called my case number, Reagan stayed seated while Randall and I walked up to the wood tables, Jessica and her attorney on one side, Randall and me on the other. I let Randall do the talking—of course—but when it got to the reason behind the request for the protective order, and Randall told him the matter was classified, the judge turned tome.
“Is this true, Sergeant Valor?”
“Yes, it’s connected to a few cases I’m working on.”
The judge turned his attention to Jessica and her attorney and then back to me. “All parties, let’s move this to chambers.”
“If I may, Your Honor,” I cut in, holding up my file that contained reports and such regarding the murders and Reagan’s break-in. “This is in relation to an ongoing investigation, and anyone but myself—and you, so that you can make your decision—should not be privy to the case. That includes theformerMrs. Valor and her counsel, as well as my own.”
The judge paused before answering. “Okay. We’ll take a five-minute recess while we speak in my chambers.”
I followed the judge through a side door and then down a short hall and into his chambers. After he took a seat behind his desk, I told him the bare minimum of how the murders were related Jessica’s case against me, and then we went back into the courtroom. I gave Reagan a small smile and returned to my place next toRandall.
The judge returned to his place on the bench a few moments later. “Given the measures Sergeant Valor has taken, and that the initial threat wasn’t made against him, I’m denying the restraining order.” He turned his full attention to Jessica. “Mrs. Valor, if you wish to seek protection, your fight isn’t with Sergeant Valor. You will need to file a protective order against the person involved in Sergeant Valor’s case. The children are to return to the previous custody agreement and schedule.”
“Thank you,” Randall and I said inunison.
One down, one togo.
