Page 13 of Dad's Cop Buddy

“Kent,” Kendal puts her hand on my arm. “Kent, let’s go for a walk and talk about this.”

“Why can’t we talk about it right here? Maybe David has something to add to this conversation.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are. Kendal, is this the guy who’s been stalking you? Should I call security?” the idiot asks.

“Stalking? Looks like you’re the one doing the stalking, David,” I snarl.

“No, David. This is Kent. I’m sorry, will you excuse us please?”

“Okay, if you’re sure you’re alright,” David tells her, eyebrows pulling together.

“She’s fine. She’s with me…where she belongs.”

David marches off, and I turn my attention to Kendal.

With my hand on the small of her back, I lead her to the SUV. “Get in.”

I open the door and she climbs inside wordlessly while I march around to the driver’s side and get in.

“I don’t like games, little girl. I saw the way the two of you were laughing and carrying on. I’m telling you now, I’m not the guy you want to lead on. If you aren’t serious about being mine and only mine, you can get out now and never look back. I’ll still catch your fucking stalker for you. I owe that to your father, but I’m not about to sit back and let you flaunt yourself to other guys. Somebody will get hurt.”

“I don’t know what this is about. All I did was talk to my classmate, my harmless classmate. I’ve known him since I was in first grade, and we’ve never even been out on a date. I don’t want to be with anyone but you and I’m not playing games. I swear it,” she cries, tears sliding down her cheeks.

My blood pressure slowly returns to normal and my breathing slows. I didn’t mean to make her cry, but she’s got me completely off my rocker. I have never been obsessed with anyone before her, and this unhinges me.

With my hands cupping her face, I brush her tears with my thumbs and plant a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t cry, Kendal. I don’t want you to be upset. You just need to know that I’m extremely possessive, and I don’t want to share you with anybody. I don’t think you understand what’s going on here. I don’t think you realize the hold you have on me.”

She needs to know this from the get-go. She has to know what she’s getting herself into. I am not one to share, especially when it comes to her. I don’t give a fuck if he’s a harmless classmate. She doesn’t get to smile sweetly at any man except me. Only me.

“You’re not sharing me with anyone, Kent. You’re the only person that I want to be with.”

“Alright. Dry your eyes and eat your lunch. I guess I screwed up this stakeout so there’s no reason you can’t eat right here if you want.”

“Good. I’d rather have lunch with you anyway,” she smiles.

I watch Kendal walk back across the quad and enter the building, and then start my engine and pull away. I’ll do something nice for her later since I caused that scene and embarrassed her. I decide to head to the grocery store for supplies for dinner. Her fridge is nearly empty, and I think a nice romantic dinner might just do the trick.

As I pull out and head to the store, I notice a vehicle following a good distance behind me. I slow down and they slow down as well. I pull up to a red light and the car stays three cars behind me. I don’t think it’s my imagination. I think I’m being followed.

I make the left and pull into the store parking lot. They make a left, too, but drive right by the lot heading east. It’s not the same car Sanders was driving last night, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t him. Lots of people have access to more than one vehicle. I just wish I’d managed to pull the plate number from this one, but he’s smart enough to stay back so I couldn’t get a good look. If he thinks following me is a good idea, he has another thing coming. I’ll snag him up like a rat in a trap before he knows what’s happening.

I guess he figured I would be in the store for a while, which is why he apparently made a beeline to Kendal’s cabin and left her another message on the wall. I pull into the driveway just as the sun is setting and see the big red letters that read, “Whore” on the wall.

“When I catch you, I’m gonna rip your fucking face off!” I bellow as I exit my vehicle. I don’t know if he’s still within earshot, but based on everything that’s happened so far, I won’t be surprised if he’s hiding somewhere, waiting to see Kendal’s reaction to his new artwork. I pull out my phone and snap a few pictures of it before unloading the groceries. I need to put them away and paint over this mess before she comes home. Taking a look at my watch, I see that there isn’t much time.

I fill the fridge and put the chicken in the oven, and then place the candles I bought in the crystal holders I found in her room. Then, I toss on a t-shirt and shorts and grab the paint and roller. I finish covering the graffiti just as she arrives home. Quickly, I toss the paint can and roller into the trash can and slip inside to shower, hoping she won’t catch a whiff of the wet paint.

“Something smells good in here,” she shouts as she comes through the door.

“It’s dinner. Don’t touch anything. I’ll be out in a minute to finish it up,” I call back.

She doesn’t ask about the new paint job so I assume I’m in the clear. This asshole hasn’t slowed down one bit even though he knows I’m here. He’s cocky, sure, but he’s seen my SUV and my uniform. He knows I’m an officer and that I’m armed.

To me, the fact that he hasn’t stopped after seeing me tells me he’s crazier than I originally thought. Kendal doesn’t need to know because that’s why I’m here. To shield her from this stalker. To protect her from harm.

I don’t know what Sanders thinks his end game is, but he’s not walking away from this scot-free. He’s gonna find out just what it will cost him if he messes with what’s mine.

8

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