“Anna. Damn, you grew up good.”
A new shiver enveloped me, but this time, there was nothing pleasant about it. I stumbled back, out of the man’s grasp. “What are you doing here?”
Derek grinned as his eyes raked up and down my body. “Gotta give a little testimony in front of the judge.”
I tried to take in the man in front of me, to see any of the boy he used to be. But there was nothing. The hardness in Derek’s eyes said there was no longer room for the tenderness I used to soak up from him. It was that gentleness and warmth that had pulled me in. I’d had so little of it growing up that when I’d gotten it from Derek, I’d been a goner.
I couldn’t help but wonder if it had all been a lie. An intricate web of deception designed to ensnare me. “You mean so you can lie to a judge?”
Derek made a tsking sound. “Now, Angel. That’s not very nice. I tried to make it right when you got out, but you wouldn’t let me.” He gave an exaggerated pout, but his eyes hardened even further. “That hurt my feelings.”
Everything in me was strung tight, twisting into a spiral that might snap at any moment. “There isn’t one thing that you could do to make up for what you put me through.”
His jaw worked back and forth. “You were fifteen. You got cush juvie. I was seventeen. I would’ve been tried as an adult.”
“Because youwerean adult. One who made stupid decisions and wasn’t man enough to take responsibility when you got busted.”
“Watch your fuckin’ mouth.” He moved in a flash, backing me against the building. “You should show a little respect. I provided for you. Got you a phone, gave you a place to stay. Youowedme.”
The rough wood of the building bit into the backs of my bare legs. My eyes darted around the street, but it was suddenly so much emptier, no curious tourists. Nothing at all. “Back up.”
I did my best to keep any tremble from my voice, but it must not have worked because Derek’s mouth curved into an ugly grin. He leaned in closer. “Haven’t you realized it yet? I don’t play by your rules.”
A hand clamped down on Derek’s shoulder and yanked him back. He jerked out of Walker’s grip. “What the hell, man? I was having a word withmywoman.”
A muscle in Walker’s cheek ticked. “Since that woman is married to a friend of mine, I don’t think she’s yours.”
Derek’s gaze zeroed in on my hand, where my wedding band flashed in the light. The planes of his face hardened to granite. “And what’s it to you?”
Walker pulled his badge out of his back pocket and flashed it at Derek. “I don’t appreciate anyone hassling the residents of my town.”
“Fuckin’ pigs,” Derek muttered. “I don’t need this.” He turned to me and gave me a wink. “I’ll be seeing you, Angel.”
The use of the nickname I used to love had my stomach roiling as he disappeared. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Walker took my arm. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
But it didn’t matter where we went because Derek knew where I was now. He knew that I was happy. Without him. And he wouldn’t stand for that.
25
Mason
I joggedup the front steps to the police department, pulling open the door. It slammed against the wall, making the officer behind the counter jump. He eyed me warily. “Can I help you?”
“Walker’s office?”
“Name?” he asked.
“Mason Decker. He called me.”
The young officer checked his notepad. I was about ready to jump behind the desk and throttle him, he was moving so slow.
“Can I see some identification please?”
“For fuck’s sake.” I pulled out my wallet and slid out my driver’s license. “Here.” I slapped it down on the counter.
The officer took his time examining it before handing it back to me. “Down the hall, third door on the left.”
