Am I ready? This is going to be stressful for my girl, and I don’t like it. She doesn’t deserve this, but it’s happening. Plus, the alternative is worse. I want her to feel safe. As long as her attacker was free, she wasn’t fully safe.
Chapter 21
Camden
* * *
Blade and Colton are both with us as we head for the police station. I’m sitting in the back seat of Blade’s SUV with Simone. She’s wringing her hands. I know she’s nervous.
Colton has been trying to calm Simone the entire drive, which I really appreciate. I’m sure that’s why Blade asked him to join us. Not because Blade isn’t just as amazing with Littles. He’s a Daddy Dom himself. He doesn’t currently have a Little of his own, but he’s always kind and patient with Little girls.
What Colton brings to the table is his knowledge of police stations and investigations. After all, he was a police officer before he left the force to work for Black Blade Protection.
Colton is turned to face Simone as best he can. “Do you have any questions, Little one?”
“You’re sure he won’t see me?” she asks in a shaky voice.
I hate that my sassy, bold girl, who is more likely to skip down the hall wreaking havoc, has been brought to her knees by the fucker who dared to attack her. It pisses me off.
“He will not see you, Simone. I promise.”
She nods. “Will it be like on TV when the people look through one-way glass and some guys line up along a wall?”
“Yes, it will be just like that. He won’t be able to hear or see you. You’ll be able to take your time identifying him.”
“What if I can’t?” she asks in a soft voice.
“That’s okay, Little one. It happens. Sometimes, survivors are so traumatized that they don’t recall enough features to identify their attacker. Remember, this is just an added layer of proof. The police already have DNA evidence.”
“Okay.”
When we arrive, Simone is shaking. I hold her hand as we follow Blade and Colton into the station. It’s busy. There are dozens of officers and civilians bustling around inside. It’s also loud, and Simone grabs my arm with her free hand, holding on to me tightly.
Colton heads for the reception area and speaks to a man in uniform. They shake hands. Several other officers approach Colton. It hasn’t been long since he last worked here. A lot of people know him.
Finally, someone leads us down a hallway. People are hurrying up and down the corridor, but a woman is sitting on a chair outside the room where we stop. A female officer is squatting in front of her, talking to her.
I know instinctively this is the woman who was attacked last night.
She looks up when we stop. She’s been crying, and it jerks on my heartstrings. She’s beaten and bruised like Simone was ten days ago. Her right arm is also in a brace.
She looks toward Simone first and then glances at me. Her swollen eyes widen, and her breath hitches. “Professor Arnalt?”
It takes me a second to recognize her, but finally I do. “June?” Shit. I hate this happened to another woman I know. My heart seizes. It’s been several years, but June was in a few of my classes at the university.
She nods. More tears fall.
Simone steps forward, sits in the chair next to June, and reaches for her uninjured hand. “I’m so sorry,” she says. “I think we were attacked by the same man. It happened to me ten days ago.”
June swallows.
The female officer holds out a tissue before rising and stepping to one side.
June pulls her hand from Simone’s to take the tissue and dab at her cheeks. “Are you here to identify him, too?” she asks in a shaky voice.
“Yes. Did you already go in?” Simone asks.
June shakes her head. “I was trying to build up the courage. I’m…scared to see him.”
