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“Okay, I’ll bite. How and who are you working with to protect her?” he asks as he frowns.
I stare at him, narrowing my eyes over the rim of my mug as I take a swig. “Not important.”
He slams his hand into the table. “Dude, Holliday. Come on, man. Don’t you think you’re going a little overboard for this one? I mean, no offense, but I’ve never seen you like this over a chick.”
I glare at him. It’s a warning, but he apparently doesn’t care.
“I mean, when she came into the station a couple of weeks ago, I just went up to her and put my hand on her shoulder, and she freaked the fuck out. That’s not normal, man. She’s got shit going on in that head of hers. You don’t need that drama or that crazy.” McCormick leans back in the booth and folds his arms over his chest.
“I kind of agree, boss. Maybe it’s a lot of crazy going on around her, but sheisbringing it here. I don’t think she’s that bad.” He shoots McCormick a glare. “But she’s bringing a lot of baggage with her that you and your family don’t need.” Johnson shakes his head as his eyes soften.
“You need to stop thinking with your dick, Holliday. I’m sure she’s great in bed. The crazies usually are.” Instantly, my head snaps to McCormick. My heart rate increases as my muscles tense. My body starts to vibrate, and I can feel the heat rise up my neck. McCormick is seconds away from me beating him into a pile of broken bones.
“Enough!” I exclaim, and the entire restaurant goes quiet. I stand up and lean over the table, glaring at the two of them. “If I ever hear you talking about her, thinking about her, or doing anything other than helping her, I will make it my personal mission to see that you two don’t and can’t ever wear a badge again. Got it? Good. Now fuck right the fuck off.”
I throw a twenty down on the table and make my way out to the truck. My body is shaking with fucking rage. Those two are assholes. Johnson not so much, but McCormick is a fucking dick. Getting in my truck, I drive around town with a great need to calm myself down. Yes, she kept a lot from me, but she had good reason to. Which reminds me that I need to check in with Dean Fuller, the FBI agent friend of mine.
I hate myself for sending off info about Zoey, but I can’t fight this war blind. I need to have all the facts. There’s no way I can figure out a solution to all of this if I don’t know everything there is to know. Zoey may hate me and never talk to me again if she ever finds out, but I don’t plan on her finding out.
* * *
When I get home, I go through my usual routine of changing out of my clothes and getting into something a little more comfortable for lounging around with Zoey. I head into the kitchen and start to prepare dinner for us. After the shit day I had, I want something comforting, so meatloaf and mashed potatoes sound like the perfect meal for us.
Zoey has been much more open about the nightmares. She explains what goes on in them from what she remembers when she wakes up with one. But I can tell she’s still holding back on some of what she remembers. Even still, when Zoey gets them, I pull her close and hold her until she calms down and falls back asleep.
There have also been more discussions about her past with her ex. It’s why I walked out of the diner so angry at McCormick and Johnson. They have no clue as to what she’s been through. All at the hands of the people she was supposed to be able to trust the most. But I do. And I vow to protect her from all of it.
I’m in the middle of mashing the potatoes when Zoey walks in.
“Hey there, sweetheart. You hungry?”
Zoey strolls up to me and kisses me on my cheek. “I’m starving. What are you making?”
“Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Simple, comforting, but yummy.” I smile.
“Mm.” She licks her lips, and I have to hold back a groan. “Okay, I’m going to change, and I’ll be right back out.” She leaves the room, and I can’t help but watch her beautiful ass sway. I reach down and adjust myself. Down boy. I smile knowing I’ll have my hands full of that tonight.
When Zoey comes back into the kitchen, we sit down to eat. She’s quiet, and her eyes look a little glazed over as if she’s lost in thought.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I turn over to look at her as I move the food around my dish.
She hums. “Just thinking about my day.”
“How was your day?” I take a bite of my meatloaf and wait for her to tell me.
Zoey sighs. “Boring. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love working with your mom. But I was enjoying working on the ranch, too. Now I’m sort of being forced to stay at the store.”
“You and my parents both thought it was a good idea. No one forced you, Zo.” I tilt my head towards her and raise my eyebrow. “Besides, this is just until we figure out what’s going on. It’s not a punishment. We’re just trying to keep you safe. That’s all.”
“Yeah, you’re right. But still, I miss working on the ranch as a hand.” Her head sags a bit as she looks down at the food in front of her. “And I know you say I’m not being punished, but I feel like I’m being punished. That I’m being punished for things I didn’t do.” Zoey shakes her head.
“I know, but you’re really not. I’m sorry.” I place my elbows on the counter and rest my chin in my hands.
“Nothing for you to be sorry about. I’m the problem, Ryker. This,”—she points between the two of us—“wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to lay low. Wait it out. Just get by until I could figure out a better plan. Maybe that’s what I need to do. Hide somewhere else. I have money saved up. I can lay low, and eventually Mitch will get tired of trying to find me. He will just let me be.” She curls tight into herself, wrapping her arms around her chest.
I can’t let her run. I can’t protect her if she’s not here with me. I can’t be next to her every night if she decides to take off.
“No, Zo. That’s not the answer, and you know it. You know as well as I do that he won’t rest. You’re not running.” My lips form a thin line. I close my eyes for a moment and try to control my erratic heartbeat. I need to keep her here just a little while longer. “Look, let’s go watch a movie, relax, and wind down. What do you say, darlin’?”