Page 22 of Marc (Men of Forbidden Temptation #2)

MARC

As Staci runs inside the studio to get the copies of police reports for the security guard, I walk towards the back alley to wait for the tow truck.

There’s no way I can stand next to his car and not say something to him.

He had the footage on his phone all along, but either didn’t check it all day, or he knew that someone slashed Staci’s tires and didn’t say anything.

Either way, I’d fire him if I was Staci.

There have to be better security guards out there. Ones that will keep a better eye on things.

And not let her car get damaged in the process.

Luckily, he has the footage and is going to file charges on her behalf, so hopefully this saga will be ending sooner than later.

I turn the corner to the back alley and glance over at her tires. Anger continues to build inside of me as the video of Jared smirking at the camera plays through my mind on repeat.

I wish I could take Staci away from here again.

She shouldn’t be dealing with Jared’s bullshit. She should be living her life and enjoying every moment of the success she has created for herself.

Maybe I can convince her to get away for another weekend getaway.

Anywhere is better than staying here and watching Jared destroy everything that Staci has and loves.

Plus, it would be nice to have another beach weekend with Staci. This time would be different because we are dating for real.

We would get to share a bed and not feel like we have to stay on our half of the bed. Not like she kept her distance once she was asleep.

It was as if her body longed to be pressed against me with her legs wrapped around mine.

I didn’t mind. If I’m being honest, I loved every second of it… in more ways than one.

Loud beeping echoes off the buildings through the back alley. Looking towards the noise, I watch as the tow truck backs down the opposite way.

I’m glad I have friends in all sorts of businesses that are usually available on such short notice.

Dan expertly backs the truck down the tight alley and positions the truck at the back of Staci’s car.

I wait until he steps out of the truck, closes his door, and walks towards me to greet him .

“Hey, Dan, thanks so much for coming out here on short notice.”

He glances at the slashed tires. “You said it’s all four tires?”

I don’t give a verbal response. I nod my head as he starts to fill out the paperwork.

“You might want to file a police report to get your insurance to cover the costs.”

“It’s not my car. It belongs to my girlfriend.”

“You can file the report on her behalf.”

He walks around the car to look at the other two slashed tires. “Vengeful former best friend or scorned ex?”

I chuckle because he pretty much nailed it. “Ex-husband who’s violating the restraining order.”

“Ouch. This is going to be costly, especially if he ruined the rims.”

“I think we saw the damage in time before the rims bent, but I’ll wait until the garage gets a better look at them.”

Staci’s car isn’t classified as a luxury vehicle, but her car is hers and it was one thing that Jared hadn’t touched until now.

Digging my phone out of my pocket, I dial the number to the garage that I have used since I started driving.

Seth grunts as he answers the phone. “What do you want, Marc?”

His grumpy tone causes me to chuckle because under his tough motorcycle exterior is a delicate, soft interior .

Like a roasted marshmallow.

“Well, I was calling to let you know I was bringing some business your way, but I can find someone else.”

He makes a noise that resembles a chuckle that he tried to not let out. “You wouldn’t do that.”

I let out a belly busting laugh. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re the biker uncle I never had.”

Of course, I have uncles, but one is an accountant, and the other is an electrician. Neither of them is as cool as Seth.

“Damn straight. You better remember that. What do you have coming in for me?”

“Four slashed tires and hopefully zero fucked up rims.”

“Shit. Who did you piss off?”

“It’s my girlfriend’s car.”

Emotion swells in my heart. I love being able to call Staci my girlfriend to other people.

“Who did she piss off?”

The clacking of keys echoes through the phone.

“No one, but her ex-husband continues to be a nuisance.”

Seth lets out a loud grunt. “Sounds like he’s more like a terror than a nuisance.”

“You have no idea.” I let out a long sigh.

“Well, I’ll replace the tires and give the car a thorough check and get it back to you sometime tomorrow as long as there’s nothing major.”

“Thanks, man. ”

After I hang up the call, I glance at Dan, who is preparing Staci’s car to be put up on the truck bed.

I dial the non-emergency police number.

When the receptionist answers the phone, I say, “I’d like to file a police report regarding destruction of property.”

“Sure, I can send some officers your way. What is your address?”

I give her the address of Staci’s studio and make sure she notes that we are in the back alley before hanging up the phone.

Turning my attention to Dan, I ask, “Do you need a hand with anything?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. The truck does the heavy lifting.”

He pushes a button on the side of the truck and the large metal chains begin to move.

The sound of a car approaching grabs my attention.

I turn around to see a couple of police cars pull into the back alley.

After they park, I make my way over to the closest one.

The police officer gets out. He’s massive. Like a bodybuilder. “Did you call about the vandalism?”

“Yes, sir.”

I look at the other officer who joins us. He’s as big as a grizzly bear, but not as fit as the first officer.

Glancing from one officer to the other, I say, “They sent in the big guns.”

The first police officer chuckles. “I don’t know where you are from, but we take crime seriously in this county.”

Since I live in this county, I know they are telling the truth. We have the lowest crime in the entire state, and that is just one reason I chose to move here.

Plus, it’s the county over from my parents.

The grizzly bear-like man asks, “Is this your car?”

“No, it belongs to my girlfriend. She’s currently inside making copies of previous police reports for her security guard.”

I’m not sure if I should have told them, but it might be helpful in this case to get some help from a different county.

He scrunches up his face as he thinks. “Has this happened before?”

“Thankfully no, but her abusive ex-husband just recently broke into her house and destroyed almost everything, and he shattered a window this morning. She has a restraining order, but he has friends in high places.”

Both officers nod their heads as they seem to understand what I am implying.

The bodybuilder officer walks back to his vehicle and grabs a clipboard from his trunk.

“We can start the paperwork for the report, but we will need the owner of the car to sign the paperwork and verify that everything you wrote down is the truth.”

“That’s not a problem. ”

Do they really think I would lie on a police report?

Do people actually do that?

“I’ll need you to fill out the top part of the form, starting with the vehicle owner’s name.”

I take the clipboard from him and write down Staci’s name, home address, and phone number before writing down the studio’s address.

Under the section labeled as description of the event, I take my time to write down the details of seeing the slashed tires and having the security guy pull up the camera footage on his phone.

I hand the clipboard back to the police officer, and he skims over the form.

“What is the name of the security company that has the camera footage?”

Was there a company logo on his car?

I don’t remember seeing a company logo on his car door, or even his shirt.

“I don’t know that information as I didn’t hire them, but Staci will be able to tell you that when she gets back here.”

Dan walks over to us and hands me a folded up sheet of paper.

“Insurance may want a copy of that, along with the police report. If they don’t want to pay the bill, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

I can’t let him do that. He’s got a wife and kids to take care of.

“If they won’t pay for the tow, then I’ll pay it.”

Dan nods his head and points behind me. Turning around, I see Staci walking through the back alley towards us.

She waves awkwardly as I jog towards her. I watch as her eyes widen as she takes in the two police cars and tow truck.

Or she could be surprised at how huge the officers are.

“It’s all set and will be finished tomorrow sometime, so, after you sign the police report, we can head to the diner and then home.”

Home.

Our home.

I love thinking of it as our home and not just my house.

She sighs. “I like the sound of that.”

Me too.

More than I should at this stage of our relationship.

We walk over to the officers and the bodybuilder one speaks to Staci.

“This will only take a few more seconds. If you can, please write down the name of the security company as well as the person who has the camera footage here.”

Staci jots down the required information before looking back at the officer.

“Thank you. Last thing, if you can read over this and verify that everything is correct, then you can sign at the bottom, and we will let you be on your way.”

She looks over the entire form. From her name, address, and phone number to the description of the event that I wrote out.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what happened.” She signs her name at the bottom before handing the clipboard and pen back to the officer.

“Alright, we will get this report filed for you, and it should be ready for you to pick up in a couple of days.”

Staci’s lips press together as a small smile forms on her face. “Thank you, both of you, for coming out.”

The officers nod their heads and get back into their cars.

I take this opportunity to introduce Dan to Staci.

“Dan, this is Staci. Staci, this is Dan.”

They shake hands as they size each other up.

Dan speaks first. “So, you’re the girlfriend?”

A grin forms on Staci’s face. “Yep. That’s me. The girlfriend.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He turns his attention to me. “We’ll all have to get together. I’ll send the kids to the grandparents’ house and maybe the four of us can get dinner one night.”

Maybe after all of this shit with Jared is dealt with.

“Yeah, for sure.”

“Well, I’ll let you two try to enjoy the rest of your day.”

“Thank you for getting my car before more damage was done.” Staci gives him a wave when he is about to climb back into his truck .

Staci and I watch the tow truck pull away with her car strapped to the bed.

Her smile disappears, and a frown takes its place. Her eyes become glossy with unshed tears, and it tears at my heart.

“Please bring me to the diner. I need food and happiness to turn the day around.”

“I promise to try my damndest to make this day better. A greasy cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake always help me.”

“Then let's go.”

She wraps her hand around mine and pulls me the entire way around the block to my car.

It might look silly to let someone half my size drag me around, but she seems to enjoy it and, in the end, her happiness is all that matters.

I unlock my doors and we get in.

Staci scrolls through the radio stations as I drive towards the diner. Luckily, the diner is in my county, so hopefully, we won’t have to deal with Jared.

Although, he did follow me while I was in this county and not his protected one.

I slow down as I drive over the set of train tracks. The car bounces from the elevated tracks.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I watch as Staci puts a hand over her breasts to keep them from bouncing out of her shirt.

Not like that could happen with her present attire, but a man could dream .

Blue lights flash as a police siren sounds from behind me.

Damn it, we just crossed over county lines, but this route is the quickest to the diner.

“Shit, I think we are being pulled over.”