Dominic’s nostrils flare. “A neighbor dispute?” I can see the effort it takes for him not to completely explode. “You couldn’t have split up? There was a targeted attack against a woman, and instead of responding immediately, you two left her defenseless, in the dark like a sitting duck.” He looks between the men, disgusted. “Your captain will be hearing from me. Completely inexcusable.”
The older officer stiffens. “Look, man?—”
“Debuty Alvarez,” Dominic snaps, cutting him off. “Deputy Dominic Alvarez. Write it down and don’t fucking forget it.” He steps closer, his height and commanding presence making the officers shift uncomfortably. “And let me make something very clear; this case falls under our jurisdiction now. It’s directly tied to an ongoing investigation.”
It is?
The officer’s lips curl down, clearly irritated. “This is city property. Our territory. We’ll handle it from here.”
“Your territory?” he huffs. “For someone suddenly feeling territorial, you failed to prioritize a clear and immediate threat. This isn’t just a random act of vandalism. There’s a pattern here, one the sheriff’s office has been tracking. So no, you’re not handling it.”
The second officer clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the escalating tension. “Maybe we can coordinate?—”
“Coordinate all you want,” Dominic cuts in. “But the case is mine. You can file your reports, collect your data, and send it my way. But from this moment on, we’re the lead agency. And if I hear even a whisper of someone dragging their feet againwhen her safety is at stake, I will personally make sure it doesn’t happen twice.”
The lead officer glares but doesn’t argue further. “We’ll be in touch.”
Dominic turns his back on them without another word.
I think I’m having an out of body experience. I’ve never witnessed this side of him.
It was…It was really hot.
I must be in a state of shock, not thinking clearly. I’ve heard shock can do funny things to people. Like make them lose their minds.
Dominic approaches, close enough for his scent to travel around me. “Let’s get you inside,” he says softly. A gentle hand presses to my shoulder, steering me toward my front door. “Change into something comfortable. We’re going to the station.”
The sheriff’s station is dimly lit, the flickering fluorescents casting uneven shadows across the cold, impersonal room. Though the space is packed with people, the noise feels distant, muffled, as if I’m submerged underwater. Dominic’s pen taps sharply against the desk, snapping me back to the present. Suddenly, the sounds rush in—keyboards clacking, a printer humming, coffee dripping from a Keurig, voices overlapping in chaotic layers. The urge to rush for the exit churns in my stomach. What the hell is happening?
“Before we get started, can you think of anyone that would want to hurt you? Anyone that has it out for you?” He hesitates for moment, swallowing harshly. “An old boyfriend?”
I can’t seem to concentrate. There are too many thoughtsracing and crashing together. My knees bounce frantically with my hands beneath my thighs to keep them from shaking.
“Ellie? Did you hear me?”
I take a breath. “Yeah—sorry. There was this guy…”
Months ago, on a dare from Scottie, I downloaded a dating app.
One date was all it took for me to swear them off completely.
The guy was…weird. Not cute-nerdy, anime-and-D&D kind of weird. Just weird.
“I’m such a nice guy” weird. “I’m a high-value man” weird.
He made me uncomfortable.
And the worst part wasn’t even the date—it was everything that came after.
He was relentless. Harassing me. Blowing up my phone.
I had to block him—multiple times—because he kept getting new numbers.
I think the last time I blocked him was after my dad picked me up from jail.
Honestly, I forgot all about him.
Until now.
