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“Are you sure you want to go in there? I’m having techs come out to dust for prints, but there is nothing salvageable. Lydia, it’s bad.”
I have to go inside. I need to make sure the things I secured are here. The last few months I’d been planning for the eventuality that I was going to have to leave Colton because he and I just weren’t in love anymore. My impromptu trip to Dallas had been a last-ditch effort to see if our marriage could be saved. I started hiding some of the kids’ and my special things. I couldn’t hide money because Colton watched every penny coming and going from our account. I’m glad I prepped, but I need to know if he found the stuff.
“I need to go.” I hear how tiny my voice sounds. Maverick reaches out a hand to me.
“Don’t touch anything, okay?”
I nod at him in response. When his hand settles on my back, I calm. We move through the house, finding that everything has been destroyed in each room. There is nothing left for me to take. Pictures have been shredded and litter the floor. He couldn’t even leave our kids’ rooms alone. He’s lost his mind. The master bedroom has the most destruction. Feathers from the down comforter lie all over every surface. The wallpaper has been ripped from the walls. I can’t stop my feet, I run from Maverick toward the closet.
All of my clothes have been cut and are ruined, but I don’t care about that. I move toward the back and fall to my knees. Shards of glass from the broken mirror prick my jeans and slice my exposed skin. I pull off the section of wall panel I found loose years ago. Reaching inside the hole, I feel for the box and pull it out. I open it to find the kids’ baby books, pictures of them, of my family before I lost my parents, my wedding, and other mementos in the box. Michelle and Micah’s special things are in there too. I see the jewelry box I put in there a couple of months ago and sigh.
“It’s still here and safe.” I look up at Maverick. “I don’t understand why—” I wave my hand at everything, unable to put my feelings into words.
“The attorney said thieves broke in, but this looks personal. Your office is just as bad as this room.” His voice is gruff, full of emotion. He reaches down for me and helps me up. He takes the box from my hand. “I think you need to consider a restraining order because this is more than likely your ex.”
“My attorneys have already filed for one. Why would he destroy the kids’ things too?”
“I see you have a boy and a girl.” He doesn’t answer my question, not that I expected him to. He wouldn’t know what went through Colton’s mind.
“Yeah, they are fraternal twins. Micah and Michelle. They are everything to me.” I give him a watery smile.
* * *
Maverick
I look down at her and can’t stop myself from rubbing a thumb across her cheek to wipe away the tears. Her lips open slightly with a small sigh. She is so beautiful. Her skin is soft. My hand spasms and my fingers brush into her silky hair. It’s loose and hanging in thick waves down to the middle of her back. I love the shiny mahogany color. Her ember golden hazel eyes look up at me. I hear someone moving toward us and step back. I can’t be this into her already.
My captain asked if I could help fill in with the local police because they were shorthanded. Normally, we don’t assist in this kind of thing. But I’m glad I was here. I’m going to get the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on thisrobbery.I know it’s not that. This is straight up her ex trying to control her by fear.
Keeping my voice low so his attorney can’t hear, I say, “You know this was him, right? Your ex.”
“Y-Yes. I don’t understand why he would do that to the kids’ rooms,” she says.
“Because of what you just said. They are everything to you. He knows he can get to you through them. Please tell me you’re somewhere safe?”
“I am. He doesn’t know where I’m staying. I have a friend, Sydney, the girl who was in the break room with me, her mom is an attorney. She helped me hide as soon as I found out he was cheating on me. My brother wants me to come home.” Her voice is soft, missing the life it had earlier in the day when she was teasing me.
I need to get her out of her head. I reach out and pull a thick strand of her hair. “I see you do know how to let your hair down.” I joke with her, and she instantly smiles.
“I can’t believe you were so jealous that you left the house unlocked and let this happen. Did you see your children’s rooms?” Her ex’s lawyer walks into the master suite and finds us in the closet. It takes everything in me not to pound him into the cream-colored carpet. Instead, I move toward the door and shoulder check him as I pass.
“Oh, excuse me,” I say as if I didn’t realize I did it. I hear a musical giggle from behind me and turn back to see her trying to hide her smile. Her dimple is peeking out.
“Mr. Brumfield, my attorney will catalogue all of the damages. We will be in contact.” She holds her head high and walks out of the room. I follow her and try not to focus on her heart-shaped ass in those tight as fuck jeans. She moves down the stairs and meets her attorney.
I watch as they talk for a moment and then she goes out to her car. I follow right behind her. I can’t be this near her without being closer.
“Lydia,” I say her name. She turns to look at me, and I notice her eyes go over my shoulder. “Doctor Rorke, you have my card if you need further assistance.” I turn, but she stops me.
“Um, I don’t.” Her voice is quiet again.
I move close to her so we aren’t overheard. “I gave it to you earlier.” I look into her eyes.
“I didn’t take it.” She looks down as she pulls her bottom lip between her white teeth and works the tender flesh. I want to bite it, but I step back before I push her into the side of her car.
I reach into my pocket and pull out another. This time I write my personal cell on the back of it before handing it to her.
“Call me if you need me.Anytime.”
