“Someone followed me,” I manage to say between gasps. “They were texting me while it was happening.”
His stance goes rigid. “And where the fuck was Gavin?”
My shoulders start to curl in, as if making myself smaller will somehow lessen the magnitude of my reckless decision.
“I left without him,” I say quietly.
Dominic takes a step back, his stare sharp and cold. “What do you mean you left without him?” He runs both hands through his hair, exhaling so loudly it sounds like a hiss. “One rule. One fucking rule, Ellie.” He stalks off toward the end of the driveway. “Fuck!” he yells. “Fuck!”
And then he’s on his radio, barking out calls and commands to whoever is on the other end of it. The entire time, his grip is on his service weapon, ready to take it out at a moment’s notice.
Within a matter of minutes, the front of my townhouse is littered with patrol cars, my phone has been confiscated, and Dominic hasn’t looked my way once.
CHAPTER 50
Dominic
ONE MISSTEP
PRESENT
The drive to the station is a blur. Visions of worst case scenarios rotate through my mind. What if she had gotten in a car accident? Got ran off the road? Got hurt? Or worse?
Dropping Ellie off at her parents’ house was the right thing to do—keeping her somewhere safe where I know she’s not alone—but the look on her face when I left was enough to make my chest feel like it was caving in.
I lost my temper.
I couldn’t see. I couldn’t think. One look at her, and I was ready to kill someone. Had that sedan even dared to drive by, I would’ve shot the driver and anyone else in it at point blank range without a second thought.
But I know I fucked up. I fucked up in the worst way imaginable. I made her feel like it was her fault, and I could tell it broke her the moment I raised my voice.
I’ve never spoken to her that way.
And it feels like shit.
As upset as I am that she went directly against our plan and drove alone, I’m more upset I wasn’t there. This situation has dragged on for way too long.
I’m fucking furious. At whoever is behind this, at the situation, and at myself for not protecting her better.
Parking my cruiser, I slam the door hard enough to rattle the vehicle.
Heads turn as I stomp through the station, a few casting me sympathetic glances. By now, everyone is well aware of the situation. And even more aware that it’s not even close to being solved.
Morales lifts her chin at me as I walk in her direction. “Sheriff’s in his office. He’s waiting for you.”
Ryker’s been out for a while now. I was full expecting to handle this matter with Doyle and Vorheis.
When I push the door open, Ryker is leaning over his desk, papers scattered everywhere. He looks up as I enter, and his eyes narrow.
“Deputy Alvarez,” he says, too professional for my liking. “Close the door.”
I do as he says, but the tension in the room is suffocating. “Talk to me. Tell me what happened.”
“Ellie was followed tonight,” I begin, pacing the room as the words pour out of me. “She got these cryptic text messages from an unknown number, and then some jackass in a sedan tailed her halfway home, trying to scare her. She managed to lose him, but—” I stop, clenching my fists. “This is escalating. He went silent and now he’s back in full-force. Whoever this is, they’re not just sending threats anymore—they’re acting on them.”
Ryker listens, his face unreadable, but I can see the gears turning in his head. He’s always been good at staying calm under pressure.
“Tell me what happened afterward.”
