“File all the complaints you want,” I shut the door and turn back to Alice, who’s followed us outside. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nods, but she’s still shaking. “I can’t believe he was in my house. I locked the door when I got home, I know I did.”
“How did he get in?”
“He knocked, and when I opened the door with the chain still on, he forced his way through.” She looks at her front door. “He broke the chain right off the frame. The door too.”
I look at the damaged door and feel my anger spike again. This wasn’t just harassment or even simple assault. Lance broke into her home, destroyed her property, and physically attacked her. In my town. In my jurisdiction.
“I need to take him in and process him,” I tell Alice. “But you probably shouldn’t be alone tonight. Do you have somewhere safe to stay?”
Protocol says she should stay with friends or family.
“Yeah, I’ll call Madison.”
She's pale, still shaking. Her wrist is already swelling. But there's something else in her expression now—not just fear. Relief, maybe. Or the beginning of it.
As I get in my patrol car, Lance is still talking from the back seat. His voice grates against my last nerve.
“You have no idea who you’re messing with, Edwards. My family owns half this county. Real estate, businesses, politicians. You’re just some small-town cop.”
I catch his eyes in the rearview mirror. “And you're just another abuser who thinks he's above the law. We'll see what the judge thinks.”
The look he gives me is pure hatred, but there’s something else there too. A promise that this is far from over. He’s not the type to give up just because he’s been arrested.
Let him try. I'll be ready for whatever comes next.
By the time we get Lance processed and into a cell, word is already spreading through town. Small towns are like that—someone saw my patrol car at Alice's house, and now everyone's talking. The arrest is public record. If Lance has other victims out there, they'll hear about this.
Alice isn't just someone I'm interested in anymore. After what I witnessed today, after seeing the terror in her eyes and the bruises forming on her wrist—after hearing her scream—this isn't just personal anymore.This is everything.
Lance Carlston just made the biggest mistake of his life.
Chapter 23
Alice
Iwakeupthenextmorning and reach for my phone then stop. For the first time in over a year, I don't need to check for threatening texts. Lance is in jail. He can't hurt me anymore.
My shoulders drop. I didn't even realize I'd been holding them so tight.
I stayed at Madison’s last night after Sawyer arrested Lance. She fussed over me, made me tea, and let me talk through everything that happened. But mostly, I just felt this incredible lightness, like a weight I’d been carrying for months had finally been lifted.
Lance is gone. Really, truly gone.
My phone buzzes with a text from Sawyer.
Sawyer: How are you feeling this morning?
Me: A lot better actually, thanks to you.
Sawyer: Good. I can swing by around noon to look at your door if you want.
Me: Would you really? I would really appreciate that.
Madison drives me back to my house around eleven. The morning sun is too bright, too cheerful for what I'm about to face. The broken door chain is still hanging there, a reminder of yesterday’s nightmare. But instead of making me feel scared, it just makes me angry. How dare Lance break into my home and put his hands on me.
“You sure you don’t want me to stay?” Madison asks as we pull into the driveway.
