“It was when I told him about the way he spoke about Poppy.”
“What the fuck did he say?” My lungs were working overtime trying to damp down the anger bubbling under the surface. “Tell me.”
“Basically, that I thought I was someone because I was with you and then he asked me if I really thought it was going to work long term.” Her eyes flitted from my face to the windshield.
“The little fucker.” My jaw felt tight to the point that it hurt. How dare he tell my girl how our relationship would end up! How dare he even question her when she was calling him out for being a dick! “I’m going to fire his ass.”
“No. Wilder, no. You’re not doing that. You can’t fire him for that. He’ll take you to a tribunal.”
“Like he’d know how to go about that.”
She raised an eyebrow. “He worked in the city, in finance, of course he’d know.”
“I’m so damn angry.” I took a deep breath, calming myself because there was no way that fucker was spoiling my time with her. “Let’s forget about it for tonight and just go back to having a good time. Okay?”
“Please.”
Her voice broke and I knew that the conversation about Glenn wasn’t over, but I had to bide my time but tonight wasn’t going to be it.
I leaned in and kissed her softly. “Okay, let’s go.”
When we reached the cabin door and Tally opened it, I drew in a long breath. “I thought you’d started to lock this thing.”
Rolling her eyes she finished it off with a grin. “I forgot. I’m sorry boss.”
“You will be.” I smacked her ass, hoping to bring back some to light to the evening. “Now get inside so I can show you exactly what I think aboutthat dick weed’s comments.”
Giggling, Tally practically ran inside, throwing her purse to one side and shrugging off her coat, letting it drop to the floor. God, she was light and quick when she was happy. I’d been picturing that smile on the drive back, counting the seconds until I could touch her.
I reached out for her, determined to kiss her to distraction, when she suddenly pulled to a stop and I barreled into her. “Brownie?”
“My underwear.” Her words were said on a fearful gasp as she spun around to face me. “Someone’s been in here.”
The sound of her voice knocked the air out of my chest. It wasn’t just fear. It was the kind of terror that makes your blood turn cold. Every muscle in my body went tight.
Cold fear gripped my throat as, pulling her behind me, I saw what she’d seen. Her underwear drawer was pulled open and everything was spilling out of it. Panties and bras were scattered on the floor and when I looked closer I could see they were either torn or completely shredded. They looked wet and I didn’t even want to consider what it might be. My stomach rolled. Rage and nausea wrestled for space. Someone had been here. Someone had touched what was hers.
“Grab some stuff, Brownie. We’re staying at the main house.”
“Is it okay to touch stuff?”
“I think it’ll be fine, unless you think it’s already been touched.” I held her face between my hands, making her look at me instead of the shit show behind her. Her skin felt cold under my palms. She was shaking and I wanted to scoop her up and take her away from all of it. “Lily and Cassidy will have underwear so just grab some clothes and any toiletries you need.”
Nodding silently, her bottom lip trembled, and I thought she was going to crack. I could practically smell the fear coming off her. I could see it in the watery pools of her eyes. I’d never seen her like this. Fierce Tally, wild Tally, undone by someone’s sick little game. My jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
While she grabbed a bag and filled it with what she needed I called Nash.
“Hey, don’t tell me the truck broke down and you need me to pick you up.” His laugh was deep, clearly remembering a time when I was seventeen and that was exactly what happened.
“Nope, we just got back, and Tally’s cabin has been…” I blew out a breath. “I can’t say it was broken into because she didn’t lock it.”
“What’s happened?”
I could hear him moving around and the thump of what could have been his boots on the floor.
“Someone trashed her underwear.”
“Fuck. Get out of there, lock the cabin and come home. Now. I’ll call Sheriff Jackson.” He cursed under his breath. “Is Tally okay?”
