“I don’t care if you are Trenton’s best friend. If you try to touch her again, you won’t walk for a month. Do I make myself clear?”
“Okay, this is ridiculous. Chad, let him go. He’s just worried about Bree. He’s known her since she was a toddler,” Trenton said, tugging on Chad’s immovable shoulder.
“Can we please leave now,” Bree whispered, wanting them to leave before the situation got worse than it already was. Chad immediately responded to her and dropped Charlie as if he were nothing more than a sack of potatoes.
“I’m sorry,” he said, sincerely regretting the loss of his temper.
“Bree, I’m sorry, I’m just so worried about you,” Charlie called out as she headed to the front door.
She turned around and looked at the man, who was close to weeping. She felt bad for him. He must care about her a lot, and she had no clue who he was.
“I know, Charlie, but I need to get out of here,” she said, then walked from the room with Chad’s arm around her. Her father followed her out the door, but her brothers gave her space.
“Whether you get your memory back or not, my dear, you’ll soon discover our family is passionate. Emotions always run high, but if someone we love is in danger, they shoot through the roof. Just know we love you and you can count on us for anything,” George said, giving her a hug goodbye.
“I know, Dad. Being here isn’t doing me any good, though. I’d rather just get out of here, let everyone cool off. I promise I’ll call you later tonight, okay?” she said, hoping he’d understand.
“Okay. I’ll feel better if you do,” he answered.
“I will, I promise.”
George let them walk away and Bree felt instantly calmer the moment she sat down in Chad’s familiar truck. She didn’t want to go back to the ranch, but she may have hyperventilated if she’d stayed in that place for one moment longer.
“How about we go to a movie?” Chad asked. She could kiss him, she was so happy with his suggestion. A calm movie was just what the doctor ordered.
“That sounds wonderful, but only if it’s a romantic comedy,” Bree replied. Chad groaned but navigated the truck toward the Cinemark complex. They studied the selections, and Bree nearly jumped up and down when she spotted, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.
Chad groaned but he reluctantly purchased the tickets and took her to see the movie. He enjoyed watching it through her eyes. She cried, laughed, and snuggled in close to him. It was a nice break from the stress that seemed to always consume their lives.
“Thanks again, Chad. That was just what I needed,” Bree said as they walked to his truck.
“There’s nothing I won’t do for you,” he told her, realizing he meant the words. She could ask for the moon, and he’d do his best to get it for her. She looked in his eyes and something shifted.
Bree didn’t know which of them moved first, but suddenly she was melting in his arms as his mouth gently caressed her lips. The moment stretched, filling her with a sense of rightness and love. He could be passionate and aggressive, or gentle and loving. He seemed to know what she needed exactly when she needed it.
His cell phone rang and Chad seriously considered throwing it against the building across the street. He didn’t care who was calling, he wasn’t getting interrupted again.
“Woo hoo, ride that cowboy,” someone called out, and Chad groaned against her mouth. It looked like he couldn’t catch a break.
He reluctantly pulled away, nearly changing his mind when he saw Bree’s flushed cheeks and swollen lips. Her eyes slowly opened, full of confusion – probably wondering why he stopped. He was going to take her to a deserted island – no phones, no teenagers and no stalkers.
His phone went off again and he pulled the annoying device from his pocket. Bree just buried her head against his shoulder, seemingly as frustrated as him.
“What?” he snapped into his phone. After a pause, he spoke again.
“Is it necessary? She’s been through a lot the last couple days.”
“Fine,” he answered, then hung up.
“The police have someone in custody. They think we should come in,” Chad told her. Bree’s eyes widened, but he was impressed by how quickly she squared her shoulders and pulled herself together.
“Then we’d better get down there,” she said without hesitation.
“I can deal with it on my own,” Chad offered.
“No. I want answers. I want this to be over,” she answered and he heard the steel in her voice.
Chapter Fourteen
Bree’s stomach turned as they stepped inside the huge double doors into the sheriff’s station. She glanced at the reception area with people calling out orders, and chaos reigning. Somewhere among the throng of individuals was someone who could be responsible for disrupting her life, shooting her in the head, and endlessly pursuing her.
She squeezed Chad’s hand tightly in her own. She was unaware of Chad scoping the room, looking for possible exits, noticing anyone looking suspicious. She would feel more reassured if she could see how aware he was of everyone and everything around him.
This could be the end of the chase. She could possibly start focusing on her life and getting her problems worked out, without having to look over her shoulder every five minutes. If the person after her was caught, then she could focus on her child, and if she were relaxed, then maybe she’d get her memory back.
She smiled at the thought. She really wanted to know her past – her family.
Chad led her to the reception desk, where a harried looking woman in uniform barely glanced away from her computer screen as they approached.
“How can I help you?” she practically yelled, reaching into her messy hair and grabbing a pen that had seen better days.
“We’re here to see Captain Musket,” Chad replied. That seemed to snap her to attention.
“Name?”
“Chad Redington and Bree Anderson.”
She typed something on her computer keyboard, dropping the pen on her desk.
“ID, please,” she said while sticking her hand out, still without looking up. Chad reached into his wallet at the same time as Bree pulled her purse forward. They handed over their ID’s and waited while she typed something else.
“Head over to the door on the far right. Deputy Mitchel will let you through,” she said without as much as a smile. Bree felt like a criminal for all the warmth the woman showed. She’d hate to be on the wrong side of the law.
“This way, please,” Deputy Mitchel said when Bree took too long to move forward. She jumped at the sound, then followed Chad’s assured steps as he made his way toward the huge officer. He looked around the room, his hand resting on his gun, before opening the door for them. “Go down this hallway, turn right. It’s interrogation room number two. Wait there and the Captain will meet you.”
Chad pulled Bree along as they made their way down the plain, narrow hallway. They passed a door where she heard someone shouting and a chill went down her spine. The place gave her the creeps.
Bree had always been curious what a jail was like from the inside. How the cells looked, if the interrogation rooms really were the same as they appeared on her favorite crime dramas. Now that she was there, her curiosity took a nose dive. She couldn’t wait to get back out into the fresh air. She didn’t understand how prisoners could stand the confined space, day in and day out. It was too much.
They stood where the officer told them to and waited.
“Are you okay?” Chad asked, startling Bree out of her thoughts.
“I was thinking I wouldn’t want to be locked up in one of these places. Just standing here in the hallway is intimidating enough,” she answered with a nervous laugh.
“This is luxurious, believe it or not. I’ve been places overseas that still give me nightmares,” he said in a voice that made Bree realize she didn’t want to hear about those places. If he wanted to talk, she’d listen, but she knew it would rip her apart. She knew nothing of his life, nothing at all about the father of her unborn baby.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Chad, Bree,” Captain Musket said as he stepped up to them with his hand out. He was a pleasant looking man, appearing to be in his sixties; probably about five feet seven, with a round belly. Even with his weight, he still looked like he’d be able to take down a criminal if the need arose. By the twinkle in his eye, Bree had a feeling he’d love for someone to get out of hand. She liked him instantly.
“We understand. You’re a busy man,” Chad replied.
“Let’s step into the viewing room so Bree can look at who we have,” the Captain said while opening a door. Bree was the first to enter, coming face to face with a dreadful looking man. She didn’t have any clue who he was, but he was staring right in the window at her.
“Don’t worry, Bree. He can’t see you. He just knows we can see him and he’s trying to intimidate you. This room is soundproof so he doesn’t even know we’re in here for sure. He’s just assuming,” the Captain assured her.
The man seemed to be looking directly at her, freezing her with his cold stare. Then, she watched as he placed his hands on the window and leaned his head forward. He stuck his tongue out and swiped it up the glass. Bree jumped back, completely disgusted.
Chad bunched his fist, having to fight the urge to punch the bullet proof glass, rattling the window, surprising the creep.
“He’s a winner,” the Captain said with a disgusted sigh. “Is anything coming to you, Bree?”
“No, I have no clue who he is or what he could possibly want.”
“Do you want to stay in here and watch the interview?”
“No, he said he wanted to speak to me, so I’ll go in there. I refuse to let him intimidate me,” she said with resolve. The Captain patted her back, then opened the door and waited. Bree took a deep breath before she stepped out. She could do this. She wouldn’t let any person control her emotions, especially a disturbing, pathetic man.
“Hey, sexy lady. You can use my lap if you want a more comfortable seat,” the man said with a leer as Bree entered. She heard Chad curse behind her, and she put out her hand to touch him, letting him know she was fine.
“I’m fine in a chair. What do you want?”
“Is that any way to act when a man calls on you?”
“You can cut the act, or sit it off in a cell. Your choice,” Captain Musket said, bending down on the table and pressing his face up close to the man’s.
“You’re just no fun, are you?” he sneered, but he leaned back, intimidated by the Captain.
“Not with dirt bags like you.”
“What the hell do you want? Spit it out,” Chad said as he took a seat facing the man. Bree slowly sat next to Chad, her leg brushing against his, keeping her grounded, reassurance that he was right there.
“Look, I’ve been trying to get an honest job in this town for a year, but because of my past record, no one wants to give me a chance. So this guy approaches me and asks if I want to make some money. Of course I wanted to make money, not like anyone is handing out jobs,” the man started speaking.