50. Little miss powertrip
Little miss powertrip
Elena
That was not what I was expecting.
I just need a minute.
I’m not even angry about my father. He was an awful, awful man. If anything, it gives me a little bit of peace knowing that I’ll never accidently run into him.
I wish Wade had told me sooner. Knowing he was protecting me, and wasn’t afraid to do everything in his power to do it, makes me love him even more.
It’s just so out of left field, I need a moment to wrap my head around it.
The knock at the front door is even more unexpected.
Shit, it might be Abe. I make sure my robe is double knotted before I reach for the handle.
Just in case.
But when I crack it open, I can feel the frown sweep my face.“Paige. What the fuck do you want?” I don’t know the other officer with her.
I also don’t care at this hour.
“Turn around and put your hands behind your back. You’re under arrest for violating the terms of your parole by leaving the grounds without permission.” Her gleeful smile makes me want to punch her in the face.
“You have got to be kidding. I get this off in four days .” I hold up my leg, pointing towards the ankle monitor.
“Turn around before I make you.” Her voice drops to a sinister seethe.
Great. Little miss powertrip.
“Fine. Let me just get Wade—”
Before I can turn, she grabs my arm and jerks me out the door.
She slams it shut with her foot, then pins me against the wall. “Go ahead and resist,” she hisses in my ear.
When the cold steel circles my wrists, I know I’m screwed.
“I’ve been watching you.” Her lips press the shell of my ear as her hands run roughly up and down the length of my body. “I knew you’d fuck up. He’s blind about you, ya know? But I see the truth.”
I hate her so fucking much.
When we pull into the station parking lot, my stomach sinks.
What if I really do have to go to jail for this? It started off feeling like a stunt that Paige was pulling, but now, as my fingerprints get taken, it’s feeling all too real.
I’d do anything to wipe that gloat off her face.
“Don’t I get my phone call?” I ask as she’s ushering me into the same damn cell I was in months ago.
“Maybe in the morning.” She tosses me a blanket and a set of prison garb clothes, then shuts the gate.
Well today just went from bad to worse.
And the cot is still uncomfortably hard.
Somehow I manage to find a position that doesn’t cut off circulation to a limb.
I’m just about asleep when I hear it.
The deep rumble of Wade’s voice carrying through the entire building.
That makes me sit up straight.
Red faced and only wearing a pair of sweats, he charges around the corner, then freezes.
“Elena. Are you okay?”
I rush to the bars reaching for him. “I am. I promise I’m not mad at you.”
When he steps closer, his eyes close as my palms cup his cheeks.
“I love you, daddy. I’m sorry I walked away.” I need him to know I don’t care about my father, only him.
His hands pull me against the steel between us. “I’m getting you out of here. Pete’s on his way down.” His jaw tics as violence still lives in his eyes.
The keys jangle in his grip when he tries to hurry his way through opening the door.
It’s barely wide enough to let his broad shoulders through before he’s crushing me to his chest.
After a few moments, he lets out a low chuckle. “I thought you were pissed enough to leave and used a real set of cuffs on purpose instead of the toy pair.”
“No, the key was in the drawer. Those plastic ones broke that night at the bar.” I tilt my head to look up at him. “I was hoping you’d use them on me so I couldn’t get away.” I give him my best smile, then feel it slip.
“What about Paige? She’s not gonna stop.” My exhale makes a wave of goosebumps erupt over his skin.
“She’s fired. She knows there’s allowances for medical emergencies. I submitted that the moment I read your text earlier tonight.” His growl vibrates against my ear. “That’s why Pete’s coming down to fill out the paperwork tonight to get that damn thing off your ankle.”
“You called in a favor for me at midnight?” I was wrong.
I am lucky.
“Yep.” He leads me down the hall to his office. “I’d use them all up for you.”
Sitting me opposite him, he pulls out a small toolkit from his desk and takes off my tracker.
My leg feels suddenly lighter.
“Maybe I should leave it on. It’s how I knew where you were.” His lopsided grin turns lecherous as his hands move up my thigh. “I told you I’d always find you. Now let’s get you home and pick up where we left off.”
“I love that idea.” I melt against him when he helps me stand.
Billy stands from behind the main counter when he sees us. “The D.A. already came and left. Said something about you working holidays for free from now on.” His eyes bounce between Wade and I nervously.
“Worth it,” Wade grunts, then pushes us out into the cold night.
Abe rises from the couch quickly when Wade opens the door for me.
“Hey, you made it back!” he exclaims in a hushed voice.
“I did. Fuck Paige,” I mutter, shaking my head.
He laughs softly. “It may have been a while since my wife died, but I’d happily remain celibate then go there.” He pats Wade on the shoulder before stepping outside. “You all have a good night.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Wade gives him a small wave.
“That’s what grandpas are for.” Abe’s smile flashes in the dark as he disappears.
I can feel the color fade out of my cheeks. “Oh my god, did your dad have to get you free?” I remember leaving him naked and cuffed to the bed before Paige showed up.
He shakes his head, his dark coppery hair curly against his forehead. “The only number my damn phone would call by voice was Blue.” His eyes widen with a grin. “He’s too busy having a baby. April’s in labor.”
“That’s so exciting! Did she have a boy or a girl?” I’ve managed to meet her a few times. Each visit we get to be better friends.
Now that I can drive again, I hope I can see her more often.
“Dunno.” He shrugs. “I didn’t want to chat.”
Because he was tied up.
“I’m sorry.” I shed the stupid prison scrubs and throw them into the corner. “I shouldn’t have left you like that. I was just kinda, in shock I guess.”
That’s when I notice how he got out.
The top rail of the bed is splintered at one end, ripped completely out of the post.
His hands circle my waist. “Nothing will stop me from finding you, baby girl.” He sits on the edge of the mattress, pulling me onto his lap.
“I should have told you before about your dad. It’s not exactly an easy thing to bring up in conversation.
” Heat from his long exhale tickles over my bare skin.
“I’m glad it was you.” My head rests on his chest. “It makes me love you more knowing you’d do anything to protect the people you care about.”
“It’s true.” He folds me against him, then pulls the blanket open far enough that we can both lie back.
Tenderly, his fingertips feather over my body, from my shoulder down to my ankle.
“Hmm,” he rumbles. “Now that you’re free to roam, did you still want to marry me even knowing what I did?”
“More than ever.” My thumb works a slow circle over his Adam’s apple that bobs as he swallows.
“When?” His voice is hoarse, full of unspoken emotion.
“I don’t know. Sometime before the baby is born?” I freeze to watch his reaction.
He draws a sharp inhale, then jerks up onto his elbow. “What? Seriously?”
Biting my lip, I nod, unable to talk around the new lump in my throat.
“That’s the secret that Dixon told you, isn’t it?” He falls backwards, pressing his palm to his forehead. “I’m such a fucking idiot.”
“I hope a happy one?” I squint at him.
“Little girl, you’ve made me the happiest on earth,” he growls, then turns over to crash his lips against mine.