Chapter 20
Liza
“I think we should go to the police now,” Toby said once we’d both calmed down. “While the bruise is fresh.”
“You’re right.” Butterflies danced in my stomach at the thought of going through all the stress of filing a police report. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll drive,” Toby said.
I hesitated and pursed my lips at him. “I think I’d better drive.”
He stopped in the act of opening his office door. “Why?”
“Because if your emotions go nuts again, you maybe shouldn’t be driving.”
With a big laugh, Toby grabbed my hand and tugged me into the hall. “You’re smart. Okay, you drive.”
My stomach churned all the way to the police station, but my resolve never wavered. We were doing the right thing.
The man at the reception desk took my information and quickly showed us to a room where a female officer came in and took my statement. I told the story as calmly as I could, trying to keep to the facts and not appear emotional.
Officer Hernandez took a bunch of pictures of my arm, then took down the information of the only witness, but I had a bad feeling Shelby would lie for Dax. I told the officer my suspicions, but she didn’t react.
Toby sat beside me the whole time, holding my hand and being generally supportive. Even when it was over, I was on edge and nauseated. If the cops didn’t do something about Dax, Toby would. That thought terrified me. I didn’t want to think him capable of murder, but then, he was a dragon.
And he’d protect me at all costs. He’d told me it was in his nature to protect his mate.
That, at least, gave me the warm fuzzies, that he’d called me his mate.
A few minutes later, Officer Hernandez returned and sighed. “The witness refuses to come in and give a statement.”
My heart sank. The officer sat across from me with sympathy splashed across her face. “There isn’t much we can do but file the report and have a talk with Dax. But I suggest you stay with friends at least for a few days and try not to be alone.”
Toby’s knuckles were all white from clutching the edge of the table. “She’ll stay with me.”
“We can increase patrol around your home,” she said. “But you said his father owns the apartment building, so that might make it more difficult.”
I nodded and sighed. “And Toby’s apartment is in the same building.”
She showed us out and apologized for her hands being tied. I wasn’t sure Toby was going to make it to the car without turning into a big flame-throwing lizard.
We headed toward the car, but Toby growled and stiffened. His head whipped around. I followed his gaze to see Dax leaning against the front of his car.
“Shelby must’ve told him about me being here,” I whispered, my grip on Toby’s hand tightening. He stopped and put himself in front of me.
Toby pulled his phone out of his pocket as I peeked around him. I was close enough to hear Anthony on the other end of the line. Toby said something about this not being his territory and not wanting to stir up a bunch of trouble. “How should I proceed?” he concluded.
Toby listened for a while, but Anthony spoke too fast for me to hear. Then, Toby hung up.
“When do you want to settle this?” he called across the lot. “This ends today.”
Dax smirked. “Meet me behind your apartment building. There are too many eyes here.”
Toby turned to me and met my gaze. “Come on. I’m dropping you off at Porter’s place. You’ll be safe there with your friends.”
Dax didn’t move, but I felt his gaze on us all the way to Toby’s car. As soon as the door shut behind us, he breathed out very slowly.
“What are you going to do?” I asked in a small voice, trying to control my shaking hands.
“Do you trust me?” he asked as he backed out of the parking space.
I thought about it before answering. “I do.”
“I promise you; everything is going to be okay.” He took my hand, and though we didn’t speak all the way to Porter’s place, just touching him reassured me.
I trusted him, and he wouldn’t do anything he shouldn’t.
When we pulled in front of Porter and Kaylee’s big white house, my friends were waiting for me, sitting on the porch.
Toby cupped my face and kissed me softly. “I’ll be back soon.”
He didn’t get out, and as soon as I shut the door behind me, he took off, hurrying out of their half-moon driveway a little too fast. My heart went with him.
“Come on,” Bee said. She took my hand and tugged me toward the porch. “Let’s go inside.”
“Everything will be okay,” Briana said. “I think this is some sort of rite of passage when a dragon finds his true mate.”
Kaylee nodded. “It’s like something is in the water both for them to find a human mate and for us to have stalkers or crazy exes.”
“The guys will take care of Dax.” Bee took my hand. “And we’ve got a big glass of wine for you while you wait.”
“Okay.” I sat on Kaylee’s couch with my hands still shaking. Not because I worried Dax would hurt Toby, but I didn’t want him in any trouble. We’d just gotten a chance to get started.
“Hang on,” I whispered. “You said true mate.”
Briana’s grin froze on her face. “Did I? I’m sure I misspoke. We’re all our mates’ true match, so it just seemed natural.”
“Wait though,” Kaylee said brightly. “Chosen mates are just as good, too.” She grinned. “I’m Porter’s chosen mate.”
They started telling me all about their stalkers. Ex-boyfriends, internet stalkers, they’d dealt with it all, and nobody had gone to jail. Well, none of their guys. Just the crazies.
Bee took my hand. “Come on, don’t worry so much. It’s going to work out. And now we can freely talk about our dragon boyfriends!”
Her words made me laugh, but the uneasiness in my chest wouldn’t let up.
If only I could believe she was right.