50. Dominic
CHAPTER 50
Dominic
ONE MISSTEP
PRESENT
T he drive to the station is a blur. Visions of worst case scenarios rotate through my mind. What if she had gotten in a car accident? Got ran off the road? Got hurt? Or worse?
Dropping Ellie off at her parents’ house was the right thing to do—keeping her somewhere safe where I know she’s not alone—but the look on her face when I left was enough to make my chest feel like it was caving in.
I lost my temper.
I couldn’t see. I couldn’t think. One look at her, and I was ready to kill someone. Had that sedan even dared to drive by, I would’ve shot the driver and anyone else in it at point blank range without a second thought.
But I know I fucked up. I fucked up in the worst way imaginable. I made her feel like it was her fault, and I could tell it broke her the moment I raised my voice.
I’ve never spoken to her that way.
And it feels like shit .
As upset as I am that she went directly against our plan and drove alone, I’m more upset I wasn’t there. This situation has dragged on for way too long.
I’m fucking furious. At whoever is behind this, at the situation, and at myself for not protecting her better.
Parking my cruiser, I slam the door hard enough to rattle the vehicle.
Heads turn as I stomp through the station, a few casting me sympathetic glances. By now, everyone is well aware of the situation. And even more aware that it’s not even close to being solved.
Morales lifts her chin at me as I walk in her direction. “Sheriff’s in his office. He’s waiting for you.”
Ryker’s been out for a while now. I was full expecting to handle this matter with Doyle and Vorheis.
When I push the door open, Ryker is leaning over his desk, papers scattered everywhere. He looks up as I enter, and his eyes narrow.
“Deputy Alvarez,” he says, too professional for my liking. “Close the door.”
I do as he says, but the tension in the room is suffocating. “Talk to me. Tell me what happened.”
“Ellie was followed tonight,” I begin, pacing the room as the words pour out of me. “She got these cryptic text messages from an unknown number, and then some jackass in a sedan tailed her halfway home, trying to scare her. She managed to lose him, but—” I stop, clenching my fists. “This is escalating. He went silent and now he’s back in full-force. Whoever this is, they’re not just sending threats anymore—they’re acting on them.”
Ryker listens, his face unreadable, but I can see the gears turning in his head. He’s always been good at staying calm under pressure.
“Tell me what happened afterward. ”
“Kincaid interviewed Ellie and then sent her phone to get analyzed. That’s it, that’s all we got.”
Ryker sighs. “What do you need from me?”
I place my hands on my waist, trying to get my breathing to slow. “I want access to every traffic camera, every doorbell camera, anything that could get us a visual on a plate.”
Ryker nods. “Done.” He clasps his hands over the desk. “But it’s all going to Kincaid. You’re too close to this, I can’t have your emotions messing with the investigation. This isn’t coming from me, it’s a direct order from Sergeant Vorheis.”
“You’ve got to?—”
Ryker raises his hand. “Look, I get it. If it were Claire, I’d be losing my shit. But you’ve got to let the investigation roll out properly. One misstep, and you could lose the chance to put whoever is doing this behind bars.”
I nod, balling up my fists to keep my frustration under control. “Understood,” I grit.
“Good,” Ryker says, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Now go home and get some rest. You’re no good to anyone running on fumes.”
Rest is the last thing on my mind, but I nod and head for the door.