Page 13 of Blue Norther
With the last of the groceries put away, I made my way to the kitchen table where I’d left my laptop sitting open. God, I was exhausted. But Ryan was meant to email me about the contract extension I was on and a potential new project. There was no way my mind would let me rest until I checked to see if that had come in.
There was one unread email in my inbox, but it wasn’t from my business manager. My throat ached and I tried to swallow past the pain as I clicked into the message.
Callie,
I know you think you can run and I won’t be able to find you. That’s why you haven’t been back to your apartment in days. That’s why you left behind your cell phone on the table in the kitchen, isn’t it? You think this will stop me? You think you’ll just go away, and I’ll stop trying to make you see that it’s always been you and me? I’d cover the whole world to find you again. For just one more chance at making you mine. Because you are mine. And one day, you’ll see that. I’ll make you see that.
Stay safe. I’m coming for you, baby girl.
I slammed my laptop shut. The nausea crashed into me so hard I nearly fell out of my chair as I tried to scramble to the sink. The baby rolled as I dry heaved over and over. Thankfully, nothing came up.
Why had I thought it would stop just because I’d left?
I would close down that email account. Ryan could handle all my correspondence from now on, or he would just hire someone else to. My only priority was getting that sick person out of my life.
And he could be anyone. He could be anywhere.
He was in my apartment.
Grabbing a glass from the cupboard above the sink, I filled it with tap water, watching the bubbles swirl as it filled higher and higher. It’s true, I left my last cell phone in my apartment on the table before I left, because I thought that would be safe. If he’d been tracking me through it, watching my movements somehow, I didn’t want to lead him straight here to Texas.
No. The only people who knew I was here would never hurt me. I got away. What someone sent to me on the internet couldn’t hurt me. He couldn’t hurt me.I’d gotten away.
Colt
Violet’s pregnant.
“You listening to me, Ford?”
Violet was back in Silver Springs. I saw her with my own eyes three days ago.
Deputy Nate Jones crossed his arms as he leaned on the door frame to Hank’s office. Which, of course, was officially mine for the next few weeks.
“Yeah, you want to swap out your three night shifts next week with Hamilton, who has some family event he wants to be on days for?”
Violet’s pregnant. She was just standing there, so goddamn beautiful. Pregnant.
“Right. You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” I pulled my readers down, tossing them on the pile of paperwork in front of me. “Consider the scheduling matter handled. Now leave me alone.”
Jonesy left, muttering something under his breath that I absolutely didn’t have time to worry about.Jesus.These reports were making my eyes bleed. I knew it was a fucking painful, but necessary, part of my job to fill them out, but I didn’t know how Hank sat here, hour after hour, running through all of them. Agreat reminder why I wanted this position to only betemporary.I had enough bureaucracy to deal with in my chief deputy position.
I shook my head, the burning in my eyes returning as I focused on the computer screen in front of me.
“Hey, apple-anche. What’s going on? Everything alright?”My ears picked up on the greeting that came from the front desk. God, that was awfully familiar for greeting someone at the station. Jonesy needed to watch himself. Most days, one of us had to slap him on the back of the head for being such an outrageous flirt.
“Nate! I guess you were telling the truth about working here. If it’s not too much trouble, I was hoping to speak with a deputy today.”
The second her voice hit my ears, I was out of my—er, Hank’s—chair. I forced myself to slow down, taking a breath as I crossed my arms and leaned against the door frame.
“Yeah, of course, Violet. I can direct you to someone back in our offices, or I could even help you if you wanted to explain why you’re here and what you need help with?”
I watched as Vi shifted the large legal sized envelope in her arms, holding whatever was inside closer to her chest. Her cheeks turned a rosy red as she shook her head. Stubborn, like always.
“Jones.” My voice boomed across the office as I pushed off the wall, walking towards the locked door. “Buzz her in.”
He spun around to look at me, but I just nodded. “Uh, sure thing, Ford.”
