The next day, I tell Bruce and Rodney I’m running out to see if I can try another setup at one of his campaign stops. Hutchison has been traveling throughout Virginia a lot lately, so that works out conveniently for me. Since he’s close, I don’t have to worry about bringing the two of them with me across country.

After parking the car about a mile from where Hutchison will be, I walk a couple blocks in the other direction to this little diner. I spot who I’m looking for, walk over to a table and have a seat.

“Hey, sir.”

Turner looks up from his menu. “Matthews,” he responds in greeting. “Your email from last night seemed urgent.”

“Fuck yeah, it’s urgent,” I say in a restrained voice so I don’t draw attention to us. “What the hell is taking so long with this case?”

He lets out a tired sigh, as if the redundant question is annoying him. It’s taking everything in me not to wring his damn neck. It’s not his ass on the line. “We’re working as fast as we can.”

“It’s not fast enough. I only have thirteen days before Cal’s going to cash in on his promise to hurt Elizabeth. Then what?”

He stares at me for a minute and I can see the wheels spinning in his head trying to formulate a plan. “Prepare to go for Plan B.”

I lean forward with my arms on the table and look around before focusing my attention back on Turner. “That’s the best you can give me right now? Go to Plan B?” I ask in disbelief, my voice rising in volume.

“What more do you want from me? I don’t have a definite answer right now. You know he’s a high-profile target and will be coming at us with the best attorney money can buy. We have to execute everything flawlessly or he walks.”

My hand rakes over my face roughly. “Fine, but she’s coming with me.”

“Like hell she is.”

“Try to stop me on this, sir. It’s happening whether you like it or not.”

“You are a major pain in my ass,” he grumbles. I’ll take that as an affirmative.

“Here’s the timeline. I’ll wait it out for another ten days. If there are no arrests made, then I’m going for it.”

“Sounds good. I’ll have to give you the coordinates to the location, but I don’t want to send it through email. Once shit hits the fan they’ll be combing through your stuff, so call me when you’re ready and I’ll give you the details, okay?”

“Works for me.”

Since I’m stuck in this disgusting house most of the time, I feel pretty useless. I can’t help in the investigation much and it’s driving me insane. I might be a control freak, but I just don’t trust anyone else to get the job done, and the lack of urgency is starting to worry me.

I’m dicking around on the computer with Rodney glancing over at my screen every so often when an email comes through.

Hey Alex,

I haven’t talked to you in forever and thought I’d drop you a line. All is well here, just busy remodeling a bit and pinning things to the walls. It’s becoming quite frustrating doing it on my own. Too bad you’re not here to help me with that.

That little minx. My dick stirs remembering pinning her against the wall yesterday.

I know you’re always busy with work, but I miss you. You should stop by when you get a free minute.

Love you,

Angela

I’m surprised she knew my sister’s name. I had only mentioned it once, but the fact she remembered that small detail does weird things to me. Outside of my family, I’ve never had a woman care about me the way she seems to. It’s also a relief. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one hanging on to every word that was ever said.

TWO DAYS LATER and I’m bouncing off the damn walls. I’m fucking useless, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for something to come through. I can’t take it anymore. I need to get out of this shack before I start breaking shit.

“I’m going out to get some supplies,” I mumble before grabbing the keys and walking to the door.

“How long will you be gone?” Bruce asks.

“As long as it takes me to get everything.” I don’t wait for a response. I walk out the door and slam it shut behind me. The stress of everything has me wound up, agitated, and beyond impatient.

When I get to Elizabeth’s, I talk to Tyler and have him shut off the surveillance after his lecture about how I’m compromising the mission and all that bullshit.

Fuck him.

Right before I shut the door, he says, “I should warn you—”

“I don’t want to hear it anymore,” I say, cutting him off. I close the door, ending all discussions. No one is going to keep me away from her.

Trying my best to go unnoticed, I sneak around to the back of the house again. Looking around, I knock on the door and wait for Elizabeth to answer.

“Alex? What are you doing here?” she asks through the door, not opening it.

“What’s wrong? Let me in.”

“It’s really not a good time. Can you come back in a few days?” Her voice is shaky, like she’s on the verge of crying. Something’s wrong and I’m not leaving until I know what the hell it is.

“Open the damn door, Elizabeth,” I say sternly.

“Please, Alex, just go,” she says through a strangled voice.

“Not until I see that you’re okay. I’ll stand out here all damn day and night if I have to.” No, I won’t. I’ll break down this fucking door if she doesn’t let me in soon.

The handle rattles a little and the door inches open. “I’ll let you in if you promise one thing.”

“Anything.” Now I’m really worried and will agree to just about anything to get inside.

“Don’t freak out.” The door swings the rest of the way open and the sight in front of me steals all the oxygen from my lungs. I’m momentarily frozen, taking in what I see. My state of shock quickly fades as pure, raw anger takes over, threatening to engulf everything.

“What the fuck happened to your face?” The veins in my neck and forehead bulge as I try my best not to yell. I walk into the house and close the door behind me. Cupping my hands around her cheeks, I angle her head up to get a better look at the black and purple bruise circling her right eye that fades to green and yellow down her cheekbone. My chest rises and falls at a rapid rate as rage festers inside of me.

Her eyes cast down at the floor, like she’s ashamed to look at me. “Don’t look away from me,” I say in a calmer voice. She looks back up and just about breaks me. Tears fill her eyes as her lip trembles, trying to hold in her sobs. I wrap her in my arms and hold her tight. She winces in pain when I squeeze her, causing me to immediately release some of the pressure. “Tell me, sweetheart, what happened?”

“Cal.”

That motherfucker. There are no words to describe what I’m feeling. The amount of hate and disgust I have inside of me can’t be summed up by a group of letters. Without a word, I turn toward the door and am about to leave when her hand on my arm stops me.

“Please, don’t go. You promised me.” Fuck me and my promises. I look up at the ceiling weighing my options. I’m stuck between a rock and hard spot, and know there is no good solution for this.

I turn back around to face her. “Elizabeth, you’re asking me to do something I don’t think I’m capable of. You’re asking me not to be a man, not to protect what’s mine.” Doesn’t she see that I need to do this? I have to go after him and make him pay.

She nods. “I know. It’s why I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“Why didn’t you call Gump in your email?” She should have told me something was wrong.