“Fuckin’ pigs,” Derek muttered. “I don’t need this.” He turned to me and gave me a wink. “I’ll be seeing you, Angel.”

The use of the nickname I used to love had my stomach roiling as he disappeared. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Walker took my arm. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

But it didn’t matter where we went because Derek knew where I was now. He knew that I was happy. Without him. And he wouldn’t stand for that.

25

MASON

I jogged up the front steps to the police department, pulling open the door. It slammed against the wall, making the officer behind the counter jump. He eyed me warily. “Can I help you?”

“Walker’s office?”

“Name?” he asked.

“Mason Decker. He called me.”

The young officer checked his notepad. I was about ready to jump behind the desk and throttle him, he was moving so slow.

“Can I see some identification please?”

“For fuck’s sake.” I pulled out my wallet and slid out my driver’s license. “Here.” I slapped it down on the counter.

The officer took his time examining it before handing it back to me. “Down the hall, third door on the left.”

I grabbed my I.D. and hurried down the hall. I felt as if I hadn’t taken a full breath since Walker’s call twenty minutes ago. I would’ve been here in ten, but I had to wait for Kennedy and Cain to get to the house to watch Justin and Lyla. I counted the doors as I walked, not bothering to knock on the one that read Chief Cole. I pushed it open.

“Mason,” Walker greeted.

I didn’t bother looking at him. I moved straight to Anna, framing her face in my hands. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. He just surprised me, is all.”

But I felt the slight tremor in her hands as they wrapped around my wrists. It was more than that, and that knowledge had my gut tightening. I pressed a kiss to Anna’s head and breathed in the scent that was only hers, a mixture of her shampoo and whatever flowed from her skin.

When I’d done my best to assure myself as much, I straightened, easing into the seat next to her and taking her hand in mine. I wove our fingers together, needing that point of contact. I would’ve pulled her into my lap if I could’ve. “Tell me what the hell is going on.”

Walker leaned back in his chair, his gaze settling on our interlocked hands. “Derek Raymond is apparently in town to testify.”

I glanced at Anna. “Keisha didn’t say anything about that.”

“She didn’t know. Paisley hasn’t listed him as a witness yet.”

“What did he say to you?”

Anna’s gaze shifted away. “Just talked about some stuff from the past.”