Chapter 17

I couldn’t rememberthe last time I’d slept in.

After Atticus had left, I’d snuggled into the sheets smelling like sex, sandalwood, and something uniquely him, and I’d fallen asleep happy. I woke up at about nine o’clock and thought about what I could do to pass the time. I wanted to spoil Atticus, so I got ready to do some baking. I missed being able to create something sweet and delicious.

I wandered into the kitchen, then checked through the cupboards to see what he had so I could bake. All the classic ingredients were available, so I decided to make my favorite chocolate chip cookies. I enjoyed baking because I found it soothing. Making these cookies was second nature. Once I found all the right equipment, I turned on some music and relaxed into the familiar process.

I’d just set the first tray in the oven when the front door banged open, making me jump. “Someone’s in a hurry,” I called out. “I decided to bake.” I turned to find Atticus, Seb, and a strange man in the living room. They were all staring at me. Atticus looked terrified. Seb was completely serious without his usual smile. “I hope you like....”

Well, this wasn’t good.

“What’s going on?” I asked, cautiously taking a shuffling step toward Atticus but scared to move fully into the room. I flicked my gaze to the man with them. He looked like he could be old enough to be their dad. He had closely cropped brown hair flecked with gray and a few extra age lines on his face, especially around his eyes. He was tall and solidly built, even if he was a little soft around the middle. Authority radiated from him as he stood soldier straight. Unease settled over me.

“Atticus?” My voice shook. “What’s going on?”

“Bodhi.” He strode over to me and wrapped me in a tight hug, nearly crushing me. “This is Max.” He gestured at the older man and guided me toward the living room. “Now, please don’t freak out. Max here was our pa’s best friend and also happens to be the local sheriff.”

I froze in place, ice filling my veins. What the fuck was the sheriff doing here!?

“W-w-what?” I tried to get air into my lungs. “Why?” I glanced at Atticus imploringly.

Did Derek find me?

Did he twist things to force me to go back?

Is the sheriff here to take me away?

It was all too much.

“No, no! I can’t.” I backed out of Atticus’s arms and into the kitchen.

“Bodhi wait!”

“No, no, no, no.” I turned and moved as fast as I could to the back door that was off the kitchen.

“Let me explain!”

I rushed outside and onto the deck. I ran, very awkwardly, down the steps and around the side of the house.

How can this be happening?Nausea overwhelmed me.

“Bodhi, please stop!”

Bracing my good hand on the side of the house, I stumbled to a standstill, and I leaned over and lost the measly contents of my stomach. I jumped when a solid hand landed on my back but was too weak to turn as another wave of nausea took hold. I heaved but only bile came out.

“I’ve got you.” Atticus rubbed my back and moved my hair off my face. “Don’t worry. We’ll keep you safe. Max is family. He’ll believe you. It won’t be the same as last time, I promise.”

I was in shock. I was exhausted, weak, and trembling, and I didn’t know what to do. I turned into Atticus’s arms and held on to him like a lifeline. Trusting him, I let him slowly guide me back to the house and onto the deck. He let me sit on my favorite Adirondack chair.

“Seb, can you grab me some water and tell Max to give us a sec?” he called over my shoulder.

He knelt in front of me, looking up at me with worry and sadness in his eyes. He took hold of my hand. “Please, let me explain.”

Seb appeared at my side and handed Atticus the glass of water. “We’ll head out and grab some coffee. We’ll be back in about twenty. Think that’ll be okay?” He flicked his gaze to me and back to Atticus.

“I’ll let you know. Keep your cell phone on you. Thanks, bro.”

With a nod at us, Seb turned and left.

Atticus handed me the glass.

In a daze, I thanked him, my mind still reeling.

“Are you okay to head inside? We’ll be more comfortable and it’s cold out here.” Atticus spoke softly.

Nodding, I shivered as I stood, noting the cold for the first time. Atticus gestured for me to go first and followed me inside. I left my glass on the kitchen counter and went into the empty living room. Sitting on the sofa, I lifted my good leg to my chest and curled my arms around it.

Atticus came to sit next to me. He turned to face me and took a deep breath. “We have reason to believe Derek might have found you.”

“How?” I croaked, but I’d already figured out something awful had happened, and there weren’t many things it could be.

“I have no idea. I’m so sorry.” He rubbed at his brow and began shifting in his seat.

Bracing myself for the worst, I waved my good hand. “Please, just tell me. What makes you think he found me?”

Atticus told me everything. What Seb uncovered in the envelope, and why the sheriff was with them. He also told me what the sheriff needed from me and what we could do now that we had some evidence.

“Derek likes to hunt. The bullet is probably from his Remington Model 700,” I added offhand.

“We’ll need to let Max know. Is there anything else you can think of that we should tell Max? Do you have any evidence from before?” He took my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. “What do you think about getting your most recent hospital records? The doctor made note of your wrist and rib bruises.”

Thinking back, there was at least one hospital record from Iowa and my time with Derek we might be able to use. I didn’t have any photographic evidence because Derek had destroyed my phone and hadn’t allowed me to get another. I considered the recent emails. They implied his intention, but I didn’t know if they were really enough. I’d never been able to go to the police in the past. Derek was a sheriff’s deputy and beloved in our town and beyond. There didn’t seem to be any point. Maybe Atticus was right. Maybe this time would or could be different.

“There might be something on my phone and from back in Iowa.”

“Your phone? I didn’t think you had one.” Confusion crossed Atticus’s face.

“I don’t. It’s on the phone you gave me. I think I left it in the kitchen.” I gestured over my shoulder.

Atticus quickly got up and went into the kitchen. When he came back, he handed the phone to me, and I opened the email app and passed it to him to read.

“These were why I wasn’t feeling well yesterday.” Not daring to look at Atticus, I rubbed my thumb across the cast on my wrist. “I accidentally logged in to my old email. This is what came up. I had a panic attack when I read them and couldn’t breathe. Kay helped me through it.”

“Oh, Bodhi, I’m so sorry. I noticed Kay looked a little shaken when he came to get me.” Atticus glanced at me and his face had gone a little gray. “We need to let Max know about these, too. Have you opened any of them?”

“No, I just saw the subject lines and panicked.” I took a deep breath to stay in control. “What do I need to do?” I just wanted this to be over. I couldn’t keep living in fear. If Atticus believed Max could help, then maybe it was time to take a chance.

He checked his phone. “They should be back any minute, and then we can go over everything. Have you ever thought about filing a protective order?”

“No point. Derek’s a cop.”

“I think it’s something to consider this time. You moved states, and he followed. The bullet and the emails are very clearly aggressive. Could we ask Max what he thinks?” Atticus had taken my hand again and gently rubbed his thumb back and forth. It was soothing.

“Let’s see what he has to say.”

There was a knock at the front door.

We both jumped, on edge from the fear, stress, and implications of our conversation. Atticus got up and checked the peephole—something I’d never seen him do—before sighing in relief and opening the door to let Seb and Max in. Seb entered first and was carrying three to-go cups. He set them on the coffee table.

“Hey.” Seb greeted us as he sent me a reassuring smile. “I brought you some tea. Kay recommended the Mint Fusion. He said it’s good for stress.” He passed me the cup, and the strong peppermint smell made me smile. Of course, Kay was as caring as the rest of these guys.

“Thanks, Seb.”

“No worries.” He knelt next to me. “He also wanted to know how you were doing. I didn’t mention today, but he could tell something was up. He wants you to give him a call when you have a sec, if you’re up for it.” He handed me a napkin from Jolt with a number on it, and I guessed it was Kay’s. It was good to know he cared. He was a really nice guy, and after his help yesterday, I felt like we’d bonded over the shared experience. I made a mental note to give him a call later.

Seb stood and passed the other cup to Atticus, then picked up the last one for himself. “I just got you decaf, bro,” he said, nodding at Atticus.

Max had his own cup in his hand. He was standing off to the side, giving us space.

Atticus looked at me. “Are you okay to go through everything?”

I just nodded, knowing what I needed to do.

“Come on in, Max.” Atticus gestured for Max to take the recliner farthest from me, while Seb sat in the one next to me. Atticus was already back with me on the three-seater sofa, ready to support me through the questioning.

Max strode into the room, pulling out a small notepad and pen as he perched himself on the edge of the seat. I hadn’t had a chance to notice before I’d panicked that I’d seen him around town and at Kat and Yaya’s lunch. He was always laughing and off playing with the kids. Now that I was prepared, I could see his eyes were kind as he gave me a nod.

“I’m really sorry meeting me was so distressing, Bodhi. That would never have been my intent. I’ve wanted to meet you since Katerina has spoken so highly of Atty’s new man.” He sent me a little wink, which helped me relax as Atticus placed his arm around my shoulder, holding me close.

“I’ve known the Papadakises since before the boys were born. They’re practically family, just like everyone else in town. You included. I want to keep everyone safe. If someone is threatening you, a member of a sheriff’s department or not, I will do everything in my power to stop them. Please believe me, I trust Atticus and what he’s told me. I would like for you to tell me your story. When you’re ready.” He paused, his warm brown eyes assessing. “Is that okay, Bodhi?”

I studied him as he waited patiently for my response. There was just something about him that told me he was telling the truth. He was serious but kind. My fear of the sheriff’s department came from Derek and his friends, not really from older cops like Max. Besides, Atticus trusted him and that said a lot.

Taking a deep breath, I braced myself to tell my story again, when Seb caught my attention. “Sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to check and see if it was okay that I stay. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” He sent me an imploring look. I’d grown used to Seb. He sometimes made me anxious if he popped up out of nowhere, but most of the time his hulking form was more reassuring than not, something I was thankful for.

“Please stay, Seb. You don’t make me uncomfortable.”

He raised an eyebrow at me.

“Okay, not really. Let’s just say it’s not you. You just have a similar physique to Derek, and sometimes it catches me off guard, that’s all. I know you would never hurt anyone.” I focused on his deep emerald eyes and willed him to believe me. “I trust you, Seb.”

Shock registered on Seb’s face at my comment before emotions clouded his eyes and he glanced away. “I’m glad. Thanks, Bodhi, that means a lot.”

Sending Seb a reassuring smile, I turned back to Max. “Where do you want to start?” I had no idea what to do or how official this might be. I looked at Max to take the lead.

“Ideally, we’d start at the beginning, but first can you give me a description or photo of Derek so I know who to be on the lookout for?”

“I don’t have any photos. He destroyed my phone early in our relationship.” I dragged a hand down my face, feeling frustrated. “Wait! There should still be one on his department’s website from when he received a Governor’s Lifesaver Award. It was just before we met, and his office brags about it any chance they get. I can bring up the site and send it to you.” I went to grab my phone to do just that, but Max stopped me.

“No need, I can do it.” He waved me off. “What is his full name and department? And did you say he received the Governor’s Lifesaver Award?” He was making fastidious notes on the tiny pad he had.

“His full name is Derek Guthrie the third,” I said, rolling my eyes at the third. He would go on and on about being the third generation and the third lawman in his family. “He works out of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, and yes, the award was the Governor’s Lifesaver Award.” I waited to ensure he had everything down he needed before I continued.

“Okay, thanks.” Max glanced up with a more sympathetic look on his face.

I knew what was coming next. The dirty details, the truth about our relationship. I braced myself. I could do this.

“Can you tell me about your relationship with Derek? When did it start, how old were you, and when did it turn violent?” He paused. “I know this is hard. The more you can tell me, the better. I’ll be able to advise you better and know the best steps to take.”

“I understand.” Taking a fortifying breath, I told my story again. The honest truth of it and the reality I’d faced. I disassociated from it all as I went over it again, pausing every now and then to answer Max’s questions or clarify a statement. My voice was hoarse by the time I’d finished giving as much detail as I could. I was startled out of the memories by Seb’s hand on my knee as he knelt in front of me to pass me a fresh glass of water, taking away my cold tea.

“Thanks.”

He just smiled and returned to his seat.

Atticus hadn’t left my side and was still holding me close with his arm around my shoulders. He offered me the comfort I desperately needed through all of this.

Max furiously added more to his notes, pausing to check things over before looking at me again.

“Thanks for sharing that with me, Bodhi. I think filing a protection order is the first step. From what you’ve told me there’s a lot we could include, and this will allow my department to be aware of your situation. With the emails you showed me and the bullet, we can prove escalation. If you could get copies of your Iowa hospital stay and your recent visit to the hospital here, that would help further your case. We need to make an appointment at the courthouse to obtain an emergency order, so it will become enforceable as soon as it’s filed. I would like to be there when you file, if you don’t mind.” He gave me a questioning look, and I just nodded. “Okay, let me get this written up, and I’ll send Atticus the protective order paperwork and let you know when the court appointment is. How does that sound?”

I just nodded again.

“Okay, I’ll let myself out.” With a wave, he left.