Chapter Seven

Graves

It ’ s been less than twenty-four hours since I ’ ve seen her and she never ceases to steal all the air from my lungs. I’m sitting in the farthest corner of the room, it’s the best vantage point to see the whole restaurant with minimal effort. It ’ s too early for me to be taking my break, but what the captain doesn ’ t know won't hurt him. What's that saying? Is it easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?

I can tell the moment she spots me from across the room. Our eyes lock and her face flushes. Oh, does she like me? It ’ s almost 9 pm now and we don't have much time together tonight, but I ’ m determined to make the most of it. She makes her way to me, weaving around tables and avoiding customers. She ’ s so graceful and gorgeous, my world revolves around her. I can hear wedding bells ringing in my ears.

My day dream shatters to a million pieces as a man grabs her wrist and her steps falter. He ’ s being aggressive as he pulls her to him and whispers in her ear. Do they know each other? She ’ s visibly disgusted by whatever he spews at her and she tries to pull away. He yanks her hand to his thigh and I can read his dry chapped lips from across the room. “ Come on, you little bitch.” He ’ s squeezing her hand and she winces in pain. All I see is red. Now I don ’ t give a fuck if they know each other or not. The rage I feel is overwhelming me. No one touches what ’ s mine. I can ’ t make a scene, I'm in uniform. I need to be professional. BE PROFESSIONAL, GRAVES.

I will myself to breathe through my untamed emotions as I make my way to her through the throng of people.

“ Is there a problem here, Miss Knight?” I grind out through clenched teeth. The thought of disemboweling this man soothes my frazzled mind. She looks up at me with her big doe eyes and she breathes a sigh of relief. Her eyes shoot to her hand, still gripped tightly and forcibly placed on this swamp monster’s thigh. She looks lost, she doesn ’ t know what to do in a situation like this. Don ’ t worry, baby, I got you.

“ Please remove your hand from Miss Knight, sir. Unless you ’ d like to be escorted off the premises for harassment. I can assure you Mrs. Clarke won’t take kindly to a customer upsetting her favourite employee,” I state coldly, trying to push as much authority as I can into my voice. He reluctantly lets go of Mallory's wrist and I can see the blood rushing back into her skin. He was trying to hurt her. I'm going to kill this man and I don't even know his name. Oh well, the less I know about him the better. No trail to lead back to me.

His slimy voice reaches my ears, “ There's no need for that, Officer, I was just trying to find out where her parents are. They seem to have skipped town and left their little girl here to settle their affairs.”

That will most definitely not be happening. I look at Mallory, she ’ s on the brink of tears. Only holding it together to not make a scene in her place of employment or to seem weak by running off. Oh, my love, it's okay to feel. Leaning down, I whisper in her ear , “ I can deal with this if you want to have a moment to yourself. Take as long as you need but don ’ t leave the building. I ’ ll be waiting for you, when you ’ re ready.” I pull away, her gaze searches mine and I nod. She turns, making her way to the back of the restaurant, dropping her apron and tray on a stack by the kitchen entrance. Returning my attention to the two scumbags at the table, I pull out my notepad. “ Okay gentlemen, let's start with first and last names,” I say.

I find out one is Ryan Hart, I ’ ll check him out later. The piece of human garbage I'm interested in is Edward Rader. They both live in town and were friends with Mallory's parents. They claim to be worried for their well-being since they were getting in deep with some rough folk. I know all this information already, I did my research before eradicating the abusers. It ’ s what made it so easy. What makes me uneasy is what could happen to her tonight while she ’ s home alone. I don ’ t know if Dennis ever shared the fact that he owned the Pederson house with anyone and the thought unsettles me. What should I do? Do I call this into the captain so I can escort Mallory home? I still won't be able to keep her safe all night, or at all while we are working. Protective custody? The captain would never go for that over this little incident. If Edward goes missing the same night of our encounter it could be suspicious. Fuck. My mind is running a mile a minute, Edward needs to go. I'm going to have to stake out the hotel until he leaves to ensure Mal's safety.

I ’ m back at my table watching the men from across the room when Mallory emerges from the rear of the bar. She tentatively makes her way to me after noticing the assholes are still at their table.

“ They ’ re still here?” she asks, sitting down across from me. I wish she had sat next to me.

“ I have to take your statement, Miss Knight, then we can decide if you want to file a report and press charges.”

“Those things are up to me?” She looks flummoxed, clearly having no idea how the justice system works.

“Yes, ma'am. Whatever you want to do I will ensure it gets done.” I will protect you whether you want me to or not. You’re mine. Mine to love. Mine to bend. Mine to break. No one else's.

She looks over her shoulder at the slime balls. They’re glaring at her with so much malice, a regular person would cower in fear. Looking back to me she says, “ I don ’ t think they like me talking to you.”

“ Frankly, I don't give a damn. What I witnessed him do to you was abhorrent, and if it wouldn ’ t put me in jail I would cut his hand off at the wrist,” I bluntly state. She ’ s shocked by my honesty but still enjoyed it. She likes me. I can tell, by the smile that breaks free and the flush crawling up her neck.

“ That ’ s a little extreme, don't you think?” she states with a small laugh. I shake my head. It ’ s not extreme in my eyes, not by a long shot.