Chapter 26

Dominick

I have to stand here and fucking wait until Chloe is through with booking and a bunch of other bullshit before I can pay any type of bail to take her home, and the asshole in front of me is about to lose an eye if he tells me to have a seat one more time.

"It's standard procedure, Dom. Try to breathe."

Cam is still on the phone with me while he's also on another line with the department to iron out this mess, and I practically growl into the phone.

"I don't care."

"I'm well aware." He sighs. "But the judge hasn't even set bail yet. Hopefully, I can get this sorted out before it comes to that. I have the evidence we've been collecting and a few favors I can call in. She'll be okay, but it's going to take me a minute."

"She better be, or I'm going to find that fucker and tear his lungs out."

The guy behind the counter looks up at me, but I just glare back.

"Dom, maybe keep the threats to a minimum while you're standing in the middle of the police department. Okay?"

I still hold my gaze on the desk jockey, who looks like he's ready to wet his pants. "Fine."

"They're not just going to give her back to you. You can't pay a bail that isn't set, and you can't intimidate your way in."

"Cam, unless you have something more helpful to say, shut up."

He grumbles through the phone. "I am being helpful, you dick. You can't just stand there. I've been trying to tell you. Go back to your place. I'll call as soon as I have something."

Finally turning away from the officer manning the "check-in" desk, I take a few steps away and lower my voice.

"You want me to leave her here? Alone?"

"Can you think of a much safer place for Chloe than the police department? She'll be okay. I promise. I already got them to agree to keep her in a private cell. You're welcome."

I scoff. "You're welcome?"

"Did you want her to go to a regular holding cell? Where she'd get to hang out with all the criminals they've arrested today?"

I clench my jaw so hard, I swear it cracks. "No. Thank you."

"Yeah, like I said. You're welcome." The noise of Cam shuffling on the other end is abrasive and annoying. "Now, get back to the penthouse. I'll call you."

"Fine."

I hang up and don't look back as I walk out of the precinct and straight for the lot where I parked the Rolls. The engine fires up loudly as I give it plenty of gas and take off for my place.

Speeding is a stupid idea considering the location, but I can't be bothered to give a fuck.

I know Chloe will be as safe as possible where she is. Ethan would have to be a moron to try something in a cop shop, but I also don't trust them. I've met far too many crooked cops, thanks to my mother, to see them all as paragons of good.

When I get back home, it's just a nicer place to wait, and I'm impatient on a good day. Pacing the penthouse, I notice Chloe's suitcase on the floor near the foot of my bed.

I'd snagged it and brought it back, much to the chagrin of the officer who wanted to keep it as evidence. That didn't go over well for him, and I was happy enough to take advantage of the fact that the rookie was a bit scared of me.

Hell, it's why they let me leave at all.

I pull the bag up onto my bed, opening it wide. It's stuffed with the rest of Chloe's shirts and a few pants tucked in.

Bringing them to the closet, I hang them up with her other stuff and then put the suitcase on the floor and off to the side before closing the closet doors again.

That's the longest I can go without slamming my fist into the wall.

"What was she fucking thinking?"

Time drags on, and Cam sends me a few texts as he gets further with the authorities and the district attorney. I don't respond to any of them.

11:30 a.m.: She's through booking. Taking her to a cell.

1:02 p.m.: Got off the phone with the department. They got an anonymous tip that Chloe was there with drugs. Had to be Ethan.

1:45 p.m.: Getting our evidence to the DA and explaining the situation. Arguing for the setup.

2:30 p.m.: Police are focusing their attention on the fingerprints on the drugs. Giving them your testimony about her finding them. Directing back to the personal nature of her destroyed apartment.

4:40 p.m.: DA has asked about the restraining order attempts. This is good. Finally getting her to look at the assaults at the club.

6:37 p.m.: Yasmin's medical records and report have been delivered. Also, she's doing okay. Still stable but unconscious.

8:52 p.m.: DA is stewing on the information. Promises to have an answer come morning.

At that point, the exhaustion is too hard to fight, and I know there won't be another message for a while.

My gut is in fucking knots, and I'm surprised there isn't an actual hole in the carpet from where I've paced back and forth.

Sighing, I decide to call it a night, keeping my phone fully charged and on maximum volume for the evening.

"She better be okay." I stare at the ceiling from my bed. "Damn you, Chloe."

I know she's trying to protect me, protect everyone, from this part of her life, but it's going to get her killed. The girl needs to accept some help for once.

It doesn't take long to fall asleep, but the last image in my brain is Chloe behind bars, trying to sleep in a jail cell.

The loud ring of my cell jolts me awake, and I struggle to grab the thing and answer.

"What."

"She's being released. Head to the station."

My brain immediately comes back online, and I sit up in bed, swinging my legs out before heading straight to the closet to get changed.

"Thanks, Cam."

"Of course. There's still going to be a lot of cleaning up to do, but for now, get her home."

"Trust me, I'm on that one hard."

I hang up, rushing through the process of getting dressed and rolling on a bit of deodorant so I don't smell like yesterday's nervous sweat.

I'm practically a blur as I run down to my car and tear off for the precinct again. When I arrive, Chloe is being led from the back to the front reception area.

"Chloe!"

Running over, I take her in my arms the second I'm able, her eyes wide with relief. "Dom."

I stand there holding her for a moment before we shake ourselves out of it, and I'm able to get her to the car without much interference from the men in blue.

Chloe sighs as I open the door for her and sit down in the passenger seat. I'm quick to get around to my side of the car and hop in.

In the silence of the cab, I reach over and squeeze her hand. "Are you okay?"

"Not particularly, no. But it could be worse."

She's staring at the floor, but Chloe does squeeze back.

"It could." I exhale hard as I take my hand back to start the car and pull out of the lot. "It was damn likely, considering the setup you walked into."

I see Chloe whip her eyes to me in my peripheral vision. "Walked into?"

Without looking over, I nod my head. "Yeah. It was clearly a setup. If you weren't alone when you found it, I probably could have stopped you from going in. Messed up Ethan's plans."

"How was I supposed to know that would happen?"

I can feel the tension in the car skyrocket, but we need to have this out, so why not do it in the fucking car?

"I could have told you. But wait, you decided to up and run, so I couldn't."

Chloe huffs, and I take a quick glance at her. Anger and regret swirl through her eyes.

"I was trying to protect you. To keep what happened to Yasmin from happening to you."

We're not overly far from my penthouse, so I let the comment hang in the air as I get us the rest of the way back. As I park and we walk up to the elevator, the silence persists.

Chloe and I ride up, neither of us speaking, until we get inside my expansive home.

As Chloe sits down on the couch and hangs her head in her hands, I move to stand in front of her.

"You obviously can't make any more trips to your apartment. Is there anything else you need while you're staying with me?"

"I had a suitcase. It had my?—"

"I grabbed it. Already unpacked in the closet."

Her eyes find mine, and I can see Chloe tense her jaw just like I am.

"I really shouldn't be staying here."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I furrow my brow as I stare her down. "And where exactly do you think you can go? You don't have anything lined up. And besides, you can't just run. Ethan will keep chasing you."

"It's my problem to deal with. I don't want to watch another person get caught up in the crossfire. I can deal with this myself. I don't need your help."

It's a familiar line. One I've heard my mother use countless times when I was trying to help her out of her addiction. The resistance to accepting assistance was always because she didn't want to stop using.

"You sure it's about that? You're not just running because your dealer boyfriend is too much to handle, and you want a safer place to get your drugs?"

Chloe's mouth falls open. She gasps, her eyes tearing as she looks like she might be sick.

"What?"

"I'm trusting you, Chloe. Believing those drugs aren't yours, but what if I'm wrong? It takes you so much to open up to me. Is this why?"

"You can't possibly be serious?" She shakes her head as her voice comes out soft.

I sigh. There's so much more to this than just being a little untrusting. I've seen so much fucking shit from people I love, and it caused a lot of damage.

"I'm fucking worried, Chloe. I've seen what people can do when they're hooked. My…my mother did a lot of shit to ensure she didn't have to face reality."

She freezes, dots connecting in her head, and then Chloe stands up and walks to the kitchen. I recognize the need to dissipate the built-up tension.

With her back to me, hands on the far counter, I see her take a shuddering breath. "They're not mine, Dom. I don't do drugs. Hell, I'm the lightest drinker at the club. I don't take help well. I never have, and I didn't want something happening to you. That seemed more important than me being in over my head."

I hesitate to move closer, but my need to own this situation and force her to face everything head-on wins out.

"You can't just run. I've tried that shit my entire life, and it doesn't fucking work." I stand on the other side of the island, leaving a few feet between us. "And I can fucking handle Ethan. You keep forgetting that I'm a trained soldier. That stuff doesn't just go away because I'm not serving anymore."

Chloe spins around, her hostile glare tempered by tears. "I haven't forgotten anything, Dom. I know exactly the kind of stuff you must have been through. I'm not an idiot. I didn't want you to see more violence. Not if I could keep it from you."

"Protecting me isn't the right move, Chloe. And yeah, you're fucking terrible at asking for help or accepting it for that matter. So, be better at it. You have to see that you need it now after everything that happened. Right?"

Her gaze wavers as more tears brim to the surface. She's barely holding them in.

"Right?" I walk closer to her. "Don't shoot yourself in the foot. Don't be so proud that you can't rely on someone."

Chloe shakes her head in a sharp turn, the tears finally welling over and running down her face. "It isn't about pride. I have nothing to be proud of, trust me."

"Then what is it?"

"Dom, I don't want to?—"

"Tough. It's now or never, babe."

The crying is quiet, but it's there, washing over her face with each blink.

"Dom," Chloe whispers.

I'm at her side now, and I take her shoulders with my hands. "Chloe. Come on."

"I'm—" she can't hold my stare, her head falling "—terrified. I trusted someone to help me before, and this is how I was rewarded for that. How do I know you won't hurt me? You could be just like him."

The accusation hurts, but I know where it's coming from. She's finally said it.

Fear is ruling everything she does, and I suddenly put it together that she's been acting just like an injured animal seeking any type of shelter and not willing to trust any human that might try to help.

Fuck .

"You're right, Chloe." I pull her face up to look at me. "I could be just like him. But do you really think I am? Do you really think I would hurt you?"

She meets my eyes, and I do everything I can to force the truth into them.

As we stare, the tension rises, months and years of pressure compounding as our combined baggage threatens to drown us.

Then Chloe's lips crash against mine.

She shakes her head against my lips and then she pulls back to look up into my eyes.

"No. No, Dom. I don't."

I pull her against me, threading my fingers through the hair at the base of her neck. Kissing her just as hard, I take, claiming those kisses.

Chloe is mine, but I'm just as much hers.

Trying to get closer, I feel her rise up a few inches, going on her tiptoes, and I sweep her up into my arms. Her legs wrap around my waist as her arms come around my neck.

Frenzied, passionate kisses take over my every thought. I need to feel Chloe, to remember that blistering connection we've had since the moment I saw her again.

I didn't know what would happen to her after the bullshit Ethan pulled with the drugs, and the thought of the charges still standing because Cam couldn't help swell in the dark part of me that is always scared of losing her.

Because that's the truth. I'm terrified, too.

Chloe squeezes me tighter, and I know we're both feeling it. I pull her closer, walking us to the bedroom.

As we hit the soft carpet and I set her down on the bed, she looks up at me, her expression saying everything her words can't.

I sink to my knee on the mattress, perching over top of her, and yank the shirt over her head. Chloe is quick to help me with mine, and then I'm pulling her pants from her legs.

She undoes her bra while I shuck my boxers. I'm achingly hard, and the only thought in my mind is driving myself into Chloe right the fuck now.

When I look back up at her, Chloe is dragging those panties down her legs, and I run my hand across the inside of her thigh.

"Fuck, baby—" my fingers glide through her slick folds and slip inside her as she kicks away her underpants "—I'm never letting you get away again. You're going to let me take care of you, and you're really going to enjoy it."