“Night, Dad, love you.”
“Love you, Bertie.” He kisses me on the top of the head and then releases me. They stay out the front, my mom lovingly tucked up under my dad’s arm, waving me off until I turn the corner.
The drive home is quick, and soon enough, I’m pulling into my parking spot. My gaze shifts to Hetch’s parking spot and I'm relieved his truck isn’t there. I know we probably should discuss what happened the other night between us, and the fact he came to find me at my parents’ house, and at some stage we will, but for now, I’m happy to keep laying low.
Grabbing the leftovers my mom sent home with me, I make my way up to my apartment. Climbing the stairs with a hell of a lot more ease than I had two days ago, I come up short when I notice my front door is open, slightly ajar
What the hell. Did Hetch lock up?
I slow my pace and take stock of the situation. Pulling out my phone, I contemplate dialing 911, but before I know it, I’m pushing the door open and calling out.
“Hello? Anyone here?” I step over the threshold into a chaotic mess. The place has been ransacked. Drawers and cupboards lay open, their contents littering the floor and counter tops.
Oh, God, what a state.
Ignoring my need to start tidying everything. I continue past the relatively untouched kitchen and down the hall, and into my bedroom. I’m only slightly relieved to see they didn’t mess with my bed; however, my underwear drawer is another story.
“Assholes.” I sigh, looking down at the hundreds of dollars’ worth of panties I will never be able to wear again.
“Liberty?” My name carries down the hall, and instantly I freeze.
Shit, Hetch.
“Yeah, I’m here.” I walk back down the hall to find him standing just inside the doorway.
He clocks me when I step into the room, his assessment of my living room coming to an end, his gaze burning right through me.
“What the fuck?” are his first words to me, and it takes me a second to figure out if he is asking where the fuck I’ve been the last two days, or what the fuck happened to my place. Taking a guess he’s talking about the place, I answer accordingly.
“Welcome home gift I guess.” I shrug, not sure what else to say.
“Yeah, some gift, you call it in?” He takes a step toward me but tracks my retreat. The last time I saw him I had my tongue down his throat, begging for his cock, only for him to reject me. The last two days I’ve been trying to get him out of my head, but the second I’m back in his presence, I know I can’t trust myself.
“No.” I swallow past the impulsive need to climb his stupid thick body and stick my tongue down his throat.
Hetch, oblivious to my internal dilemma, pulls out his cell and starts dialing a number.
“Who are you calling?”
“The police. This has to do with Dominic and his crew.”
“Yeah, it’s a warning. I knew I shouldn’t have made a statement.” I chance a step closer to him, wanting him to take me seriously. This is getting out of hand. I’m not going to put myself at risk.
“Liberty, I’m calling it in. This fucker is messing with the wrong person.” He turns, offers me his wide shoulders, and barks his name and badge number down the line.
I stand awkwardly for a few minutes while he requests backup to our address.
Fucking great.
When he hangs up, he turns his hard gaze back to me and asks, “You touch anything?”
“No, I didn’t. And I wish you didn’t call it in, Hetch.” I watch as he pockets his phone, and moves closer to me.
“Yeah, well, like we’ve already established, we don’t seem to get what we want when it comes to each other, so you’re just going to have to deal.” He stops a whisper's breath from me, getting up in my space.
“Hetch, I’m not doing this with you right now.”
“Why did you run?” He ignores my rebuff, going right for the money shot.
“Hetch.” I pause, unsure what I’m going to say. Why did I run? It’s the same question I’ve been asking myself the last two days.
“Liberty, answer the question.”
“I needed a few days, that’s all. It’s no big deal,” I lie, knowing full well it’s a big deal. I ran because as much as I hate to admit it, his rejection stung more than the grazing on my face.
“Sweetheart, I’m gonna let your lie slide because I have a unit coming here any minute, but the moment they’re out of here, we’re talking, then you’re packing a bag, and I’m taking you back to Jack and Connie’s.” He uses my parents’ first names, shocking me into a fit of rage. Jack and Connie? He thinks he’s on first name basis with my parents. I don’t think so, buddy.
“Hetch, I’m not even going to discuss how pissed I am that you know my parents' names. Nor am I going to stay with them.” I shut the idea down right away. Jesus, they barely survived the hospital visit. Finding out these guys may have been in my place will well and truly push them over.