She was quick to use it as an opportunity to stop their conversation but as she looked at the caller ID, he saw her hesitate and then answer the call.
“Hi, Detective Ramirez. I’m sorry but now isn’t exactly a good time. Yes, everything is okay, I’m safe. At the office. No, I’m not alone, a friend is with me. No, we won’t need escorts but I appreciate it. Yes, first thing tomorrow morning at the police department. Okay, I appreciate you doing this. I hope not either.”
Her one-sided conversation was killing him. This had something to do with her ex. At least it seemed that way from what Hunter told them all about what happened in the cabana the other day.
She said good-bye and disconnected the call. She gripped the desk and hung her head. Seno moved slowly in behind her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her back against his chest.
“Tell me what’s going on. What’s this all about?”
“I don’t want to, Seno. I don’t want you involved or thinking badly of me.”
He turned her around, kept his hold around her waist, and pressed her rear against the desk so she couldn’t escape his embrace.
“Why would I think badly of you?”
She shook her head. “It’s too much. It’s too aggravating and I don’t want you involved.”
“Well, that’s not really an option here. If it involves you and whether or not you’re in trouble or not safe, then I’m involved. Tell me what that detective wanted.”
“I have to go down to the police department tomorrow. To fill out some papers.”
He held her gaze.
“What kind of papers?”
“And order of protection. I need to start the process.”
He felt his concern immediately flare. He scrunched his eyes, and she lowered her eyes and tried to pull away but he held her tight.
“Who is bothering you? What have they done to scare you? Talk to me, Ellie.”
“I said I don’t want you involved.”
“I am involved. Tell me, now.”
“I can handle it.”
“Not alone. Together. Now tell me. Is it your ex-boyfriend?”
She nodded her head.
He licked his lower lip and tried to remain calm. “What has he done?”
She explained to him about the text messages and the call.
“What specifically did he say?” She hesitated again and then told him.
He was pissed off. Plain and simple, and when his brothers found out, they would be as well.
“Please don’t tell Justice, Hunter, and Mace. They’ll get mad at me. Mace and Hunter will insist that I take all those self-defense courses, which I am starting tomorrow. I just don’t want to talk about it all.”
He reached over and cupped her cheek with the palm of his hand. “Baby, they care about you just as I do. There are no secrets between us. None of us. If we want this relationship to work, then we need to trust one another.”
“I told you that I couldn’t jump into a relationship like this one. Well, with any kind of relationship.”
“Because of this asshole?”
She chuckled. “Yes, because of this asshole. A lot of stuff happened. He hurt me very badly.”