The tension running through Calder’s shoulders relaxed a fraction. “Thank you.” His lips met mine in a kiss. Everything about it was reassuring. That he was here. I wasn’t alone.
I let my head fall to his chest. “How do I fix this? There are photos on some porn site. I have to get them down—”
Calder stiffened again. “Let me call Mase and see if he has any ideas or resources. But, Hadley, we have to tell Hayes. And it needs to be now.”
All the things I’d built for myself, this secret life that was mine alone, would all come crashing down. I’d been playing with fire, hoping for just a little longer, but that time had run out.
25
Calder
I dideverything I could to keep my fury under control as I spoke to Cap and told him Hadley and I needed to leave for about an hour. The sheriff’s station was just a couple of blocks down, so he let me take my radio and told us to hurry back.
I continued to battle as Hadley and I walked down Aspen Street, my eyes darting to every person we passed. I didn’t want my anger to scare Hadley, but beneath that rage was fear. The fact that someone would take the time to do this to her didn’t spell good things.
“Will you say something?” she asked softly.
My steps faltered as I looked down at her. “What?”
“I need you to say something. Anything. Yell at me for doing some insane trick on my bike. Tell me I shouldn’t hike alone. Anything but this pissed-off silent thing you’ve got going on right now.”
I wrapped an arm around Hadley and pulled her into me. I inhaled the familiar flowery scent of her shampoo. I had no idea what it was, but it lingered in rooms long after she was gone, marking the space. “I’m sorry. I’m just going through every angle in my head.”
“Well, it’s freaking me out, so stop.”
I kissed the top of her head and started walking again, but this time I linked my fingers with hers.
“Calder,” she whispered, looking down at our fingers.
“I’m not hiding this.”
Hadley’s teeth pressed into her bottom lip. “Okay. I hope my brother doesn’t punch you in the face.”
Her matter-of-fact tone startled a laugh out of me. “I’m sure you’ll patch me up if he does.” I’d take a punch or whatever other punishment Hayes wanted to throw my way. Hadley was worth it all.
“Men,” she grumbled under her breath.
We climbed the steps to the sheriff’s station, and I pulled open the door for Hadley to go ahead. Once we were inside, I took her hand again.
Officer Williams looked up from behind the reception desk and smiled. That smile widened a fraction when he saw our linked hands. “Hey, guys. What can I do for you?”
“Is my brother around?” Hadley asked.
“Should be. Let me call back.” He picked up the desk phone. “Hey, boss. Your sister and Calder are here.” Silence for a moment. “No problem.” He hung up. “He says to go on back.”
I led Hadley through a maze of desks and then to Hayes’ office. I didn’t bother knocking, I just opened the door.
Hayes looked up from a stack of paperwork. “Hey, what’s—?” His words cut off as he took in our hands. Then his gaze jumped from my face to Hadley’s and back again. “I’ll be damned.”
Hadley began to giggle until it turned to hysterical laughter.
Hayes pushed to his feet, eyeing his sister. “Is she all right?”
“It’s been a long day,” I explained.
He continued to study both of us as Hadley tried to get herself under control. “It’s certainly been an eventful one. When did this happen?”
“About a week ago,” Hadley said, finally defeating her bout of laughter.