Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
The rumor makes me so mad I'm afraid I might break my teeth clenching my jaw. What everyone is saying is I stole my son's barely legal girlfriend and blackmailed her to get her to sleep with me, throwing my son out of his childhood home in the process. That Brody loved Delia and they were so happy until I coerced Delia into my bed and abandoned my only child.
Fucking Brody...the only person I could possibly be more pissed at is my own officer spreading these bullshit fucking rumors about me. And today, I plan to get to the bottom of them.
I stalk into the police station, head held high and shoulders back. I'll be damned if all of these fuckers—my subordinates—make me feel uncomfortable in my own kingdom. I'm the chief, and they will fucking respect me.
The officers and detectives look up at me from their various desks and tasks they're performing, most of them looking like deer in the headlights. No doubt I was the topic of gossip before I got here, and I'm highly fucking unamused about having to come in early to address this.
"Listen up," I announce, and they all give me their full attention. Good. "I know some talk has been spreading about something that’s none of your damn business—the woman I'm choosing to spend my time with. Listen to that word again—woman. Delia Watson is a grown woman, and any connection she had to my son is ancient fucking history at this point. If I hear a single word about her spoken around here, you will be demoted so fast for insubordination that your heads will spin. Got it?"
All of the shocked faces nod their heads, some of them looking absolutely terrified. Good. They should be.
"And if I hear of any disrespect towards Delia Watson or any of her loved ones, there will be severe punishment. If I find out who has been talking shit, I'm coming for you. Understood?"
All of the men and women nod, some of them gulping. I nod curtly. "Now, who started this bullshit? Tell me now and I'll let all of you off without consequence."
A young female detective in the back of the room raises her hand slowly, looking unsure. "It was Trevor. He's the one who said he had the dirt on you and it was bad."
I nod, trying not to smile. "Thank you, detective. Do you know where Trevor is right now?"
"He's in the training gym."
"Thank you. All of you are dismissed. Get back to work."
I turn and leave, heading to the gym.
I enter, hearing the clang of weights and machinery, my eyes scanning over the equipment, mats, and punching bags before landing on the two men sparring on the mats. One is the hand-to-hand combat trainer and the other is Trevor. Perfect.
"Trevor!" I call out, and the two men stop their grappling, rising to their feet.
His eyes are wide, and at this moment, I know he's aware of exactly what I'm here for. "Yes, Chief?"
"You're against me next."
"What? No, sir. I really shouldn't." He's already trying to exit the sparring mat as he speaks, panicked.
"Get on the mat," I say calmly, rolling my sleeves up. "This is a command, not a request."
He reluctantly nods, returning to his place as the trainer exits. His fear is palpable, but little does he know how much more scared I plan to make him.
"Ready?" the trainer asks as I'm getting into position.
Trevor sighs. "Ready, Chief."
"Go," the trainer calls.
"You know what this is about," I saw, low and deadly as we circle each other. "You saw Delia and me at the trail and went to tattle to your old friend, Brody, right? Not only that, you had to run your mouth to the force too. As if I didn't give you a job just because you hung around my son in high school."
"Sir, it wasn't like that," Trevor tries to explain.
"Bullshit. Now you're going to learn."
I strike, hard and fast. He manages to get his hands up in defense, but he's already losing ground. I could do this the right way, but that's not what I'm feeling right now. I look at Trevor, knowing that he thought he and Brody could take me down, damage my reputation as the chief of police, and fury roars through me.
The next strike takes him in the jaw, and he stumbles. I take him to the ground easily, and he looks up, fear in his eyes.
"Now you listen to me, and you listen well," I growl. "You're done running your mouth about things that are none of your damn business. You're also done spreading lies about me. The only thing I'm doing is dating someone who knows my son, and even then, she's a grown woman.”
I press the bar of my forearm against his neck, just enough to make fear fill his eyes. “Say you’re sorry, you little fucker.”