Page 152 of Dream Chaser

“What are you going to do?” I asked, following him.

“What I should’ve fucking done a long time ago.”

Worry knocked the breath out of my lungs. What about his agency? What if Preston tried to harm him?

“Ale, don’t,” I said. “Think about your business.”

“The business will be fine.” He buttoned his coat. “So will I. I won’t do anything without talking to my lawyer.”

Another kiss on the top of my head, then the door clicked shut behind him.

***

I shifted on the edge of a plastic chair in the interview room at the police station as Officer Moore took notes. Scarlett was in the waiting area. I asked her to accompany me here because I refused to let Preston go unpunished, and I didn’t want to drag Alejandro through this too.

“So, this was the first time your husband hit you?” the officer asked.

“Yes.”

He typed, frowning. “Were there any witnesses?”

“I don’t think so, or at least I didn’t see anyone. But there might be cameras on the parking deck.”

“All right.” He turned the monitor slightly toward me, and I got my first look at the pictures he’d already attached to my file. Nausea swirled in my stomach. My eye was swollen, so was my cheek and mouth. The flesh around the impact bloomed purple and blue. “Please read through this and make sure it’s accurate.”

I skimmed the notes, then nodded. “It is.”

“Would you like to press charges?”

I wanted Preston to face the consequences of his actions. Nobody had ever held him accountable. I refused to be another person protecting him.

I cleared my throat. “How likely is he to be punished?”

The officer frowned. “With no witnesses, we’d have to look into possible cameras. Without them, not much can be done beyond making a record of the event.”

“I see,” I mumbled. “I guess I’ll just get a protective order.” I didn’t trust Preston not to show up at my office again. Regardless of what Alejandro would do, it was my job to protect myself.

A printer whirred, then Officer Moore handed me a printed copy of my statement. “Sign this, please. And call us if he bothers you again.”

I plastered my signature on the bottom. He put the pages in a folder and slid a business card across the desk. “Keep this just in case.”

“Thank you.”

Officer Moore gave me a sympathetic smile. How many cases like mine had he seen? Probably lots. And lots were way worse. A part of me wasn’t surprised Preston had crossed the line. Another part was glad I no longer lived with him and didn’t have to put up with his mistreatment.

Ten minutes later, after applying makeup in the bathroom to stop drawing stares, I joined Scarlett in the waiting area.

“How did it go?” she whispered, eyeing me with concern over the rim of her glasses as several people glanced at me from their chairs.

I adjusted my purse on my shoulder. “Let’s get out of here first, Scar.”

The room felt stuffy, and I needed coffee—no way I’d go to bed before I heard from Alejandro.

“You must be starving,” Scarlett said. “I know a nice place nearby. Let’s go.”

We ended up in a quiet fifties-themed diner, but anywhere would have been fine as long as they had food. Scarlett ordered for both of us. Once the waitress brought our burgers and fries, I dipped a fry in ketchup, leaning back in the red vinyl booth. “I need to talk to Edward about a protective order. Pressing charges would unfortunately be pointless without witnesses.”

“I’m proud of you.” Scarlett covered my hand with hers. “You did the right thing by at least trying not to let that asshole get away with assault.”