Page 224 of Where We Stay

Logan moves closer to me as the officers drag Ben upright. “G told us everything.”

His gaze moves from Blair to Ben.

“Tell me you fucking broke something.”

“His nose.”

“Should’ve been more.”

I couldn’t agree more.

* * *

Ben keeps yelling while the officers walk him toward the police car.

“She fucking asked for it!”

Every muscle in my body coils, but Blair grabs my hand before I can move.

“Don’t,” she whispers.

I look down at her swollen face, split lip, and the marks growing darker around her neck. Getting myself arrested won’t help her.

I know that.

It doesn’t make standing still any fucking easier.

One of the male officers, Kade, approaches us once Ben is secured in the back of the car.

“He’s still under supervision following his release in New York,” Officer Kade says. “We’ll book him here for what happened today and contact the authorities there. He isn’t leaving our custody tonight.”

“Good,” I reply.

No punishment will ever feel like enough, but watching the police car door close between Blair and that bastard is a decent fucking start.

I stay beside Blair while she gives the female officer a brief account of what happened.

“I don’t know how long he was here,” Blair says, wrapping her arms around herself. “The front door was unlocked when I got home, and he was already inside.”

“There are fresh tool marks around the front lock,” Officer Kade explains. “It looks like he picked it.”

“Did he tell you how he found you?” Officer Lexi asks.

“My parents gave him my address.” Blair’s voice cracks slightly. “He knew Aspen’s name too. I think he’s been watching me.”

I go completely still.

He’s been watching us?

My daughter?

Blair looks at me, and the guilt written across her face hits me before she even opens her mouth.

“I’m so sorry, Dean.” Her eyes fill with tears. “I knew he was dangerous. I shouldn’t have gotten you or Aspen involved. I fucking knew it.”

“No.”

I move in front of her before she can say anything else. “Don’t do that.”