Ridin' Solo (Sisters From Hell Book 1) by Marika Ray (the two towers ebook txt) 📗

Tears slid down her cheeks, but she brushed them away impatiently. “Then we’ll make a plan and get her back.”

I hated how quickly I latched on to that enthusiasm. Latched on to the idea that something I said or did could get Oakley back. My guilt over her being shot said I needed to wallow in it for much longer, maybe even forever.

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s that easy.”

Emmeline stood again. My neck was getting a workout from watching her constantly move. “No, you’re right. It won’t be easy, but that’s why I’m here, big bro. I would really love to have a sister, and Oak is, like, totally kick-ass, so I’m going to help you. I know you prefer to be a Smith now, but don’t forget that us Dolbys don’t take no for an answer.”

I sat forward and rested my elbows on the table. Her support was touching, even after I’d kept my name change from her. “But that’s the problem, isn’t it? I’ll always be a Dolby. The paparazzi will never leave me alone. I can’t outrun my past. I’ve tried that and failed epically. Oakley just wants a quiet life, protecting the citizens of this county. She sees things as black and white, right or wrong. There’s no room for my shade of gray.”

Em rolled her eyes, already lighting up in a blinding smile. “See? That’s why I’m here to guide you properly, silly. Women love shades of gray. Duh.” She marched around the table and grabbed my arm, pulling me until I quit resisting and stood up with her.

My lips quirked into a smile at her joke, but nothing she said could change my mind on things with Oakley. I’d screwed up. I needed to feel the full extent of that pain before I could ever hope to forgive myself, or even crazier, ask Oakley to forgive me.

I put my hands on her shoulders and resigned myself to at least listening to her ideas. “Here’s my one condition. Absolutely anything I do has to be one hundred percent honest, above board, truthful, and above reproach. That’s the only way for me to be from now on, whether Oakley forgives me or not.”

“I told you to take the week off until we close the investigation,” Sheriff Locke barked when I stuck my head in his office. No one had died from their gunshot wounds, but when any firearm discharged in the line of work and a cop was injured, the stack of paperwork was mind numbing.

Despite the less than warm greeting, I came through the door and closed it behind me. He’d be in a foul mood anyway when I got done saying what I needed to say.

I held up my hands and tried out a grin. “Not in uniform, sir. Just need to speak to you.”

He spun away from his computer to give me his attention, sighing when I sat down like I intended to stay awhile. “If this is about your partner being tagged, you can just stop right there. We’re doing a formal investigation into everything that happened out there yesterday, but you need to understand that sometimes these things happen even when you take all the right precautions. Oakley knows that and so do I.”

“Understood, sir. This actually isn’t about that.” Nothing he said could make me feel better about Oakley being wounded when I should have had her back. “It’s obvious my identity is now out there in the press. I don’t believe I can continue to keep my partner safe at the moment. The job has to be my entire focus, which is impossible with paparazzi following me.”

When I’d pulled into the parking lot of the station, a couple photographers had jumped out of their cars parked on the street and tried to get pictures of me in my truck. I knew from experience they could be relentless. Eventually things would die down and they’d forget about me for some other piece of gossip, but for now, I would be a detriment to the uniform.

Sheriff frowned.

“What I’m trying to say is that I’d like a transfer, sir.”

“Say what now?” he barked, leaning forward and clasping his huge hands on the desk.

“I’d like a transfer to another county, please.” There. I’d said it. I’d done what I should have done the second Oakley and I kissed. I’d known then, but hadn’t wanted to accept it. Oakley was it for me. And it was with a heavy dose of shame that I realized I should have done the right thing all along, like she’d suggested.

“Now why the hell would I do that?” Sheriff shouted. “You just handled a dangerous situation yesterday with flying colors. You subdued twelve known drug dealers after a territory disagreement went wrong. Did you know we recovered five pounds of cocaine and just over a ton of meth? That’s literally hundreds of people you saved from becoming addicted to an illegal substance. Now tell me again why I should even think of granting your request?”

Well, fuck. I hadn’t expected Sheriff Locke to fight to keep me. I figured Oakley would have already pleaded her case for why I should be reprimanded or fired. Most certainly transferred to another partner.

I rubbed my forehead and reflected on the one thing I told Emmeline I wouldn’t compromise on: absolute honesty.

“Well, sir. While she probably won’t speak to me again, I intend to devote a lot of my time for the foreseeable future trying to get Oakley to date me. And if she’s stupid enough to agree to that, I intend to marry her before she comes to her senses. So, working together would be a bit much, don’t you think?”

Sheriff flopped back in his chair, the frown leaving his face, but he still didn’t look happy. “Is this some sort of April Fool’s joke again? You two fight more than an old married couple.”

I shrugged, nodding at the truth. It was true. We’d