Free Her Loving Protector by Michaela Strong Page A

emotional issues weren't his fault, she couldn't just snap her fingers and get past them. And it seemed every bump in the road for her and Rory triggered something new and painful.
    Dana was about to tell him you don't have to explain anything, that she got it, when someone knocked on the door. Who on a Sunday in the middle of an uncharacteristic December thunderstorm didn't know how to use the phone?
    Rory released her, and threw his clothes back on before going to answer the door. It was the captain. She scrambled into the bathroom to freshen up. The captain wanted to talk to her. Dana could hear every word that was being said. She eavesdropped.
    "I tried calling, Pensacola. I am going to blame it on the storm and leave it at that. How she doing?"
    "We're doing fine," Dana heard Rory say.
    "Oh what happened now? Where is she?"
    "She's, uh… indisposed."
    "Ok, enough said. I don't want to be sorry I asked. So we go the boyfriend."
    "Ex-boyfriend, "Rory adamantly corrected.
    The captain laughed. "You are absolutely right. But I need to bring your girlfriend down for some preliminaries."
    "I'll get my shoes," Rory said.
    "I don't think that's a good idea," said the captain.
    ‘Why not?" asked Rory.
    "Well for one Rory, you didn't protest when I called her your girlfriend. This is intended to be a Q&A not a homicide. This piece of shit is worse than I thought. Did she tell you he's been arrested more than once for domestic violence? Never convicted, of course. She wasn't the first and probably won't be the last. And as much as I'd love to see you give this scumbag a taste of his own medicine, neither one of us needs that kind of paperwork. Hey!" The captain swore as he doubtlessly realized this was all news to Rory
    Dana could hear a rush around the house like someone was tearing up the place and then she heard the door slam. The captain called to her. "Ms Emery?" She emerged. She was wrought with humiliation that Rory knew that she had let herself be abused. After pressing charges once she swore she'd never tell a soul. Especially not someone like him. Someone strong and brave who'd never let himself be victimized.
    "What happened?" she asked, completely deflated.
    "I fucked up," the captain admitted. "I am calling over now, but we have to go to the station and head Big Dog off before he becomes my next arrest."
    It was the second time within days that Dana entered the police station but this time the handsome man holding her hand, leading her through, was the police captain. As they rounded the corner, Rory came into view. His larger-than-life figure, his magnificent body and his gorgeous face, intent and being as patient as he could be, waiting just outside the room that the captain was taking Dana to.
    "I know what you're asking, Pensacola. I don't think it's a good idea."
    "I'll be good," Rory insisted. "I just want to be there, listen."
    Dana could see Rory was really upset and this might have been a little about her but this was there was something else going on, too. She had the intuition that Rory had to right some previous wrong. Being in that interrogation room was something really important to him. "I'd like for him to be there, Captain." She held her hand out to him. "I won't feel safe unless he's there."
    The captain sighed before caving. "Dana, you are perfectly safe. But if this is the way you want it, against my better judgment, I'm going to grant you your wish. But if anything happens in there, Pensacola, it's your ass."
    "It won't. I swear."
    "Yeah, right. Look, play games all you want with that piece of shit." There was a trace of a smile beneath the captain's exasperation. "Just remember to pull your punches."
    As the captain opened the door for Dana and Rory, Rory let go of her hand. He held a chair for her across from her ex, while taking a seat the end of the table at the opposite end of the head of the table where the captain would sit. He was acting like he was just one of the regular cops.
    "Mr.