Dare to Take (Dare to Love 6)

The officer seemed to relax and stepped away.

Tyler went on to explain. “My sister used to rent this apartment too, and I put the security system in.” Tyler reached into his pocket and slid a business card out of his wallet, handing it to the silent second officer. “I got the call from the alarm company because, as Ms. Shaw said, she’s like family.” He forced a smile for the other man’s benefit. “Can you tell me what happened?”

The cop glanced at Ella, waiting for her okay to talk in front of him.

She nodded. “You can tell us both.”

“There’s signs of someone trying to break in,” the cop said, pointing to jagged scrapes on the wall beside the doorknob and chipped paint around the deadbolt. “But the alarm must have scared them and they ran. Not many people in these types of buildings have a security system. You’re smart, Ms.…” He waited for her reply, pen in hand so he could write down pertinent information.

“Shaw. Ella Shaw,” she said in a shaky voice.

“Ms. Shaw, is there a reason someone would target your apartment?”

She ran her hands up and down her forearms, making him want to pull her into his arms and ease her stress. Except he knew she wouldn’t be receptive, and he didn’t want to cause trouble in front of the cop by pulling his protective routine. No police officer would appreciate his tactics.

“I don’t know,” Ella said. “I just returned from a business trip in St. Lucia, and I had … issues while I was there.”

“What kind of issues?”

She told him about the mugging and her room being broken into. Tyler withheld the information on the feeling that someone had followed them to the airport because he had no proof, only his gut instinct, which he’d stupidly ignored. He had a top-notch security staff he could use to not only protect her but to investigate as well.

“What did the island police say?” the officer asked.

“Not much considering they were busy with a hurricane and I left the island, but…” She trailed off and Tyler’s nerves tingled in a way he did not like one bit.

“But what?” he asked.

She bit on her nail, not meeting his gaze, further affirming his gut, which told him he wasn’t going to enjoy what she had to say next. “I’ve had this weird feeling like someone’s following me since I’ve been back.”

“What?” The word exploded from him and she flinched.

“Sir, if you don’t calm down, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Tyler gnashed his teeth and nodded. “Ella, when were you going to mention that?”

She glanced up at him with those damned wide eyes that got to him every time. “I wasn’t sure. And I didn’t want to make a big deal if I was wrong. It was that first day after we got home. It’s been quiet since then, so I put it out of my head.”

“Miss, did you see anyone you could provide a description of?”

She swallowed hard. “Just a guy with dark hair. He was staring at me through a shop window. I kept busy, and when I looked again, he was gone.”

“Did he look familiar to you?” the other cop asked.

“Was he the guy who mugged you?” Tyler pushed further.

She shrugged. “I didn’t get a good look at the mugger. I know he had dark hair, but so do most men on the island and half the male population of Miami.”

The cop flipped his note pad closed. “If you’d like to come downtown and file a report, we can at least have something official.”

“I’ll bring her down tomorrow,” Tyler said. “She’s shaken up now and it’s late.”

“Will you be okay?” the second uniform asked. “We can drop you somewhere if you’d like.”

“No. She’ll be staying with me,” Tyler said before Ella could reply.

“What? No, I’ll be fine at home.”

“We’ll leave it to you to sort things out. If you need anything or remember any details, call.” He handed her a card.