Authority Song // John Mellencamp

It takes 3 cops to drag me out of the place. Not because I'm fighting them. I backed off as soon as they pulled me away from Ross and I watched one of the cops throw cuffs on him. But these guys took one look at my 6'5" stature and decided I needed handling. Whatever.

Cop 1, the clear leader of the group, shoves me into the back of his cruiser, the glow of red and blue lights splashing across the dark building. I say nothing. I know the drill. I know the process I'll go through. And if it means Ross gets tossed in the slammer for a few hours while I pull rank and get to Colleen first, so be it.

Cop 2 takes his sweet fucking time getting a statement from the bouncer all while throwing glances back at me. I don't know these guys. I worked in a completely separate precinct across town. Our departments don't interact much, and I've been off the force for a few years now. If I were in his shoes, I'd feel like a class A dick when I found out who I had in the back of my car. I won't hold it over him, though. Not every ex-cop who gets detained is working undercover surveillance. Most of them are just assholes.

I lean back in the seat, my arms pinned behind me, and take a deep breath, blowing it out after a count of eight. In for eight more than out again. My heartrate regulates once my breathing is under control. I'd close my eyes to center my thoughts, but I don't want to miss the sight of Ross being thrown in the back of the other cruiser.

Imagine my surprise when that doesn't happen.

"What the fuck?" I watch in disbelief as Ross walks freely out of the bar, rubbing his now uncuffed wrists. He nods at something Cop 3 says to him while Cop 1 pats him on the back.

"What the actual fuck?" They never got my statement, asked for my ID, looked up my credentials or his mile-fucking-long rap sheet. I grind my teeth, so I don't start shouting through the glass, clenching my jaw for good measure because I'm about to blow my shit.

Cop 2 gets into the driver's seat of the cruiser, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

"You calmed down now?" he asks, smug motherfucker.

"I was calm the second you had your hands on me."

He huffs and shakes his head. "Sure." He starts up the car as Cop 3 gets in the passenger seat.

"So, you aren't getting a statement from me? You guys forget all about protocol or just pick and choose who you use it on?"

"You'll make your statement at the station."

"But not Ross."

"The victim gave his statement as did the witnesses."

"Did you run him through the system? No, of course you didn't otherwise you'd have seen his history and you'd know he's no victim."

"You might want to refrain from speaking until you speak to a lawyer." Cop 2 eyes me.

I laugh. "You never read me my rights. That's one of many violations your rag tag team just committed." I lean forward as much as the seatbelt allows. "I'm undercover surveillance for a stalker, aka Ross on the loose."

Cop 2 looks at Cop 3. Both of them laugh. "Surveillance? You did a shit job of that once you attacked your subject."

I shake my head, deciding it's not worth talking to these two. They're beat cops. They don't know shit. I'll give Frank a call and get myself released without these yahoos.

What I don't anticipate is the 6 hours that would take to happen.

***

"What the hell took so long?" I ask Frank as we walk out of the police station just after 4am. I thought I'd lose my mind the first hour. None of them would take me seriously. Even after seeing my record as an L.A. cop. My security company for Brianna Royce. My work with the FBI over her stalker a few years ago. None of that could sway them to listen to me. Not even the laundry list of charges Ross has faced. The only thing they cared about was that he didn't have an active warrant for his arrest. They had to let him go since all witnesses stated I lunged at him first and the bar wouldn't press charges against him.

Me, they did press charges against. And it took all night for Frank to get them dropped, but my brother came through for me.

"I had to charter a plane because they wouldn't deal with me over the phone. I got the bar owner out of bed to agree to drop charges. Then I had to speak to the police chief out here and have my police chief talk him through Ross's situation since Silver Valley is technically in the same county as Fallbrook Hills so we have jurisdiction."

"All that and they still won't arrest him."

"He hasn't committed a crime out here, yet."

"And there it is. Yet." The worst fucking word when it comes to criminals. The only thing keeping me sane is the call I made to Zack after I talked to Frank. I had him check in with Colleen, warn her to keep an eye out for Ross since I wasn't sure she'd answer my call. I didn't want to waste the couple calls I was allowed to make so I used them for the sure things.

"We can only focus on the current status," Frank says. "One step at a time." He claps my shoulder before splitting off to get in his rental car. I slide into the passenger seat and give him directions to the lot across from The Dive where my rental car still sits. I never told the cops about it, so it didn't get taken to impound.

I use the drive to give Zack a call as he's three hours ahead of me and likely awake. And if he isn't, tough shit. Colleen is more important than his beauty sleep.

"That hands-off method did you dirty," Zack says after he answers my call. He's nicknamed my approach to interrogation and dealing with dirtbags as the hands-off method because that's usually how I roll. I don't use physical force, typically.

"The hands-off method wasn't working, so I improvised," I say, rubbing my face. Exhaustion is kicking in, but I don't have time to be tired.

"Improvised yourself right behind bars," he says. Zack lets out a deep breath. "Listen, I get it. I was ready to take Logan down when I realized what he was doing to Bree," he reminds me about her former manager. "If you hadn't stepped in, I'd be the one with assault charges."

"Frank got the charges dropped."

"Good. I would have put all of Bree's star power behind you to get that done if Frank hadn't."

"Thanks, man."

"That's who we are, Clinton. We're there for each other."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, grateful for the close-knit group of friends I have in my circle. I need to remember that more often, rely on the people who support me rather than try going everything alone.

"Yup." I can't say anything else, not until I get myself under control and see for myself that Colleen is good.

We hang up as Frank pulls into the lot across from the bar. The sun is peeking over the horizon, washing the streets in an orange hue. It's not a great neighborhood, so all the sunrise does is highlight the layer of grime surrounding us.

"Try keeping your cool with Colleen," my brother advises. "I have a feeling she's not going to appreciate your efforts."

I nod, a sinking feeling in my gut that he's absolutely right. I'm fucking exhausted, but I can't put this off. I need her to know what Ross said, what he's planning. I need her to trust me, more than anything. I realize I may have sabotaged myself in that aspect. I texted her that I was in town and coming to her as soon as I had my phone back. Even though it was barely sunup, she texted back she'd be waiting.

I thank my brother and hand him the keys to my place where he'll stay until his flight back tonight, which I insisted on paying for. Then I trudge to Colleen's door. It's fucking early, but I need to see that she's safe. I need to wrap my arms around her. I hope she'll let me.

I knock, my stomach twisting in ways I'm not used to. Waiting at her door to find out my fate is not how I planned to spend my trip back, but it is what it is. I take full responsibility for putting myself in this position.

Colleen opens the door, a tentative smile on her face.

She doesn't know why I'm here. I'm afraid once she knows, the smile on her face will be long gone. For now, I'm relieved she jumps into my arms. I pull her close, needing to smell her peach shampoo and feel her heartbeat against mine.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shut you out like that." She kisses me, pressing her lips to mine firmly. I feel gross, having been in a jailcell most of the night, but I kiss her back regardless.

Then I pull back, needing to get her inside and confess my sins.

I carry her inside, sitting with her on the couch and running my fingers through her hair.

"I have to talk to you about why I'm here."

Colleen smirks. "Couldn't stay away any longer?"

"Well, yeah. I hate the distance we've had to deal with. But that's not the true reason."

Her smirk fades replaced with confusion. "What it is? Something with Katie?"

I shake my head. "Something with you." I take a deep breath and dive into the details. "I told you Ross was in town."

That's all it takes for her to pull away from me, crossing her arms and glaring.

"What did you do." It's not even a question. She knows I did something.

"I found him. I went to the bar he was hanging out in. I talked to him. Or rather, he talked to me. A lot. He said plenty, Colleen. He's got nefarious intentions where you're concerned. He said you'd come out here on your little adventure but now it was time for you to go home and settle down with him."

Her brows furrow. "He said that about me?"

I nod.

"He named me specifically?"

I open my mouth to tell her yes but pause before I do. Did he? He called her his friend, his girl, but never said her name.

"No." I don't have the smoking gun I thought I had, but in my gut, I know he meant Colleen.

"Okay, you assume he's talking about me at this bar. Then what, you told him off?"

I nod slowly. "Basically."

"Oh, God. What."

"I tackled him. Technically, I threatened him."

"Clinton." She covers her face.

"I never hit him." But I wished I had. Although it may have been much harder for Frank to get the charges dropped if I'd gone that far. "The cops let him go, so you need to be careful."

"Wait, the cops?"

"The bar called for backup. I should have brought the bouncer in on my plan when I walked in, but I didn't think I'd need him on it."

She stands up. "Are you telling me...you got in a bar brawl? With my high school ex-boyfriend? Because he said he wanted some girl to settle down with him?" She paces away from me. "What's wrong with you?"

I stand up as well, needing her to understand. "He's not a safe guy. I promise you. And it's not that simple. They let him go without taking my statement, without seeing his rap sheet or the intel I've gathered on him."

Colleen freezes, turning slowly to look at me. With her jaw dropped and eyes wide, she shakes her head. "Intel. Right, you've been spying on him."

"I.don't.trust.him." I clench my jaw to keep from saying anything else.

"You don't trust anyone. Is this what you do? Dig up dirt on anyone who you deem a threat?"

I throw my hands up. "Yes. That's literally my job."

"For Brianna, America's Sweetheart. A famous pop star. I don't need a bodyguard."

I disagree but refrain from saying so. I'm pretty sure that would be the nail in my coffin. "I can't turn it on and off. I'm wired to protect the people I love."

Again, she freezes. "What?"

I step closer to her, desperate for her to understand. "I love you."

To my horror, she bursts into tears. "This is a really shitty way to tell me."

I reach to pull her into my arms, but she pushes me away.

"I need some time, Clinton. This is too much. I'm angry. I'm confused. I'm freaking out and I can't think straight."

"What do you want me to do." I'll do fucking anything she asks right now, as long as she comes back to me. As long as she's safe.

"I need you to leave."

Fuck. It goes against everything I'm made of to leave her. Thank God I'm literally next door. Leaving her is almost figurative, but if that's what it takes for her to forgive me, I'll do it.

"I'll go. But I'll be here the second you ask."

Colleen nods, tightly, then looks away as I walk toward the door. I could fight her on this, beg her to understand, but I know it would do more damage than good. I can give her this small thing, walking away to give her space.

But I'll still be watching. Making sure she's safe. Even if she doesn't know it.

Yikes! He's in the dog house now. But you know me...I won't keep him there 😉 . I wonder what it'll take to get him out? (JK I already know...for once! Very unlike me haha)

SIDE NOTE: Next week may be the last regular update because we're taking the kids on a 32 day road trip in Europe! My hubby and I have planned and saved for this trip for years and now that its here, I'm freaking out! Coverage may be spotty to post, but I'll do my best. By the way, there's about 3-5 more chapters left so we're almost there!!

I thought of this song as I was writing the scene between Clinton and Colleen, specifially the chorus (I fought the law, and the law won). Clinton IS the law, but it got the better of him this time. And Ross is on the loose! That can't end well. I'll leave it at that.

https://youtu.be/wsEwK69LXjQ

Thank you so much for reading! AND if you want bonus scenes for any of my stories, consider joining my newsletter (linktree in bio) which will have exclusive epilogues only accessible to newsletter subscribers. I'm almost done writing a scene for Brax and Savanna you won't want to miss if you've read Inevitable. Next up will be a scene for Zack and Brianna 💕