The Unwanted Runaway

The Information

Denton’s POV

As I approached my house, I noticed Carter sitting on the small front porch, rocking back and forth in a wooden rocking chair with, Buster, lying at his feet. The tension in the air was thick as I greeted him with a simple "Hey, what's going on?"

Carter's serious expression confirmed my suspicion that this was not a casual visit. He replied, "Hey, Denton. I came here to talk to you about some important things involving Anna and your crazy ex. Which do you want to hear first?"

My heart dropped at the mention of Anna's name. I braced myself for what could be good or bad news. "Is it good or bad?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Carter's response was ominous. "It depends on how you want to take it."

I took a deep breath and said, "Let's start with Anna."

Carter shifted in his chair before speaking. "I know that you know Mia and Brooke were trying to push Anna and I together. But we both came to the agreement that we're better off as friends. I think she was a little hurt by it, but there's definitely no competition between me and you for her. She told me the only reason she kissed me was because she was led to believe that I liked her, thanks to Brooke and Mia."

I couldn't hide my shock. "Wait, you kissed Anna?" I said, my tone serious and accusing.

Carter held up his hands in defense. "First off, you were with Sarah at the time. And secondly, Anna was the one who initiated the kiss. There are no feelings between us."

I paused, taking in this information. "Okay, go on. But I don't like this, Carter."

He could see the anger in my eyes and paused before continuing. "I told my guys to dig into Anna's past, as you already know, and we found out that her ex-fiancé, Joey Freeman, stole a thumb drive from his boss before being fired before him, and Anna got together,. It turns out, the thumb drive contained some illegal information that is now being sought after by the cartel. Anna didn't know what she was stealing when she took it."

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Why would she steal it then?"

Carter sighed. "I don't know. But her ex-best Bianca Gomez friend filed a missing person's report for her, most likely as a cover-up so Joey Freeman can find her and get that thumb drive back.

It would be too suspicious if her ex-boyfriend filed the missing persons report.

My mind was racing with all this new information. "Wait, so the cartel is after Anna?"

Carter shook his head. "No, they're after Joey Freeman. He used the cover of filing a stolen jewelry report to retrieve the thumb drive. And he had Bianca Gomez, Anna's ex-best friend, file the missing person's report to throw off suspicion."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "We need to talk to Anna about this," I said firmly, my tone serious and determined.

Carter's serious expression confirmed my suspicion that this was not a casual visit. He replied, "Hey, Denton. I came here to talk to you about some important things involving Anna and your crazy ex. Which do you want to hear first?"

My heart dropped at the mention of Anna's name. I braced myself for what could be good or bad news. "Is it good or bad?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Carter's response was ominous. "It depends on how you want to take it."

I took a deep breath and said, "Let's start with Anna."

Carter shifted in his chair before speaking. "I know that you know Mia and Brooke were trying to push Anna and I together. But we both came to the agreement that we're better off as friends. I think she was a little hurt by it, but there's definitely no competition between me and you for her. She told me the only reason she kissed me was because she was led to believe that I liked her, thanks to Brooke and Mia."

I couldn't hide my shock. "Wait, you kissed Anna?" I said, my tone serious and accusing.

Carter held up his hands in defense. "First off, you were with Sarah at the time. And secondly, Anna was the one who initiated the kiss. There are no feelings between us."

I paused, taking in this information. "Okay, go on. But I don't like this, Carter."

He could see the anger in my eyes and paused before continuing. "I told my guys to dig into Anna's past, as you already know, and we found out that her ex-fiancé, Joey Freeman, stole a thumb drive from his boss before being fired before him, and Anna got together,. It turns out, the thumb drive contained some illegal information that is now being sought after by the cartel. Anna didn't know what she was stealing when she took it."

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Why would she steal it then?"

Carter sighed. "I don't know. But her ex-best Bianca Gomez friend filed a missing person's report for her, most likely as a cover-up so Joey Freeman can find her and get that thumb drive back.

It would be too suspicious if her ex-boyfriend filed the missing persons report.

My mind was racing with all this new information. "Wait, so the cartel is after Anna?"

Carter shook his head. "No, they're after Joey Freeman. He used the cover of filing a stolen jewelry report to retrieve the thumb drive. And he had Bianca Gomez, Anna's ex-best friend, file the missing person's report to throw off suspicion."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "We need to talk to Anna about this," I said firmly, my tone serious and determined.

Carter and continues on tells me that Sarah talked to her dad and her Dad hag called uncle Luke to inform him after Nearly 3 decades of being the families that veterinarian he’ll be cutting ties, because of the situation between Sarah and you, and doesn’t wanna make things more awkward.

well, my parents care for him much anyway Sarah’s dad was more Into making money then actually caring about the animals here on the ranch.

Carter replies “That’s exactly what Sunt Rose said.

That’s not gonna hurt us and you know how many veterinarians wanna take the Miller family on as clients.

Carter's serious demeanor doesn't waver as he responds, "I understand, but we can't let Sarah's manipulative tactics affect our decision. We need to focus on the facts."

He continues, "While I was talking to your parents, I overheard a conversation between Nikki and Mia. Apparently, Jason kept the SIM card from the drone he shot down the one night."

With a puzzled expression, I ask Carter, "Why would he do that?"

"Think about it, Denton," he adds with a hint of amusement in my voice.

Carter and I both share a chuckle as Carter continues, "Jason mentioned getting free porn featuring him and Brooke from that SIM card. It seems like Mia and Evan, along with Jason and Brooke, have evidence against Seth. And we both know how much Sarah loves her son."

So are we good on the whole Anna thing?

now that you know that me and her are not a thing and you’re single, you’re gonna pursue her right cause I know you have feelings for her we all do Denton?

Yeah, we’re good Carter ‘

OK, but you know you gotta take things easy with her because she is definitely fragile.

I know I plan on it I wanna do things right by her. I just hope she’ll let me.

Carter gets up would you handshake and tell him I’ll see him on Thanksgiving and he walks to his truck and leaves. I open my front door walk in siding. I need to take a shower.