Yours Always Book 1

6

"So, are you going to be able to see everything I do? I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"Well, just don't be sending R-rated snaps, and there won't be an issue," he said lightly while winking at me.

"Will you ever quit teasing me?"

"Nope. It's so much fun, and I love seeing how red your face gets," he replied, writing down the email address. "I'm going to take the emails back to the station and see what I can do about finding this guy. I need the computers," he said, standing up. He leaned down, kissed the top of my head, and then walked out of the door.

I turned my head once again to hide the blush on my cheeks after the kiss. I have never been able to control my schoolgirl crush on Colin. However, I was happy that I would know who was doing this the following day when Colin had tracked the IP address and email details. I finally felt safe enough to fall asleep, and I tried my best to. I laid there, listened to my TV playing in the background, and felt my eyes getting heavy. Before I fell asleep, I heard my phone buzz on my end table, but I was way too tired to even bother with it and fell into a deep sleep.

"Ivy," a male voice said while lightly shaking me.

"Wake up, Giggles," it continued.

Wait, did the male voice call me Giggles?

"Come on, Ivy, wake up." Colin was back in my room. I snapped my eyes open and sat straight up in my bed. "Morning, Sleepyhead," he said. He was so close to my face when I sat up. I could have kissed him.

"What the hell are you doing in my room, dude?" I asked, faking some anger, which Colin ignored.

"Well., I tried tracking the IP, and it led me to an old man named Frank. We talked for a good 20 minutes before I realized Frank couldn't be the one sending the messages. He is 92 years old and lives in a retirement home. He only gets on computers to play games.”

“That just raises more questions,” I replied. “And that still doesn’t explain what you are doing in my room at… Oh… it's two in the afternoon,” I said, calming down after looking at my clock. I must have passed out hard last night. I was so tired after everything that had happened.

"I was waiting for you to wake up on your own, but you didn't, so I figured I would wake you up," he replied. My face must have been completely red by now, given the smile on his face.

"Fine, so what do we do about it?"

"I'm not sure, but that's why I woke you up. Detective Wilson is downstairs and needs to talk to you." I shook my head. "Ivy, you need to go down and talk to him."

"I can't go like this," I said, pointing to my pajamas and messy hair.

"Come on, Giggles. You look beautiful. Now get your ass downstairs," he said, getting up and leaving the room.

I got up out of bed and tried to make myself a little more presentable while heading downstairs. Once outside the living room, I hid because I could hear Dean, Wilson, and Colin talking, and something caught my attention. "I checked the security system myself. No one was out back last night; at least I didn't see anyone," Dean said as I moved a little closer to hear better.

"So… what? Are you saying she is lying?" I heard Colin say.

"Colin, stop ignoring the facts. No one was outside. Now, do your job and let Wilson and I handle the rest. She is my daughter, and I will decide what to do from here," Dean was using a quiet but angry voice.

Dean was not a fan of others getting into the family's business, even his best friend. He felt that he could take care of us on his own. I thought the more help, the better, but knowing that Dean doesn’t believe me hurts. I always thought he would have my back, no matter what.

"Yes, Head Detective," Colin said with sarcasm, and then started coming my way, bumping into me on his way out of the house. He gave me a sorrowful look and continued outside. After he left, I walked into the living room and locked eyes with Dean.

"You think I'm lying?" I repeated Colin's statement.

"s**t, Ivy… I looked at the system and saw no one out there. Can you blame me for not thinking otherwise?" Dean said while taking a seat on the couch next to me.

"What about the footprints Ozzy found?" I pleaded. Wilson was quiet throughout the whole discussion, and I was getting more annoyed that Dean didn't believe me.

"Ivy, Oz said he found footprints, but when he took me to the backyard, there was nothing there; I didn't see any," he said.

“So, you’re not only calling me a liar but Ozzy as well?” I said, anger laced in my voice.

“I’m not calling anyone a liar. I think you are on edge because of the emails, and it’s making your mind play tricks on you. It happens. Being overdramatic isn’t the way to go about it,” he replied.

"I think… I want to go stay with my dad," I stuttered. Dean looked as if he was about to cry.

I loved staying with my father, but Mom won the court case with Dean’s help, and now I only get to see him every other weekend.

"You don't trust me?" he said, sounding hurt.

The only thing I could think to say was, “You don't trust me, either.”

"I trust you, but as a stepfather, as a detective, there is nothing that tells me someone was out there last night. I'm sorry, Ivy."

"Well, my real dad will trust me no matter what and help me, even without evidence," I said, standing up.

I heard Dean mumble “Real Dad” under his breath as I walked away. I must have hurt him. I felt terrible about it, but I just wanted someone to believe me.

I walked to my room and picked up my phone, ignoring the emails. I quickly called my father, Eric.

My father is a very intimidating man. He is forty-seven and still looks about thirty. He runs a gang and does some pretty f****d up s**t that I am not supposed to know about. He has people who work for him and can keep me safe, and although others see him as a bad person, I see him as an amazing father. He has always been a great dad to Oz and me.

"Hey, Baby Girl. What's up?" Dad said.

"Hey, Daddy. I'm having some issues, and I would like to come to stay with you for a bit," I replied, packing up some things.

"What's going on, Ivy? You sound upset. Will Oz be coming as well?"

"I’ll explain when I get there. Ozzy is not coming along."

"Would you like me to send James to get you? I would pick you up, but I'm not allowed around Amy," he said. The split with my mother wasn't the greatest. James has worked with my father for as long as I can remember. He was a great guy but not one to underestimate.

"No, Daddy. I can drive myself. I will be there in thirty minutes."

"All right, Princess, see you soon."

"I love you. Bye," I said.

“I love you too.”

By this time, I had everything I needed to be packed in my bag when my mother came into my room. "Ivy, Dean told me you were going to your father's. You have to stay here; he is only allowed to have you every other weekend." I looked at my mother and shook my head.

"I'm going to Dad’s. I don't care what you say. He will at least believe me, unlike Dean," I said sarcastically. I was not having any of her bullshit today.

"Your Dad is an asshole that abandoned us. Why would you want to stay with him, anyway?" she asked.

"Dad didn't walk away, you did! You are the one who cheated on him with Dean, and you are the one who wouldn't accept anything from him. Dad isn't the bad guy!" I yelled at her. She looked shocked, she probably thought Oz and I didn't know, but we knew everything.

"I didn't think you knew about that. Why didn't you say anything?" she asked.

"Oz and I know all about you and Dad’s separation. We didn't say anything because we forgave you. Dean is a sweet guy, and we love him to death, but he doesn't believe me. Dad will," I said, walking out the door.

Mom didn't follow me, and Dean was sitting in his chair in the living room still upset about what I said. I felt a wave of guilt and decided I should apologize even though I wasn’t sure it would work.

"Dean, I'm sorry for upsetting you. I didn't mean to." Dean wouldn’t even look at me, and he looked like he was teary-eyed.

"You don't think I can protect you, I understand," he replied, getting up and walking to the kitchen and ignoring me.

I walked out of the house and got into my car, moving the rose off the front seat that had a note attached to it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, but I pulled the letter off the stem anyway. I read the note, and it said,

Baby,

I'm sorry I scared you last night. I don't want you to fear me; remember, I love you with all my heart.

Yours, Always,

I threw the rose out the window and drove off.