Chapter 2 2

"This is harassment," Kia snapped, her hands gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. "You can't just order her out of the vehicle."

Judge ignored her. He was looking at the rear of Kia's car. "Your left tail light is out, Ms. Chen. That's a violation. Officer Miller will write you a citation. It might take a while."

He signaled the rookie over. "Handle the driver. I'll handle the passenger."

It was a lie. Kelsie knew Kia's car was in perfect condition. Kia was meticulous about maintenance. But arguing with a Captain at a checkpoint was a losing battle.

Judge opened Kelsie's door. The dome light flooded the cabin, exposing her.

"Out," he said. One word. No inflection.

Kelsie gripped the seatbelt strap across her chest. "No."

Judge bent lower. His face was inches from hers. She could see the faint stubble on his jaw, the exhaustion lines around his eyes. "Don't make a scene, Kelsie. Don't make me pull you out of this car in front of your friend and my officers."

Heat rushed to Kelsie's face. Shame. He knew exactly which button to push. He knew she hated conflict, hated being a spectacle.

She unclicked the seatbelt. The sound was like a gunshot in the small space.

Kelsie stepped out onto the wet asphalt. Her legs felt weak, like they were made of water.

Kia started to open her door. "Kelsie-"

Officer Miller stepped in her path. "Ma'am, please stay in the vehicle."

Judge didn't wait. His hand clamped around Kelsie's upper arm, just above the elbow. His grip was firm, bordering on painful. Not enough to bruise, but enough to steer. Enough to control.

"Let go of me," Kelsie hissed, trying to twist away.

He didn't let go. He marched her past the patrol cars, past the flashing lights, toward a black SUV parked in the shadows on the shoulder. It wasn't a marked squad car. It was his personal vehicle.

"I can call an Uber," Kelsie said, digging her heels into the ground.

Judge stopped. He turned to her, his body blocking out the rest of the world. "You're not getting in a stranger's car at this time of night."

"I'm not getting in yours either." Kelsie reached into her coat pocket for her phone. She needed to call a ride. She needed to get away from him.

His hand shot out. He snatched the phone from her grasp before she could even unlock the screen.

"Hey!" Kelsie grabbed for it.

He slid it into his pocket, right next to her license. "I am your husband. I am taking you home."

"We're separated," Kelsie said, her voice rising.

"We are having a fight," he corrected. "Get in."

He opened the passenger door of the black SUV. He didn't shove her, but his presence was a wall that pushed her backward until she fell into the leather seat.

He slammed the door shut.

Before Kelsie could reach for the handle, she heard the thunk of the central locks engaging.

Judge walked around the front of the car. His silhouette cut through the beams of the headlights. He moved with a predator's grace, calm and lethal.

He climbed into the driver's seat. The interior of the car smelled like him. It was overwhelming.

He started the engine. The V8 rumbled to life. He pulled out into traffic, merging aggressively, cutting off a taxi.

Kelsie sat with her arms crossed, staring out the window. The city passed in a blur of neon and rain.

Her mind drifted back to three days ago. The kitchen. The cold tile under her bare feet.

Flashback.

"We can't keep waiting, Judge," Kelsie had said, holding the brochure for the IVF clinic. "Dr. Hester says my levels are dropping. If we want to do this, we have to do it now."

Judge hadn't even looked up from his file. "Not now, Kelsie. The timing isn't right."

"It's never right!" Kelsie had screamed, throwing the brochure on the counter. "It's been five years. Why don't you want a baby with me?"

He had looked at her then, his eyes cold. "Because you're not stable enough right now. You're too emotional."

Then his phone had rung. He had looked at the screen, his expression shifting instantly from annoyance to concern. He had taken the phone and walked into his study, locking the door behind him.

End Flashback.

Kelsie shivered. The memory was colder than the night air.

Judge reached out and adjusted the climate control dial. Warm air blasted from the vents.

"You're cold," he said. It wasn't a question. He noticed everything. It was part of his job, part of his nature. He could spot a shivering suspect from fifty yards away.

"I'm fine," Kelsie said, though her teeth were chattering.

"Stop it," he said softly. "Stop fighting me on everything."

"You kidnapped me," Kelsie said.

"I rescued you from a roadside stop."

"You caused the stop."

He didn't deny it. He just kept his eyes on the road.

Kelsie looked at the street signs. They were heading west. Toward the suburbs. Toward the house.

"I'm not going back there," Kelsie said, panic flaring again. "Take me back to Kia's."

"No," Judge said. "You've made your point. You stayed away for three days. You scared me. Now we're going home."

"Scared you?" Kelsie laughed, a bitter sound. "You didn't even call."

His jaw tightened. A muscle jumped in his cheek. "I knew where you were. I was giving you space. Until tonight."

"What changed tonight?"

He didn't answer. He just pressed harder on the gas pedal.