30

2:28 p.m.

"Cullen!"

I look up at the sound of my name, toward my C.O. He waves me over, and I swallow thickly, heading over to him.

"Sir?" I ask.

He motions his head toward his office. "Someone here to see you."

From the rigidness of his posture and the hard set of his jaw, I know exactly who is here to see me.

My palms start to sweat as I brace myself for what's coming next.

I head into his office, taking a deep breath to brace myself.

Behind my C.O.'s desk is Chief-of-Police, Charlie Swan.

My girlfriend's dad.

"Sir," I say, standing at attention when I enter. He looks up at me, his dark eyes assessing.

"Cullen?" he asks. I nod. "Take a seat."

His voice is level, impossible to read, and I slowly reach out for a chair across from him.

He stares at me, electing not to speak first, and it takes all I have not to squirm or say something to break the tense silence.

Finally, he nods.

"I pulled you in here on a personal matter, Cullen," he says, and I feel the back of my neck start to sweat. "Word in the precinct is you are fucking my little girl."

I flinch, appalled. "I love her."

Chief Swan doesn't seem to hear me, or perhaps he doesn't care.

"How long has this been going on?" He demands.

I swallow thickly. "Two years."

His knuckles whiten, the only outward sign of his anger.

"You've been violating my baby for two years?" He demands.

"I've been dating and loving your adult daughter in a committed and consenting relationship for two years," I correct him. He looks like he wants to hit me.

"My daughter is a genius. She's going to change the world. You think a piss ant like you is good enough for her?" he asks, his voice quiet, deadly.

"I am good enough for her," I say, my voice getting a touch emotional. "Because I love her for exactly who she is, not for what she can do for me."

I snap my mouth shut. Fuck. I'm so fucking fired.

Chief Swan glares at me.

"You are living together?" he demands, his eyes hard.

I swallow.

"Yes, Sir."

"And you plan to what, just live with her in sin forever?"

Jesus, this man is all over the place.

"No," I bite back my scowl. "I fully plan on asking her to marry me." It's none of his fucking business, so I don't mention that the ring I've spent two months saving for is currently stashed away in my locker.

"You're not good enough to marry her," he says.

"That's really not your call," I tell him, immediately regretting it. Jesus, my career is so fucking over.

His eyes narrow. "I can end you, boy," he sneers. "When I walk out of this office, I could destroy any hope you ever had of being in the force. You won't even be able to get a job as a tollbooth attendant when I'm through with you."

I steel myself for my response.

"I'm a good officer with an exemplary record," I tell him. "And I don't scare easily."

He stares at me, and I'm not sure if I'm digging myself deeper, or if that is in fact a glimmer of respect I see in his eyes.

Either way, I'm not going to let him bully me into doing or saying anything.

We are still for a moment, stuck in our silence as we both try to process what comes next.

After a couple of minutes, Chief Swan lets out a slightly staggered breath.

"She didn't even tell me she was dating someone," he says, and I'm surprised to hear the vulnerability in his voice. He sounds like a heartbroken father, not a cold and driven career man. "Fifteen years, her mother kept her away from me. I finally got her back, and now she's gone again."

His dark eyes are on the desk, lost to whatever painful memories he's holding.

"One thing I know about Bella," I say slowly, not wanting to get shot over what I'm about to say, but feeling the compulsive need to comfort him in some way. "Is that she loves with her whole heart. If she holds you in her heart, she can't help but shower you in love." I swallow when his eyes lift to mine. "And Sir, your daughter loves you."

It's true. Bella and her dad might not always get along, but it's clear she admires his ambition and strength. She's talked repeatedly about all he managed to accomplish so young in life, and how she wishes she could be half as successful.

Despite his shortcomings, Bella looks up to him.

I tell him this, careful not to betray Bella's trust, but also needing to give the broken man I'm getting glimpses of something to hold on to.

When I'm done, the Chief sits back in his seat, his heavy gaze on me.

"Hurt her, and I'll kill you, Cullen. I mean it."

It's chilling, but also on par for Chief Swan. I nod at him to make him know I'm paying attention.

"It's not my intention to bring her anything but happiness for the rest of her life."

Chief stares at me for a long moment before looking away.

"You're dismissed."

I stand, hesitating by the door.

"Sir," I say, unable to stop myself. He looks up at me. "You might not have been present during most of her childhood, but you are deeply a part of who she is. You've raised an amazing person."

Chief Swan doesn't respond as I leave him in my C.O.'s office.