Suddenly, Zane lifted me off my feet. “That’s enough, Angel.” He spun me into a hug, and I held on tight.
Constance came through the door next to Simon. “You okay?” She knelt beside the short evil man and felt his neck. “This one’s dead.”
“We’re good,” Zane said, squeezing me tighter.
“See, heels are good in a fight,” I said into his chest.
“Uh-huh.”
Lucas ran in.
“You’re late,” Constance chided.
“All the fucking interior doors were locked,” he explained.
Pete arrived next and looked at the two dead men. “This mess is going to mean paperwork for somebody.”
An hour later,Zane and I were on the smelly couch, but I couldn’t give a damn. I was in my man’s arms and nothing else in this world mattered.
Lieutenant Wellbourne had complained when he wanted to take my statement, and I told him I was not letting go of my man for anything or anyone.
He took notes and recorded everything I said, with only a few clarifying questions. He did the same with Zane, then got up. “I have to say, you’re one brave lady.”
“That she is,” my man agreed.
The lieutenant held up my watch in a plastic bag. “Unless we get a confession, I’m going to have to keep this for evidence.”
I nodded. “Whatever it takes to put him away.”
Wellbourne walked over to O’Connor, who was sitting in the corner still holding his groin. The fat man was cuffed and guarded by two cops. “You’re a fucking disgrace to the badge, O’Connor.”
The detective spat at Wellbourne’s shoes, but missed.
“You’re going to really enjoy spending the nights until your arraignment with Big Ben. Oh, he’s really going to like you.”
“I’m law enforcement,” O’Connor stated. “You have to keep me in protective custody.”
Wellbourne opened the detective’s credentials. “No, I don’t. These look fake to me.”
“You can’t do this. They’re the real deal.”
“You’re in with Big Ben until I can verify them on Monday.”
The cops guarding the detective chuckled.
“You can’t do this. I’m a brother in blue.”
“Like I said, these look fake to me.”
“He deserves it,” I told the lieutenant when he came back over to us.
Wellbourne shook his head. “What he did makes me sick.” Then, he patted Zane on the shoulder. “Take care of her. You two can go now.”
Zane pulled me up to stand. “Oh, I intend to.”
Those words sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “It’s been a long day. Maybe we can move the date to tomorrow?”
“Not a chance. I made you a promise, and I keep my promises.”
