“You okay?” he asked gently.
“No.”
He nodded. “You will be. Trust me.”
The man had just successfully fought off a bunch of gangbangers. Ones who had Talia. Trust him? Yeah. She could do that. He was her only hope of saving the baby, and he was tough enough to do it. “What now?” she asked quietly.
CHAPTER
9
Denver pulled the car into a grocery store parking area, remaining off to the side and out of view of the security cameras. “I hate to do it, but we need to walk from here.” He had to ditch the stolen car. “We’ll be there soon.”
Noni didn’t argue and instead grabbed her pack. She’d been silent most of the drive, no doubt dealing with shock. Her adrenaline would be ebbing, and he had to get her into a warm shower to combat the shock and the wet clothing they were both wearing. Later he’d worry about her feelings after seeing him kill without blinking. He grimaced. He’d shot three men. How many had he blown up in the explosion?
Getting out and coming around the car, he opened her door and helped her out. “You okay?”
Her eyes were glassy. She shivered in the cold. “What’s our plan?”
“Main plan? I’ve been monitoring the dark web for any auction. If nothing comes up by tomorrow night, I’ll hunt down more gang members and take the fight to Richie. I promise we’ll have the baby back soon.” Denver would hit the hospital the next day. No doubt several gang members would be available there after the explosion.
Noni stumbled and then righted herself, looking around the snowy area. “Where are we going right now?”
He kept his face calm. They were about to take the biggest risk of the entire night. “Three blocks south.” He’d had to leave the automatic weapon in the car because it didn’t fit in his pack, and he couldn’t very well walk through neighborhoods with it. But his Sig was at his waist, so he didn’t feel completely naked. He took her hand. “We need to look like we’re out for a holiday stroll in the snow to look at Christmas lights. This neighborhood is nicer than the one we just left.”
“Okay.” She fell into line beside him, her boots sliding on the icy sidewalk.
He took her through a small subdivision called Apple Orchards, to a cute brick bungalow with cheerful fluorescent lights strung perfectly across every eve. Three glowing reindeer stood over to the right, their lights flickering merrily. He truly hadn’t expected this. “Come on, baby.”
She stumbled next to him but kept pace. When they reached the door, he set her to the side just in case and then he knocked.
Nothing.
Another knock. The door slowly slid open, and a Glock was immediately pointed at his face. “Sorry to wake you,” Denver said evenly.
The door opened farther, and Detective James Malloy stood there in ratty green sweats, his surprisingly cut chest bare. His brown eyes were pissed. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Then he caught sight of Noni shivering next to Denver. The cop’s eyes flickered, a multitude of expressions crossed his face, and then he sighed. “Come in.” He moved to the side.
Denver drew Noni in front of him and nudged her into the warm home. A Christmas tree took up the far corner of a living room decorated in soft black leather, and a dying fire glowed in the brick fireplace. Christmassy knickknacks adorned every surface. The room was much cozier and friendly than Denver would’ve thought.
Noni looked around as if not sure what to do.
“Jamie?” a female voice asked tentatively.
Denver jolted and turned. A stunning black woman stood in the hall, her long hair mussed and her brown eyes wide. She wore a bright pink camisole with very short shorts, her long legs smooth and her toenails painted a soft red.
Malloy sighed. “Honey, put on the coffee, would you? Apparently we have visitors. I’ll introduce you if I decide not to arrest them.”
The woman looked them over and then gave a short nod. “I’ll make it strong.” She crossed the room and pushed open a newly painted cream-colored door, disappearing into what must’ve been the kitchen. While Malloy was probably in his midforties, the woman had to be thirty, tops. Interesting.
Denver cleared his throat and toed off his boots. “Noni, this is Detective Malloy.”
She jolted and swung wide eyes at him.
“Yeah. He’s a cop.” Denver helped her out of her boots and then her coat, scattering snow on the entryway tile.
Malloy moved and set his gun on the mantel. “Tell me you’re not the one who blew up a house tonight. I heard it on the scanner.”
Denver winced.
