“I love you.”
The words just slip out naturally, like I’ve been waiting to say them to her for so long. Like I’ve said them a thousand times.
Briar’s eyes widen, then immediately start to glisten with tears. The look on her face goes straight to my core, like she’s putting herself fully in my hands, giving me every ounce of trust she holds dear.
I know now, fully in my heart, that my life revolves around her. Nothing will ever harm her. And I will do everything I can to make sure she’s happy.
“I love you too,” she cries. I cradle her in my arms, breathing slowly and deeply to calm her. She’s so soft and warm, but whatshe did for me today displayed such strength. She took a big risk to bring me this recording. A risk that will change everything.
“He’s going down for this,” I whisper, stroking my fingers through her hair. Briar is a wellspring of energy, fueling my determination to end this man once and for all.
Before, he was just a minor problem getting in the way of my career. I could handle that. But now he’s threatenedher, and that changes things.
You’ve gone too far, Felch. And now you’re going to regret it.
“What are you going to do?” Briar whispers.
What Iwantto do is find Felch and break his face. But despite the evidence I have, he’s still the police captain—for now—and I can’t do that. Not unless I want to end up in a jail cell.
No, I have to go about this with a little bit more finesse. And I know just the move to make.
I wish I didn’t have to stand and take my arms off of Briar, but I need my phone, and it’s over on the table. She lets out a soft moan as I let go of her and stand, but I grab it quickly and come back to her, threading my fingers between hers. Then I dial Jason.
“Who are you calling?”
“Oh, just the deputy chief of police,” I reply with a casual smirk.
“Isn’t he like…a big deal?”
“You could say that. He’s Felch’s bossandan old buddy of mine. He will love to hear this recording.”
Briar’s face lights up, and I lean in and kiss her. Just a light peck on the lips, but it’s enough to make my entire world rock on its axis.
“Yo, Rawls, you old bastard!” Jason’s voice rings out from the other end of the line. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Jason, how the hell are ya?” I can’t help but smile. Jason and I came up as patrolman together. He was a few years older than me and better at playing the political game, so he moved up the ranks faster.
“Jay, what would you say if I told you I had information about a corrupt cop in your department?”
Pause. I can picture him thinking right now, his face gone cold, shifting in his seat as he gets serious. Nothing pisses Jason off more than a truly corrupt cop.
Glancing over at Briar, I press speaker on my phone. His voice comes out, stony and flat, like a man preparing for a fight. “I’d say show me what you’ve got so I can bring the goddamn hammer down.”
Briar’s face lights up. I kiss her again, letting my lips linger.
“Morgan Felch,” I say into the phone. “He’s the one who instigated my IA hearing. The one behind it all. And now he’s trying to use his power to destroy the love of my life.”
Briar gasps and reflexively snatches my arm with her hands. We may have said the words to each other, but this is the first time I’ve made it public. Trust fills her eyes. I just took a big step. And that’s all I see ahead of us. More steps into our mutual future.
“Never liked that prick,” Jason murmurs. I can hear him already typing something in the background. “Always felt like a criminal with a badge.”
Smirking, I enter in Jason’s e-mail to Briar’s phone. She attaches the audio recording and presses send. “It’s coming to you now, Jay. You should have it any second.”
“Just got it,” he replies. “Let me give it a listen and I’ll get back to you.”
“Thanks, Jason.”
I hang up and see Briar staring at me, tears welling up in her eyes. “The love of your life?”
