Page 79 of Taking What Was His

Dylan handed his gun to Roman, knowing they’d need to investigate. “He ran out the back and toward me. I yelled, ‘Stop, police,’ and he kept coming, so I shot him.”

Conner cursed. “I was calling it in and getting an ambulance and more cops when he bolted out the back door. Thankfully, I’d already picked up his gun.”

Roman wiped a hand down his face. “God. I can’t believe he was able to run after I hit him with the butt of my gun.”

“I’m guessing it’s the drugs he’s on,” Conner said.

Roman squatted and rolled Evan to his side. Evan’s head was bleeding from his hit and his thigh from the bullet. He wished he could do more damage.

They heard the sirens heading their way.

“I’m going to head up front and check on Beth.”

“We’ll wait here for the paramedics.”

Roman was stopped by Aiden.

“I got here as fast as I could, boss.”

“You did fine. It went down very fast. Go on into the back and get what you can. I suspect what we already filmed is all we’re going to need, but it’s worth our time.”

“Got it.”

Roman nodded and walked toward the front of the house. He caught Beth pulling her purse from her car.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” He tried to keep his tone even and not bark at her from the fear still ripping through him. That was the last thing she needed.

“I need to call Sandra and have her pick up Jayden.”

He curved an arm around her waist and led her back to the car. “Come on, baby. You can do that sitting down.”

She sat sideways with her feet on the ground.

“Can I get a blanket over here,” Roman called to one of the paramedics.

One of the men ran it to him. “What do we have?”

“She’s going through a bit of shock, but I’ll keep my eyes on her. You’ve got one down in the back with a gunshot wound—nothing life-threatening. He’ll need to be handcuffed and have an officer with him at all times.”

Roman wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and took the phone from her shaky hands. “Let me do it.”

She nodded and rested the side of her head against the back of the seat and closed her eyes.

“Sandra, hey, it’s Roman. We’ve had a situation. Beth is just fine, but she needs you to pick up Jayden at school at 6:00 and keep him with you until I call you.” He listened. “I promise she’s fine. We’ll tell you about it all later.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

It took another hour before Roman could get Beth out of there. He probably should have stayed, but there was a sergeant there to take over. He was more concerned about Beth, and she would always be his first priority along with Jayden.

He drove straight to his place, wrapped a tight arm around her waist, and walked her up to his home.

He maneuvered her into the bathroom and stripped them both before getting her in the shower. “It’s done, baby. Everyone is okay.”

She nodded but couldn’t prevent the tears from falling.

He let her cry as he washed every inch of her, murmuring to her the whole time.

He dried her off and then lifted her into his arms and laid her in bed before getting in beside her and pulling her into his arms.