Joe needed help. She rubbed the ropes against a bracket of the metal chair, the fraying edge tickling her raw wrists.
Joe turned to Dennis.
Dennis sneered at Joe.” Officer Perretti, you’re still one ugly son of a bitch.”
“It’s detective now, asshole. Get your facts straight.”
“Not surprising. You always had a gift for kissing ass.” Dennis eyed the gun. The rope eased its stranglehold on Brook’s wrists, and she eased her arms apart, trying not to wince. Finally free. She just needed to figure out how to get off the floor without Dennis noticing.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Joe needed to get Brook far from here. Joe’s nostrils chewed through the heavy mildewed air, but with the blood trickling from her nose and head, Brook’s lungs were probably working overtime. Seeing her lying on that dirty floor about killed him.
Every scrap of his body wanted to run to Brook, wanted to check on her. Feel her soft skin, warm breath, heartbeat. But he couldn’t let his guard down. Not yet. Not till Stark was in custody. Not till she was safe.
Stark eyed the gun lying on the concrete floor. There was no way Joe would let this maniac get that gun, but Stark was between the gun and Brook. One move, either way, and it could have dire results for both of them. So Joe needed to follow this asshole’s lead and stop him. No matter what.
“I’m not here for you. I would have left you alone.” Stark’s eyes darted between Joe and the elusive Glock. “You stopped that asshole from killing me.”
“He’d had a bad day.” Joe knew that was an understatement, but it was the truth. That didn’t mean Timmons had the right to take it out on Stark, but right now Joe understood why that might happen.
“Still defending that asshole.”
“That asshole had to deal with a lot of shit after his altercation with you. He paid his debt, but still you killed him. He had kids.”
“I would have left you alone…” Stark shook his head and lunged for the gun, looking like a runner diving into home base.
To Joe’s shock, Brook unwound her arms from behind her back and rolled, wrapping her arms around Stark’s legs. She squeezed tight, pinning his body to hers. Good girl. Stark couldn’t move—but he still managed to reach Joe’s gun.
Shit!
Joe grabbed the gun in Stark’s hand. He. Was. Not. Keeping. That. Gun. Their hands fumbled and fought for purchase on the gun until Joe dropped an elbow into Stark’s side. A gasp left his lungs as he dropped the gun, and Joe kicked the piece to the side. Slipping his cuffs from his back pocket, he wrestled with Stark’s flailing arms and tried to get the metal around his wrists.
“Let go of me, bitch!” Stark screamed at Brook, his legs scissoring up and down, trying to break Brook’s grip.
“No,” she spat out between clenched teeth. She was relentless. Stark bucked and kicked, but her grip stayed firm.
Knuckles white.
“Don’t let go. Not yet,” Joe called to Brook as he held Stark’s top half down, muscling a cuff onto his wrist. One more to go. The sweaty skin slid through Joe’s fingers, twisting and squirming as he tried to close the handcuff.
Washington and Byrnes pounded down the stairs, guns drawn.
“Get lost?” Joe knelt on Stark’s arm and closed the metal bracelet before running a hand over his forehead, wiping sweat.
For a little shit, this guy had some fight in him.
Washington helped Brook hold Stark’s legs as Lopez started down the stairs. “Lopez, go outside and find some leg shackles. One of the uniforms should have some.”
“Iron or plastic?” Lopez stood on the steps waiting.
“I don’t think it matters. Just whatever you can find out there.” Washington fought with Stark as he bucked and kicked.
“I got both in the bag in the back of the car we drove.”
“Why do you have leg shackles in the bag?” Byrnes held Stark’s head immobile after he tried to head butt Joe and bite his arm.
“Why don’t you? You’re a cop.” Lopez smirked and then turned away, running up the stairs.
“For the love of god, just bring whatever. Surprise us,” Washington yelled. “Get off of me!” Stark growled and grunted.
“I’m not going back there.”
Byrnes’ grip slipped for a moment, and Stark banged his head on the floor over and over. Blood pooled on the concrete.
“Dammit,” Byrnes yelled as he slid his leg under Stark’s head, stopping the crazy bashing.
Lopez ran down the stairs, clinking metal shackles hanging from his hands. He slid the metal onto Stark’s ankles.
Joe leaned over toward Brook. “Brook, we need to move back. Together.
Brook?”
Brook continued to hang on.
“Brook, honey, listen to me.” Joe stayed where he was, on top of Stark, and reached for Brook. He slid her bangs back from her dirt and blood-covered face. She turned her head toward him, her eyes wide and unfocused. “We need to get Dennis up. Can you hear me?” “Yes.” Her eyes cleared.
“On the count of three, I need you and Shay both to move away.” When she nodded, he said, “One, two, three—” Stark kicked when the women let go, but no matter how he tried, he managed to miss everyone. Joe looked at Byrnes. “Our turn.”
Joe and Adam jumped back and watched Stark flail. They both grabbed his arms and briefly pressed him against the wall before dragging him up the stairs and shoving him into an awaiting patrol car. Joe slammed the door and glared at the cops standing by. “Watch him. Once he calms down and SWAT gets here, we need to have the EMTs take a look. But not until he’s calm. We can’t have anyone getting hurt.”
The officers nodded. “We’ll keep him in the car.”
Outside of the house, cops and emergency personnel swarmed everywhere. Joe watched Dennis kick and wiggle in the back of the cruiser. It might be awhile before he calmed, but they couldn’t have anyone look at him until he did. The gash on his head bled, but there was nothing they could do until he calmed down.
Joe turned toward the house. Where the hell was Brook? He thought for sure Shay and Brook would be right behind them. His feet started to take him back to where he last saw her, when Shay appeared at the door, her arm around Brook.
He sighed. She was walking. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, got a dislocated finger.” Washington laughed. “Oh, you didn’t mean me. My bad. I’m going to do my job.” She walked away, leaving Brook standing in front of Joe.
Brook looked tired. Not surprising. She’d been abducted, abused, and tormented. That Brook was upright was amazing. His eyes swept over her body. Other than the blood in her hair, overall she looked okay. She wrapped her arms around herself, skin pebbling in the cool air.
He leaned in and rubbed her arms, kissed her lips. Soft. Gentle. She was somehow everything to him and he almost lost her.
“Miss Southby, we need your statement.” Detective Hogan interrupted their embrace. “While it’s still fresh in your mind.”
“After she sees the EMT, you can get your statement.” Joe shot him a look made of daggers.
“Fine, we’ll get it later.” Hogan walked over to where Stark’s sister was locked in the back of a police cruiser. Good idea.
Annoy the bad guys, leave the victims alone.
Joe inched closer to Book and slid a finger along the side of her face. She was safe. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “Are you ready to see the paramedic?”
“No. I want to stay right here. Just a few minutes, with you.”
“Sweetheart, you can stay here as long as you want. I’m not going anywhere.” Ever.
Epilogue
Brook felt all eyes on her, boring into her. It was unnerving. She was afraid they knew something she didn’t, like all of a sudden she’d burst into flames or something. “Why are you all looking at me?”
After the whole Stark mess, her friends and family treated her like a fragile egg, everybody waiting for her to f
all apart. At the moment, Dennis was in jail, awaiting trial— using another lawyer, another law firm, and Maggie was a member of Chicago County jail’s female population. Brook no longer looked like a punching bag. Things were getting back to normal.
Their helicoptering had gotten better over the last few weeks. At least, it had gotten better. Now she was getting those pity-filled stares again.
“Um… I asked you a question,” Allison said and leaned forward in her chair, her elbows resting on Brook’s kitchen table.
Brook eyed Julie and Allison, hoping the answer would come to her. Hell, hoping the question would suddenly materialize. They’d been talking about Allison’s wedding for over a decade—or at least it felt that long. It was probably only a few hours.
“I need to stop in Vegas for the Collaboration of Country Music Artists Awards. Byrnes and Company is providing the jewelry for the red carpet. And since I’m there, I thought I’d pick up the stones for the bridesmaids’ necklaces—so I was thinking we’d all go.”
“You mean bachelorette party.” How did she miss this part of the conversation? It was actually getting interesting.
“I mean a fun long weekend.” Allison shook her head. “And, no—whatever diabolical crap is going through your brain, it’s not going to happen. Maybe some gambling, some alcohol and a show. That’s it.”
“That sounds perfect.” Brook could practically feel the tickets for the Profane of Brisbane in her hands. Scantily clad Australian-like men dancing around the stage. Yeah. That’s a vacation.
“So, when are we going?” Adam walked into the kitchen and took two beers from the fridge. They must have finished installing the new security system. You get abducted once, and everyone thinks you need motion detectors. Not that Brook was complaining. That was one experience she’d never like to live again.
But that didn’t mean she wanted to give up her girls’ weekend in Sin City. “We?” Brook felt the tickets slip through her fingers. Bye-bye hot wanna-be Aussies. Hello, boyfriends. “You think we’d let you have all the fun and leave us here?” Joe leaned against Brook’s chair as Adam handed him a bottle.
Bruno slobbered on the floor as he made himself comfortable in the corner. He had his own bed and toys at Brook’s house before Joe even had a drawer. Joe reminded her of that all too often, mostly to call in sexual favors. She couldn’t help it. She was ready to commit to Bruno before Joe. After all, Bruno snuggled and obeyed. Joe had the snuggling down, but obeying wasn’t his strong suit. And, actually yes, she thought they’d let the woman have all the fun. “If this is a couples thing, I’m out.” Julie’s face dropped.
“Oh no, this isn’t going to be a couples trip.” Brook got up, moving away from Joe. His hands were mesmerizing, and she was trying to plan a trip with her girls. “They can come and do their own thing, but it’s all about us. Picture it, Julie dear. Sunning by the pool, drinking at some hot club…”
“Picking up hot random men…”
“There will be no random men.” Joe wrapped his arms around Brook and rested his lips on her neck. Random men, who? His breath slid down her neck. Her eyes closed. She was so turned on.
“Get a room.” Allison threw a bridal swatch at Brook.
“How about I get a house? Oh wait, I have a house. You’re in it.” She kissed Joe on the lips and sat. She could behave for a little while. She’d have him all to herself tonight. “Allison, you mentioned you found a contact for those shiny red things on your ring, but how did you finally find those stones, anyway? Aren’t they rare or expensive or something?”
Allison cringed and hid behind her mug of tea. “Yes to both. And Ben.” “Ben?” Julie’s face seemed to drop lower, if that was even possible. “My Ben?”
“Ah… So he’s your Ben again. Story, please.” Brook leaned back against Joe. The warmth of his hands rested on her shoulders. Her eyes drifted shut as his fingers rubbed and pulsed in pure magic.
Maybe she couldn’t behave for a little while.
“Would you two stop?” Julie gagged. “I’m getting turned on just watching you.”
“Dodging the question.”
“Fine, I misspoke. He’s not my Ben. There’s nothing to say.”
“Are you taking his calls?” Allison rested a hand on Julie’s arm. “You might want to talk to him.”
“No.”
Allison gave Julie a look of disappointment. When did she join team Ben? “I’m too busy with Cody, work, and school. I don’t have time for flighty men.”
She lifted a can of diet soda to her lips. “Speaking of flighty, will Dale be in Vegas?”
Brook had to give Julie props on the smooth subject change again. Anything to avoid the conversation about Ben. Although Brook was surprised she’d change the topic to her son’s father, Dale. That was a whole other subject Julie wasn’t usually real happy discussing.
“He said he’d try. I don’t think things are going well with his wife.” Adam shook his head. His brother was a constant headache for him and his mother. And his secret wedding while he was gallivanting around the world was still a sore spot. “Well, all, this has been fun, but we should leave if we’re going to make those dinner reservations.” Allison stood and grabbed her purse, dragging Julie out the front door, with Adam trailing them.
“I need to lock up.” Brook watched the workmen follow behind Adam.
She dumped any contents, and rinsed the cans, bottles, and mugs in the sink before checking the lock on the back door.
“Ready?” Joe leaned against the kitchen counter.
“Yep.” She double-checked the door. Maybe the whole abduction had a small effect on her. A little bit of obsessive compulsive disorder, but she was working on that with a therapist.
Joe ran a hand along the side of her face. Soft friction sent tremors down her cheek and exploded in her chest. “You’re safe. I got you.”
Warmth spread. He knew her. He knew her inside and out. He didn’t judge, didn’t question her. She’d realized after this whole ordeal that she was strong, she wasn’t a disappointment. She could take on the world. And with Joe by her side, they’d take it by storm.
Her lips pressed to his. She pulled away and ran a hand through the hair at his neck. “No. I got you.”
More Books by this Author
Chicago’s Finest Series
Second Time’s the Charm
Stark Raving Mad
Stealing Vegas
Busted Series
Busting In
Busting Out
Busting Through
And look for her Contemporary New Adult series:
Ritter University Series
Major Renovations
What Happens in College...
Christmas Breakdown
Rushing In
Sophomore Slump
The Make-up Test
About the Author
Vanessa M. Knight has always enjoyed writing, and once she found romance, she was addicted. She props her laptop in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband, son and menagerie of four-pawed claw-babies (AKA cats and dogs.) That laptop has partnered-in-crime to write contemporary romances with a dash of humor and splash of snark.
When she has a few moments to spare, you can find her singing off-key (but she assures everyone it’s still considered singing), reading, kickboxing or killing a few brain cells as she stares at the many sitcoms and dramas available through the Internet and TV.
For more information on Vanessa, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at www.vanessamknight.com.
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