Missed fucking call with a voice message from Courtney. But he didn’t need to listen because deep in his gut, he knew she was in trouble. He tapped Becky’s number. It rang once.
“What is it, Chief?”
“Where are you, exactly?”
“Exactly? Standing at the edge of the woods by the Nash house. We’ve combed the entire area.”
“Are the lights on at Courtney’s place?”
“A few, why?”
“Put a few men in strategic places and don’t let anyone enter or leave that house. Do I make myself clear?”
Good boy, Lilly said.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell her I want French toast for breakfast every morning when this is over.
You’re going to have to tell her that yourself.
I will. He paused for a moment. I can hear her calling me. How is that possible?
Another question you’ll have to ask her.
“Why?” Becky asked.
“Call it a gut reaction. Kind of like your woman’s intuition.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
He raced to his car, his heart pounding so fast he didn’t think he’d be alive by the time he got to Courtney. “Hold on, babe,” he whispered as he drove through the windy neighborhood streets. About a half a mile away, he shut down his lights. He parked the patrol car around the corner and took in a few calming breaths as he made his way into the woods where Becky hid.
“We’ve seen two shadows,” Becky said, stepping from behind the large tree he, himself, had been leaning up against earlier. “Last we could tell, they had just come downstairs.”
“I’m going to enter through the garage.” He drew his weapon, checked it over, and then looked directly at Becky. “Someone covering the front?”
“Yep.”
“Got my back?”
“Let’s go, boss.”
He crouched down as he raced across the backyard toward the garage. Pressing his back against the wall, he eyed Becky who had made her way to the other side.
She nodded.
Slowly, he reached for the handle. The doorknob didn’t turn.
Reaching into his pocket, he dug out his keys, fumbling with them until he found the right one. Being as quiet as he possibly could, he unlocked the door and pushed it open.
He stepped into the dark garage, weapon at the ready. Her car was where it should be, and so far, nothing seemed out of place, until he heard footsteps and then voices.
He ducked behind the passenger side of the vehicle.
Out of sight, he held his gun across the hood of the car, aimed at the door just as it sprang open.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” a male voice said.
“No worries there.” Courtney’s voice sounded solid. Strong. That was a good sign.
I’m here, babe.
Don’t call me babe.
I’ll remember that.
Owen spread his legs to hip width and waited. Patience was the key to everything. Courtney came into view first, and his heart did a little flutter when he saw metal aimed at her head.
“Like I said before, little lady, don’t do anything to raise suspicion, or I’ll shoot you dead.”
Courtney nodded, hugging her middle, and looking directly in Owen’s direction. Her eyes pleaded with him to save her.
Timing was everything. If he scared the asshole, his finger might slip and pull the trigger, sending a bullet into Courtney’s skull, and that wouldn’t do. Owen cleared his throat. Not loudly, but just enough to let the burglar know he had company.
“What the fuck?” the burglar said. “Who’s there?”
“Just your friendly neighborhood cop,” Owen said. “Why don’t you let her go, and we can talk.”
“Fuck you.”
Owen’s eyes had adjusted to the dark, but the light seeping into the garage from the open door to the house made it difficult to see everything. He figured the burglar didn’t have a good read on him either. “Turn the lights on, let the lady go, and we can talk.”
“She and I are getting in that car and driving out of here. You try to stop us, she dies.”
“Then so do you, asshole, because I’ve got a gun pointed right between your eyes.” His hands were steady as always, but his heart raced out of control.
Well now, that certainly got the jerk’s attention. The burglar inched behind Courtney. “I don’t think you want me to kill the pretty lady.”
“Not really, because I’m not in the mood to kill you.” Owen focused on the man, not the love of his life. Her fear seeped through the air, landing on his skin. He shivered. “Besides, even if you manage to shoot her, and me, there are at least five cops outside. You’re not going far, so I’d put the weapon down and let her go. You don’t want to add murder to your already long list of crimes.”
Silence filled the room. Owen held his stance, and Becky inched her way through the door. Two guns were always better than one.
“More like ten cops, boss,” Becky said.
The burglar jumped.
Courtney, this would be the perfect time to hit him. Owen watched as Courtney hurled her elbow into her assailant’s gut.
“Nice job,” he whispered, jumping over the car and diving on the burglar and in the process pushing Courtney out of harm’s way.
A loud pop echoed in his ear and a second later, a sharp pain stung the side of his arm. “Shit,” he mumbled, reaching for the burglar’s gun. “I hate it when that happens.” Owen wrestled the gun from the man and shoved it toward Becky. “You are under arrest.”
Owen twisted the jerk’s hands behind his back and clicked on the handcuffs. He yanked the burglar to his feet. A quick glance at his arm let him know the bullet only grazed his skin.
“Becky, get this asshole out of my sight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Owen!” Courtney yelled, jumping up from the ground and throwing herself at him.
He braced for impact, grabbing her with both arms and pulled her in tight. He lined her cheeks and neck with soft kisses. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now.”
“He didn’t hurt you?”
“He hit me, but that’s it.”
Owen’s breath caught in his throat. “I’m sorry.”
I’ll leave you two alone for a little while, Lilly whispered.
Probably a good idea.
He tried not to respond to the voice, but his
