“Okay. Night.” Sadie giggles again as I wander over to the far side of the lobby to the couches. The room is empty, except for the TV hanging over the fireplace, showing a car dealership commercial. Before I sit, I head to the restroom. Having issues with the automatic paper towel dispenser, I bang on the side of it, growing annoyed. Although my hands are dry by this point, it’s the principal of the fucking thing not working, and I spend way too much time fighting with it. When the dispenser finally spits out half of a paper towel, I declare victory. That sums up fun in this town, which makes me miss Jordan. There was never a dull moment with her, even if we were just hanging at the park or drinking at my place.
Leaving the restroom, music plays on the TV. Heading to a couch, I hear muffled yelling from the front desk area. Walking over, no one is there, but the yelling grows louder. From inside the office, I hear Talia yell, “No!”
Running behind the desk to the office door, I hear a commotion from within, recognizing Talia’s voice as well as a man’s.
“I just want to talk.”
“I said no. I don’t want you here. You shouldn’t even be within twenty feet of me.”
“I’m not here to fight. But I am taking you back to New York with me.”
“Get the fuck out of here before I call the police, Omar.”
Reacting to her plea for help, I pull out my phone and call 911. Even off duty, Taggart will have my balls if I didn’t call for back-up. But if she thinks I’m waiting around for them, she can fuck off.
After telling the operator the situation and where, I hang up. I don’t have time to shoot the breeze, so to speak. Unholstering my Glock, I quietly open the door to see Omar looming over Talia at the far end of the office. “I said leave!”
“We’re not done. I told you how it’s going to be.”
Talia glances my way, and her eyes widen, but I shake my head. However, it tips off Omar, and he spins around. His eyes are crazed like he’s amped on something as he points his gun at me. I raise mine to him and order, “Drop your gun.”
Omar laughs. “Look who’s here. Junior cop. Aren’t you precious?”
I repeat, “Drop the gun and kick it to the side.”
“This is none of your business. Go back to the playground.”
Meeting Talia’s fearful face, I ask, “You hurt?”
“No,” she answers, her gaze vacillating between my gun and Omar’s.
“Why are you here?” I ask Omar as I inch into the room, leaving the door wide open. “Natalia has a restraining order against you.”
“Go to hell.”
“You have nothing to say to her.”
Our standoff may be unwavering, but I’m a tenacious bastard. “Get the fuck out of here, or I’ll blow your head off.”
My glare doesn’t leave his ragged face. “Not happening.”
“You don’t think I’ll do it?”
“I know you could, but I’m faster.”
Talia whimpers, “Don’t hurt him,” and I’m not sure which one of us she’s pleading to save.
“Why do you care?” Omar looks from me to Talia and then back to me again. “Are you fucking my bitch?” I have to keep my head in the game. If I let my feelings get in the way, it could kill one or all of us.
I again demand, “Let her go.”
“You didn’t answer me.” He turns to Talia while still pointing his gun toward my head. “You fucking this runt? Aren’t you a little old for him?”
Trembling, Talia’s voice wanes, as does my patience. “He’s nothing to me.” That nails me in the balls.
Omar grabs Talia’s hair, bending her head, and the pain flickering on her face brings me closer to pulling the trigger. Omar growls, “Answer me. Are you sucking this white boy’s limp dick?”
“Ow! Stop it!”
I carefully move for a better shot, keeping my focus on Omar. “Step away from her, now.”
He tears the hair clip out of Talia’s hair and flings it. Talia cries as he yells, “You think he’ll satisfy you like I did?”
“Get your fucking hands off me!”
With him still pulling Talia’s hair, I’m seriously struggling not to put a bullet in him. On purpose. Omar laughs. “This one likes it rough, and her BJs are damn good, even if she refuses to swallow.” With that, he gets in her face, snarling, “Let’s change that. The boyfriend can watch.”
“He’s not my boyfriend! I barely know him! Get your hands off me!”
Omar shoves Talia, so she’s in my line of fire. Grinning, he wrenches her hair until she drops to her knees. He leers at me with a frigid smile. “How about it, kid? Want some pointers or have a sly jerk while she blows me? I won’t watch.”
Omar laughs, and with rage storming my body, I hold my Glock steady though my voice shakes. “Don’t fucking think about it. Back away from her. Drop your gun, and you won’t get hurt.”
His dead stare chills me as he points his gun at Talia’s head. “Really? What’re you going to do now, Barney Fife? Shoot me? You do, and I take my old lady with me.”
Omar yanks Talia’s hair, making her squeal. “I’m not yours!”
Omar orders, “Pull out my dick.”
“No!”
He jams the barrel harder against her head, and my finger rubs the trigger. “Do what I say, bitch, or I’ll kill this fucker. I bet he’s a virgin in all things. I’ll win this shoot-out.” Omar looks down at Talia. “Do you want that? You know I’ll do it.”
Talia gasps for air as she glances at me. Her gaze is murderous when she pleads, “Dylan, get out of here!”
“Nope, sweetheart. Show him how much of a whore you are and drink every last drop. If you don’t, junior will die. Get started. I’m already getting hard just thinking about your juicy lips on my cock.”
Whimpering as he forces her head toward his groin, Talia jerks her arm, but Omar’s grip is a vice. Talia kicks him, and I tighten my grip, perfecting my aim as Omar doesn’t’ take kindly to her doing that.
With his gun still against her head, he shoves her face toward his erection, and I yell, “Get your fucking hands off her! Don’t make me kill you.”
Talia cries, “Dylan, I can’t do this in front of you! Go!”
I shake my head even if she can’t see it. “No way, Talia.”
Omar snickers, bending toward her face but still watching me. “Isn’t that cute? He even has a nickname for you, Nat. Damn. Parting will be such sweet sorrow, won’t it?” He tries to rub his crotch in her face, but she dodges it. Omar tugs her hair harder. “Did you tell him how we almost got married? But like swallowing, you refused and took off.”
“I was fed up with your abuse.”
“Don’t tell him lies, Nat. Let’s have a do-over. I’ll knock you up so you’ll marry me. Let’s do it right in front of him. How about that?”
“I hate you!”
I lick my lips and say, “If you’re pissed off at the world, take it out on me. Let Natalia go.”
Omar’s incredulous before sneering, “You don’t call the shots, you little punk. You’ll get yours next, but it won’t be so enjoyable. Or survivable.”
“I want mine now.” I may be stupid, but hope it’s buying me time and keeping him from doing more to Talia.
“So, you want Nat to see me put a bullet in your skull?”
Taunting, I smirk. “I swear to God, I won’t steer you wrong, but I’m faster.”
“You high, Fife? I’ll put you in the ground before they put you in a casket.” Whatever the hell that means.
Behind my gun, I shrug, feeling anything but nonchalant. “Try me.”
“Dylan!” Talia pleads, and Omar shoves the gun against her head, making her sway. I swear to God if Omar pulls out his dick, he’ll eat my bullet.
I hear the lobby doors open as Omar mutters more threats to Talia. I hold my breath, hoping it’s my backup and not guests wanting to check in or out. After a beat, I hear, “Freeze, right there.”
Omar looks up and points his pisto
l at the familiar voice in the doorway. “What the fuck?”
Another one says, “Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air.”
Outnumbered, Omar swings his gun from Tristan and Hayes to me and growls, “You called the fucking cops?”
“Do what they said and drop your gun,” I calmly say. Talia moves, and when I see what’s she’s about to do, I warn, “Talia, get back.”
Reversing course, she dives in my direction across the floor, which is not good. Omar then aims his gun and his rage at us. As if in slow motion, his finger squeezes the trigger, but I’m quicker. Pulling the trigger, I hit him in the flank as another officer shoots. Omar drops to the floor as Talia screams.
Chapter 22
I drop the gun and go to Talia, kneeling beside her as Hayes, Tristan, and several other officers move closer to Omar, who lies motionless on the floor. Talia’s huddled in a ball against the wall, and I’m hesitant to touch her. I hear Hayes calling for the medics.
I whisper, “Talia, are you hurt?”
She looks up at me but doesn’t answer. However, her tears and quivering do.
“Get out of my way!” another familiar voice demands. I back away from Talia as Taggart barrels over to us. “Natalia, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” It may very well be me she’s referring to.
Talia shakes her head, and Taggart cuts between us. Stooping, she takes Talia into her arms. “Oh, honey. I’ve got you.”
In the way, I stand and holster my gun. Hayes asks, “Do you want medical to examine you?”
“No. That was perfect timing.”
“It sure was. What a night. It shocked me that you were here, too.”
Seeing his unasked question regarding Talia, I’m cautious since I don’t know how much he tells Tristan. “I check on her from time to time.”
Hayes smiles. “Perfect timing, huh?”
“I can’t imagine if I wasn’t here. I’ve had nothing like this happen on the job, let alone off duty.”
“This is my third time, sadly. Still, it’s not anything I’ll ever get used to. I’m glad you’re both okay.”
I nod toward the medics crowding Omar but notice their actions slower. “How is he?”
Hayes sighs. “Toast.”
“Good riddance,” I mutter.
Tristan walks over. “Hey, Rook. The places we meet. Why are you here?” He glances at Talia, and I want to throw him against the wall.
“I was in the area, so I stopped to check on her.”
Tristan’s gaze studies me like he’s waiting for a better answer, but Taggart stands, helping Talia. She snaps, “I want her checked out.”
“Lynn, I’m fine. I want to go home.”
As we walk out of the room, Tristan says, “You’ll need to give a statement, and forensics will need your firearm for tests. So, you can’t leave yet.” I absently nod as I watch Taggart escort Talia out of the room.
“Uh, yeah.” Tristan radios dispatch, and after what feels like an hour, four members of forensics enter the room, three going to Omar’s body, and the fourth, with Hooper on his jacket, heads my way carrying a tackle box.
“I have to swab your hands, too,” Hooper informs me as he removes an evidence bag from his kit.
“I shot it,” I say, not knowing why.
“Yes, officer. It’s standard protocol.” Again, I nod as I unholster my gun. Taking it, he removes the bullets and bags them separately.
After Hooper swabs my hands for gunshot residue, he clears me to fill out my statement. As I leave the office to make room for the team, I see Taggart and Talia talking to a man in casual clothing. I know he’s the hotel manager, and next to him is Grant. Why’d he have to be the detective to respond? As he talks to Talia, Grant looks up, catching my eye.
I sigh as an officer, whose name I don’t remember, hands me a form to fill out for my statement. I try to recount everything that happened under personal duress but monitoring Talia now and then makes it harder.
When I finish, I sign my name as someone stops at the front desk. “I hear you were badass in there.”
I toss the pen onto the counter and scoff, “I don’t know where you heard that shit.”
Grant shrugs with a smirk. “A little bird told me.”
I roll my eyes as I look for Talia in the now crowded lobby, swarming with police and medical personnel. “How’d you know I was here?”
“Annette in dispatch. She’s a manager and heard your name from the dispatcher who took your call. Sunnyville and Joy Springs, being twin cities, she knows we’re cousins and called me.”
“What about Taggart? She call her, too?”
“No. Sergeant Taggart listens to the police band throughout the night. I don’t know what she thinks she’ll accomplish by doing that, but she heard about this, so I guess it paid off.”
“I don’t want her here.”
“But Natalia might.”
“Yeah, I get that. But Taggart will lecture me about everything I did wrong and nothing I did right.”
“I don’t know what to tell you about that, but she sounded appreciative you were here.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No. She probably won’t tell you that, though.”
Hooper stops at the counter. “Officer McGrath, after the tests are completed on your firearm, someone from the team will call you in approximately forty-eight hours.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
When Hooper leaves, Grant asks, “Are you okay? I mean, you did shoot a man.”
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the one to kill him, though.”
“The autopsy will determine that, but regardless, you saved Natalia’s life.”
I frown when I don’t see her among officers questioning guests. “I wouldn’t go that far. He wouldn’t have killed her. Only me.”
“You think so?”
As people move, I see Tristan speaking to Taggart and Talia, which annoys the hell out of me. “I was a threat to him, and without Talia, he would no longer hold power over someone.”
“Well, it’s obvious she has feelings for you.”
I swing my attention back to him. “Say what?”
“Come on, Dylan. Everyone sees it. I can’t believe Sergeant Taggart hasn’t said anything.”
When Taggart and Talia head toward my direction, Grant says, “I see your FTO wants to speak with you. I’ll leave you to it. Call me if you need anything. Like bail.”
“Funny.”
He eases his grin. “Seriously. I’m proud of you, cuz, for protecting Natalia, and I’m glad you’re both okay.”
I’d smile, but it doesn’t feel right. “Thanks, Grant.”
As he walks away, Taggart and Talia head my way, with Taggart cordially planting her lips on Grant’s ass while Talia avoids looking at anyone, which worries me. “Officer McGrath, what the hell do you think you were doing in there?”
Drawing attention from people nearby, I say, “I was protecting Natalia. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Not at the expense of your lives. That was…” Taggart snarls when she realizes others are listening. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. I need to take Natalia home.”
Talia shakes her head. “I’m fine, Lynn. I drove here.”
“You will not drive. I—”
“I want Dylan to take me home, then. You’re too worked up, and I need calm. I know you mean well, but please, Lynn. I can’t do this right now.”
Taggart reluctantly nods. “Okay, honey. Call me if you need anything. I’ll be right there.”
“I will. Thank you.” Taggart hugs Talia, who resumes ignoring me.
Before leaving, Taggart warns, “Straight home, McGrath. No joyrides or funny business. Understood?”
“Yes, sergeant.”
When Taggart leaves, Talia and I are quiet, and it feels awkward as hell. When Sergeant Abdul finally releases me, I ask Talia if she’s ready, and she irritably nods, which isn’t surprising. I want out of here, too.
Talia grabs her belongings, and I ask, “Do you need anything from your car?”
“Yes.”
We walk through the thinning crowd, and I spot a news crew outside the main windows. Talia leads me to a side exit, where we head to the parking lot with only a handful of police vehicles left.
When we reach her car, Talia stops, making no move to unlock the door. “What’s wrong?” I ask, checking the area for reporters.
“I want to drive my car. I’ll need it in the morning and don’t want to leave it here.”
“I can—”
Talia cuts me off, shaking her head. “Dylan. I need my car. The end.”
I sigh. “Let me at least follow you home. I promised Taggart.” Conceding, Talia nods and looks at the car door as I silently watch her. When she sniffs. I go to touch her shoulder but stop myself, again unsure. “I don’t know what to say, Talia. I’m sorry this happened to you.”
Trembling beneath the glow of the overhead light, her teary eyes shine as she turns to me. “I was so scared.”
“I know you were, but you were also so brave.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Talia cries, probably realizing Omar is dead.
I cross my arms, so I don’t touch her. “I wish it hadn’t ended the way it did.”
Surprising me, Talia bows her head and leans into my chest. “Dylan, he’s gone.” She had a past with him. Of course, his death would upset her. I tentatively rub her back as she shakes.
Talia then looks up at me, and I say, “You need to get some sleep.”
“I’m not tired,” she argues, which makes me smile slightly. “You still need to go home.” Cautiously, I kiss her forehead and then slowly extricate myself and go to my car.
I follow her until she pulls into a narrow cement driveway and parks next to the house. Getting out of my car, as she gathers her things, I ask, “Do you want me to go in with you?” Talia nods and then goes up wooden stairs to the side entrance, which takes us into the kitchen. As I close the door behind me, Talia drops her purse on the counter and quietly asks, “Would you like a drink? I have water and orange juice.”
“No, thanks. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?”
Rebel Rook: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 22
