Promise Renewed

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Promise Renewed Page 19

by Mitzi Pool Bridges


  What the hell was the cavalry waiting for?

  A few foolish men went for their guns and were shot down. Darin exchanged another glance with Gina. Do not pull your gun. She must have gotten the silent message as she just stood there with her hands in the air.

  Ramiro, his gun aimed at Chavizi’s gut, came forward to confront him. “Bastard. I’m killing everyone in this room. You knew I’d be after you when you stole my drugs. What were you thinking? I wouldn’t know who took them? I thought you were a smart man. If I’d known you were this stupid, I’d have put you out of business years ago.”

  Chavizi grinned. “Almost pulled it off.”

  “Ramirez—?” Melanie started a question.

  “Shut up!” He glanced at Melanie, then Chavizi. “Who’s the bitch?”

  “You can’t kill me,” Melanie informed him coolly. “I’m more use to you alive than dead.”

  He turned his gun on her, cocked and ready. “You think so?”

  She smiled. Darin wanted to slap the turncoat’s face. She walked up to the drug lord, unafraid. “I’m a detective in HPD’s Narc division. I think you get the picture.”

  The warehouse was so silent Darin could hear his heart thundering in his chest.

  Ramiro smiled. “Ah, my sweet Conchita. I think we can work something out.”

  Chavizi glared at her. “You lousy bitch. Don’t you have any loyalty?”

  Come on, Peavy. Where the hell are you?

  “Freeze, everyone! FBI!”

  As if he had conjured them up, at least a dozen FBI agents flooded the warehouse with drawn guns. Darin’s team, with Dwanda leading, right in there with them.

  Then all hell broke loose.

  Ramiro whirled to turn his gun on the approaching agents. Darin, acting as if he were running away, stumbled over Ramiro, knocked him to the floor and fell beside him.

  “Shit! Run, sweet one! Save yourself!” he shouted as Chavizi drew his gun.

  Gina, following Darin’s lead, screamed and acted as if she were fainting, falling against Chavizi in the process. His gun clattered to the floor.

  For a few minutes, chaos reined.

  Darin crawled over to Gina, pretended to take care of her, while all the time, covering her body with his. “Baby? Baby...you okay?”

  Two FBI agents followed by Hank and Ernie were cuffing a half a dozen men who had their hands raised. Dwanda handcuffed Melanie, who cursed a blue streak. Out of the corner of his eye, Darin saw Dwanda pull the cuffs just a tad tighter, making Melanie scream in pain.

  A couple of random shots rang out, adding to the chaos as the FBI cuffed both Chavizi and Ramiro.

  Darin helped Gina to her feet.

  Just as they had practiced, Darin and Gina raised their hands. “Don’t shoot,” Gina called out in her Meg Farley voice. “I’m too young to die.”

  FBI agents rounded up everyone else.

  As Chavizi was being handcuffed he gave Melanie hell. “You led them here, you crazy bitch. Are you nuts? I knew I should never have gotten involved with you.”

  “You liked what I did for you. Don’t tell me you’re sorry. It would be one big fat lie,” she sputtered.

  They shut up before they said any more. But they had said enough.

  Darin looked around. Two men were down. Sirens could be heard approaching.

  Had they really taken down two drug cartels?

  His mind raced. They could never have planned this. Not in a million years. It was hard to keep the smile off his face. When he looked over at Gina, he saw the tears. No one but him knew they were tears of joy.

  When Dwanda came over and cuffed him, she gave his hand a good-job pat.

  Meg Farley screeched when she was cuffed. “I can’t go to jail. Tell them, sugar. I can’t.”

  “I’ll take care of it!” Dutch Farley told her, as Dwanda dragged him off in the opposite direction.

  “You’d better!” she wailed again.

  Darin took one last look at the stunned faces of those under arrest. It had been a good night’s work. And then some.

  What wasn’t good was the fact that Darin and Gina had to be taken to headquarters with the rest of the drug thugs.

  From there Dutch and Meg Farley would disappear.

  Their room at the Hotel Indigo would be sanitized. The Mercedes that took them around town would be taken in and sanitized as well. The license plate destroyed. By the time the FBI was finished there would be no way for Chavizi, Ramiro, or anyone else to connect Darin or Gina to the buyers from Dallas.

  He’d have to praise Gina later. There was no way this could have gone down as it had without the help of the FBI, the chief, and their squad members.

  In the back of a police prison van, Dutch Farley cursed Zeb Chavizi. “What the hell were you thinking when you tried to sell me hot drugs? Are you really that stupid? I told you I wanted a clean buy. We’ll probably spend years in prison!” He wanted to spit in the man’s face. “Wherever the hell you end up, you’d better watch your back.”

  “Don’t give me shit. Blame that bitch cop.” He thrust his chin Melanie’s way. “Ramiro must have followed her, and the law followed all of them. I’ll take care of her when the time comes.”

  “She didn’t steal the drugs,” Dutch Farley reminded the drug lord, though why he was standing up for Melanie, he had no idea. Hunter had died because of her.

  “I wasn’t followed,” Melanie insisted. “But I was following orders. Your orders.”

  “I told you I didn’t send any damn text!”

  “Then who the hell did?”

  “I can’t go to jail, sugar,” Gina moaned. “You know I don’t like small spaces.”

  Gina began to sob. Darin sent her a patented look of longing. “Sweet one—”

  With his hands cuffed behind his back, he would be no help to her.

  “Stop sniveling,” Melanie sniped. You had to know this would happen some day.”

  “So did you,” Darin growled back.

  She shut up.

  It was past midnight before Gina and Darin could be quietly escorted out of the police station and driven home. Gina was let out at her apartment.

  Darin walked her to the door.

  “I’m glad that’s over,” she told him. “I’m worn out from pretending to be Meg Farley.”

  “I know what you mean. Dutch Farley is gone and I’m glad.”

  She turned to him. “I thought I really was going to faint when I saw Melanie. Were you as surprised as I was?”

  “Probably more so. She’s been a good cop.”

  “Why would she do such a thing?”

  “Money. Power.”

  “But she has a rich boyfriend. She didn’t need to fall in with a drug cartel.”

  “We’ll find out more when she’s questioned.”

  “I’m sorry about all the rest,” she said as she reached her door.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Hunter. That he had to die for...because of those people. And...just...everything.”

  She was exhausted. It showed in the shaky way she walked, the tired look in her eyes. He fought the urge to pull her close and tell her how wonderful she was.

  With a cop watching, all he could do was shake her hand. “See you in the chief’s office tomorrow.”

  “I need to talk to you, Darin. It’s important I have to tell you some things you aren’t aware of.”

  “Tomorrow.”

  She looked relieved. No, more like resigned. “My feet are killing me. I think I’m going to burn these damned boots.”

  He chuckled. “Tomorrow.”

  He walked back to the cop’s car and was dropped off at his house not too long afterwards.

  Home didn’t feel like home.

  Gina wasn’t there.

  Chapter Twenty

  Her mind foggy with sleep, Gina woke slowly. She was in the spare room at Maddy’s, not the luxurious suite at the Indigo. And Darin wasn’t with her.

  A hollow place opened in he
r heart. Darin, through patience and understanding, had made her begin to see how wonderful a relationship could be. Maybe sex wasn’t something to fear or dread, but an act to look forward to as long as it was with the right person. Plus, kissing him made her feel things she had only read about. Only it was just part of his job. She was part of the job.

  That wasn’t true. Darin wasn’t that kind of man.

  Deep down, she trusted him. If she were honest, she’d trusted him from the first moment they met.

  They had shared something traumatic, but beautiful. She’d never forget it. Never forget how much she loved him.

  After hours of being apart she looked forward to seeing and talking to him again. There was a lot she needed to clear up.

  Going to the bathroom she took a quick shower. But Darin’s face lingered in her head. He was so handsome, he took her breath away. The way his eyes lit up when he looked at her made her smile even now. Plus, he was a good man. Steady. Honest. A family man.

  Desire punched at her, leaving her weak. What would it be like to have sex with a man she loved? Would she cringe? Or welcome him with open arms? Maybe all the fear she’d had for years was gone now. It had to be. Otherwise she couldn’t have a relationship with any man, much less the one she wanted.

  Heaven help her, she was in love with a man who would possibly walk out of her life today. Tears sprang to her eyes.

  Dressing quickly in jeans and a T-shirt, she wondered if she would be able to do her job feeling the way she did. Except her job was over. The too-brief time she’d spent as Darin’s wife was over. After making her report this morning to the Chief of Police and to IA she would be free to go back to Dallas.

  The thought chilled her.

  She didn’t want to leave Darin. And she didn’t want to leave Maddy. Now that she’d finally realized she could respond to the man she loved without falling apart she wanted more. Intellectually, she’d been aware for years that she should be over her trauma. Emotionally, she’d proven she wasn’t.

  She wanted a life with the man she loved. Darin was that man. Would he come to love her for real if she stayed?

  When Gina walked out of the bathroom, Maddy was sitting on the bed.

  “I didn’t know you were back until I heard the shower. Why didn’t you wake me?”

  They gave each other a hug. “I was too tired to do anything but crash.” Gina smiled.

  Maddy tilted her head. “You look different.”

  Gina put on the new Nikes. She could have sworn her feet sighed in relief when she didn’t put on those six-inch heeled boots. “I feel different.”

  “What happened?”

  Gina sat beside her sister and took her hand. “The sting was a success. The bad guys are in jail. Have you seen Hank since I’ve been gone?”

  “Once,” Maddy said. “Why?”

  “Did he kiss you again?”

  Maddy had a dreamy look on her face when she answered. “He did.”

  “How did it feel?”

  “Why all the questions?”

  “Don’t scowl at me, Maddy. It’s important.”

  The scowl went deeper. “Is something wrong with Hank?”

  “Not at all. It’s the two of us who have a problem. Darin helped me with mine, and I think Hank can help you with yours.” Her heart ached for the man who meant so much to her.

  “Oh, my gosh! Did you make love?”

  “No, but I wanted to. We wanted to. Because of the dangerous job we were on, we couldn’t. Besides, we’re partners. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “Something happened. I can tell by the look on your face.”

  “It did.” How could she explain the strong awareness, the almost frantic need to be close to Darin? Could she make her little sister understand what a wonderful thing this was? How she hoped and prayed they could take the next step?

  “Are you going to tell me?”

  “I told him about us.”

  Maddy gasped, put a hand to her mouth. “You didn’t!”

  “I did. You know what? It felt good. He was gentle and understanding. Best of all, when he kissed me I wanted more.”

  “Did you scream when he touched you like you did when that creep in college groped you?”

  Gina gave her sister an overview of what had happened, how she felt, how Darin listened, and how he helped her. “If you care for Hank and he cares for you, you have to tell him what happened when we were kids.”

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Neither did I, but it was easier than I thought.” Because she loved him? Or because of the kind of person he was? Gina didn’t know. Right now it didn’t matter. The ice was broken. She wanted more. “Once you do, Hank will either help you like Darin did for me, or not. Of course, telling him hinges on how much you care about him and if the feelings are mutual.”

  Maddy nodded. “I think they are. I know I really care for him.”

  “Then tell him and see what happens.” Gina looked at her watch and gathered her things, including the jewelry she’d worn as Meg Farley. “I’m late. Darin and I have a meeting this morning with the chief.”

  “I take it the job turned out the way you wanted it to.”

  “It did. I don’t like to see a mole embedded in any police force. But when one is exposed there’s a feeling of accomplishment. Plus, two big drug dealers are off the streets.”

  Maddy hugged Gina. “You do good work. I just wish that work was here.”

  “About that. Do you think there’s an apartment available in your complex? I’m thinking of moving back.”

  Maddy jumped up and did the happy dance. “This is the best news I’ve heard since we went our separate ways. When? Will you work with HPD?”

  Gina didn’t know. “One thing at a time. We’ll talk about it later and don’t forget, talk to Hank.”

  She rushed to her car, anxious to see Darin again. Not so anxious to tell him she’d lied to him from day one. And not at all anxious to tell him goodbye.

  ****

  They met in the hall going to the chief’s office.

  Darin’s heart kicked up about ten notches when he saw her. Gina looked wonderful. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face if he tried. It grew wider when he saw the Nikes. “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi, yourself.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I will be when this is behind me.”

  “Behind us,” he corrected.

  “Right.”

  When they walked into the chief’s office, FBI Agent Peavy was there. He looked more than pleased.

  Gina dumped her jewelry, including the brooch, on the desk next to the Rolex, the rings Darin had worn, and a large stack of bills.

  Chief Hamilton picked up the brooch. “Lots of pictures?”

  “Yep.”

  Pictures? So that was why she’d worn the brooch every day. No doubt on the Chief’s orders. But why didn’t she tell him? Darin wondered.

  “Have a seat,” Chief Hamilton said. “How about a cup of coffee?”

  Without waiting for an answer he poured two mugs from the carafe on his desk and handed it to them. “Not exactly champagne, but you two did an exemplary job. Putting both Chavizi and Ramiro behind bars at the same time was beyond our expectations. Congratulations.” He raised his cup.

  “Thanks,” Darin said, taking a sip before putting his mug back on the desk. “I take it you cloned Chavizi’s phone. Did you have any trouble?”

  Peavy chuckled. “Had one of our guys tail him to his favorite restaurant. Once Chavizi was seated, our guy got the table next to him. He managed to make the clone without raising an eyebrow of suspicion.”

  “Good.”

  Chief Hamilton handed him a gun. “We found your Glock when we searched the warehouse. Sorry about what you went through.”

  Darin took the gun, put it in his pocket until he could pick up his holster from his desk. It felt good. “Did you sweat the guys you picked up last night? Have they given up the shooter?”

&nbs
p; Peavy grinned. “Took less than thirty minutes. We put three of them in different rooms. We told each one he’d been fingered for the kill. Every one of them gave up the same person.”

  “Who?” Darin asked, his throat suddenly dry. This was the biggest reason for the sting. To find Hunter’s killer. Now that he was about to find out, heat flushed though his body. He started to sweat.

  Taking out a handkerchief he wiped his face. Waiting for an answer, he looked at the chief.

  “I’m sorry, Darin. It was Melanie.” The chief shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it himself. “They gave her up.” Seeing the look on Darin’s face, he continued, “Trust me, she’ll pay.”

  “Melanie shot Hunter?” Darin couldn’t wrap his mind around it. How could she? She’d worked with the group for a year, pretended to be their friend. Yet she’d pulled the trigger as if her co-worker were a criminal, then walked into the squad room the next day as if nothing had happened. Walked into his hospital room and expressed remorse over a killing she was responsible for. What kind of person did that?

  He was going to be sick. He excused himself and nearly ran to the restroom.

  Wiping his face with a damp towel a few minutes later he still felt sick. Such cruelty combined with the nonchalance Melanie was capable of was beyond his understanding. He wanted to strangle her.

  He went back to the chief’s office and sank into a chair. “Sorry.”

  “Hunter recognized her, Darin. That’s why she shot him.”

  “She fooled all of us,” he managed through his pain.

  “I’ll say,” the chief added. “We interrogated Captain Wells first thing this morning. I thought he was going to have a heart attack when we showed him the evidence against Melanie Harris.”

  “Is he guilty of providing information to Chavizi? Or not?”

  “Both I guess. What Harris didn’t find out as a member of the squad, she found out from Wells. Pillow talk. She told Chavizi every move the narcotic squad made. She had Chavizi’s men follow you after Hunter was shot. Did you catch that? Needless to say, Captain Wells resigned.”

 

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