It’s then I notice the red staining my leg and remember being hit in the thigh.
“Calm down,” I demand. “Both of you.”
“Where are the paramedics?” He’s directing his question at Mike.
That’s when two men brush past Mike as they enter my condo. One, the taller of the two by about half a foot and blond, is carrying a medical bag my way. The other, a shorter man with jet-black hair stops next to Mike.
“Neighbor!” I holler as I stare Mike down.
Finally, he holsters his weapon then disappears out the door. The other paramedic follows behind him.
“About time,” Drago mumbles under his breath, but loud enough to be heard. I’m not sure if he’s referring to Mike leaving or the paramedics arriving.
I need him to hurry up across the hall though. Sure, I’m worried about Ms. Lincoln, but I’m a hell of a lot more worried about Gabe and I need Mike to issue the Amber Alert to the news media ASAP.
The only reason I didn’t have him do it before is because I have to think and act the way I’ve been trained. Ms. Lincoln is here, and Gabriel isn’t. She could be seriously injured and in need of medical treatment herself.
I didn’t have a choice. I had to have him check on her. If Diaz tried to kill me then what did he do to her?
“Are you Detective Brianna Andrews?” the blond paramedic asks as he kneels next to me.
“No, she’s the other cop that’s been shot.”
Drago’s sarcasm is starting to piss me off. If my head wasn’t already pounding from the beating I took—I’m not even sure how long ago—I’d be convinced he was the cause of it. He certainly isn’t helping matters with his mouth.
“Enough,” I say to him, then turn my attention toward the young man on the other side of me. “Yes, I am.”
He opens the bag he brought and produces a pair of latex gloves. Once he pulls them onto both of his hands, he pushes the bag out of the way.
“Can you tell me where all of your injuries are?”
“Sure.” I take a small moment of silence, not wanting to speak the words because speaking makes my body hurt worse even though I know I have to tell him.
Apparently, I take too long because Drago proceeds to speak for me.
“She was shot in the leg and she was—”
“Sir, with all due respect, I need to hear them from her.”
“Are you—” I cut him off.
“Drago.” He looks at me. “Please,” I stress. “Go find an officer. We need to get the Amber Alert issued now.”
His eyes soften, and his head pulls back as if he just remembered.
“Fine.”
Luckily for me, he doesn’t argue. I’m a little surprised, but I’ll take it. Maybe he too is worried about Gabriel.
God, I hope so.
Once he’s gone, I list off my injuries to the paramedic. His partner soon joins him and just as I’m wrapping up, Mike walks through the door once again followed by an irritated looking Drago and two uniformed officers.
“What’s he talking about an Amber Alert?” Mike throws his thumb backward pointing at Drago.
“Sebastian Diaz took Gabriel. We need to alert the media immediately and have a warrant issued for his arrest.” Mike’s brows dip. “He’s the one that did this. That tried to kill me.”
“You mean the baby that was left at the precinct, what three months ago? That Gabriel?”
“YES!” I see where he’s going, but I don’t care.
“Why on earth was he still in your care? Why was he here and not with child services?”
“Worry about that later.” I suck in a breath, only making it hurt worse, but I push through it. “A child was kidnapped, Mike. Get the fucking Amber Alert handled.”
He stares at me for a few seconds—a few seconds too long—but finally disappears out of the door, slapping his palm on it for good measure.
Mike is a good man—a good cop. I know he’ll do what needs to be done to get the alert out and a warrant issued for the monster that took him.
Sadly, the chances of us finding him are slim. Not unless Sebastian wants him found.
That leaves Drago . . .
I have to tell him what Diaz wants. Who he has and so help me God, I pray he forgives me for not telling him before now.
“Detective, we need to get you down to the ambulance. Can you stand?”
Can I?
I think so. I was lucky. I wasn’t terribly injured. I’ll have to go to the hospital to confirm and to have my ribs x-rayed, but all-in-all, I’m in okay shape.
“Yes.”
He stands first, Jeremy, the paramedic that’s been with me for the past ten or fifteen minutes. He offers his hand to help me up. I take it and I’m pulled gently to my feet.
Everything is fine until I take the first step in Drago’s direction. That’s when a crippling pain cuts through my middle section. I double over, intending to grab my stomach, but instead, I’m consumed by a pitch of darkness.
* * *
Thank you for reading. Bri and Drago’s story will continue in DIRTY WAR—coming in May or June followed by DIRTY SIN in late summer. You can pre-order them now to be delivered on release day!
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Also by N. E. Henderson
THE SILENT SERIES - Volume One:
Nick and Shannon’s Duet
SILENT NO MORE (book 1)
SILENT GUILT (book 2)
* * *
MORE THAN SEIRES:
Can be read as standalones but not recommended
MORE THAN LIES (book 1)
MORE THAN MEMORIES (book 2)
Acknowledgments
The my loyal readers and new ones, thank you for reading this story and my other books. Thank you for supporting me, loving my stories and characters, and being a friend. Thank you for the honest reviews for leave.
Tesha—I should probably thank Leslie first. Without her, I’m not sure we would have gotten to know each other. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for beta reading this book and making sure my police procedural stuff was on point. Thank you for answering my endless cop-related questions and for asking Mike when you weren’t certain. Thank you, Mike!! T, thanks for having my back. I hope you know I have yours to0. Always! Love you, my favorite Cali girl.
Leslie—thank you for T!!
Bret—thank you for answering my random text messages about police stuff. I appreciate it. Thanks, cuz!!
Charisse, my bestie—I love you and I wouldn’t still be writing if it weren’t for you. We definitely balance each other out. You are my P.I.C. too—and never forget that. You push me as much as I try to push you. Signings didn’t start to become fun until I found you. Thank you for being in my corner. And thank you for doing a second edit of this book. But mostly, thank you for being my friend.
Ellie—I’m blown away. I wish I’d had you at the start of my writing career. And I’m kicking myself for not asking to become a client sooner. You took my manuscript and you made it pretty. You polished my words and you taught me a few things, so hopefully I won’t make the same mistakes again.
Regina—this cover! You blow me away with every cover you create. I’ve love every one. You really are the prefect cover designer for me. You ask all the right questions and I don’t have to sit and think about what I’m leaving out. And then you create genius material. You bring my books alive. Thank you! I love what you’ve done with this whole series.
Darren—I’ve had this photo for you nearly three years. I knew I had to have it the day you posted it. Thank you for being on my cover.
Selena—Thank you for beta reading this and picking it a part. I can always count on you to give me honest and blunt feedback. Never stop being you. You are awesome and wonderful and I’m blessed to have you
as one of my readers.
Kristie—Girl, we don’t see each other enough! We need to change that. Anyway, thank you for beta reading this book too, and the next two that are coming your way. Thank you for catching things that were missed in time for me to correct them.
About the Author
N. E. Henderson is the author of sexy, contemporary romance. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading some form of romance or in her Maverick playing in the dirt.
She was born and raised in Mississippi where she currently lives with her husband, son, and their Bull Terrier, Xena. She loves to hear from her readers so if you connect on social media or if you meet her at a signing you can call her Nancy.
This is Nancy’s fifth book.
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