Hers to Protect

by Nicole Disney

  “You want to talk about it?” Kaia asked.

  Adrienne looked over, long dark hair framing her face. Her lip was almost completely healed, the bruises light. Kaia was relieved and confused not to see fresh wounds. What had terrorized her into calling? What had made her hysterical on the phone?

  “They brought in two recruits that were shot. Gianna said it was you.”

  “It was.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “It hasn’t sunk in. I wasn’t sure how bad I got them until they turned up at the ambulance bay. I knew it probably wasn’t good for the one I got in the chest, but you never know.”

  “She died in my arms.”

  Kaia felt a shot of adrenaline fly through her veins. “You weren’t…”

  “In the Escalade? God no, Kaia, I would never shoot at you. Are you kidding?”

  “I didn’t think so. I just…” she paused. “What happened, then?”

  “She died on my kitchen floor while Gianna was trying to figure out how to dump the fucking Escalade.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “All that talk about family. Wild for life, ride or die, loyalty, and she couldn’t be bothered to take them to the hospital. Said she was a goner and we should just bury her so they wouldn’t get caught.” Adrienne shook her head, eyes lost in space.

  “How did you convince her?”

  “I didn’t. I took them myself.”

  “That was you?”

  Adrienne nodded, tears filling her eyes. “I didn’t want to dump them like that, Kaia. I didn’t mean to treat them like trash, shoving them onto the ground and running. I just didn’t know what else to do. Jeremiah was supposed to help, but then he died in the back on the way.”

  Kaia reached out and grabbed Adrienne’s hand. “Jeremiah didn’t die.”

  “He didn’t?”

  “No, he’s stable. You probably saved his life, Adrienne.”

  Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Thank God. I was so angry with Gianna. I’m sure you’re not surprised, but I was. I really was. I know she’s street tough, but she loves her members like family. Or I thought she did.”

  Kaia nodded. Gang loyalty was a well-known phenomenon, but she’d seen those bonds break over less. “Getting caught shooting at an officer would ruin her life. She should have just left them. We were already at a hospital.”

  “She probably thought you’d kill them.”

  “Jesus,” Kaia said. “They really think we do that kind of thing?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I would never. That’s insane. I mean, I guess I did kill her, but not because I wanted to. Not maliciously. Not if she was down.” Emotion finally bubbled up that she had ended a life. Adrienne made it real. “Not—”

  “You did what you had to,” Adrienne said. “I wouldn’t trade you for any of them, Kaia.” Adrienne’s eyes filled to the brim again too. “I thought I could control her. I thought I could keep this from getting so bloody.”

  Kaia nodded, finally understanding.

  “Are we safe here?” Adrienne asked. “She’ll look for me. She’ll look for me with you. Will she find us?”

  “Probably, but not tonight. Even if she does, there are undercovers watching the doors for her.”

  “There are?”

  “Yeah. In case they try to finish what they started. We’ll have to figure something else out eventually, but we’re very safe right now.”

  “Oh, Kaia.” Adrienne shook her head. “God, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I got you into this.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “The hell it’s not.”

  “We’ll stay somewhere else after this until they arrest her.”

  “You need me to go on record for that to happen, don’t you?”

  Kaia shook her head. “No, actually. The manpower they have on this is unbelievable. They pulled every camera around for miles. She slipped up. Put gas in the Escalade without the bandana. Got her on camera. They know she was one of the shooters. They’ll move heaven and earth to get her now.”

  “When are they trying to pick her up?”

  Kaia frowned. “They already did.”

  “She got away?”

  “Yes.”

  “She escapes all the time,” Adrienne said. “I can’t even count the times. It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe you caught her on your own.”

  Kaia smirked. “Yeah, she did not appreciate that.”

  Kaia saw Adrienne’s eyes wander over her body. Her skin tingled under the gaze.

  “So you’re in really good shape,” she said.

  “Have to be.” Kaia laughed. “The guys can get fat and lazy, but I’m already at a disadvantage as a woman. It’s dangerous for me to get weak.”

  She could see Adrienne searching carefully for words, but she landed simply on, “Why are you a cop?”

  “You can’t still think we’re all bad, can you?”

  “Of course not, but you have to admit a lot are.”

  “A lot aren’t as nice as they could be, I grant you. Too many years on the job being hated, too judgmental, impatient, some too jumpy. But corrupt? You hear those stories sometimes, but it’s mostly bull. Gangs like saying they own corrupt cops because it keeps everyone afraid to talk to us, but it’s rarely true. Every cop I know wants to protect people from bad guys, to be strong for the weak. That’s what I wanted.”

  Adrienne nodded. “When I saw you in your uniform I was afraid you’d turned into an asshole. It’s not even that anymore. Now I’m just afraid you’re going to get hurt. Even most straight-laced people don’t like cops. You risk your life, people hate you, I hear the pay is just okay. And in Chicago? Are you crazy? Why would you choose that? You could do anything.”

  “You don’t expect the hate when you sign up, not at that level anyway, and you accept the risk going in. I didn’t have anyone to worry about when I got the job.” Kaia felt her cheeks flush. She didn’t have anyone to worry now, either. Adrienne wasn’t hers. “Adrienne, why didn’t you ever contact me?” The question forced itself out. She couldn’t fight it anymore. Adrienne looked like she’d been waiting for it and nervously ran her fingers through her hair.

  “I was going to,” she said.

  “What happened?”

  “I ran into you at a bar. You didn’t see me. I even bought you a drink, thought I’d come over and surprise you.”

  Kaia smiled. “But?”

  “But when I turned around you were with someone. She was gorgeous. Really gorgeous, Kaia. And you were both smiling so much, touching. You were obviously together and you looked so happy, and she looked so perfect. I just couldn’t imagine what you’d want with me when you had that. It had already been four years. I just doubted everything. I knew all I could do was fuck up whatever you had going on, so I left.”

  Kaia grabbed her hand. “I would have dropped her in a heartbeat. I can’t even tell you who she was. No one has meant what you do to me. Not ever.”

  Adrienne smiled sadly. “I guess I missed out, then. I met Gianna not long after and of course she’d never let me reach out to an ex, so I never got to try again.”

  “And all that time I thought I wasn’t hearing from you because you switched to guys.”

  Adrienne laughed. “Seriously? Come on, you knew that would never work.”

  “I knew you were gay.” Kaia laughed. “Doesn’t stop some people.”

  Adrienne shivered. The night was cooling fast. They moved inside, exhausted but stranded awkwardly by the bedroom threshold. They looked at each other, paralyzed. Adrienne looked like herself again, small, feminine features unmarred by the bumps Gianna had given her. Her tender brown eyes pulled Kaia in.

  “I can sleep on the couch,” Adrienne said.

  “That’s silly.”

  “Is it?”

  Kaia’s mouth went dry. “Yes.”

  Adrienne nodded. “Okay.” She was wearing a cotton button-down. Kaia wanted to help her out of it, wanted to pull the buttons apa
rt, but she couldn’t move.

  “We can handle the same bed without anything happening,” Adrienne said.

  Kaia raised an eyebrow. “Of course we can.” Shit, what was she thinking? Adrienne had escaped her abusive ex hours ago; she didn’t want to have sex. Kaia tried to blink her beer buzz away. Pull it together.

  In the bedroom, she undressed discreetly, her back turned. She reached for the T-shirt she had ready on the dresser, but Adrienne’s hand stopped her.

  “Can I see?”

  Kaia’s heart pounded. She knew Adrienne meant the bullet marks, but Adrienne hadn’t seen her in just a bra since they were teens. She relented and turned. Again Adrienne made no secret of her wandering eyes. Finally, she reached out and touched the two purple bruises where the bullets had hit. Her fingertips barely brushed her at first, then her palms were flat on Kaia’s stomach, moving to her sides, then up her back, pulling her closer. The intensity in Adrienne’s eyes sent a tingle of arousal shooting through her. Their lips met hard. Adrienne pressed herself against Kaia and parted her lips. Kaia deepened the kiss, the air in her lungs escaping in a soft moan. She pulled Adrienne toward her, hands moving from her hips, up her sides, she laced her fingers through her hair. She kissed Adrienne’s neck, felt her shudder and pull back. Kaia stopped.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  Adrienne was breathless. “You’re sorry? That was me.”

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  “God no. I just—” She stopped.

  “I understand, Adrienne, it’s okay if—”

  “No, no. Kaia, shush. It’s not Gianna.” She met her eyes. “It just hurts.” She pulled the collar of her button-down apart, revealing dark bruises around her neck.

  “Oh my God.” Kaia wanted to kill Gianna. “What did she do?”

  “She choked me. I passed out.”

  Kaia felt her pulse in her temple. She couldn’t explode; that wouldn’t help anything. “We should take you to a doctor.”

  “I’m okay,” she said. “Really. Just tender.”

  “What do you need?”

  Adrienne glanced at the bed. “Sleep?”

  “We can do that.”

  * * *

  Adrienne reached across the bed, feeling for Gianna but finding it empty.

  Kaia’s voice from the other room slowly registered. She opened her eyes. She was in Kaia’s bed. She had thought that would never happen again. Kaia’s walls were pale blue, the furniture sharp and modern, her comforter was a rich crimson color. Adrienne let yesterday’s events wash over her, trying to recover from the disorientation. The shooting, the fight, Kaia. They’d kissed. They’d nearly slept together.

  Her pulse quickened just thinking about it, but she was glad it hadn’t happened. Just because she’d been terrified Kaia had died didn’t mean it was right to jump directly into bed with her. She was still tumbling through the dark matter, clawing for a vision of what her life was going to be now.

  Adrienne heard another voice and realized Kaia was talking to someone at the door. She strained to make it out. She caught Gianna’s name, but nothing useful. She heard the door shut and ventured into the living room.

  “Morning,” she said.

  Kaia looked like she’d been up for hours. She was dressed and looked fresh and bright.

  “Hey.” Kaia smiled and Adrienne lost track of what she’d been doing. Kaia patted the kitchen barstool and she complied.

  “News?”

  “They haven’t found her,” Kaia said. “Your house was empty. She got out somehow and she knows she can’t go back. No sign of her here either. They rounded up some WAKs, but the interviews haven’t turned anything up.”

  “Of course not.”

  “My Gang Enforcement superior wants to talk to you.”

  Adrienne took a deep breath. “Of course he does.”

  “I’ll be right there with you. It’ll be okay.”

  * * *

  A man named Davis met them at the door. “Welcome.” He waved Adrienne in and hugged Kaia. Adrienne couldn’t help but soak up the sight of Kaia in her element, in a world that clearly adored her. Davis led them into a conference room and slid a bottle of water across the table to Adrienne.

  “So, I’m sure you understand we need to ask you some questions.”

  “I do.”

  “Let’s jump right out of the gate with the most important one,” Davis said. “Do you know where Gianna Hernandez is?”

  “No. The last time I saw her was at our house.”

  “And do you have any guess where she might go?”

  “Nowhere you don’t already know about. Members’ houses. Anna Fields most likely or Marco Woods.”

  “Checking clear.”

  “I don’t know then.”

  “She doesn’t have family?”

  “Not really. Foster parents, but she hated them.”

  “You’ll get me that address?”

  “Don’t know their address. I’ll get you their names if you want, but she won’t go there.”

  “Sorano explained to me you called her for help last night. Can you tell me why? What made you leave the house?”

  Kaia was watching, concern written plainly on her face, but Adrienne recounted everything in detail from the moment Gianna came inside with the bodies, hiding nothing. Davis took notes while she talked.

  “And you’re ready to go on record on all this?”

  “She’s going to need protection to do that,” Kaia said.

  “Of course,” Davis said. “You’ll have it.”

  “And immunity,” Kaia interjected again.

  Davis chuckled and Adrienne forced herself not to smile at Kaia’s protection.

  “I’m not interested in getting you in trouble,” Davis said to Adrienne. “I’m interested in catching someone who tried to kill two of my officers.”

  “I’ll give you what you need,” Adrienne said.

  “You’re sure? You’re not going to recant on us?”

  “I can’t go back even if I wanted to. I’m not safe until she’s in jail.”

  Davis nodded solemnly. “None of us are. All right, so where do they get the guns?”

  Adrienne was taken off guard. “Their guns? From Los Hijos de la Santa Muerte.”

  Davis let several seconds pass, then folded his fingers in front of him. “Look, Contreras, I hesitate to bring this up because I do believe you got stuck in a shit sandwich and Sorano here has your back, but the truth still remains that you’ve been around some serious illegal activity. You’ve witnessed some very serious crimes. I’m going to need your full cooperation to let you off the hook for all this.”

  “Davis,” Kaia said. “Sir,” she bashfully corrected herself. “She’s cooperating.”

  “I want to believe that, but you can’t give me bad intel. You tell the truth or you tell me you can’t tell me. No lies.”

  “It’s not a lie,” Adrienne said. “They get them from the Hijos de la Santa Muerte. They usually meet once a month. On the docks at four a.m.”

  “Then why does my undercover know nothing about the Wild AKs?”

  “Who, Kitchen? Because he’s Gianna’s, not yours.”

  Davis’s face went pale. “Excuse me? Detective Benson does not belong to Gianna.”

  “Yes, Detective Whatever. His street name is Kitchen because he cooks the best meth on this side of town. You guys teach that in the academy? Gianna bought him years ago. He’s dirty. She gives him a cut, he forgets to bring up the Wild AKs and tips them off if the heat is getting too hot.”

  Davis looked nauseous. When Adrienne looked to Kaia she was equally stunned and confused. Did they really not know crooked cops existed? In Chicago? It was so naïve.

  “I’m sorry,” Adrienne muttered. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive about it.”

  Davis cleared his throat and continued, subdued. “We know Gianna was part of the attempt on Sorano’s life, but we don’t know who else. Can you put Anna Fields in that car?”r />
  “Yes.”

  “And the others?”

  “The two at the hospital, obviously, and there was only one more. He was just a recruit. I don’t know his name, but I could point him out.”

  Davis reached for a stack of papers, straightened them on the desk, and handed them to her.

  “I’ll need you to write down as much as possible. When you’re done, assuming it’s all true, you can consider yourself immune. We’ll claim you as a cooperative asset.”

  Davis stood and motioned for Kaia to follow him out. Adrienne nodded at them as Davis pulled the door closed. She stared at the lined sheets. There was a list of questions for her to answer paper-clipped to the front.

  Adrienne picked up a pen. Her hand shook as she placed it to paper. She might as well be signing a war declaration. She closed her eyes and let go of Gianna forever.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gianna sank low in the Honda Accord she’d stolen until Blondie and Adrienne passed. A thrill shot through her that they’d been feet away without knowing it. She could have shot them both before either knew what happened. But she didn’t want it like that. She wanted the cop to feel it. She wanted to see fear in her eyes as she realized her life was ending. As far as Adrienne, she had to admit, what she really wanted was to have her back, but she knew that was a dying fantasy.

  Adrienne and the cop walked through the apartment complex parking lot to a car Gianna had never seen. It had to be the cop’s personal vehicle, a blue Ford Taurus. Gianna waited until they were already turning out of the lot to start the engine. She felt like she was going to lose them, but a cop would have a sharp eye for tails and she couldn’t be caught.

  She followed them to a restaurant in an uppity part of town well north of anywhere Gianna spent time. She knew Adrienne lived even farther north before they’d met, just outside Chicago in Evanston. Even knowing that, it was strange seeing Adrienne in this setting. She preferred to think of Adrienne as the poor, tough girl she’d met in South Side, not some upper middle class kid from the suburbs. She parked a couple of rows away from the Taurus, confident her dark windows hid her.