by KB Winters
“If you do that, you might as well put a bullet in your own head because since you barged onto the property without an invite or a warrant, you’ve been recorded. Video and audio.”
“It won’t hold up because these assholes are gangbangers. Nothing more than common fucking criminals.”
I shrugged. “Maybe so, but Jessica is a victim. Kidnapped and trafficked then further abused by a sick deranged cop. And such a pretty girl too, the press is going to love that.”
“I never fucking touched those girls!” he insisted as though that made it all right.
“You’re touching her right now. Manhandling her after what she’s been through. Save your hero story for the jury because I’m not buying it.”
Vehicles sounded in the distance and he turned, giving me the perfect opportunity to motion to Jessica. “Looks like we’ve got company.” He grinned with confidence, thinking he had the upper hand but I knew Jag would have warned the guys before they hit the curve that led to the parking lot. “And having Cross see you laid out and lifeless will be the perfect end to this.”
I held my breath at his words, keeping my breathing steady and calm when he aimed his black service weapon right at my head. Nothing could calm me down in that moment. Nothing except Jessica with wide, scared eyes. “It’ll be worth it, knowing you’ll be treated like one of those young girls when you get to prison.”
My heart raced in anticipation of what was to come, the unimaginable pain of a bullet tearing through me. The thought of never seeing or holding my little boy again and then I froze.
Why was I giving up?
“It’s cute you think any of this will make it to the light of day. That’s the problem with you hippies, you’re so fucking naïve.”
“See Detective, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not fucking naïve. In fact, I’m pretty fucking awesome.” My heart pounded in my ears and I had to do all I could to get this guy to talk. Stall for time. “You and your dirty cops should have done your homework, because if you had, you’d know I’m not a dirty hippie.”
His eyes flashed surprise and I knew it was wrong to enjoy it so much, but I did. “My name isn’t even Moon. It’s Carolina Collinswood, which probably means nothing to you.”
“Less than nothing,” he snorted.
“Of course it wouldn’t, but my father is Les Collinswood.” In addition to marrying my blue blood mother, my father had served as Governor of Connecticut and currently worked for the Director of National Intelligence.
“Oh and Mom is Marseille Hampton-Collinswood.” Her father had worked as the ambassador to China while her mother had been a model and then a linguist. I had what some people would call an impeccable pedigree.
“Bullshit.”
“Believe it or not, you’ll learn the truth soon enough.” We didn’t get along, but I knew Daddy loved me in his own overbearing way. What I also knew was that in his eyes, only family could make you feel bad about your life choices. No one else.
“I’ll take my chances.”
His finger curled around the trigger. One shot sounded, maybe two, I couldn’t tell as I jumped out of the way. Well, I tried but it turned out bullets traveled fast. Really fast. One grazed my side as I turned away from the gun and I fell to the ground. I didn’t know where the other one landed and I didn’t care all that much, not with the warmth seeping from my side.
Beau. All I could think about was Beau.
“Oh, please be okay lady! Please!” Jessica’s long blonde hair hung over me like a curtain, shielding my view which made me panic.
“Jessica, get down!” I pulled her down and held her close.
“Lady, it’s okay. He was shot too,” she said and squirmed out of my grasp to point at Haynes, lying motionless about fifteen feet away. “You gonna be okay?”
“Probably. Don’t worry about me, how are you?”
“Alive. Free.”
I smiled and stroked her hair. “Cordell will be so happy to see you.” Shock set in even though my wound wasn’t that severe and blood loss was minimal, but the pain was a solid nine.
“You know my brother?”
“Just a little,” I winced when I tried to sit up and she helped me. “I know he’s been looking for you for a long time.”
The sound of dozens of motorcycles drowned out my words and I fell backwards, letting my eyes fall closed because I was too tired, too weak to do more. “You should find him.”
The last thing I heard was Cross calling out my name.
***
“Moon, wake up!” Despite his gruff voice, Cross’s hands were gentle as they brushed my hair from my face. “Moon, please open your eyes.” His voice was more tortured than I’d ever heard it. I struggled to open my eyes, not even sure where I was only that my back was no longer pressed against the hard concrete outside the clubhouse.
“Cross.” My words came easily though my mouth was a little dry. “Beau. Where’s Beau?”
“He’s fine. Cuddled up with Jana and worried as hell about you.”
I hated the thought of Beau worrying over losing his only parent, but I felt fine. A little stiff and my side hurt like crazy but I was fine.
“Ah!” Okay so sitting up hurt a little more than I realized and I fell back against something soft but not quite soft enough. My eyes opened and the first thing I saw was a handsome worried face looking down at me with tired eyes the color of sapphires, relief shining brightly.
“I’m okay, Cross.”
He shook his head; chocolate hair tousled, no doubt from raking his hand through it too many times, brushed against his collar as he leaned forward to press his forehead against mine.
“Fuck, Moon. I thought I lost you.”
“Cross.” The emotion in my voice reflected what was written all over his face. Affection, maybe more. Possibly more. Hopefully more. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine, dammit. You have twenty-nine fucking stitches.” His big hand caressed my face and I could see the agony twisting his rugged features. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
I smacked at his hand until he pulled back with a frown. “I’m not, Cross. You were exactly where you needed to be.”
“No—”
“No! It’s time for me to talk. Did you take care of Roadkill? Because as much as it hurt getting shot and as frickin’ terrified as I was during those endlessly long minutes with Detective Haynes, it’s all worth it if this shit is over. So, did you?”
I nodded. “White Boy Craig and his crew were arrested and most of them are handcuffed to hospital beds somewhere in this fucking place.” I could see him struggling with how much to tell me and I smiled.
“Spit it out, Cross.”
His grin was sheepish, but he took my hand in his and pressed my palm against his cheek. I let my thumb graze the scruff on his jawline.
“Craig was injured bad, a bullet in each knee. Lu, the guy dating Pacheco’s daughter is gone.” He rattled off each injury or fatality and I could see the toll it all took on him.
“What about the Reckless Bastards?” Holding my breath, I waited for him to say a name that was familiar to me, which at this point was all of them.
“Max took a bullet in the shoulder, but it went straight through and he’s already bitching about the pain meds. Savior got shot dead on, but his vest kept him alive. He’ll be bruised, but he’s fine. I’m more worried about you.”
I frowned at his words. “How long have I been in here?” Which I finally realized was a tiny hospital room with just a single bed.
“About six hours. You hit your head pretty bad when you fell on the concrete. When I found you, Jessica was cradling your head in her lap crying her little heart out. She wouldn’t let anyone touch you—or her.”
“Jessica! Where is she? Is she all right?” My heart leapt at the image she’d presented, dirty and frail, terrified. “Can I see her?”
Cross smiled and leaned in to give me a kiss that reminded me I was a little banged up but still very much
alive. “She’s been pacing outside for the past six hours. Won’t even talk to the Feds until she can see you.” He smirked and helped me sit up in bed. “You must’ve made quite an impression.”
It was more like I was the first friendly face she’d seen in almost a year. “She was so scared, Cross. The things she must have seen.” I couldn’t even imagine what had been done to her during the months she’d been a victim of Roadkill MC. I watched Cross take a few steps to the door and when he returned there was a parade of people behind him.
“Ms. Moon!” Jessica pushed around Cross and fell against the bed, lying her still dirty blond hair on my lap, sobbing when I began caressing her soft hair. “You saved me!”
“No honey, you saved yourself. Think of all the girls who didn’t make it and remember why you did.” She was just a kid. Fresh faced with a hint of naivete, I hoped she would be all right. “I’m so happy you’re okay, Jessica.”
“Call me Jessie.”
“And you can call me Moon.” I wrapped my arms around her frail body and held on tight while she sobbed and sobbed against me. “You’re okay now, sweet girl.”
She pulled back so I could see her face and I gasped at all the crusted blood all over her face, her hair and the much too sexy dress she wore. “It was so scary,” she whispered.
“Sorry to interrupt but we really need to speak with Jessica.” The voice belonged to a tall man with graying brown hair, beside him a petite woman wearing the same government issue suit and stoic expression.
“We need to speak with both of you,” another voice sounded but though I recognized the voice, I couldn’t see the sneering little face that belonged to it.
“What is he doing here?” Dodds was Haynes’ partner and I wanted nothing to do with either of them.
Cross stepped forward and took my hand. “Dodds was the one who took Haynes out.”
Oh. “What? Why?”
He smiled. “Because that’s what Internal Affairs does, ma’am.”
I smiled at the irony and relaxed against the cheap hospital mattress with Jessica on one side and Cross on the other, the two flanking me protectively. “You certainly took your role to heart, Detective.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’m sorry you got shot Ms. Vanderbilt but I didn’t have a clear shot without hitting the girl. I did my best, and then you jumped, and well, the rest is history.”
“No apology necessary, Detective. You had a job to do and I’m glad you took it seriously.” I felt myself getting drowsy again when it occurred to me that I probably had a concussion. “Wow who would’ve thought?” I groaned and squeezed Cross’s hand.
“Beau?”
“I’ll take care of him, sweetheart. Get some rest.”
Sweetheart.
“You know, it’s too damn bad you’re not over your wife yet, ‘cause I love you.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cross
Too damn bad you’re not over your wife yet, ‘cause I love you. Even a week later Moon’s words kept replaying in my mind over and over like a song I couldn’t get out of my head. I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or bad.
Moon said she loved me and I knew she didn’t make that declaration lightly even if it had come at the oddest fucking time. I knew she wouldn’t have said it if she didn’t mean it, which meant I needed to figure my shit out. I knew how I felt about Moon—I loved her too—but I also didn’t know if I was the best thing for her. Or Beau.
Especially after I told her what I came to say.
“Cross, why are you standing out here by yourself?” Beau opened the door and looked up at me with a quizzical expression on his face.
“I guess I was lost in thought. Can I come in?” Instead of answering, the kid grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.
“Mom will be happy to see you, she’s been kind of sad. And my grandpa is here. He’s so cool. I’ve never met him before, but he’s here now. You want to meet him?” Beau kept up both sides of the conversation as he pulled me through the house almost too fast to notice the large comfortable-looking sectional that now occupied most of the living room. “Where have you been?”
I laughed at his questions. The kid was so much like his mom it wasn’t even funny. “Well, I had to deal with some things before I came by to see you guys. Did you miss me?”
Beau nodded but his recently cut hair no longer fell into his inquisitive blue eyes. “I did. I think Mom did, too.”
I hoped she did, but when I stepped out back and saw a man sitting beside her, I knew all hope was lost.
“Mom look who’s here! Grandpa look!”
Both heads turned to face me and I froze at the older man beside her with the same green eyes as Moon.
“Is everything okay?” This guy was a major player on the world stage and he sat beside Moon like it was the most normal thing in the world.
She smiled and tried to stand but I was at her side in two large leaps.
“Thanks, Cross. I’m fine, just a little sore. Still.” She turned to the man with a wary smile. “Cross this is my father, Les Collinswood. Daddy this is Cross.”
Damn, Les Collinswood was her father? “Nice to meet you.”
He eyed me like I might slide that Rolex off his wrist but his slow perusal turned into a smile.
“Captain Wylie, nice to meet you, too. Thank you for keeping my daughter and grandson safe through this unfortunate event.”
He was thanking me when I was the reason they were in danger in the first place? Maybe Moon wasn’t the one who hit her head after all, maybe it was me?
“Of course. I wouldn’t let anything happen to them.”
He shook his head. “Your men did a damn fine job of bringing down Pacheco, son. It’s too bad about those explosives, though.” My heart sank at his words. If he knew, then Moon already knew, too.
“Yeah, that’s what I came to talk to you about, Moon.”
“About what?” She looked from her father to me with confusion in her eyes. “Someone better tell me something before I get upset.”
I looked at her father for a brief second before turning to Moon. “I came here to talk to you and Beau. To see you guys one last time before they take me to jail.”
“What? Jail, no!” Her hands reached out to me, grabbing handfuls of my shirt and pulling me close. “No, why?”
My heart ached at her pain, caused again by me. “Because our diversionary tactics were unappreciated by law enforcement and when you factor in that Haynes met his demise on club property, well I’m up a creek without a big enough paddle.”
“So you’re really going to jail?”
I nodded. “Tanya has been working her ass off but nothing has worked, that’s why I haven’t been by in a few days. I knew it would hurt too much but I had to come today to tell you that you were right. I do still love my wife and I always will, but I’m ready to move on, and I’m crazy in love with you.”
She sniffled and looked up. “You are?”
A loud laugh burst out of me. “Yeah, I am. I’ve been too busy feeling sorry for myself and checking out of everything but the club until you came along with your deep breathing and yoga. Pilates and chickpea burgers and that fuckin’—oops sorry, sir—blueberry wine. I love every weird thing about you, every quirk and every one of those damn jangling bracelets.” I kissed one cheek and then the other. “And your never ending supply of colorful dresses, everything about you sucked me in and made me want to live again.”
“I did all that?”
“You did. You and Beau. And I screwed it up. Put you guys in danger and then I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”
She growled and shook her head. “It’s not your responsibility to save the whole world, Cross. Why am I doomed to love men with a huge savior complex?”
“You still love me?”
“Of course I do, you big lug. And you’re leaving me.” Tears pooled in her eyes and I felt terrible. But when she held strong, refusing to let the tears fall, she ripped my heart righ
t out of my chest.
“Tanya is hopeful that we can make a deal, especially considering the whole dirty cops and politicians thing.” I didn’t tell her that a good deal still meant a few years behind bars.
Moon’s father cleared his throat to get our attention. “Actually, that’s the other reason I’m here.”
“It is?” Moon seemed as surprised as I was.
Les nodded, smiling down at Beau who’d grabbed his hand and held it tight. I knew that feeling well, the old man was a goner already. “I’m so proud of you honey, you handled Hanes beautifully.”
“Daddy,” she cried and went to him, hugging him tight. “I’ve always wanted to hear you say you’re proud of me.”
“I am proud of you, honey. It was the right thing to do and also why I’m here today.” It was clear we were both confused but Les was a man who moved in his own time and we just had to wait. “Anytime explosives are involved, we worry about national security. But when I arrived in town and got the lay of the land, I knew I had to intervene.”
“Daddy, you’re putting him in prison?”
Hurt flashed in his eyes but his smile was bittersweet, making me wonder what had torn this father-daughter relationship apart. “No, Carolina—I mean Moon—I’m not. I did however stop by to see the prosecutor in this case before I came over here, and I made her see the dangers of prosecuting the man who uncovered this scandal and saved hundreds of victims of human trafficking.”
Shit. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Damn right I did. What you did was commendable and should not be punished and if I have a say in this—which I do—it won’t be.” He shook his head in disgust. “A politician involved in trafficking? I’ll make sure Pacheco gets locked up tight, don’t worry about that.”
Moon’s dad was a straight up gangster in a three-piece suit. I knew he’d make good on his promise. “I don’t know how to thank you for this, Mr. Collinswood.” I held my hand out, shocked as shit that he hadn’t thrown my dirty biker ass out of the house, but he took it and gave a strong shake just as I expected from a man of his significance.
