Page 49 of Taming Achilles

“I’ll be there,” I reassured her. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I would move heaven and earth, and sell my soul to the devil if it meant keeping her safe.” I vowed. “So don’t worry, Detective Delgado. I will be there.”

Chapter 24

Pippa

“Hey,” Detective Tanner extended a hand to LeBlanc and the badly disguised Brett Bradley, who took off his glasses and smirked at me. “I’m glad you’re replacing that guy.”

Rhys winked at me.

“Didn't like that Scottish pretty boy much,” he shrugged.

“Me neither,” said Brett, “this is Ajax LeBlanc,” he gestured to his partner, then to himself, “and I’m … Jeremiah Van der Man.”

I tried not to react to that pathetic choice of name. A blush crept over Ajax’s cheeks and I wondered how they had landed on that fake name. I take it they hadn’t talked about it ahead of time. Geordie would know the name Brett Bradley, after all, since his daughter had hacked into the Caledonia systems twice, before the charming Alastair Green swept her off her feet and started a war with the Bratva for the chance to marry her.

The door opened and Detective Delgado popped her head in.

“Tanner,” she said, nodding her head out the door. “Let’s go.” Then she looked at me for a moment and with a nod said, “I hope you feel better soon, Miss Fox.”

I hope you trip and smash your face, Detective.

That’s what I wanted to say, but couldn’t. Tanner gave my hand a squeeze before he left the room, giving me one glance before he exited.

Unable to hold it in, the three of us burst into laughter.

“Jeremiah Van der Man?” I said between gasps. “Really! Was Alexander Supertramp taken?”

“It was short notice, and we didn’t talk about what to call him!” Ajax lifted his hands in protest. “I was in front of your guy, realising I couldn’t call him Brett, and thought I’d call him Jericho …”

“Oh, sure! Brilliant! Call him by the name of a known Bratva leader,” I wiped a tear from my eye.

“I pivoted …”

“And called me Jeremiah,” Brett slapped his thigh. “I swear, the little hamster on the wheel in your head had a heart attack and died!”

Our laughter started to die down as I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye.

“Good God, I needed that,” I said, taking in a deep breath.

“Really, before we get into it, I want to know you’re okay,” Brett asked. “If that guy touched you in a way that…”

“Stand down,” I interrupted Brett before he could spiral down that rabbit hole. “It’s complicated. I’m fine.”

“Yeah,” Brett crossed his arms. “Every abused woman says that.”

“I’m not some defenceless woman afraid of her husband’s temper,” I say, raising a brow. “You of all people should know that.”

“I do, but feelings and history …”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“How important is that bag?” Ajax changed the subject. “I take him seriously when he says he’d shoot us.”

“It’s important,” I say on a sad breath. “It’s my go bag.”

They both knew what that meant. Passports. Money. A weapon. Things we needed when we had to escape or disappear. I’d need it back. It was too incriminating.

“I’ll get it myself when they discharge me tomorrow afternoon,” I told them. “And I’d take him seriously too. His temper …”

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