Page 32 of Back the Blue

“Diamond.”

Director Jackson’s eyes widen. Then he’s on his phone in the next second, no doubt sending a team to Lorna’s once again compromised situation.

“If you’ve laid a hand on her-”

“The bitch ain’t here,” he snaps.

Ice courses through my veins. I must sway on my feet because Director Jackson is quick to place a steadying hand on my shoulder. I do my best to gather my thoughts and keep Diamond on the line. Then I curse myself when I realize what I’ve done.

“But I guess she was here,” he chuckles.

“Your fight is not with her.”

“The fuck it ain’t,” he barks.

Jackson looks at me and nods, motioning with his hand to keep him talking.

“She was doing her job,” I say with semi-calm.

“Don’t matter,” he says in a low voice. “Venom was as good as dead. He would have bled out if you Bureau fuckers hadn’t shown up and let the medics in. Then I wouldn’t have lost that territory.”

“Before it’s all said and done, you’re going to lose it all,” I threaten.

Once again, his laughter seems to echo around me. I grit my teeth at the sound.

“Maybe,” he finally says. “But all I know for certain is that I will have my revenge. On all of you.”

I take a breath, but my words are cut off as he ends the call.

“God dammit!”

“The team is two minutes out,” Jackson says.

Unable to do a damn thing to help, I simply pace and wait for an update. When it comes, it’s nothing good.

“No sign of Diamond,” Jackson sighs.

“And what about Lorna?” I snap.

“They’re checking the security cameras now.”

“Jesus Christ,” I breathe. “I’m going to fucking kill her.”

Jackson chuckles, but I find nothing funny in this.

“You think she’s a step ahead of him then?”

I stop pacing and meet his amused expression with one that I’m sure is filled with anger and worry.

“God, I fucking hope so.”

Twenty-Two

By the time I get to the apartment where I left Lorna, I feel like a caged fucking animal. If anyone says the wrong thing, I’m liable to pounce on them without warning. That’s how fucking twisted I am over the fact that she managed to get out of the building without being caught by the cameras. Diamond, however, wasn’t as smart. We even got a license plate number off his car.

Dumbass.

With nothing more to give us any clues, we leave the apartment as it was and head back to the Bureau. I should probably get some sleep before planning our next move with Diamond, but I’m too fucking wired knowing that he’s still out there and so is Lorna. We’re minutes away when someone radios to us from the call center.

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