Page 143 of Theirs to Corrupt

Along with Inamorata, a swarm of police officers have arrived. Right behind them is a man in a suit who takes charge.

The unknown person shakes hands with Inamorata. “We’ve got it from here.”

“Thank you, Detective.”

The man hooks his thumb toward one of the cops and nods at Axel. “Get him the hell out of here.”

Moments later, heavy metal handcuffs are clamped around Axel’s wrists, and he’s pulled to his feet and hustled toward the door.

“Tessa!” His eyes are wild as he looks over his shoulder at me. “Don’t let them do this to me!”

My emotions are a tangled web of relief, anger, and grief, and I feel as if I’m in a nightmare I can’t wake up from.

“Mom and Dad wouldn’t want this!”

Because he won’t go willingly, two cops have to drag him away.

Even when he’s been gone for long seconds, he is still screaming my name.

The wails echo in my head, and I squeeze my eyes shut against them.

Minutes later—or maybe hours, I’ve lost all sense of time—Pax appears in the kitchen doorway. Without a word, he crosses the room and pulls me into his arms. I melt against him, inhaling his familiar scent as tears tumble down my cheeks.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his lips pressed against my hair. “You’re safe now. I promise.”

I cling to him, letting his strength anchor me as the full weight of what just happened crashes over me. My own brother held a gun to my head.

Moments later, Pax checks on Natalie. “Can I call David for you?”

She shakes her head. “I’ll do it. He’s out of town on business. I hate to bother him.”

“He’d want to know,” Pax assures her. “Let him know that Arielle will be spending the night with you.”

“I—”

“Not optional,” Pax interrupts. “I want to be sure you get some rest.”

She looks at me, and I shrug helplessly. How well I know what it’s like to try to argue with either of my men once they’ve made a decision.

An EMT, apparently on Hawkeye’s payroll, arrives to check Natalie and me over. We both say we’re fine, but Pax insists we both be examined. “David will want to be sure you’re okay.”

Natalie wrinkles her nose, then nods.

“As for you…” Pax looks at me. “If you don’t get checked out, Link will take you to the hospital.”

I sigh. Even though he’s not here, I’m swept into the storm that is Link Merritt.

Natalie and I sit next to each other on the couch.

The EMT perches on the edge of the coffee table in front of Natalie. Someone—a Hawkeye person, I guess—removes our wineglasses and cleans up the mess left by the pizza box.

“You hit your head?” the EMT asks.

“Back here.” She winces as she touches it. “It’s a little sore.”

He presses lightly around the area, then says, “I’m going to touch a little harder. Let me know if you feel any sharp pain.”

After a moment, she tells him, “It’s not too bad. Just sore.”

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