Page 89 of S.O.S. Billboard

It was time to man-up.

“I don’t suppose, during all that’s happened tonight, you remember me calling you ‘mine’?” he probed.

“I might recall that,” she smirked, cuddling as close to him as the bars would allow.

“And…you don’t mind?” She was so damned independent; his biggest worry had been wondering how she’d take that; not just his possessiveness which they’d touched on previously, but his need to label her as his. Especially now that Billboard knew where her self-determination came from, he was afraid of blowing it.

“No,” she returned smugly. “I don’t mind at all. But,” she tapped her bottom lip teasingly, “I also remember a whole lot of ‘sweetheart’ and ‘honey’ stuff coming out of your mouth.” She reached through the bars, grabbed his chin, and gave it a tug. “Nowthatshit’s gotta stop.”

She beamed up at him and added an amendment. “Atleastwhen we’re out in public.”

She placed her lips to the chin she’d just yanked and gave it a loud smack.

Billboard laughed. “I think I can live with that.”

Thank God. His woman was back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

It was a sight to behold.

Mizzay strode into the prisoner holding area, the SOS team behind her as well as…a half dozen individuals dressed in black, looking equally as bad-assed?What?

The mixed group was being trailed by the night sergeant on duty who’d booked them,andby two grim-faced cops; Delaney and O’Reilly.

Mizzay clearly hadn’t hesitated to flex her muscles, whatever those were.

“Iwillbe speaking to your chief first thing in the morning,” Mizzay snapped at the sergeant, barely an inkling of her Bronx accent in play. Del stood toward the back of the entourage, one among many of the large, intimidating bodies lined up, and he was smiling. It looked like he’d cheerfully given the floor to Mizzay on this one.

“And if I were you gentlemen,” she turned and stabbed a glare at the pair of dishonest cops who had been O’Shea’s physical aggressors, “I’d be looking for another job. One that’snotin the law enforcement field, because once I’m through with you, your badges won’t be worth the metal they were made with.”

Billboard hid a snicker, and spoke to the douchebags from his position behind bars, where he and O’Shea were still as mashed together as possible. “Maybe your friend Jakes can find something for you,” he taunted, without an ounce of compunction. “Maybe a place you can intimidate other innocent citizens and swing your wannabe big—”

“Mr. Seingold,” Mizzay greeted sharply, cutting him off. “Miss O’Shea.” She nodded at them. “It’s good to see you both.You’ll be happy to know you’re free to go. With Sergeant Billis looking on, we’ve gone over various pieces of video footage that some fine citizens at the town hall gave us when we came to investigate. Not only does the sergeant here agree that you did nothing wrong, youze are being released with no charges.” She snapped her gum.

Ahh. Therewas the Mizzay they all knew and loved.

“Thanks for that, Mizzay. And thanks for nothing,” O’Shea added, glaring at the man who’d booked them in.

Billboard snickered, pleased to see that his woman had some fighting spirit left.

Mizzay continued. “And just an FYI, due to all this highly unusual behavior with the town elders, the DA’s office will now be taking a closer look at Barnie Jakes and those who have been working with him.” She gave a stink-eye to the two dirty cops.

That was music to Billboard’s ears. If the rotten prick had gotten away with what he’d ordered done to O’Shea, BB would have had to go back and kick the man’s ass.

“Sergeant?” Mizzay waved the officer forward, and he responded immediately as she indicated the cells. He deftly unlocked both cages.

Upon emerging, Billboard immediately headed for O’Shea and wrapped her up in his arms. He thought she might balk at being embraced in front of the team, but she surprised him by melting into his body and holding him as if he were the anchor that tethered her to the seabed and kept her from floating away.

His heart sang.

“Do you two have it in you to debrief?” Mizzay questioned, not commenting on the clinch.

Billboard glanced down at O’Shea. He had the energy, but he wanted to make sure she wasn’t about to crash after her earlier storm of emotions.

“I’m good,” she told Mizzay, slowly extricating herself from Billboard’s hug. He immediately missed their connection, but impulsively reached for her hand.

Score.

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