Page 29 of Before They Were Lovers

Day was right behind him.

A quick glance and he saw him in a fistfight with a third man, and Day was moving with precision and speed thatwould’ve made a lesser cop disoriented. Two more shots at the man’s temple, and he was down.

God slid behind the nearest pillar as another rain of gunfire came down around them.

Joker had a suspect on the ground—a big guy with a shit ton of fight in him—while two other officers tried to secure his hands behind his back.

They didn’t notice another suspect crouched behind a disabled forklift, taking aim at them. God surged forward, gun raised. He didn’t even have to take aim as he let off three shots that landed center mass.

Joker and his officers lurched at the man who fell only feet away from them, then glanced back at God.

He gave them a quick nod and went after his next target.

His jaw was clenched tight, and his muscles burned with energy, but his focus was absolute. This was the kind of environment he thrived in.

Unlike God’s beast mode, Day moved like a shadow, a whisper in the midst of madness.

God had only just registered a sneak attack coming from their right side when Day had already disarmed the thug with a quick strike to his wrist that sent the man’s gun flying into the air and landing a sharp elbow to his jaw before the weapon could hit the ground.

An officer about twenty feet ahead took a shotgun round to the chest that sent him flying backward. God flung his weapon behind his back while Day gave him cover and hauled the man out of sight. He quickly checked his vitals and called the code for an officer down.

“Go. I’m good,” the officer groaned.

God tapped him on his helmet and got right back into the fight.

Dealers were going down around them, and he and Day took out their fair share. They were cinching zip ties so fast—disabling and crippling them—that they’d soon left a trail of suspects in their wake for the other officers to clean up.

They had no mercy, no reluctance, and no fear.

A SWAT officer took a sniper’s shot to his vest, and another grazed the side of his helmet, taking him down.

He and Day leaped out of the line of fire—moving as one—as they slammed their backs against the wall.

There were at least four men on the second level, trying to shoot their way out.

Most of the officers ran and ducked for cover as God scanned the area. He nodded toward the stairs as Day gestured to the right. His partner’s grin was feral, knowing they were about to show everyone what they could really do.

God reached the top of the stairs and immediately dropped to his belly as shots flew over his head. He fired his Glock, hitting the first man in both thighs, which sent him tumbling over the banister.

The second took cover and fired back, but Day dropped from the rafters and plunged a blade into the side of the suspect’s neck, making blood spray Day’s vest before the suspect’s body dropped like a stone.

Day spun out of sight, and God pumped four rounds into the last man a second before he could spin and fire at his partner.

Soon after they eliminated the snipers, the mayhem in the large warehouse began to settle. The gunfire came to a halt, and the scene commander called for a ceasefire.

All was quiet except for the groans of fallen dealers and the heavy breaths of their team.

God realized in that moment that he had to accept the truth—together, he and Day were an unstoppable force of nature.

Day

The station was buzzing with the usual post-raid energy. Laughter, boasting, clapping hands, and congratulations could be heard all the way down to the holding cells as he and God sat silently at their desk.

His partner’s demeanor was stoic while everyone else celebrated. He and God sat there watching each other, having nonverbal communication.

God’s eyes gleamed as if he were still vibrating from the thrill of the hunt.

You were amazing tonight.

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