Page 129 of Love Me Fierce

“Turn around and put your hands on the wall,” Zach says in a firm voice.

“Arrested for what?” he says as Zach spins him to face the board.

“For murder.” I unclip my cuffs and step in close behind him.

“What? That’s?—”

Smashing his face into the wall is so tempting, but I bite the inside of my cheek instead. I snap the cuff on hisright wrist, then draw it down to his lower back. As I reach for his other wrist, Zach leans in close.

“For the murder of Marin Lambert and Michelle Swanson, Jane Beasley, Nichole-René Page, Kimberly Saxon, and Suzanne Bingham.”

Tisdale’s jaw hardens, but he doesn’t look at either of us.

I tighten the second cuff and spin him around. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

EVERETT

I wakewith Vivian curled against me, her breaths easy and her body warm. It’s still early, the sky outside my big window an inky black, the stars twinkling in the gaps between the pine boughs.

After we arrested Christopher Tisdale, Ballard’s team took him into custody, and we spent four long days processing what we found at the house and in the garage. Tisdale has not confessed, but the feds have the advantage. Even if he refuses to cooperate, there’s enough evidence in that cabin to put him away for life.

Two weeks ago, a pair of federal officers from the Los Angeles field office, in conjunction with the LAPD’s Internal Affairs, arrested Kent Hyek and two of his vice unit colleagues on charges of corruption and excessive use of force. Yesterday, Hyek agreed to plead guilty to charges that will put him away for several decades. When I told Vivian last night, she just closed her eyes and asked me to hold her. I haven’t let go.

I caress up and down her arm, savoring the soft curve of her shoulder, the smooth slope of her arm, her warmth, and the way she fits so perfectly against me.

She stirs with a soft sigh. “Morning.”

I tuck under the covers so I can caress her lower back. “Morning.”

“What’s this I hear about a swim?” She props her fist on my chest and gazes up at me, a curious gleam in her eyes.

I tuck a loose strand of her silky hair behind her ear. “For Logan’s fifth birthday, he said the only thing he wanted was to go swimming. So, we did.”

“And it somehow became a tradition?” She scoffs. “It’s almost Halloween! The lake must be freezing!”

“It is, but that’s part of the fun.”

She laughs. “I suppose this family ritual is not optional?”

“Nope.”

“Promise you’ll warm me up after?” Her eyes brighten.

“Promise.” I give her bottom a little pinch.

Her mouth opens in surprise.

I roll her over and kiss her. She hums against my mouth and kisses me back.

“Speaking of Halloween.” I lean back so I can stroke her face. “Do you have a costume?”

A playful gleam brightens her eyes. “Duh. I’m a pediatric nurse. Costume selection has been the topic du jour for weeks.” She raises an eyebrow. “Are you dressing up?”

“Of course I’m dressing up.”

Her expression turns curious. “Seriously? What are you going as?”?”

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