Page 253 of Bossy Hero

The cops carry him toward another cop car. He keeps pleading for my forgiveness, reciting my name like a mantra. “Alan. Alan.Alan, please.Alan, please.Alannn.”

Robbie’s betrayal barely registers over the searing guilt that’s slowly replacing the numbness inside me. None of this would have happened if I had trusted my instincts. If I had paid more attention to who Robbie was deep down. And if I hadn’t been so selfish.

My brother would still be alive.

Before they shove him into the other police cruiser, Robbie yells at me once more. “Alan,please. Forgive me, Alan.Alannn.”

For the second time tonight, I turn away from someone on the other side of the glass as they cry out for me in the same way.

The very sound of my name sickens me because it serves as a brutal reminder of my selfishness and the horrors I’ve caused.

I don’t want to remember my name spoken this way. By someone who befriended me only to get close enough to rob my family.

I don’t want to remember my name spoken by someone who was begging for apologies for killing my brother.

And I don’t want to remember my brother crying out my name as I walked away from him.

I never want to hear my name again.

Chapter46

Bang, bang, bang

Maddie

My nostrils flare with each breath. If my teeth grind any harder, they’ll disintegrate into dust.

I jab my finger into Klein’s chest, accentuating each word. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”

His compassionate eyes dart to the right, seeking out Sue. “Can you help with her?”

I adore Klein. I adore all of Alan’s kids.

Right now? I’m boiling over with rage at him.

Logically, I know it’s misdirected anger. Ishouldbe mad at the people responsible for what’s happening on that damn yacht. And I am.

However, Klein’s the one standing in my way because he thinks I’m too weak. I don’t want to be protected or coddled. I’m no longer the fragile flower in need of saving.

The last thing I saw before he shoved me out of the lair was a giant man lifting Alan off the floor. His body cam only showed us a glimpse of what was happening due to the close range, but it sounded like he was being choked. Although I’m scared of what may happen, I won’t cower from things out of fear.

I sidestep in front of Sue, blocking Klein’s eyeline with her. “Young man, donottalk about me like I’m not here. The man I love is on that screen. Get back in there and help him. That’s whereyou’reneeded. He needs saving. Not me.”

Until Klein tried to remove me, my presence hadn’t compromised the mission in the slightest. While I can acknowledge his heart is in the right place, I won’t allow him to take this decision away from me.

“I’m sorry, Maddie. He wouldn’t want you to see this.”

Backing up a step, he attempts to shut the door in my face, but I block it with my entire body. “He’s your boss, not mine. I decide what I can handle. Nobody else.”

“Just let her in, Cal,” Mia yells. “Get your ass back over here. We need you.”

Exactly.

Mia gets extra banana bread after this whole thing is behind us. When Alan is safe and sound.

Shoulders sagging, Klein sighs and scurries back to his workstation.

My heart might be in my throat—okay, it definitely is—but I return to the lair with my head held high and steel fortifying my spine. Whatever happens to Alan, I won’t hide from it. Nobody will need to search the halls of Redleg to find me so they can deliver the news, be it good or bad.

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