Page 258 of Bossy Hero

She drops the gun, and it clatters to the deck. Dropping to her knees, she immediately bursts into tears.

Alan’s chest cam spins partially back toward Lenkov and Patterson.

Standing behind them is a third shooter—a police officer—slowly lowering his gun to the floor.

No, wait. That’s not quite right. Not an officer.

It’s the chief.

He’s the one who shot Patterson, knocking him forward.

Alan swiftly approaches Katia and grabs the weapon off the ground. “Are you okay?”

She nods, continuing to sob into her hands.

Alan turns on his heel and hoofs it to Lenkov and Patterson, removing the stash of weapons surrounding their dead bodies.

Two gunshots took down Lenkov. One in the chest and another in the forehead.

The chief blows past Alan, saying nothing. Aaron, Henderson, and Josh arrive on the scene, giving us a better view via their body cam footage.

Alan lowers to a crouch a few feet behind the bodies, looking toward the woman who joined him in taking down the pakhan.

When Bigsby reaches Katia, he falls to the ground beside her. They come together in a tearful embrace that has every one of us in tears.

Except Tomer.

No surprises there.

Lettie releases me to hug her fiancé. Mia and Klein embrace as well. Behind me, Sue and Sammy stay wrapped together.

They’re all gonna be fine. No matter what happens. Not just today or tomorrow.

My daughters reach out for me, eager to let me join in the hug. I wave them off and face the screen again.

And I wait for Alan.

I’m saving my celebratory embrace for him. I’m waiting for him.

Exactly like he’s done for me.

Chapter47

Midnight Snack

Big Al

Three days later

The mere idea of waiting until tomorrow morning to see Maddie has me ready to bite everyone’s heads off and then my own. Ideally, in that order.

I don’t give a damn how tired I am—which is extremely. I’m not sleeping without her in my arms.

Talking to her on the phone hasn’t cut it. When it comes to her, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

After the shit show formerly known as the Lenkov op, I was tied up with law enforcement for three days.

Three. Fucking. Days.

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