Page 56 of Guarding Bristol

The prisoner was cursing and making guttural sounds of pain but wasn’t fighting anymore.She’d hit him hard in either the back or side, actually felt a bit queasy when she thought of the sound it had made.A horrible thwack-crunch that told her she’d probably broken his ribs.

“Okay, Slugger.You can put that down now.”

TJ’s voice wrapped around her, deep and shockingly calm considering what had just happened.She swallowed hard and lowered the bat, her nervous system still trying to decide whether it was in fight or flight mode.

She’d never hit anyone in her life, but when she’d seen this guy trying to kill TJ on the kitchen floor, a switch had flipped.Even still, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to swing at his head.Just the thought of doing that made her want to throw up.

She took a step back, suddenly shaky as hell.“What do you want me to do?”Her voice was high and tight, probably because the muscles in her throat were pulled taut as guitar strings around her hyoid bone.

“Get my phone.It’s on the coffee table.”

She pivoted and hurried into the next room, her legs turning rubbery now that the immediate danger was over and her adrenaline level was dropping.She got the phone and hovered uncertainly in the kitchen entryway, not wanting to get any closer to the attacker than necessary, even if he was tied up and incapacitated.

“It’s okay.He’s not going anywhere.Trust me.”Crouched next to the prisoner, TJ stretched out a hand toward her.

She gave him the phone, stood there shifting her weight from foot to foot while he messaged someone.What if this guy wasn’t working alone?What if someone else was outside waiting to get them, or more were coming?“What now?Want me to call the police?”she said, trying to ignore the awful sounds the guy was making.

“No,” TJ said without looking up.“Go into the bedroom.Wait there until I come get you.”

It went against her gut to leave him without backup, but she did as he said, shutting the door for good measure and perching on the end of the bed.She was still on edge.Part of her wanted to clap her hands over her ears to block out the guy’s sounds of pain and whatever happened next, but the rest of her was too afraid she might miss something important.

From down the hall, she could hear TJ questioning the suspect.She couldn’t hear the exact words, but cringed at the sudden bellow of pain and more scuffling that told her the prisoner wasn’t in a cooperative mood.She wished she could call Cassie or even Beckett for backup, but TJ had taken her phone earlier, apparently not trusting her to leave it off.

The interrogation in the kitchen didn’t appear to be going well as the minutes ticked by.There were more cries of agony, more sounds of struggling.Then things got quiet.Way too quiet.

She fidgeted with her hands, one knee bouncing up and down.Then TJ’s voice called down the hall.

“Stay in the bedroom.Backup’s on the way, ETA ten to fifteen minutes.”

It felt more like an hour while she sat there, straining to make out any sounds outside her window.Eventually, she heard a vehicle pull up out front, then footsteps and the front door opening.

TJ’s voice was muted as he spoke to whoever it was.The low volume told her things must be more or less under control.She breathed a little easier.

A few minutes later she heard muffled shouts like before, then retreating footsteps.Vehicle doors opening and closing.The engine started, and the vehicle left.

A knock on her door made her jump.

“It’s me,” TJ said.“All clear.You can come out now.”

She got up and opened her door, shooting a glance past him down the hall toward the kitchen.“Is he gone?”

“He’s gone.The DEA took him.”

She looked up at him, wanting to bury her face in his chest.“Do they know who he is?”

“One of the guys who chased us earlier.”

Oh, shit.“Do they think he was acting alone?”

“Yes, but on orders.”

A chill snaked down her spine.“How did he find us?”The truck had been undriveable, and both suspects had been lying bound on the pavement.He shouldn’t have been able to move, much less track them here.It meant someone else was watching them, and that was terrifying.

“Don’t know.They must have had eyes on us somehow.”He searched her eyes.“You okay?”he asked quietly.

She nodded, even though she felt very much not okay.He was so composed.And tall and strong and gorgeous, his frame filling the doorway.She didn’t want to seem weak by comparison.But she really wanted to burrow into him and hide for a while.“You?”

“I’m fine.Thanks to you.”Grudging admiration laced his tone.

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