Page 40 of Liberating Love

Jovany shoots him a smile and walks past him with me hot on his heels. Seth closes and locks the door before waving us into the den. There are blankets and a pillow folded on the arm of a chair, so I’m pretty sure this is where he slept last night. Jovany and I sit on a small couch and the kid curls up in an armchair with his knees drawn up under himself, somehow looking even younger than his nineteen years, and when he starts biting on his thumb nail, I can see why Jovany wants to help this kid so badly. Something about him screamskeep me safe; save me.

“I’m really sorry, Seth,” Jovany says. “I never wanted to put you in danger.”

The kid lets out a humorless laugh, but manages to nod. “I know… but he saw me.”

“Why don’t you go pack a bag and I’ll take you to a hotel? We can go right now.”

“I don’t want to be alone,” Seth whispers.

Jovany nods. “Someone will stay with you.”

“Who?”

Jovany side-eyes me, then sighs. “I will.”

Seth stares at him, his throat working, before he whispers, “Thank you.” He stands and heads toward the front of the house. “I’ll, uh, I’ll go pack my bag. Reid let me stay here, so I gotta tell him I’m leavin’, so, uh... I’ll be right back.”

When he’s gone, I ask Jovany, “You alright, Caputo?” God, the pair of us are messes today. Maybe my earlier freak-out rubbed off on him. I hope not.

He breathes out and scrubs his face with his hands. “Yeah… maybe…”

Before I can question him further, we hear a commotion in the front—mumbled, angry shouts that have us jumping to our feet and running back there. As I walk into the living room, I draw my gun and notice that Jovany already has his out, too.

It only takes a minute to assess the situation, and when I realize Seth is only arguing with who I assume to be his cousin, I breathe a sigh of relief and holster my gun. Jovany automatically heads to Seth, asking, “What’s going on here?”

And I head to the cousin, saying, “Hey, man, is everything alright?”

The guy eyes me before his gaze narrows and he turns angry eyes on Seth, yelling, “You brought cops here? What the fuck, Seth? You tryin’ to get me killed?”

“No. Jesus, Reid. Chill the fuck out. They’re just helping me,” Seth says while holding his jaw, and it looks like it’s starting to bruise. What the hell?

“Did he hit you?” Jovany asks before I can.

“It’s fine,” Seth answers.

Jovany and I exchange a look because it’s not fucking fine, not even a little. Before we can do anything about it, the windows in the front of the house are blown out as the sound of gunshots fill the air. My reaction is automatic, ducking down and pulling Reid with me. Falling to the floor, I feel something wet on my chest, neck, and face, and my ears begin ringing, but somehow I still hear the gunshots reverberating all around me… but all I see is red liquid everywhere.

15

Delaney

Bone-tired after starting the remodel on a bathroom at one of Dwayne’s properties today, I’m torn between sitting on the couch and getting these fucking boots off and ordering dinner, or going ahead upstairs, stripping down, and collapsing for the night. Aiden hasn’t responded to any of my texts this afternoon, which isn’t totally abnormal while he’s still at work. Although, he usually says he’s busy at least. If I didn’t know he’s holed up in the precinct working with my son, I’d be concerned.

The ring of my phone startles me. When I see it’s Jovany, I sink onto the couch with a sigh as I answer, my feet thankful I’ve made a decision. “Hello.”

“Hey, Dad.”

The weary tone of his voice puts me on high-alert. “What’s wrong?”

A long sigh proceeds his answer, or as much of an answer as he gives me. “I’m sorry I can’t say more since… Anyway, Jameson was one of the uniforms who responded to the call, and I made him promise to wait and let me tell you so I could assure you that I’m fine.”

A breath I didn’t realize I was holding wooshes out in relief. “Okay, good. And Aiden?” If he hears the panic in my voice, too bad.

“I… yeah, I don’t know. I think he’s pretty rattled.” The shakiness in his voice lets me know he’s not the only one.

“Are you guys done for the day, then? Are you on your way home?” The minute we get off the phone, I have to call Aiden and hear his voice for myself.

“No, unfortunately we still have to write up a report, and Aiden’s having to… Uh, Dad, I have to go.”

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