Page 91 of Philly
“And me?” she asked, cutting him off. “Why come after me?”
He grinned, his teeth a slash of white in the dark night. “Because if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”
The moonlight glinted off the edge of a blade as it flew toward her. Instinct took over and she ducked, throwing her own toward her target.
The point of the knife Aiden had hidden from her pierced her shoulder, digging into her flesh, turning like a screw as it rotated through its journey. Searing heat flared through her body, but before she even had a chance to straighten, Gabriel was at her side as several people moved into the clearing.
His hands gripped her arms above her elbows as he squatted to eye level with her. Still bent and twisted away from the knife’s trajectory, she raised her eyes and met his. She stared at him, counting her breaths. Fear and pride reflected in his eyes, each emotion battling for dominance. She braced herself for the reprimand to come—he wouldn’t mean anything by it, but sometimes, anger was an easier emotion to express than fear.
“Fucking bitch,” Aiden groaned loudly, interrupting the tidal wave building between her and Gabriel.
A beat passed, then Gabriel’s lips twitched. “He really does have a limited vocabulary, doesn’t he?”
Another beat passed, then they both laughed as he helped her to stand. “You heard?” she asked.
“Everything,” he said, tapping the front pocket of his shirt where she could see the outline of his phone. “Recorded it too.”
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“Yes, but you can tell me as often as you want.” He held her gaze again, only this time, there was no turmoil there. Just love. And concern.
“It’s fine,” she said, tipping her head to the wound. “I won’t fight about getting it looked at by the EMTs, but it’s fine.” His lips thinned, but he nodded.
As one, they turned to survey the scene. Two people in Mystery Lake PD uniforms held their weapons at the ready while Chief Warwick cuffed Aiden Nolan. She’d never met Ryan Warwick, but he bore a remarkable resemblance to Chad, his oldest brother. Also standing at the edge of the opening were Tucker and Teague, two of HICC’s operatives. Brothers in both blood and arms.
Ryan handed Aiden off to his deputies, who holstered their weapons and began Mirandizing him as they guided him back toward the trail.
Gabriel pulled her to the side as they passed, Tucker and Teague following close behind. The brothers nodded to her. She nodded back, having passed a test she hadn’t known she was taking.
“He’s going to need his nose looked at. I think I broke it,” she said, turning to Ryan. She held out her hand, and he took hers as she formally introduced herself.
“Oh, you broke it,” Gabriel said, not bothering to hide his glee.
“You need to be looked at, too,” Ryan said, nodding to her arm.
Pain thudded through her shoulder and down to her fingers as the shock of the puncture wore off.
“She will be,” Gabriel replied, pulling out his phone. “And I’m going to send you the recording of the whole thing. From the fight in the parking lot to when she nailed him with her knife.” Then, flickering a glance at her as he typed into his phone, he added, “Nice throw, by the way. You got him between the ribs near his shoulder.”
“Send it to Sabina and Leo, too,” Ryan said. Gabriel nodded, his free hand holding tight to hers. “I need to get some crime scene techs out here and on your car. Protocol,” he added, shooting her an almost apologetic look.
She nodded. “Do you need me? Now?”
He shook his head. “Get your shoulder looked at, get some rest, and we can take your statement tomorrow.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“He’s sure,” Gabriel said, gently tugging her down the trail she’d run along less than twenty minutes earlier. Never had twenty minutes felt so long.
“I want to carry you,” Gabriel said.
“You’re not carrying me,” she replied, burying a laugh.
“I want to.”
“I believe you. But you’re not going to. I am not going to emerge from these woods into the no-doubt-gathering crowds being carried by you.”
His hand tightened on hers. “Stubborn woman,” he muttered.
