Page 61 of Fighting for Brielle
“You’re still going to be there, right? Ten o’clock?”
“Hell, yeah. Wouldn’t miss it.” He leaned down and captured her mouth in a sensual kiss. “You’re going to kick ass.”
Brielle smiled and yawned. “Hope so.”
* * *
Justice held a brief staff meeting the following morning, and by eight-fifteen he pulled onto the highway and headed north to LA. The SWAT command center sat in the LAPD’s headquarters downtown, an impressive glass and cement building. Since he was wearing his uniform, he was greeted with respect and taken to SWAT’s training area. All of the officers who were training for SWAT wore similar T-shirts and sweatpants. They stood at attention in a straight line listening to the commander of the unit. This was it. They’d reached the end of the program and during the past two weeks the number had dwindled to just these eight officers. Only three would be permitted to fill the slots SWAT needed.
Their instructor paired them up, and, of course, he paired Brielle with Finnigan. The final pair to enter the ring, they squared off in the center. In the face of Finnigan’s sneers and taunts, Brielle remained calm. Justice watched, in awe of her, as she deliberately led Finnigan through a dance of her own design. And then, when he believed he’d beaten her after knocking her to the mat, she pulled a move on him he never anticipated. He landed hard on his back, staring up at her in shock, and partially in pain. One could have heard a pin drop in the cavernous space.
Brielle leaned over Finnigan with a smile playing about her lips. Holding out a hand, she said, “Welcome to the New World Order, Finny.”
His face red with embarrassment he allowed Brielle to help him up.
From his spot several feet away, Justice clapped and cheered. “Way to go, Sergeant!” His heart exploded with pride, and something else?something deep and powerful.
Macklin echoed his own congratulations, followed by the others’ praise as Brielle ducked out of the ring and jumped into Justice’s arms. They kissed deeply and hungrily in front of her fellow officers while they looked on in amusement.
Laughing, Brielle cried, “It worked! Just like you said it would! Oh, God, Justice! I’m in shock right now!”
“So is Finnigan,” Justice remarked. “Here he comes.”
“You knocked me on my ass, McAdams,” Finnigan declared, half grudgingly, half admiringly. “I didn’t think you had it in you. So, congrats.”
“And I told you I’d laugh my ass off when she did,” Justice reminded him.
Finnigan shot him a dirty look. “You can beat it now, Chief. Commander Mattox is ready to announce who’s in.”
“Consider yourself damn luckyIdon’t kick your ass,Finny.” He kissed Brielle one more time. “We’ll celebrate tonight at my place.”
“If I made it,” Brielle added.
“You did,” Justice replied with confidence before he turned and left.
He had just reached his Explorer when his cell phone pinged with a text message.
Brielle: I’m in! So are Finnigan and Macklin!
Justice: Congrats, baby! See you tonight.
* * *
When he arrived at the station, he went to see Hutch.
“Hey,” Justice greeted him. “Do you have any information about where the mayor’s yacht has been recently?”
“I do. But first tell me if Brielle made SWAT or not.”
Justice grinned. “She did. Watching her in the ring was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance routine. So, whatcha got?”
“Once a month the Spectrum anchors off the coast of Nicaragua.”
Justice frowned. “Not good.”
“No. The thing is, I’ve been poking around the dark net posing as a prospective arms buyer, and I’ve encountered several nasty organizations. Someone is dealing with North Korea and arms are coming through Nicaragua. There’s lots of ugly chatter, Chief, about a revolution right here in America.” Hutch paused and met Justice’s grave expression. “Are you sure Homeland Security knows about this?”
“I’m not sure of anything at the moment. You have any more information?”
