Page 46 of Velvet and Valor
My anger washes out like the tide, and in its place, guilt rushes in. I don’t really think that about June. Hell, she knows what it’s like to have her life in danger, too.
And if I’m being honest, I was trained, equipped, and supported by the US Arsenal of Democracy when people were trying to kill ME. June never had that training, equipment, or support. She’s dealing with this crisis a lot better than I would have, had the circumstances been different. My dumb ass would probably go try and find Moorcrock and either convince him to back off, or take him out…
Wait a second. That’s not such a bad idea! The best defense is a good offense, right? Only, I can’t figure out any way to get to Moorcrock that doesn’t involve putting June in danger. I don’t want to take that step. It kind of defeats the purpose of being her bodyguard/security guard/whatever in the fuck I am to her. I’m not her boyfriend; I can’t let my emotions lead me.
Boyfriend? Man, why do I like the sound of that so much? I’ve never been one to settle down. But June is different. Special. There’s something she’s got that I can’t define, but it’s everything I want. Everything I need. Everything I’m afraid of letting into my life.
I start moving toward the house again. I need to make up with June. I guess I got a little carried away with the whole doom and gloom thing.
I do WANT to be optimistic about the future, but am I going to be able to? If I can’t muster up some hope, I don’t think June and I can be together.
And that worries me more than Tongs or Moorcrock and his cronies.
The cooler air of the beach house envelops me as I step back inside. I close the sliding door with a click and start for the hallway.
A sharp knock on the door stops me. I grab my gun on the way to the door and peer through the peephole.
Two uniformed LAPD officers stand there, with that officious glare and jutting chin that says they mean business. The first thing I do is carefully click on the safety and put the gun into the drawer of a small end table. Then I go to answer the door, figuring that the cops are here because of the situation with Moorcrock. Jax has good relations with the P.D., so I’m not that worried.
That is, until I open the door.
“Hello officers,” I say cheerfully. “What can I do for–”
“Get down on the ground! Now!”
Suddenly, I have two pistols pointed at my face. My hands go in the air, but I’m still not that worried. This has to be some kind of mistake.
“Okay, take it easy,” I say, getting down on my knees, holding my arms carefully away from my body. “I’m not going to cause trouble. What is this about?”
“I said get on the ground! Now!”
“Okay, fine,” I say with a sigh. “This is all a big mistake.”
“That’s what they all say.”
I get down onto the ground and they pat me down before snapping on cuffs. Damn tightly, too.
“Hey man, my fingers are gonna go numb, do they have to be this tight?”
“Shut up!” snaps the cop.
A heavy bang from down the hallway draws the cop’s attention. I can’t really see much other than my floor. I crane my neck as best I can, and spot June running down the beach, kicking up sprays of sand behind her.
“She’s making a run for it!” says one of the cops.
“I’ll get her,” says his partner. “Stay here and keep an eye on him.”
A cold chill envelops me. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. Now that I get a better look at these guys, I’m realizing that some things are…off.
Like their uniforms. Pretty close to the real thing, but the patches are the wrong color. And their badges, while accurate at first glance, are off as well. No radios on their shoulders or belts. And instead of the standard issue police pistol, they’re wielding 9mm automatics.
Add all of these observations to the fact that they’re not acting much like cops either, and I’m starting to worry. I notice a gang tattoo sticking out from under the remaining cop’s arm.
“What’s the charge?” I ask, hoping to make him expose himself.
“Your girlfriend is in a lot of trouble,” he says. “Maybe you, too. They found a body in her house. Chinese national. Died by homicide.”
Oh, shit. Maybe they ARE legit cops. Who else would know about the body…Oh, right. Whoever hired the goon squad that ambushed us would damn sure know. How did they find my beach house, though? Or know that I was the one guarding June in the first place?
