Page 88 of The Billionaire's Son

Trey rose and moved closer to the screen, confirming the uniform was the same one Kelly wore. Where was she?

“Breaking news,” the female voiceover announced. “Shots fired during a violent FBI operation. One shooter and two law enforcement officers are down.”

His gut clenched. Trey swore harshly, searching for her in the confused video, which the station claimed was live. Would he even recognize her? It was impossible to make out facial features.

Or was Kelly one of the injured officers? No ambulance appeared on the screen, so whoever had been wounded had already been rushed to a hospital. Could he call and get a name? No way. Only family.

He wasn’t family. Not even close.

As the live feed continued to play, the voiceover reported the shooting was in connection with the kidnapping of the heir to the fortune of Wentworth Industries. The station’s sources maintained a suspect exited the structure approximately two hours ago and opened fire on law enforcement with no provocation. There was no further information because the scene was still active.

He paced the room. What could he do? Storm the hospital and make demands? Embarrass the hell out of Kelly? Tough. If she were alive, he’d deal with…

The ring tone he’d programmed for Kelly sounded. He grabbed his phone. “Kelly?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

He closed his eyes in relief and collapsed into his chair, sending a prayer heavenward. She was alive. Thank God she was alive. He took a deep breath and released it slowly, wondering at the force of his reaction.

And realized he was in love with her.

“Are you all right?” he demanded, muting the TV. “I’m watching the television coverage live.”

“I’m fine. My phone was off. This is the first second I’ve had to call you.”

“But you’re all right?”

“I’m good. Just so you know, Adam wasn’t here. Caleb is critical.”

“What do you mean Adam wasn’t there?”

“He either got advance warning of the op or lucky. We’ve searched the residence. This is definitely where he’d holed up, but he fled.”

“So he’s still out there?”

“Yeah, but likely no longer in the area. Ballard thinks he’s on the run. The FBI will apprehend him eventually.”

“But you weren’t shot? You’re okay?”

“I said I’m fine,” she said, sounding annoyed. “Listen, I’ve got to go. I just wanted to fill you in.”

“Kelly, I—”

But the phone went dead. She was gone, to a place where he didn’t belong, where he couldn’t reach her.

By some sick twist of fate he’d fallen in love with Kelly Jenkins, a woman totally unlike any other woman he’d known, a woman who worked with a bull’s-eye on her back. Even if the FBI caught Adam Chandler, there were plenty of other sickos in this world gunning for cops these days.

His son had already lost one mother. It wouldn’t be fair to let him get attached to another woman and lose her, too. Jase had been through too much in his short life. He might never recover from that loss.

Better to make this break with Kelly complete and permanent.

Jason was young. He’d forget her in time.

Trey turned away from the television, a sense of cold emptiness creeping into his limbs.

His son might forget Kelly Jenkins, but he never would.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THE MORNING AFTER the shoot-out in Homestead, Kelly stood at attention before the desk of Detective Monroe DiSilva for her interview with Internal Affairs. She wasn’t worried. She’d never patrolled the district where the alleged payoffs took place. They had no evidence against her.

This interview was just a formality, something to satisfy the brass. Or the media.

Although, interestingly, the paparazzi hadn’t followed her today.

DiSilva, a dark-haired man of maybe thirty-five, shuffled through papers on his desk. He glanced up at her with a steely glare.

“As you were, Officer Jenkins,” DiSilva barked.

Kelly stood at ease, eyes focused on the wall over his head.

“Is it true you were with the FBI in Homestead yesterday?” he demanded.

She cut him a quick glance. Uh-oh. DiSilva didn’t sound happy. “Yes, sir.”

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