Page 36 of Blood and Sand

Detective Rey LaCroix

AssoonasAgentHart moved down the steps and announced himself, I saw red. It took all of two seconds to empty my magazine into the back of Harold Greely as he straddled my wife, his hands around her neck.

Of course, I’d catch shit for shooting a suspect in the back, but I’d face the consequences like a fucking trooper as long as Dana survived.

I ignored the body on the floor and focused on Dana. She wasn’t breathing, so I started CPR, hoping I could save her. Her face was covered in Greely’s blood, but I couldn’t focus on that right now. Agent Hart had pulled off his jacket to cover Delaney after cutting her loose and then escorting her out of the building. Amir had gone to the other address with the other team. Hopefully, he’d get word we’d found them. One of the other agents who’d entered the home with us covered Dana and cut the rope binding her while I tried to bring her back.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I said as I continued to give her breaths and chest compressions. “Stay with me.”

“The ambulance is two minutes out,” Agent Hart called out, but I continued to focus on her until someone pulled me away and took over.

“Let me help her!” I yelled, but some of the other agents pushed me farther away until they eventually dragged me out of the house altogether.

“Rey, you need to go home.” Delaney squeezed my shoulder. I didn’t even hear her walk in. “Don’t you have your interview with Internal Affairs today?”

I groaned. Just thinking about it pissed me off. I was being questioned about my actions on the day I killed Harold Greely. I’d known it was coming, but I’d hoped they would give me a little leeway since Dana was still unconscious in the hospital. My interview with Internal Affairs was the last thing on my mind. I’d been in a trance, staring at Dana, hoping and praying she’d wake up. I wasn’t a religious man, but I prayed to whoever would listen. To whoever would grant me favor to bring her back to me. So far, nothing had worked, but I hadn’t given up.

It had been six days since I’d been sitting at her bedside, scared she’d wake up while I wasn’t here or die while I wasn’t here. Either way, this small room had become my home away from home. Delaney had been bringing me food and clothes since Dana had been admitted because she worked here.

“I’ll sit with her until you get back.”

“I can’t leave her.”

The only time I left her side was to use the bathroom, and it was only because I had to because my place was next to her.

“I destroyed our lives all those years ago. I’ll be damned if I let her think I’ve turned my back on her again.”

“Rey…”

“I’ve been so lost without her, Delaney.” I placed my hand on top of Dana’s and dropped my head against it. “What if she doesn’t make it?”

“You can’t think like that, Rey,” Delaney said.

“I fucked up. I let this happen. She warned me about Chanel, and I couldn’t see it for what it was. I thought she was just jealous of someone I’d fucked. How in the hell could I’ve been so stupid?”

“Me? Jealous?”

Her raspy voice caused me to break. I sobbed like a baby while she ran her hands through my hair.

“I’m going to go get the doctor,” Delaney said, excusing herself while I had a breakdown.

After I calmed down, wiping my eyes, the only thing I could do was stare into the beautiful brown eyes of the woman who’d stolen my heart all those years ago. The woman I’d die for. The woman I was stupid enough to let get away.

I stood and wiped away the tears trickling down her cheeks. “Is he dead?”

“Yes.”

She released a sigh of relief, then sadness filtered into her eyes. “I didn’t think you would get to me in time.”

I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to get as close to her as possible.

“You’re mine, Dana LaCroix. I may have been an ass these past few years, but that much hasn’t changed. I’ll do anything for you.”

Her eyes softened. “I know, Rey. I’m just glad he can’t hurt anyone else.”

“Me too.” I kissed her forehead. “You get some sleep. You need your rest.”

“You have to leave?” she asked.

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