Page 60 of Just Another Chance

With the three of us together, I know we can accomplish anything because our love is stronger than ever.

We fall asleep in minutes and it’s the best sleep of my life.

22

TANNER

As relieved as I am that my little family is safe, there’s still one major problem to face– the thug that will be returning to Addie’s apartment. It makes me nervous as hell to let her get involved in taking the guy down, but she’s determined to end this, and I know that I need to support her.

Even though it’s killing me that she’s going to step into the line of fire.

Sierra volunteers to babysit Owen the next day while we go down to the precinct and talk to Detective Freeman. I make sure my security alarm is set and they’re safe in the loft before we leave. We’re a little on edge and Addie is right. Things will feel better once the situation is resolved.

Detective Freeman greets us and guides us through the busy station to his small office. After offering us coffee with a warning that it’s not very good and tastes like sludge, we politely decline and sit down in the worn chairs on the opposite side of his desk.

“Thanks for coming in,” he says and folds his hands on a stack of folders. “After going over the situation, I’m bringing a small team of undercover officers on board to help us. We’ve come up with a plan and I have complete faith in it.”

“What do you need me to do?” Addie asks, leaning forward.

There’s a gleam in her eye. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she looks excited to do this.

“We pulled up security footage from your apartment camera and the man who threatened you is Lorenzo Dragari aka The Dragon.”

“Lovely,” Addie says in a low voice. We clasp hands and I give her a look that says we can walk out right now if she wants. But she gives a little shake of her head, turns back to Freeman and squares her shoulders. “What should I know about The Dragon?”

God, she looks like a fierce warrior ready to slay this dragon. Her bravery is inspiring.

“He’s a part of the Valente crime family. One of their enforcers.”

“Leave it to Randy to owe the mafia money,” she grumbles.

“We’ve been wanting to catch him for a long time, but he’s slick. He said he’d return in a week for the $20 grand so that’s a few days away from today. We’re hoping he sticks to the plan and drops by your place this Saturday. We’ll have officers stationed outside and inside your apartment. You’re going to be wearing a wire and you need to get him talking. We need to get him threatening you and the baby with bodily harm and then demanding payment for your stepfather’s gambling debt. Think you can do that?”

She nods. “Yes. I can handle that.”

“Good. Since we don’t know when exactly he’ll arrive, we’ll have the officers staked out there all day.”

“I’m going to be there, too,” I say.

“Not a good idea,” Freeman says with a frown. “If Dragari gets suspicious or spooked, he’ll back off and disappear. This could be our one chance and he will definitely show up if he believes Addie is alone and no threat is around.”

Even though I hate that answer and I am so worried about this stupid plan, I’m not going to rant and rave and forbid her to do it. “It’s up to Addie,” I ultimately say.

“I agree with everything you said,” she tells Freeman. “Tanner, you should be out of sight, and I do not want Owen anywhere near my apartment when this is happening. He needs to be somewhere safe and protected…just in case something goes wrong.”

“I agree,” Freeman says. “We’ll make sure he’s guarded at all times.”

“Thank you,” she says.

The idea that something could go terribly wrong makes me sick to my stomach. I can’t even think about the possibility. Losing Addie once nearly killed me. I can’t go through it again.

We speak to the detective a little while longer and then thank him and leave. My gut is twisted up in knots and the moment we step outside, I pull Addie into my arms and kiss her fiercely.

When we finally come up for air, I’m holding her face in my hands and a horrible feeling washes over me. Like I’m going to lose her.

I can’t lose her. I won’t.

“Everything is going to be okay,” she assures me.

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