Page 92 of Sweet Sin

“She was protecting her pup. Protecting us.”

“Speculation, but that’s fine.”

“Two men were holding drawn pistols. One was blond, Giancarlo, and the other was dark-haired, and was called Abel.”

“You knew the men?”

“No. I just heard them call each other by name.”

“We’re getting ahead of ourselves.” He makes some more notes. “Go back to when you confronted them.”

“Abel aimed his gun at the dog, and I told him, ‘Don’t you fucking dare.’”

“And did he cease?”

“He did. The blond told him to leave the dog alone. Clearly he was the boss of the two. I asked who sent them. They said—”

“Which one said?”

I rack my brain. “Honestly, I don’t remember. Could have been either one of them.”

“All right. What did they say?”

“They said they had no issue with me. That they were here for her.”

“Her meaning Ms. Gallo.”

“I assumed so at the time. Yes.”

“What happened next?”

I think, try to remember, but it’s all a blur from there.

I can’t say that though. When I told Lola it was a blur, she was adamant. Do not use the word blur. If they think I don’t remember, they’ll fill in what happened for me, and it won’t be in my favor.

I don’t get any negative feelings from Detective Ericson, but I keep what Lola said in my mind.

“The dog had herded her pup into a corner to protect him, I assume, but he went running off, and she let out a shrill bark. Both men were startled, and I took advantage of the diversion to launch myself at the dark-haired one, Abel, and disarm him. I got him in a headlock and pointed his own gun at his head.”

“Where’d you learn a move like that?”

“Where do you think? On the inside, of course.”

“I see.” More notes. “You were aware you could have been shot, right?”

Of course I was.

I was acting on instinct. And yes, I did learn that on the inside, but I was also acting to protect Savannah. My instinct to protect her was stronger than my instinct to protect a fellow inmate or even to protect myself.

All I knew was that she wasn’t going anywhere with them.

“Mr. Bellamy?”

“I’m sorry. Did that require an answer? Of course I was aware I could have been shot.”

“Did you have any intention of shooting either Mr. Josephs or Mr. Rossi?”

“If I had that intention, they’d both have bullets in them.”

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