Page 66 of Lay Down the Law

“You might get off on adrenaline and the occasional game of risk, but I can do without it.” He started toward her, his mouth set in a grim line. “You not only endangered yourself this time, but you endangered my town…and my family.”

Erin had never seen him so angry. His jaws were clenched tight, his hands fisted at his sides. The sight of him, combined with the shocking knowledge that DiCarlo was behind the two attempts on her life, sent a wave of fear slicing through her.

“I wouldn’t—”

“You brought my child into this.” Nick reached her, eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring. “You put her in danger.” He shoved the punching bag hard with the last word. The bag swung, catching Erin on the shoulder, hard enough to knock her off balance. Temper rising, she lashed out. Her glove glanced off Nick’s jaw, sending him back a step.

Thwack!

Regret knotted her stomach the instant she hit him. In all the nine years she’d been a cop, she’d never struck anyone in anger. Not even when they’d deserved it. Yet here she was, taking her anger and fear and frustration out on a man who clearly didn’t deserve it.

Anger flashed like black diamonds in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—” Erin barely saw the blur of his uniform as he rushed her.

In a classic wrestling move, he took her down on the mat. She landed flat on her back. Surprise rippled through her that she’d landed so gently. Anger followed when it dawned on her how easily he’d overpowered her. Those feelings turned quickly to something much more intense the instant he came down on top of her.

He straddled her, pinning her arms at her sides. “Don’t ever hit me again,” he growled.

Erin couldn’t catch her breath. Too many emotions and sensations pummeled her all at the same time. He was too close. She was too weak to fight her feelings for him much longer. They were both too involved to do anything except make the situation infinitely worse.

“Let go of me,” she said breathlessly.

“Not until you explain to me what the hell is going on.”

“I can explain standing up.”

“Like you did a moment ago, when you punched me?”

His left jaw was red. She stared at him, guilt tugging at her conscience. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ve been beating my brains out for days trying to figure out who wants you dead, McNeal. All the while, you’re holding out on me.”

“What did you expect me to say, Nick? That I need a job, but by the way, there’s an outside chance a well-known Mafia don is trying to kill me? I’m sure that would have gone over well.”

Nick cursed.

“Frank thought I’d be safe in Logan Falls,” she said.

“That was incredibly irresponsible of both of you!”

“I didn’t intend to endanger your family.” The repercussions of her own words settled over her like a dark cloud. “Oh, Nick… You don’t think Stephanie… I wouldn’t—”

“You didn’t even consider the possibility, did you, McNeal?”

Erin felt the words like the blade of a knife slicing her clean through. “I wouldn’t endanger her. Where is she?”

“I sent her out of town with Hector. She’s safe.”

Relief untwisted one of the dozen or so knots in Erin’s gut. “I’m not going to let DiCarlo get away with any of this. I’m going to stop him.”

Nick glared down at her, breathing hard, his face suffused with anger. “How are you going to do that? Wait until he comes knocking, then go after him with guns blazing, grenades exploding? Take him out with a little hand-to-hand? Or maybe you’re going to put that black belt of yours to use and break his neck.”

The burst of anger came so powerfully, so quickly, that for a moment Erin saw red. She bucked beneath him, trying to topple him, but he was too heavy, and her struggles were futile. “I’ll take him out however I see fit.”

Nick leaned closer. “I’m not going to let you do it.”

“Why do you care?” she retorted.