Page 142 of Contentious

“I was sure he would shoot me in the back as I ran away,” Cresley said with a shudder.

“He’d already caught sight of me with a gun pointed at him,” Carson said. “He ran off and fired at me over his shoulder. I think you’ll find the bullet lodged in the roof above the pumps. I aimed for his ass and took him down. He screamed his head off. We exchanged words about who’d done what to who and how him stabbing and kidnapping me was worse than his flesh wound. I kept the gun trained on him until you guys showed up, and then I think I passed out. I assume you confiscated my gun?”

“Yes, and his as well.”

“Will I face charges for shooting him?”

“That’s above my pay grade, but to me, it looks justified since he kidnapped you and shot at you first. Don’t quote me on that, though.”

“We never would,” Carson said. “I can produce my license to carry if that would help.”

“It would.”

“I’ll get that for you.”

“Here’s my card. You can email it to me.”

“I will when I have my phone.”

“Julian is coming,” Cresley said. “I’m sure he’s bringing our phones.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Carson said.

“Call me if there’s anything else I can do for you.”

“Thank you, Officer Martin,” Cresley said. “We appreciate your kindness.”

“I’m a big fan of your career, ma’am.”

“Oh please, call me Cresley.”

“I’m glad you and your family are safe, Cresley.”

“Thank you again.”

After the officer left the room, Cresley returned her head to Carson’s chest.

He wrapped his arm around her.

Cresley exhaled a deep breath, still trying to regulate a nervous system gone haywire. She’d never forget the sight of Marlon walking away with Ty while tucking a gun into the back of his pants.

“My dad tried to sign me out of school?”

Cresley winced, realizing he hadn’t known that detail until he heard her say it to the police officer.

“Was that the day the police were at school?”

“Yes, buddy, but I didn’t want to scare you by telling you that.”

“Why did he want to sign me out?”

“I don’t know, but I wasn’t about to allow that.” She couldn’t bear to think what Marlon had planned if he succeeded in getting to Ty.

“She called us a family,” Ty said. “Are we a family?”

Carson ran his hand over Ty’s back. “Is that what you want, pal?”

“Yeah, I do.”