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“I’m sorry,” Gabe murmured. “It happened so fast. We couldn’t stop it.”
André’s nod was solemn. “I know. I know you would’ve tried if you could.” He took a step back, hands out. “I’ve got a lot to take care of. I’ll take your statements in a little bit.”
“There are enough videos that you really don’t need to,” Molly said. “I’m sure they’re already online.”
André shook his head, his expression pained. “We’re already trending on Twitter. But I’ll need all of your statements for my report. Can you stick around for another hour?”
Gabe didn’t want to. He wanted to get out of the heat and take a nice cool shower. He wanted to hold Molly and never let her go.
But he nodded. “Of course.”
“I’m going to have one of my guys take you into the hotel. I’ll call a medic to check you over, just in case.”
“What about Cresswell?” Molly asked frostily.
“I took his weapon and he’s sitting in the back of one of the department SUVs. He has some explaining to do. A lot of explaining to do.”
Molly looked around for the cops’ vehicle, glaring when she saw it. “He didn’t even try to subdue Ducote. He just shot him.”
“I know. The two officers who followed Ducote out of the building said the same. They said once they got out on the street, you’d put your plan into action and they were afraid they’d hurt one of you, so they had to let it play out. Don’t do that again, okay? I’m begging you.”
“I’m done with my life of crime-fighting,” Gabe declared, then looked at the woman lying on the ground. “Will she be okay?”
“She’s alive,” André said. “Thanks to you.”
Gabe shook his head. “Thanks to Xavier. He’s going to make a great doctor someday. Go on, do what you need to do. We’ll wait for you inside the hotel.” He forced himself to stand, swallowing his groan, then held his hand to Molly.
Together they stood, watching as Mr. Nelson thanked Xavier, shaking his hand over and over and finally embracing him, the older man’s body shaking with sobs. Xavier hugged him, patting his back.
“His mama’s gonna be so proud,” Molly murmured.
“She really is,” Gabe murmured back.
Mr. Nelson let Xavier go and their friend ambled over to them, his eyes bright with excitement and relief. “She’s breathing on her own. I hope she’s gonna be okay.”
Molly hugged Xavier hard and he pressed his face into her shoulder. “You were amazing,” she said fiercely.
“We couldn’t save Officer McCauley or Joelle Ducote,” Xavier said, his voice muffled against Molly’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to lose Mrs. Nelson, too.”
“She’s alive because of you.” She let him go then poked him in the chest. “Don’t ever do that again, taunting a killer to shoot you. For fuck’s sake. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Gabe did the same thing.”
“And I will deal with him later. Promise me. No more offering yourself.”
“I promise.” Xavier leaned his head back, staring up at the sky thankfully. “It’s over. It’s really over.”
Gabe glanced over at Ducote’s body, now surrounded with barriers so that the crowd couldn’t take any more photos. “It really is. My dad would be proud.” Taking Molly’s hand, he put his other arm around Xavier’s shoulders. “Come on. Let’s get inside, away from all these cameras.”
