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"I admire what the two of you do," she commented. "To be in a situation where you have to risk life and limb, not just once. I'd always be scared this would be the day my number came up."
"That's how it is for everyone if you think about it."
"I guess you're right. Still, I hate it happened to him."
"No more than me." He watched Riggs as he talked. "And I guess I'm somewhat to blame for where he is now. Even though he's my superior, I should have talked him out of going back into that building. But he wouldn't listen. He heard a baby crying and wouldn't leave it to die.
"I tried convincing him we'd done all we could. We saved two kids, and we don't have time to spare to go back. You need to let this one go."
Gunner looked straight at Georgie. “He gave me that eat shit and die look and said. "Give me one reason."
When he fell silent, she gave him a verbal prod. "And? Did you?"
"Hell no. No one will stop Riggs when he's in that mindset."
"Then what did you do?"
"What I always do. Follow his lead and watch his six. We found the baby on the second floor. Someone had crammed him into a bureau drawer, and he was screaming bloody murder.
"Riggs snatched up something from the bed, perhaps an old sheet or something. He wrapped the baby in and tucked the baby in his arms, tight against his chest. "Let's move."
"That's when it all went to shit."
Georgie thought about that. She'd fallen a little under Riggs's spell right then, knowing he was a man who wouldn't leave an infant to die. He and Gunner were truly men of honor—heroes in the truest sense.
And damn it all, she was in love with Riggs. The truth of it hit with enough power to embolden her to do what she felt was right.
"You're going to leave Josh. Right now."
"So, I'm right. It's the cripple."
Georgie wasn't ready to answer that question. "I just think we need a break."
Josh stared at her for a moment before stepping close to stare down at her. "Excuse me?"
Georgie wasn't about to let him intimidate her and tried modulating her voice to be as calm and caring as possible. "I think we need some time apart—to assess our situation and—"
The blow he delivered snapped her head to one side. Georgie raised her hand to her mouth and saw blood when she lowered it. Rage suffused her, and she turned to look at him again. This time, her words were spoken in the coldest voice she could muster. "Get out of my house, or I will call the police and report you for assault."
"I'm sorry," he started whining, "I didn't mean—I wouldn't have done that. You made me do it. You know it's your fault. I –"
She turned her back on him and went for her phone. When she had it in her hand, she looked at him. "Your choice. Leave on your own or be removed. I don't care which. I just want you gone. And leave my key on the table by the door."
"You're such a bitch," he pulled his keys from his pocket and removed a key. Rather than hand it to her, he threw it at her.
Georgie batted it away and continued to stare at him without response until he stomped to the door and jerked it open. "You're going to regret this."
"Not likely," she retorted. "Get out."
He did, not bothering to close the door. She hurried to shut and lock it and then leaned back against it. It appeared she now had her answer whether she and Josh were a good match.
They obviously were not. What perplexed her was how she hadn't seen that before now. Had she been so wrapped up in her career that she ignored signs?
Or was she manipulating things to get rid of Josh because she wanted Riggs? Did she have that kind of deceit in her? She hoped not. But she had to consider it because she didn't want to be unfair to him or herself.
It was a quandary, and when she found herself in that position, there was only one thing to do.
Nothing. She'd not try to fix, repair, dismiss, or engage with Josh for the foreseeable future. Not until she felt he would be open to honest discussion about their relationship and what each wanted.
