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His gaze swung to the TV as the newscaster’s somber voice engulfed the room. Sebastian zeroed in on the squat apartment complex behind her. The flapping clothes and dingy siding told him all he needed to know. His face twitched. A livid curse exploded from his lips and he whirled, grabbing his coat off the table. Josh followed on his heels.
Rounding on him, Sebastian brought him up short. “Cover me and maintain operations. I’ll be back.”
“What are you going to do?”
He leveled his partner with a hard look. “Keep a line open.”
Someone’s low whistle of impending doom followed him out the door. Growling, Sebastian made a mental promise to find them later.
The entire street was chaos. Red and blue strobes still flashed, reflecting off the sides of the buildings and the sea of yellow tape stretched halfway around the block. Sebastian’s body lurched forward, straining against the seatbelt as he brought the car to an abrupt halt. His gaze darted over the crowd, skimming over the dark uniforms of police and medical personnel in a frantic search for Taylor. A swarm of people filled the street, a few of them still clad in pajamas and slippers. Shock and fear branded their faces as well-meaning neighbors and firemen brought them blankets to help ward off the early December chill. Beyond the temporary barricades, he could see the chalk outlines and tented numbers that marked where bullets had fallen.
Nudging his way through the masses, Sebastian’s stomach clenched. Raw adrenaline surged through his system as he hunted for Taylor. Each moment that passed with no sign of her heightened his frustration and fear. Flashing his badge with a quick explanation, he ducked through the last line of tape. What little bit of coffee he’d managed to chug down that morning burned. His insides felt like they’d been doused in gasoline, and he vowed with everything he had, he would find the punks who’d struck the match.
Shouldering a young officer out of his way, he started up the stairs to the second floor apartments and froze. A prickle at the nape of his neck made him turn. He drew in a shuddering breath. She looked small and pitiful huddled on a concrete divider, hugging her knees to her chest. She was working over that delectable bottom lip and he knew, just from her body language, that those eyes would be lost. His chest ached. Turning his head to the side, he ignored the pop of tension in his spine as he struggled to gain some small measure of control before approaching her. His patience was hanging on by a thread and he knew how stubborn she could be. After this, there was no way he would wait any longer.
“Taylor.”
Her head snapped up at his voice. Tears still shimmered in her grey eyes, giving them the same sheen as finely spun silver. Just as he knew they would, they held suffering and fear. Her chin dimpled, quivering, as she cast aside the thin blanket she’d been wrapped in and leapt to her feet. Sebastian braced himself as she crashed into his arms. He held tight, burying his face against the top of her head as Taylor clung to him. Her body trembled with nerves and cold.
“Sebastian…I’m so glad you’re here.”
He closed his eyes. It was doubtful she would feel the same if she had any idea what was running through his mind. Pulling back, he trailed his hands over her in search of any injury. A cross frown tightened his face when he saw the small scratches marring her arms.
“I’m okay,” she whispered.
His jaw knotted as he ground his teeth. Fury robbed him of the ability to speak. Shaking his head, he shrugged out of his coat and draped it around her shoulders. Taylor shivered, wrapping the heated leather folds around her body, a grateful twist playing on the corner of her mouth. Pulling her closer, he shared in the heat, his eyes darting to the shattered windows above. The short crescents of his nails bit into his palms as he clenched his fists.
“What happened?” he finally managed to grind out. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t want to bother you at work. I’m fine, just a little shaken up.”
“I don’t give a damn about work, Taylor!” Pinching the bridge of his nose, he fought to get his temper under control. “I was worried sick about you—again. This has got to stop.”
“It’s not like this happens every day!” she exclaimed.
His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “Is that supposed to be cute? I don’t care if this is the first time it has happened, or the hundredth. You could have been killed!” he yelled, gesturing to the bullet riddled apartment complex. “I’m not going to spend another night wondering what the hell is going on out here. As soon as you can get back in there, we’re grabbing your stuff. You’re coming home with me.”
Taylor opened her mouth, but he silenced her with a finger and a slow shake of his head. “No,” he warned. “The only words I want to hear out of your mouth at this point are, ‘yes, Sebastian’ or ‘I would be happy to, Sebastian.’ Anything else is only going to piss me off. Are we clear?”
She nodded, lowering her gaze with a demure sweep of her lashes. Taylor wrung her hands nervously in front of her. “Yes, Sebastian.”
He lifted her face to drop a quick kiss on her lips. “That’s my girl. Now tell me what you know.”
She blew out a shaky breath and lowered back onto the concrete ledge. “I don’t know much. I think they were targeting the kid two doors down, Trevor. He’s been mixed up with some bad stuff in the past. Or he was.” Taylor dashed her face dry and plowed her trembling hands through her hair. “His poor mother. She was hysterical. I think I’m going to hear her screaming for the rest of my life.”
“All the more reason for you to get out of here,” he said softly. Sitting down beside her, Sebastian covered her hand with his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “What do you know about the guys that did this?”
She grimaced and wrinkled her nose. “Not much. They hung out on the corner from time to time. I heard Trevor yell their names a couple times from the balcony.” Her brow furrowed with concentration. “Davon and Kenny. His mom was covered in blood. She kept crying and saying he was just a baby…how he was trying to get out.”
“As sad as it is, that’s probably why they shot him. Gangs have a very strict code and once you’re in, you are in for life. It ends all too often this way for the kids who try to change their minds.” Reaching over, Sebastian brushed the hair from her eyes. She was pale and shaky, and her disjointed thinking had him worried. “Has anyone looked you over?”
“No,” she said, with a wobble of her head. “I’m okay, really. It’s just some scratches from when the glass shattered. I crawled into the hall. Some of it must have cut me.”
“Smart thinking,” he said, kissing her temple. “But I’m worried about shock. Let’s get you checked o
ut, just to be safe.”
He paced the sidewalk a few minutes later, keeping a close eye on Taylor while the paramedics looked her over. He didn’t like leaving her side. Hell, he didn’t even like other people touching her, but he needed a minute to think and regroup. The local police officers had done little to ease his mind. In fact, hearing how she would have been dead if she’d been standing a just few more inches one way or the other had only reignited Sebastian’s anger. He tensed as Josh’s gruff voice filtered through the other end of the phone.
“Taylor’s fine. They’re checking her over as we speak. I need a favor.”
“Name it.”
“Get me intell on local gangs—names, addresses, hangouts—the full rundown. I’ll be by as soon as I drop her off.”
There was a slight pause on the other end, followed by Josh’s amused chuckle. “She’s heading to Casa de Baas after all, huh? I’m going to take a stab in the dark here and assume Plan A is no longer in effect?”
“Good guess,” Sebastian snapped. “Make sure that information is ready.”
Stuffing his phone back in his pocket, he moved to gather Taylor and her clothes. The next stop would be some place that sold coffee. It was going to be a very long day.
Darkness gathered outside the van, cloaking him in even deeper shadow. Rolling his neck, Sebastian glanced at the clock. It was approaching ten. Just about time for the little cockroaches to start scuttling out of hiding and making their rounds. The police would be closing in on them soon. If he didn’t make a move before then, he would never get his chance. Wetting his lips, he tugged his hood up and turned his head, hiding in its folds as an old man shuffled by with a Weiner dog in tow. Once the geezer had passed, he cracked his knuckles. Their rigid pop and the creak of leather sounded unnaturally loud in the silence of the car, as did his thoughts.
