Chapter Twenty-Eight

Moon

“Mom! Mom! There’s a girl outside and she’s with a police officer.”

Beau was an even bigger ball of energy from being cooped up inside all day or from an overload of testosterone and before I could ask any more questions, he was through the door again.

“Beau, wait up!” Having his scheduled disrupted was making him difficult to manage and as much as I wanted more time with Cross, I could use less of the strong headed man routine from my little boy. I walked as fast as I could without running, but Jag with his eagle vision spotted me. I slowed down when he called my name.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I shook my head because as soon as he asked the question, as soon as the words were out, I felt confirmation of my fears. “I don’t think so. Beau said a girl was outside with a cop and that just doesn’t make sense. Does it?”

“Fuck no. I’m coming with you.” Jag walked beside me, stopping only when we reached the opaque glass doors.

“Oh, it’s only Detective Haynes.” He was useless but seemed harmless.

“Only doesn’t apply when it comes to cops, Moon.”

I nodded but the defense of the detective died on my lips because he was right. What was the detective doing here and why did he have that young girl with him?

“Duly noted.”

“No problem. I’m right here if you need help, remember that.”

I did, taking a deep breath and pushing the door open. My heart raced and my legs felt like limp noodles but I managed to stay upright. “Detective, what brings you by?”

“Where’s your boyfriend?”

“Go inside, Beau.” I stared at my defiant son until he gave up and marched away from the young girl with the dirty face.

“But, Mom—”

I shook my head. “Now, Beau.”

“Okay.” With all the drama of a pre-teen he dragged himself away.

When he was gone, Haynes’ smile transformed from an overworked decent guy smile to evil incarnate. “Cute kid. It really would be too bad if something happened to him.”

“What did you say?”

He snarled. “I said it would be too bad if something happened to him. You got hearing problems?”

“Officer Jones,” I said numbly.

“Yeah, you fucked me good, bitch.”

I grinned, feeling pleased with myself. “Damn. Never would have taken you for a dirty cop.”

The girl winced when he squeezed her arm and finally I looked at her, little more than a child. “Are you okay, honey?”

She nodded but it was filled with fear.

“She’s fine, better than you’re gonna be. For now.”

I didn’t know what he meant but dwelling on it wouldn’t help me now. “Jessica?”

Wide blue eyes snapped to mine, surprise written all over them. She gave a barely imperceptible nod and that gave me the fuel I needed to keep going.

“Don’t worry about her name, just tell your boyfriend to get out here. Now!”

“I don’t have a boyfriend, Detective. Maybe you could ask for him by name?”

“Cross. I want to speak to Cross.”

I kept my voice calm and did just what Jag had instructed. “He went to one of the dispensaries tonight, something about vandalism.”

“Bullshit. Get him right now or I’ll put a bullet in her fucking head.” Jessica shrieked so loud it echoed in the air. “Don’t make me ask again.”

“Ask as many times as you want. Cross isn’t here. But you know that, it’s why you showed up now, isn’t it?”

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” He shook his head. “I’ll never understand what the fuck women like you are thinking, getting mixed up with these guys. They’re criminals, you know that.”

“And what, I should hook up with a man with a badge and an itchy trigger finger? At least these guys are honest about who they are.”

“A fucking gang, that’s who.”

I laughed at his hypocrisy. “And aren’t you part of the biggest gang around? I guess it’s hard to see when you’re in so deep, or maybe you don’t care that Pacheco is a pedophile. Either way, my guess is you’re just as guilty.”

“I don’t fuck no kids!”

“You just help them get sold to vile men looking to do terrible things to them, right? My bad. You’re a real American hero, Detective.” His face was red with anger and the hand with the gun twitched. “Kidnapping is still against the law, isn’t it?”

“You can’t kidnap someone who doesn’t exist,” he said with the kind of confidence that only came from carrying a badge and a gun. The dirtier they were, the more confident they appeared.

“Yeah?” I pulled my phone from my front pocket and snapped a photo, not caring at all that he was temporarily blinded. “Let’s see what the Feds think about that image.” My fingers fumbled to turn the recording on, but eventually I got it.

“Delete that now or I’ll put a bullet in you and your little fucking bastard.”

“Let the girl go and I will.”

Haynes shook his head. “You have no bargaining power here, Moon. I’m an officer of the law.”

“Are you? Because from where I stand, you look like a criminal.”

“Fuck you, now get your goddamn greasy boyfriend out here,” he snarled, and I figured I’d touched a nerve. Probably the word was out he was corrupt.

“I told you, he’s not here.” I heard Jag rack the slide on his gun behind me which gave me a little more confidence. But I also knew he wasn’t a cop killer. Bad cop or not. “My guess is that your connection with Pacheco screwed you. I mean who would ever believe a cop who likes to have sex with children?”

“You stupid fucking bitch!” The detective raised his hand in the air and squeezed the trigger. Twice. I shuddered. The good cop was the one who was deranged. “The next bullet goes in her head.”

“If you do that, you might as well put a bullet in your own head because since you barged onto the property without an invite or a warrant, you’ve been recorded. Video and audio.”

“It won’t hold up because these assholes are gangbangers. Nothing more than common fucking criminals.”

I shrugged. “Maybe so, but Jessica is a victim. Kidnapped and trafficked then further abused by a sick deranged cop. And such a pretty girl too, the press is going to love that.”

“I never fucking touched those girls!” he insisted as though that made it all right.

“You’re touching her right now. Manhandling her after what she’s been through. Save your hero story for the jury because I’m not buying it.”

Vehicles sounded in the distance and he turned, giving me the perfect opportunity to motion to Jessica. “Looks like we’ve got company.” He grinned with confidence, thinking he had the upper hand but I knew Jag would have warned the guys before they hit the curve that led to the parking lot. “And having Cross see you laid out and lifeless will be the perfect end to this.”

I held my breath at his words, keeping my breathing steady and calm when he aimed his black service weapon right at my head. Nothing could calm me down in that moment. Nothing except Jessica with wide, scared eyes. “It’ll be worth it, knowing you’ll be treated like one of those young girls when you get to prison.”

My heart raced in anticipation of what was to come, the unimaginable pain of a bullet tearing through me. The thought of never seeing or holding my little boy again and then I froze.

Why was I giving up?

“It’s cute you think any of this will make it to the light of day. That’s the problem with you hippies, you’re so fucking naïve.”

“See Detective, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not fucking naïve. In fact, I’m pretty fucking awesome.” My heart pounded in my ears and I had to do all I could to get this guy to talk. Stall for time. “You and your dirty cops should have done your homework, because if you had, you’d know I’m not a dirty hippie.”

His eyes flashed surprise and I knew it was wrong to enjoy it so much, but I did. “My name isn’t even Moon. It’s Carolina Collinswood, which probably means nothing to you.”

“Less than nothing,” he snorted.

“Of course it wouldn’t, but my father is Les Collinswood.” In addition to marrying my blue blood mother, my father had served as Governor of Connecticut and currently worked for the Director of National Intelligence.

“Oh and Mom is Marseille Hampton-Collinswood.” Her father had worked as the ambassador to China while her mother had been a model and then a linguist. I had what some people would call an impeccable pedigree.

“Bullshit.”

“Believe it or not, you’ll learn the truth soon enough.” We didn’t get along, but I knew Daddy loved me in his own overbearing way. What I also knew was that in his eyes, only family could make you feel bad about your life choices. No one else.

“I’ll take my chances.”

His finger curled around the trigger. One shot sounded, maybe two, I couldn’t tell as I jumped out of the way. Well, I tried but it turned out bullets traveled fast. Really fast. One grazed my side as I turned away from the gun and I fell to the ground. I didn’t know where the other one landed and I didn’t care all that much, not with the warmth seeping from my side.

Beau. All I could think about was Beau.

“Oh, please be okay lady! Please!” Jessica’s long blonde hair hung over me like a curtain, shielding my view which made me panic.

“Jessica, get down!” I pulled her down and held her close.

“Lady, it’s okay. He was shot too,” she said and squirmed out of my grasp to point at Haynes, lying motionless about fifteen feet away. “You gonna be okay?”

“Probably. Don’t worry about me, how are you?”

“Alive. Free.”

I smiled and stroked her hair. “Cordell will be so happy to see you.” Shock set in even though my wound wasn’t that severe and blood loss was minimal, but the pain was a solid nine.

“You know my brother?”

“Just a little,” I winced when I tried to sit up and she helped me. “I know he’s been looking for you for a long time.”

The sound of dozens of motorcycles drowned out my words and I fell backwards, letting my eyes fall closed because I was too tired, too weak to do more. “You should find him.”

The last thing I heard was Cross calling out my name.

***

“Moon, wake up!” Despite his gruff voice, Cross’s hands were gentle as they brushed my hair from my face. “Moon, please open your eyes.” His voice was more tortured than I’d ever heard it. I struggled to open my eyes, not even sure where I was only that my back was no longer pressed against the hard concrete outside the clubhouse.

“Cross.” My words came easily though my mouth was a little dry. “Beau. Where’s Beau?”

“He’s fine. Cuddled up with Jana and worried as hell about you.”

I hated the thought of Beau worrying over losing his only parent, but I felt fine. A little stiff and my side hurt like crazy but I was fine.

“Ah!” Okay so sitting up hurt a little more than I realized and I fell back against something soft but not quite soft enough. My eyes opened and the first thing I saw was a handsome worried face looking down at me with tired eyes the color of sapphires, relief shining brightly.

“I’m okay, Cross.”

He shook his head; chocolate hair tousled, no doubt from raking his hand through it too many times, brushed against his collar as he leaned forward to press his forehead against mine.

“Fuck, Moon. I thought I lost you.”

“Cross.” The emotion in my voice reflected what was written all over his face. Affection, maybe more. Possibly more. Hopefully more. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine, dammit. You have twenty-nine fucking stitches.” His big hand caressed my face and I could see the agony twisting his rugged features. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

I smacked at his hand until he pulled back with a frown. “I’m not, Cross. You were exactly where you needed to be.”

“No—”

“No! It’s time for me to talk. Did you take care of Roadkill? Because as much as it hurt getting shot and as frickin’ terrified as I was during those endlessly long minutes with Detective Haynes, it’s all worth it if this shit is over. So, did you?”

I nodded. “White Boy Craig and his crew were arrested and most of them are handcuffed to hospital beds somewhere in this fucking place.” I could see him struggling with how much to tell me and I smiled.

“Spit it out, Cross.”

His grin was sheepish, but he took my hand in his and pressed my palm against his cheek. I let my thumb graze the scruff on his jawline.

“Craig was injured bad, a bullet in each knee. Lu, the guy dating Pacheco’s daughter is gone.” He rattled off each injury or fatality and I could see the toll it all took on him.

“What about the Reckless Bastards?” Holding my breath, I waited for him to say a name that was familiar to me, which at this point was all of them.

“Max took a bullet in the shoulder, but it went straight through and he’s already bitching about the pain meds. Savior got shot dead on, but his vest kept him alive. He’ll be bruised, but he’s fine. I’m more worried about you.”

I frowned at his words. “How long have I been in here?” Which I finally realized was a tiny hospital room with just a single bed.

“About six hours. You hit your head pretty bad when you fell on the concrete. When I found you, Jessica was cradling your head in her lap crying her little heart out. She wouldn’t let anyone touch you—or her.”

“Jessica! Where is she? Is she all right?” My heart leapt at the image she’d presented, dirty and frail, terrified. “Can I see her?”

Cross smiled and leaned in to give me a kiss that reminded me I was a little banged up but still very much alive. “She’s been pacing outside for the past six hours. Won’t even talk to the Feds until she can see you.” He smirked and helped me sit up in bed. “You must’ve made quite an impression.”

It was more like I was the first friendly face she’d seen in almost a year. “She was so scared, Cross. The things she must have seen.” I couldn’t even imagine what had been done to her during the months she’d been a victim of Roadkill MC. I watched Cross take a few steps to the door and when he returned there was a parade of people behind him.

“Ms. Moon!” Jessica pushed around Cross and fell against the bed, lying her still dirty blond hair on my lap, sobbing when I began caressing her soft hair. “You saved me!”

“No honey, you saved yourself. Think of all the girls who didn’t make it and remember why you did.” She was just a kid. Fresh faced with a hint of naivete, I hoped she would be all right. “I’m so happy you’re okay, Jessica.”

“Call me Jessie.”

“And you can call me Moon.” I wrapped my arms around her frail body and held on tight while she sobbed and sobbed against me. “You’re okay now, sweet girl.”

She pulled back so I could see her face and I gasped at all the crusted blood all over her face, her hair and the much too sexy dress she wore. “It was so scary,” she whispered.

“Sorry to interrupt but we really need to speak with Jessica.” The voice belonged to a tall man with graying brown hair, beside him a petite woman wearing the same government issue suit and stoic expression.

“We need to speak with both of you,” another voice sounded but though I recognized the voice, I couldn’t see the sneering little face that belonged to it.

“What is he doing here?” Dodds was Haynes’ partner and I wanted nothing to do with either of them.

Cross stepped forward and took my hand. “Dodds was the one who took Haynes out.”

Oh. “What? Why?”

He smiled. “Because that’s what Internal Affairs does, ma’am.”

I smiled at the irony and relaxed against the cheap hospital mattress with Jessica on one side and Cross on the other, the two flanking me protectively. “You certainly took your role to heart, Detective.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’m sorry you got shot Ms. Vanderbilt but I didn’t have a clear shot without hitting the girl. I did my best, and then you jumped, and well, the rest is history.”

“No apology necessary, Detective. You had a job to do and I’m glad you took it seriously.” I felt myself getting drowsy again when it occurred to me that I probably had a concussion. “Wow who would’ve thought?” I groaned and squeezed Cross’s hand.

“Beau?”

“I’ll take care of him, sweetheart. Get some rest.”

Sweetheart.

“You know, it’s too damn bad you’re not over your wife yet, ‘cause I love you.”