Staying quiet as I stood on the other side of that door was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But Porter and Finn from SWAT were lining up their team while the building was evacuated and a perimeter set up. Taking down Fagan had to be done by the book, we had to dot our i’s and cross our t’s, because if we didn’t, he would get off on a technicality.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, it was that sixth sense, so to speak, that same feeling that kept many cops alive. My hand rested on the butt of my gun as the voice in Ariel’s apartment turned to shouting.

“I know you’re out there Christakos. This is all Ariel’s fault. If she had only done as she was supposed to do, but she was too fucking stupid. Isn’t that right, Ariel?”

I heard her cries of pain through the door, I felt Stella’s arm on me and turned for the first time, really taking in the situation. “Go downstairs and get in my truck, now, both of you. That’s an official order.” The look on Leo and Stella’s faces crumbled, and I understood their feelings. They loved Ariel, not in the same as I did, but they loved her. “When she gets out of there, she’s going to need the both of you.” They moved reluctantly toward the stairwell as SWAT took formation.

Brandon’s shouts continued inside the apartment, he was on a tirade. “Why didn’t you listen to me? After the two idiots I hired scared you, you were supposed to run to me and beg me to forgive you for leaving. You were supposed to come to me so I could protect you. But you fucked up, Ariel. You didn’t do what you were supposed to do. When I told you to stay away from that deputy, you didn’t. Why didn’t you listen? I paid those men a lot of money for you, that makes you my property. I even offered them money a second time to bring you to me, but when they got into your apartment, you were gone. They’re almost as stupid as you, too stupid to find you.”

There was a scrambling sound behind the door, followed by Brandon’s words, “You aren’t going anywhere. I will not lose, I never lose.”

Ariel’s voice was muffled, but there was still the light hint of attitude in her tone. Her words rising and falling.

SWAT motioned me out of the way, and they were positioned on either side of the door, Porter signaled for Piper to talk to Ariel.

“Ariel, it’s me. Will you talk to me? Are you okay?”

“Piper, I’m sorry, Piper, I’ll redirect.” Ariel’s words were clear, but they didn’t make sense, I gave Piper a puzzled look, and her mouth was ajar.

Piper turned to me and in a deadly calm monotone, “He’s got a gun on her. Ariel is not restrained and believes that she is in a position to push the gun away from the door if we break in.”

“How the fuck did she learn that?” I asked, my blood boiling. I wasn’t sure whether to kiss Piper for teaching Ariel or to shout at her, because now Ariel believed that she could save herself and handle a mad man with a gun. I was ready to call Asher, a sniper on the force.

“Finn and I taught her the move yesterday.”

Finn had his gun at the high-ready and held up his right hand with three fingers as Porter held the entry ram. Three other SWAT members were close by, ready to take point and flanks after the door gave.

Piper and I held our guns bladed, ready to lift and fire if needed as Finn dropped the count to two.

Then one.

As if in slow motion, Porter pulled back the ram, and as he let it fly, he shouted, “Now.”

The door burst open, a shot rang out, and Finn moved in with several team members behind him.

The seconds I had to stay in the hall felt more like hours, and as soon as someone shouted the all clear, I was through the door.

Ariel was standing with her legs spread wide, taking deep heaving breaths. Our eyes locked, and tears ran down her cheeks.

A gun was being unloaded and tagged as evidence.

Porter had Brandon handcuffed and was escorting him out of my way.

I closed the distance between us and swept her into my arms. Blood oozed from the corner of Ariel’s mouth, and the apple of her cheek was blooming dark purple, which was so stark against her ghost white skin. I wasn’t thinking when I crushed my mouth down on hers, so when she flinched away from me, my heart dropped.

“Sorry.” Her voice was so small as her hand came up to cup my cheek. “My lip hurts.”

My anger at what Brandon had done to her consumed me, and the only thing stopping me from going after him was the smell of honeysuckle and oranges from her shampoo. Having Ariel in my arms was the only thing keeping me from killing him. Ever so gently, I traced my fingers along the side of her mouth, wiping away the blood that trickled, and she winced.

“You’re going to have puffy lips,” I whispered. “And one hell of a headache.”

The paramedics rushed in, I held Ariel in my arms, her back to Brandon so that she didn’t have to see him again, I waited until Porter pushed him through the door and out to his new future behind bars before handing her over to be examined.

Stella and Leo rushed through the door, and I heard Aiden holler, “Stop” as he followed in behind them. Stella was trying to thump Brandon on the head with her thumb and middle finger while Leo was sticking out her foot and tripping him.

“Ariel, Ariel,” They shouted, running to her.

“How are you? What did the bastard do to you?” Stella slid in next to the paramedic talking to Ariel.

A warm feeling slid over me. I forgot about the last few hours, I forgot that there was ever a time I didn’t know her. It had always been her, and I knew it would always be.

“I’m taking Ethel and Lucy home,” Piper said as she wrapped a hand around an arm of each of the girls.

“You rescued me,” Ariel whispered as she reached for my hand.

“Sweet, how many times do I have to tell you? Always. I will always rescue you.”

I settled onto the couch while Ariel gave her statement and the paramedics examined her cuts and started an IV.

Listening to her chronicle the events that led up to tonight was like watching a television show. I hadn’t known that he had proposed to her, which would be something we would talk about later. When she started talking about how Brandon ambushed her inside her apartment, I had to focus on my breathing so I wouldn’t change my mind and go after him.

“He was already inside when I got here. I had just come through my door, and he grabbed me. When I turned, I saw him. He was just staring at me, and his eyes were glassy and red like he hadn’t slept in days.” Tremors ran down her body. “It wasn’t me; it had never been me as a person. It was so much more.” Ariel wiped away more tears as Aiden handed her a tissue.

I stood and moved back over to her, but she recoiled, and the fear that was in her eyes just a few seconds ago was replaced with hurt and anger.

“Well, Miss Beaumont, I think I have all I need for now. I will call you to come in if we need more,” Callum said.

“We’re going to take her to ORMC. You coming with us?” The paramedic asked.

“No,” Ariel answered for me.

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Deputy, I’m sorry but if she doesn’t want you to come then we’re going to have to go without you.”

I watched them wheel her out and stood frozen, she had left, and I didn’t even have time to psychoanalyze what the hell had just happened because my phone rang and dinged at the same time, interrupting my moment of pity. Pulling it off my belt, I looked at the name before answering.

“Deputy Christakos.”

“Christakos, I suggest that you remain in Miss Beaumont’s apartment until you receive further notice. The governor and attorney general just landed via helicopter, and we are motorcading them to you,” Captain Getty announced.

“Yes, sir. I will wait for your call.”

Hanging up, I looked at the text. It was Callum telling me that Ariel’s apartment complex was full of news trucks.

What little there was left in Ariel’s apartment, I decided to pack up, whether she liked it or not, she was moving in with me. I was on my third box of kitchen shit when my phone dinged.

Captain: ETA three minutes.

Me: Roger

I headed out of her apartment and then down the stairs. Lights from cameras lit up as soon as my face appeared through the glass in the entryway door. I waited inside until I heard the telltale screams of the sirens and then the woop, woop of the cavalry warning people to move so they could get by. A group of men got out of a department van and removed a podium. I waited until I saw Captain, the governor, and the attorney general peel out of the vehicles before I opened the door and hustled over to the officials.

Cameras flashed and microphones were stuffed into my face, but I had been trained not to say a word.

Everyone quieted as a press secretary started talking.

“Let me begin by asking you to hold all questions until the end, at which time we will open the floor for some Q&A. Today, you will hear from Governor Richard and Captain Mark Getty with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. We’ll begin with Governor Richard,” the press secretary announced and walked off.

The governor took his spot behind the podium, but he didn’t smile like normal as he greeted the crowd with a curt, “It’s a sad day when we have to defend our deputies from those that were elected to support them. District Attorney Fagan has been removed from office to protect our citizens due to his personal choices over the last several weeks. Former State District Attorney Fagan was not protecting the people, supporting law enforcement, or the laws governed by the state of Florida. As such, until a new district state attorney can be elected, we will be appointing an interim state attorney to step in and handle the case workload, especially those facing heinous charges such as Erskine Sello. Along with Attorney General Conte, who will be assisting and lending attorneys from her office so that our justice system can continue to provide each person with a speedy trial as according to the law.” Governor Richard had a grave look on his face as he met the eye of Haley Loles from Channel Nine News. Obviously, there was no love lost between those two.

Captain Getty took the podium next, and he was his typical, straightforward self.

“The problem with this is that we had a man that abused his power, we had a media circus, and unfortunately, we had an innocent woman held hostage.” Captain focused his gaze on Haley Loles, the reporter was taking a verbal beating today. “Sergeant Kayson Christakos is one of our finest. He is honest and devotes his life to keeping the streets of Orange County safe. It is a shame when one man can inflict so much damage before being stopped. Thank you to those who stood by us, supported us, and defended the truth.” Captain Getty didn’t say it, but I could hear the silent and to the rest of you, go fuck yourselves.

Getty finished, and the press secretary opened the mic for questions. Unfortunately, the questions were about Ariel and me.

I looked over at the captain, and he gave the nod to answer if I wanted. Reporters raised hands, shouted questions, and vied for the lead to speak first. Haley was among them, but I’d be damned if I would acknowledge her. She wasn’t getting one more second of my time.

“How did you and Miss Beaumont meet?”

“I rescued her.”

There were oohs and ahhs.

“What’s next for the two of you?”

“If you’ll excuse me, but the woman I intend to marry is in the hospital, and although I understand your need for answers right now, she needs me more.”

I turned to the press secretary and gave him the signal that I was done and then looked at Captain Getty to see if I was excused, and with his nod, I was out.

I climbed into my truck, started the engine, and headed to get my girl.