Gabe

As the adrenaline from the struggle with Bridget finally died down, I kissed Scarlett with all of the relief I felt. I never should have left her on her own. It was far too dangerous. When Jake told me that Bridget was going to make an attempt on someone’s life at the auction, I had a feeling her target was Scarlett. There was too much bad blood between them, and when Edgar’s attempt on her life failed back at the convention center, Bridget had decided to take matters into her own hands.

“Are you hurt?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Bridget tried to get me to eat a cyanide capsule, just like the one she gave Henri.”

I closed my eyes as anger surged through my veins. I reminded myself that it was over, and that Scarlett was fine. There was nothing more that I could do. Killing Bridget wouldn’t solve anything, and probably would cause me to go to jail.

“It’s over now,” I said as I smoothed the hair from her face.

“Yes, thanks to you.” She snuggled closer and put her head on my shoulder. “You came just in in time.”

I stroked her hair and allowed the warm pleasure to wash over me. She was safe. We were both safe, and Bridget, Rocco and Edgar would soon be behind bars for good.

“Perhaps you should text Violet and let her know that you’re all right. If this gets out on the news, she’ll be worried.”

Scarlett nodded. I handed her the purse on the floor and she pulled out her cell and started to text. “What’s going to happen to Bridget?” she asked after she put the cell away.

“She’s going to get what she deserves.” Jake would take great pleasure in putting her behind bars, and for once, I didn’t mind him taking all the credit. The important thing was that criminals would be brought to justice, not who in the department would get credit for closing the case. Jake could take all of the glory. The only thing that was important to me was that Scarlett was safe.

“How did you find me?” she asked.

I leaned back and met her gaze. “Jake had a tip that Bridget was going to make an attempt on your life. When I returned to the party and didn’t see you, I panicked.”

“She sent me a note. I thought it was from you.” Scarlett shook her head.

“When I went looking for you, Rocco and Edgar attacked me. Thankfully, Sal, Jake, and Jake’s men were close by and came to my aid.”

“You were attacked?” She leaned back and started checking my arms and chest. “Oh my God, you’re hurt!”

“It’s just a small cut. I’ll heal.”

“You need to see a doctor.”

“I’ve been hurt much worse than this.” The knife cut was only a surface wound and had already stopped bleeding. Still, I was touched by her concern. Leaning over, I brushed my lips against hers. She trembled, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to tackle her like some animal in heat on the sofa in front of what seemed like the entire police department.

“Here.” A paramedic shoved a blanket between us, causing me to pull away from the kiss. Grumbling, I grabbed it and wrapped it around Scarlett’s shoulders.

“I’ll bring her around,” I told the paramedic after I flashed my badge.

“But—”

“It’s okay,” I said.

Scarlett held up her hand before an argument started. “I’m fine, really.”

She started to take off her blanket, but I stopped her. “No, I’m bringing you out so you can be checked out.”

“Only if you get checked out, too.”

I hesitated a moment before responding. “Okay.”

I stood and helped Scarlett to her feet. She protested when I picked her up into my arms, but I wasn’t hearing any of it.

“You almost died back there,” I said as I made my way back to the front of the mansion.

“But I didn’t, thanks to you.”

I snorted and carried her through the curious crowd to the ambulance. “I was just doing my job.” My voice shook as I spoke, and she flashed me a look that told me she knew I was lying. We both knew that my saving her was more than just my job. Scarlett meant everything to me. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to her.

I set her down on the end of the ambulance and several EMT’s immediately set to work. I hovered while paramedics tended to Scarlett’s scrapes and cuts, wanting assurance that she was unhurt. We all looked up when a familiar voice rang out over the commotion.

“Oh my God! Scarlett!” Violet appeared out of nowhere, her brow creased in worry. “Are you okay? I was so scared.”

“I’m fine. I’m fine.” Scarlett waved off the paramedics who frowned and ignored her protests.

“Tell me everything,” Violet said. “I want to know all the details.”

Knowing Scarlett was in good hands, I stepped back and saw Jake standing with a couple of other officers a short distance way. Like Scarlett, he was wrapped in a medical blanket and held a cup of coffee in his hand. The two other cops with him looked nervous, and hurried off soon after getting their orders. I made my way over to Jake, curious to see what he was up to.

“Everything okay?” I asked when I got within earshot.

“Oh, Ferreira. It’s you.” Jake took a long sip of coffee. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

“You look hurt.” I nodded to the gash on his forehead.

“Gah.” He pressed his fingers to the wound. “At least, it stopped bleeding. Those damn paramedics wanted to bandage me up.”

“How did it happen?”

Jake let out a long breath. “The damn escort CEO was so desperate to escape that he ran through the glass door.”

“Cox?”

“Yeah.” Jake took another sip of coffee. “Can you believe it?”

I nodded. “Did he get away?”

Jake frowned at me. “Hell no. You think a shattered glass door was going to slow me down?” He looked out over the chaos as he twisted his lips into a half smile. “I chased that fucker two blocks before I tackled him.” He nodded over to the group of police cars. “Sal is booking him now.”

I caught sight of Sal over by the police vehicles and nodded. “Good work.”

“Damn straight, it was good work.”

“What about Morales?”

Jake shrugged. “He wasn’t as antsy as his partner. We were able to overtake him without incident. Unfortunately, the guests all managed to escape.” He shook his head. “It was almost as if they knew we were coming.”

“You’ll get them eventually, I’m sure.”

“Damn right, I will.”

“Catching international art thieves will look great on your résumé, I’m sure.”

Haussler raised his brows at me. “Yes, it will.” I knew he recognized the olive branch I was extending. He might not understand it, but he was no fool. I knew he’d take it. “I’ll make sure to mention how much you helped in the report.”

“I’d appreciate it.” At one time, I would have fought Haussler for the recognition, but now it seemed rather silly. The bad guys had been caught and Scarlett was safe. That was what was most important.

We both stepped back as two police officers brought Bridget out in handcuffs.

“You idiot,” she shouted at me. “You ruined everything.”

I grinned and rocked on my heels. “Just doing my job, ma’am.”

She spat at me, but I stepped out of her way before it could land on my clothes. Jake chuckled as the other cops hauled her away.

“Feisty bitch,” he said.

“The worst.” I looked over my shoulder at Scarlett to see if she was watching. The paramedics had finished patching up her scrapes and tending to her bruises. She now sat with Violet on the edge of the ambulance, talking.

Jake glanced over at me and took a sip of coffee. “Looks like your gigolo days are over.”

“Seems that way.”

“Things could get messy.”

I knew he was talking about Scarlett. Now that the case was over, she’d go her way and I would go mine. It was what everyone was expecting, but not something I was prepared to do.

“They probably will.” If I wanted to keep Scarlett, things would get complicated. It was difficult to hold down a relationship while doing undercover work. Something would have to change, but before that happened, I needed to make sure that Scarlett still wanted me after all of the excitement of the case was over.

“You did well out there,” Jake said. “I look forward to reading your report.”

I snorted and shoved my hands in my pockets. “Thanks. I look forward to reading yours as well.”

“Friends?” He held out this hand.

I studied it for a moment before taking it. “Friends.”

Jake finished the last of his coffee. “I guess I better go down and help Sal. Looks as if he might be having a little difficulty with Cox.”

I glanced over to where Sal was trying to get Edgar into the car. The owner of the escort company was a good foot taller than the cop and twice as big.

“Yeah,” I said. “It looks like he could use some help.”

Jake raised his coffee cup to me. “Talk to you later.”

I watched Jake walk away and realized that I had been wrong about him. He wasn’t a bad guy, just misunderstood. Just like Scarlett and I were misunderstood in high school. Like me, he felt he had something to prove. He had his own demons that haunted him. I hope, like me, Jake could someday overcome his ghosts and find peace.

Turning, I headed back to Scarlett. To my peace. Over the last several days, she had made me realize that living in the past wasn’t really living at all. Now I wanted to live for the future, a future with her. All I had to do was convince her that staying with me would make her far happier than doing everything on her own.