Thirteen
Colt
When I followed dad into the living room, I wasn’t expecting to see one of my officers enjoying a drink by the fire. Brandon Zahn has been on the force for just over a year after retiring from the Army. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and even paired him up with my precious Erica thinking her goodness could rub off on his grumpy exterior.
I just found out tonight that he’s been seeing my baby sister, for over a month. Why the hell didn’t he have the balls to tell me himself? Why am I just finding this out now? When he excuses himself to go to the bathroom, I level my dad with a hard stare.
“Did you know about this?”
“Your sister asked us to give her time to tell you. She wanted to see how things went before she told you she was dating someone that worked for you. She wanted to give it a fair shot this time.”
“All I want is the best for her.”
“Every time she starts dating someone new you run their background and give her all the reasons she shouldn’t be with the guy. I think she was justified in keeping this one to herself.”
I scrub my hands down my face and pace back and forth. I know I need to let this go, but something is niggling at the back of my mind. Something isn’t sitting well, and I keep coming back to Erica.
When I hear Erica scream, I run in that direction. The sight I’m met with has my blood running cold and my career going out the window. My Erica is in the corner holding her cheek and Brandon walking towards her.
“What the fuck is going on in here?” I yell, stopping Brandon in his tracks.
Erica drops to the floor crying, and I want nothing more than to pick her up and get her out of here. I need to take care of the threat before I can think about taking care of my girl and that has my soul ripping in two.
“You. Get the fuck in that corner and turn around. I don’t want you to move. Don’t talk, don’t even scratch your fucking balls unless I say so. I want you to stand there until I’m ready for you.” I yell, pointing to another corner. He holds his hands up and smirks like he’s got nothing to be worried about, the cocky son of a bitch.
Dad, Ma, and Gemma all come running into the dining room one after the other and stare wide-eyed at the three of us. I walk to my woman and crouch down in front of her, needing to know she’s okay.
“Tell me that mother fucker didn’t touch you, Erica. Tell me the things that I’m imagining are far worse than what actually happened. Baby, give me something so I can figure out what needs to happen to that piece of shit over there.”
I watch and wait as tears continue to spill down her cheeks. The indecision and regret written all over her face has my heart seizing in my chest. The longer the silence stretches between us, the faster my anger grows. I’m about to lose my mind when she slowly lowers her hand from her face, and I see her already bruising cheek. The asshole is dead.
“Mother fucker!” I growl, standing up to show him what I think about him putting hands on my woman. Erica stops me from going over there.
“Wait! I wanted to tell you.” She cries.
“Tell me what?” I shout and move away from the only woman who I ever thought would be my future.
“It started months before you and I happened. I didn’t say anything because I had already had so many partners and I didn’t want to have another. Do you know how embarrassing that was? Then I decided to quit. I didn’t think it would matter anymore. He wouldn’t be an issue because he wouldn’t be anywhere near me.”
“What the hell are you talking about Erica? Were you and Zahn…?” I shake my head not wanting to believe what she’s saying. “Were you and Zahn together?”
“God no! Colt, he wouldn’t leave me alone! At first, I thought he was friendly. Then he wouldn’t stop flirting. When he asked me out last week, and I told him I had a boyfriend, he laughed it off. He tried to kiss me, but I pushed him away. That’s when he got aggressive, and I punched him just like Jacob taught me to do.”
I don’t know whether to be pissed that she didn’t tell me about this or proud that she was able to protect herself from him.
“There was never a bar fight?” I ask aloud, not expecting an answer. I help Erica to her feet and pull her into my arms. Her trembling body seems smaller tonight than it ever has. I kiss the top of her head and her swollen cheek.
“I love you baby girl. That will never change. Tell me what happened tonight.”
She shakes her head back and forth. I pinch her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Erica, you know I need your side of things. You’re going to be pressing charges on this son of a bitch. Now tell me what happened.”
“He came in here while I was setting the table. He tried making a move on me, but I told him no, again. I told him I was going to talk to Gemma, tell her what kind of man he is. That’s when he hit me. You know the rest.”
I look over at my family, and I can tell they are dying to help.
“Ma, could you get my girl some ice?”
“Of course, dear.” She says walking back into the kitchen.
“Gem, you take Erica into the living room.”
She nods, but I can tell this is eating her up inside.
“Hey Gem?”
“Yeah, C?”
“We’ll talk after, okay?”
She smiles sadly and nods. She walks out of the room with Erica. Leaving me to take care of this asshole.
Dad walks over to me and clasps me on the shoulder. “Son, I can’t imagine the position you’re in. Had anyone ever laid a hand on your mother I’d have done things I wouldn’t regret. I don’t want you to have them, and as angry as you are, I know you are too good a soul to darken it with this asshole. Do the right thing and make the call you still haven’t made yet.”
As much as I want to bury him in the ground, my dad’s right, I’m not going there. Besides, ruining his life is a far sweeter justice than ending it. I do the only thing I can, and call it in. I cuff Zahn and read him his Miranda Rights and wait for officers Harper and Evers to arrive.