Promise Renewed (28 page)

Would the chief give him a new partner? For the first time since joining the force, Darin realized he’d rather work alone. Losing Hunter had been a life changing event for him.

He’d promised to finish the paperwork he started yesterday. First, he called Gina.

She answered on the first ring.

“Maddy and I are taking the morning off. I’ll be in around noon.”

“Good. We can go to lunch and talk.”

Hopes high, he hung up.

A glance at his watch told him how long it would be. “Three hours. Three long hours.”

Digging into the dreaded paperwork, he got started.

****

“We haven’t indulged ourselves like this in how long?” Maddy asked.

“Can’t remember. Have we ever?”

Maddy giggled. “We were always so intense. First, on escaping Elton’s groping hands, then in earning the money to finish our education, then doing our jobs. So maybe never.”

“It feels good. In a matter of days, two drug lords are behind bars with enough evidence to keep them there a very long time. A mole embedded in HPD has been uncovered, and a killer will be brought to justice.” Gina grinned. “Even better, you and I have confronted our worst fear.”

“Can’t get any better than this,” Maddy said as she poured their third cup of coffee.

They sat at the table in their nightclothes. Gina in panties and a big T-shirt that hit her knees; Maddy in a pair of shorty PJ’s.

“I asked Chief Hamilton about a transfer yesterday,” Gina said.

“When will you know?”

Gina shrugged and took a sip of coffee. “It doesn’t matter, I’m going to move here anyway. This episode in our lives was the clincher. We need to live closer, at least in the same city. As we get older, being there for each other is more important than ever.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Yesterday, before all of this started, I called the manager. There’s a two-bedroom available at the end of this month.”

“Really?” Gina perked up. “How perfect.”

They were deep into plans when the doorbell rang.

“Who is it?” Gina asked. “Did you call Hank?”

“Yes, but he won’t be here until seven tonight.”

Gina felt a prickle of apprehension. Maddy led a quiet life. Gina had just talked to Darin.

Maddy walked over to the door. Gina thought it might be a good idea to get her gun. One couldn’t be too careful.

Before Maddy got to the door it fell in with a crash. She jumped back and screamed. Gina ran for her gun, but didn’t make it.

Elton stood there with a look of triumph on his face. “I told you locks wouldn’t stop me,” he gloated. “You didn’t believe me, did you?”

“How did you get out?” Maddy asked, her voice thin and frightened.

“I’m here to finish what I started years ago.” He grabbed Maddy around the neck and drew her close.

“Leave her alone,” Gina ordered. “Tell us how you got out.”

“You’re not as smart as you think. The judge set a million dollar bail. What none of you know is for the past ten years I’ve made a hell of a lot more than that.”

His laughter made Gina’s skin crawl. It was all too familiar.

If she could just get to her gun. Impossible. Elton had an arm lock around Maddy’s neck. He’d kill her if Gina tried anything.

“How…?”

“I invented a dozen intense computer games. I had so many hits on my site, I couldn’t handle them. One of the big boys bought me out. No one knew. No one.” He laughed. “It was my money. And after I take care of the two of you, I’ll take it and disappear.”

His smile was diabolical and confident. Evidently, he had the money to do exactly what he said.

“Why not do it now? Why waste time on us?”

But Gina knew she was talking to a man hell-bent on getting even for interfering with his plans for Carrie and her sister. She looked around for something to use as a weapon. How could she stop him?

Gina crept as close as she could to Elton. He didn’t have a weapon, but his strength was great. She remembered those strong arms and shuddered. With one twist, he could break Maddy’s neck. Gina swore she would fight him until her dying breath before she let him hurt Maddy again.

“How do you plan on taking care of us? We’re not kids anymore.”

Confidence made his grip on Maddy loosen just a little. “I know.”

Now!
Gina threw herself at him. It was so unexpected, he stepped back. When he did, Maddy twisted free. Then they were on him.

****

Darin finished his work, looked at his watch. An hour to go. Time crawled when you were anxious. He’d take the papers to Chief Hamilton and find out how Chavizi, Ramiro, and Melanie were handling jail time.

He didn’t make it to the chief’s office.

“I was sent to get you,” a cop panted as he ran up to Darin. “The chief wants to see you ASAP.”

Darin hurried after him. Something was wrong. He could tell by the look on the cop’s face.

The chief was pacing his office. “Glad you were here. Gina’s former stepfather was released on bail this morning. He was heard threatening Gina and her sister. I tried calling Gina, but she isn’t answering her cell. I sent a patrol car to warn her.”

“This can’t be happening,” Darin said as he slammed a fistful of papers on the chief’s desk and ran to his truck. This was supposed to be over. Gina and her sister were finally free from the memories of their childhood abuse. Now this.

Elton would hurt them.

Darin was as sure of that as he was that he loved Gina. The man would try to get even with both of them. Gina for arresting him, Maddy for taking the girls.

He couldn’t get to Maddy’s apartment fast enough. By the time he did, he was a mass of jittery nerves. Crazy scenarios of what could happen raced through his head. He barely registered when a patrol car pulled in behind him.

Hadn’t this very thing happened just yesterday? Different house, same players. Darin was just as anxious and concerned. Worse. He was in fear for both Gina and Maddy’s lives.

The man was a pedophile bent on revenge. What lengths would he go to get it?

The sounds of struggle greeted him the minute he stepped inside. What he saw was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

Elton was a big man, but Gina and Maddy were as angry as he’d ever seen two women. Though the man bucked and pitched, he couldn’t get them off. Maddy held one arm down on the floor, Gina the other. Their bodies held his thrashing legs.

“Get the hell up,” Elton yelled. “I won’t hurt you.”

“Damned straight you won’t,” Gina said as she shifted her weight to hold his arm tighter.

She looked up and saw Darin. “Why are you just standing there? Put cuffs on him before I find something to knock him out with.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said with a smile. Gina could take care of herself. Maddy wasn’t doing a bad job, either.

Elton was red-faced and furious. His time in jail just got extended.

The patrolman walked in. “Man. I wouldn’t want those two mad at me.”

Darin cuffed first one hand then the other. “Neither would I. Think you can take him in?”

“Not a problem.”

“Good. I’ll call the chief and tell him what’s going down.”

In seconds he had an arm around Elton’s neck and duck-walked him to the patrol car. What he really wanted to do was beat the man to a pulp. “You screwed yourself this time. Don’t think you’ll get bail again.”

Elton cursed.

Darin watched them drive away, then pulled out his cell phone. “Hank, we have a little problem at Maddy’s.”

Hank exploded in a barrage of questions.

“No. She’s fine. But I think you should get over here.”

Darin wanted to talk to Gina alone. Hank was crazy about Maddy. Problem solved.

Hank would be there in ten minutes. While Darin waited for him, he called the chief to tell him Griffin was on his way in and everything was under control.

Seeing the sisters holding Elton down, both madder than hornets, was a sight to remember.

Gina’s blond hair flying loose around her face, her long legs locked with Griffin’s, her blue-green eyes glowing with anger and determination. Darin could almost read her mind. Elton had hurt Maddy once. He wouldn’t do it again.

Darin’s heart swelled with pride.

Gina was a brave woman and a good cop. He’d never wanted anyone more—knew he never would.

What was he going to do about it?

Hank roared into a parking space and stopped. The way he bailed out of his car told Darin he’d been right to call his squad mate. The man was in love.

“What happened?” Hank asked as they hurried to the apartment.

“It’s complicated. You need to talk to Maddy.”

“Is she hurt?”

“No. She’s fine. But it’s been a traumatic two days. Maddy’s the one to tell you about it.”

As Hank raced past the broken door, he gave Darin a look that told him he’d better not be lying. “Maddy!” he called out.

“Hank?”

Maddy walked out of her room and straight into Hank’s arms.

Darin couldn’t be more pleased. But where was Gina?

In the kitchen, he got a glass of water. Still no Gina. Footsteps made him turn. There she was. She’d changed into a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and her Nikes, had pushed her hair back and tied it with a scrunchie. She didn’t look as if she’d been traumatized twice in the last twenty-four hours.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“Chief Hamilton told me Elton posted bail and made threats against you and Maddy. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

****

Relief made Gina weak. She propped herself against the doorjamb and let her eyes feast on the man she loved. Just the look of him, his green eyes, his reddish-brown hair, turned her insides to mush. She loved everything about him. Did he love her? He’d come to her aid twice now. Would he have done that if he didn’t?

Feeling stronger, she walked toward him. “For a minute there, I thought Elton had finally won. Just when I thought the horrible images from the past were beginning to fade, the bastard shows up again.”

“It’s over now. Elton will never be free again.”

“Thank God.”

“Did you see Maddy?”

Gina smiled. “Last I saw she was dragging Hank into her room. To talk, I hope.”

“We need to do the same.”

She raised her eyes to his and was blasted by the intensity of the green. Would he understand? “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about my assignment. I understand how you would think it a betrayal.”

“I need to apologize. You had a job to do, which you did according to the rules and regulations of IA.”

Had she heard him right? “I could have said something. I knew all along you were innocent.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”

He took her hands, held them against his heart. “You did the right thing. I have to admit I was stunned when I found out. Stunned and hurt.”

“Not now?”

He shook his head, gave her a crooked smile. “I came to my senses.”

“What about everything else?”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You know—those kisses that were practice for the job. Did they mean anything?”

“My God, Gina. I wanted to carry you off to bed a dozen times while we were together. You had to know.”

She traced his mouth with a finger. “I wanted to be sure.” She wanted to shout she was so happy.

His head dipped, and he took her lips in a half-kiss. She gasped with pleasure, realized how much she missed this. “Are we still practicing? The sting is over, you know.”

He chuckled and took her mouth once more. His kiss that started soft and sensuous, rocketed through her body, awakened her senses. Then it went deeper. “You arouse something in me so amazing I have no words for it.”

“You’re a virgin, Gina. In more ways than one.” He kissed her gently. “And I love you.”

She started to tell him how she felt, but he put a hand to her lips. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“I love you, Darin Callahan. You make me feel alive. For the first time in my life, I want a man.”

“That’s just it. You need time to make sure you want
this
man.”

“I do.”

“Good. We’ll take it slow and see what happens.”

“I come with a bucket load of baggage,” she whispered. “Can you handle it?”

“The bucket got lighter today. One of these days it will be empty.” He gave her a pensive smile. “‘Course, when the time comes we can do without the gun by the bed thing. Maybe cut down on those nightlights.”

She laughed. “Done.”

****

The next morning Gina walked into the squad room and looked around at the familiar faces. Darin was at his desk. He lifted his eyes and smiled. The same smile that made her heart race whether she was looking at Dutch Farley or Darin Callahan.

Dwanda saw her and hurried over.

In seconds the other squad members surrounded her. Questions flew.

“I want you all to know how much you guys mean to me. I can’t remember ever leaving a job and being sorry for it.”

“I guess you’re going back to Dallas,” Leya said, her smile wobbly. “Back to IA.”

“Actually, I’m going to stay here.”

“You’re going to stay a member of the squad?” Dwanda asked. “I thought you just said you were leaving the job.”

“I’m leaving the squad. However, I’m staying in Houston. I’ll see you guys whenever you want to get together.”

Hank sat there and grinned. He was the only one who knew the whole story. But he’d never tell more than what the Carlson sisters wanted him to. Gina admired him tremendously and thought that when the time came, he and his son would make a great addition to the family.

Chapter Twenty-Five

True to his word, Darin took their romance slow.

It had been six months now, and he was still teasing her unmercifully with kisses, roaming hands and ohmygod, that hard, hunky body.

Tonight would be different, she vowed as she slid into her car for the drive home. They had a date to go out to eat. He’d be at her apartment in an hour.

An hour she’d put to good use. When she got through, she promised herself, he’d beg for mercy.

A slow smile curved her lips. Yep! Way past time.

Darin loved her, she was sure of it. Even his mother, Nellie, on their last trip to the ranch had told her she was the first woman Darin had brought to the ranch. To Nellie that meant he was in love. With everything in her, Gina wanted to have a family like Darin’s, a happy family that loved one another, and were there for each other no matter the problem.