“They didn’t include welcome kisses at the end of the day like that. I like it.”
He nipped her lips for one more quick kiss. “Me, too.”
They turned to head into the hospital complex hand in hand when he heard his name from across the street. Captain Reed’s wife, Miranda, and their youngest daughter, Zuri, waved at him from the crosswalk, and he waved back, indicating they’d wait for them.
The early evening was quiet, the steady hum of traffic moving through the light at a sedate pace. It was only as it turned yellow, the various cars slowing, that Gavin heard it. The crazy, out-of-control swerving that indicated someone wasn’t stopping.
He shouted to Miranda and Zuri, who were already stepping off the sidewalk. And then he took off at a run, determined to reach them before whoever was bearing down could get to them first.
Determined that one more loved one of a cop wasn’t going to end up in the building behind him.
Chapter 16
Sera distributed the small pieces of cake even though she had no interest in eating. Gavin was still outside with Captain Reed, Arlo, Wyatt and Kerrigan as well as several other uniforms on patrol in the neighborhood, viewing the crime scene and taking pictures.
Captain Reed hadn’t been able to stop touching his wife and child as they’d stood out on the street corner, recovering from the shock of the oncoming car and Gavin’s race across the street that had tackled them both to the ground.
She’d wanted to do the same for Gavin, but had given him the space to focus on what happened, relaying each detail to the captain including what little he’d seen of the driver.
When the initial shock faded, Captain Reed had finally brought Miranda and Zuri into the hospital cafeteria where they’d set up the cake for Valencia and asked them stay there.
“I still don’t know what to say.” Miranda had moved up beside her to cut the cake after Valencia had done the honors on the first piece. Sera suspected the busy movements were keeping the woman from mentally reviewing each and every moment of the attack, and she’d avoided suggesting she sit down.
Sometimes action was the best medicine, and right now she could console herself that she was taking care of her husband’s team.
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“We are because of Gavin.” Miranda’s hand shook as she picked up a few more plates to move them to the end of a long table where people were helping themselves to the cut squares. Her gaze unerringly found her daughter, where Zuri played with Mack and Valencia’s daughter, Gia, across the room. “I can’t stop going over it in my mind.”
“It’s so fresh it’s hard to digest. But it will fade in time.” Sera tried to offer as much consolation as she could. “Become less urgent.”
“I know.” Miranda nodded, grief filling her deep brown eyes. “And I know there will come a day I don’t want to latch myself onto my child and never let her go. Which I promise I won’t do.” The woman smiled. “Or won’t after I give myself a solid week of overcompensating.”
Miranda took a deep breath. “But we will get through this. Because I’m a cop’s wife, and I know the risks. What I won’t get over is why some monster has decided my family and Mack’s family and Jayden’s family are disposable targets, used to meet some sick end.”
Miranda’s use of the word target had Sera’s mind shifting back to that odd conversation with David earlier.
David, it was two incredibly unfortunate incidents. The gunman of both crimes has been caught and the case has been closed. I’m fine.
Until you become a target.
He’d used that word, too. Target.
And now there was a third incident, in such a short period of time. The risks had expanded, the inclusion of a child in this attack a dark sign of escalation. How did they fight this? Because if random street-level attacks were suddenly the norm, no one was safe.
Which made the large hand that covered her shaking one as she picked up a few more small plates of cake a welcome relief.
“Hey there.”
She looked up to find Gavin, his expression soft as he gently took the plates from her, setting them back on the table before pulling her close.
There wasn’t even a heartbeat of hesitation as she went into his arms.
And as that same heartbeat thrummed against his, she tried to calm her racing thoughts. Who was doing this? And if they’d escalated their fear-based targeting to children, how much more appealing would it be to go after a pregnant woman?
In his nearly ten years at the 86th, Gavin had seen their captain mad—even furious on occasion—but nothing had prepared him for the blind rage that had cloaked the man this evening.
Someone had come after his family.
That reality would always have been upsetting, but now that he was facing fatherhood, Gavin understood the rage in a whole new dimension. All-consuming, with a desperate need to protect that refused to be sated.
He still struggled with it as he took Sera home, hypervigilant to any possible threat. It was only when they finally reached her door, both of them safely inside the apartment, that he let out his first easy breath.
“Why don’t you come in and sit down for a bit?” Her voice was gentle as she gestured him toward the couch. “I know you keep telling me you’re fine, but you’re still recovering from bruised ribs and a mild concussion. Today was another difficult day.”
He tried to process Sera’s words, but all he heard—all he really understood—was that his family was in danger. He’d lived with that outcome once, and there was no way he could go back there. No way he’d survive it again.
“I can’t lose you.”
“Gavin, I—”
Her words vanished as his arms came around her, burying his head in her neck. Breathing her in. Wanting desperately to build a life with this woman and the child they’d created.
“You’re not going to lose me,” she whispered against the side of his head. “We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.”
He wanted to believe it. Even now, with all the strife and uncertainty, he could see that future he wanted. Could see the life he wanted to create for his child.
“But, Gavin. Right here. Right now. It’s just us.”
