Fractured Fear (The Devils of New York #1)

Chapter 41

CHAPTER 41

RIO

B lood is going to flood the streets. I’m not just going to paint this city red, I’m going to drown it.

They robbed my Babygirl of her peace. This was her hard work, her haven, and they took that from her. They can run as far as they want, but they won’t be able to hide from us, not for long.

The ambulance and police arrive three minutes too late. Good response time, but still late. They poured from their vehicles like ants. The cops recognized Zane and Liam instantly, lowering their weapons when Zane told them the assholes got away.

EMTs came straight to Lance who had been dead since the first shots, then Zane and me. Liam and Asher had to force Zane into the back of the ambulance so he could get stitched up. We were just grazed, but by Ash’s reaction you’d think we had lost a limb. Asher didn’t shout, but the beast within him was so angry the vibrations coming off of him were almost palpable.

Captain Williams was on the scene twenty minutes later. He questioned Liam and Zane privately, but he didn’t try to hide his anger at two of his detectives being involved in a shooting. He didn’t blame them. Williams is a level-headed man, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be angry at the situation, it’s messy. He didn’t hesitate to point out that a victim in his jurisdiction should have had more protection especially if the FBI thought she might be a person of interest to a serial killer. As he walked away, he was on the phone with Asher’s boss.

Spencer sits quietly staring down at her hands, shoulders slumped. She’s wearing guilt like a thick, heavy cloak. She has nothing to be sorry for, but no matter how much I tell her that, she still hasn’t moved.

Hayes and Iris are with her now. Iris has an arm wrapped around her and Hayes is standing sentry on Spencer’s other side.

We have all given our statements to the cops on scene. Spencer was able to bring it together to answer questions, but she averted her gaze when asked if she saw anything that could help. I’ll be getting that answer out of her later.

Trusting that Spencer is in good hands, I make my way to the back of the ambulance where Zane is giving an EMT grief. Walking with a bullet graze on my thigh isn’t fun, but the pain doesn’t faze me. I refuse to limp. It would only cause Spencer to worry, and she doesn’t need that.

“I said I’m fine,” he lashes out.

“You really should go to the hospital, man. Maybe get some antibiotics to make sure you don’t get an infection,” Liam reasons.

“Yeah, listen to Rambo,” I tease.

“Rambo?” Liam questions.

“Yeah, man. Did you see yourself? The way you got Spencer to the ground and spun around on your knees like you popped out of a John Wick movie. Then you chased those guys down on foot. Definitely Rambo material.”

Zane and Ash give a nod of approval and Liam beams. I don’t think his smile could shine any brighter, but then he realizes he’s grinning ear to ear like a little boy and quickly puts on a straight face, acknowledging our approval with a slight nod as well.

“But really Z, listen to Rambo. You should go to the hospital. Hell, I’ll come with you,” I say with wide-eyes hoping Zane picks up what I’m putting down.

Recognition dawns his face and he nods. “Yeah, you’re right. Ash, how about you drive us.”

Asher turns to Liam. “You should take off. You’ve earned it. Go home to your wife and kids.”

Liam lowers his shoulders. “Okay, but only if you’re sure you don’t need me.”

“Yeah, yeah. We got this.”

“Okay. I’m going to go check in with Fernandez over there. Once they’ve cleared the scene, I’ll catch a ride with one of them back to the precinct,” he hesitates as he turns to walk away. “You didn’t tell me you were dating her.”

“It’s not relevant,” Zane replies.

“You know Captain won’t see it that way.”

“If it was your wife, would you let anyone else investigate?” Zane poses the question already knowing the answer. No man would be able to stand aside when the person he loves needs them.

“Frick,” Liam mutters as he drags a hand through his hair.

Frick? Este maldito ni?o .

“Fine, but don’t do anything to jeopardize the investigation. I don’t want to get demoted just as I arrive.”

Zane just nods which must be enough for Liam, or Liam has acclimated to Zane’s silence, because he turns and walks away.

Hours later, the windows are boarded up, evidence has been collected, and Spencer is tucked safely in her apartment with Hayes and Iris.

Asher is getting his ass chewed out by SSA Marreli, and he’s taking the verbal beating stoically. You would never know he’s ready to combust.

After he hangs up the phone he spits out, “Let’s get these fuckers. I’m tired of being attacked on all fronts. It’s like playing fucking wack-a-mole.”

“We can’t all go. Someone needs to stay with Spencer,” I point out.

“We all need to be there hunting down the shooters. We’re already hours behind,” Asher argues back.

“Talk to Hayes. I’m sure he’ll stay with her if we ask him,” Zane suggests.

“ Es solo un ni?o . I don’t think he’s ever touched a gun.”

“He’ll be fine. I’ll talk to him,” Asher says firmly.

“Fine, but if anything happens to her I’m going to rip off your arm and beat you with it.”

Asher just smiles and we all turn to head upstairs. We’re met with the smell of carnitas, cilantro, and lime when we walk in. Iris stands at the stove while Hayes lingers nearby and Spencer sits on the couch staring blankly at the TV, which was still off.

I break off from Zane and Asher and go right to the person I want most. Gathering her in my arms I bring her to my lap and nuzzle her hair. Her jasmine scent soothes the Devil begging to tear someone limb from limb. It’s a temporary satisfaction, I know the Devil won’t be tamed until he’s tasted blood.

“Talk to me, Mama.” I whisper, my lips pressed against her head.

“He knows. He’s here,” she responds. Her skin is ghostly pale.

“Who?”

Instead of answering, she repeats herself, “He knows. He’s here.”

“Anthony?”

She nods.

“You’re safe. We’re here. We’ll take care of everything.” I assure her as I place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“You got hurt, Zane got hurt, and Lance—” she whimpers. Not once today has she mentioned her gallery being destroyed.

My heart warms at how much she cares. I only wish she cared about herself just as much.

“We’ve both had worse. I promise.”

She adorably scrunches her nose thinking through my implication. “That’s not comforting.”

Chuckling at her endearing disposition I tell her, “We have to go, Spence.”

She turns her gaze to me, full of curiosity and dread and asks, “Where?”

“We have to stop by the hospital for a checkup and get antibiotics. Zane already tore his stitches being a stubborn ass. I’m the lucky chauffeur and Asher was called into the field office.”

“Oh. Okay,” she nods to herself, piecing together an invisible puzzle I can’t see. “I’ll just see you tomorrow then.”

Her dismissal feels more like a way to get rid of me and not a sweet parting of promise.

My next move may be forward, but I don’t give a fuck. I reach into my pocket and pull out my keys. I removed one and hand it to her. “Here.”

She takes the single key and stares at it. “Uhh. Thanks?”

“Promise me something, Mama.”

“Depends,” Spencer says with a side glance in my direction, unwilling to commit to any more terms.

“Promise me that if you get the urge to run again, that you’ll run here instead,” I request as I tap the key with my finger.

“Where is here?”

“Me.”

Tears gather in her eyes, but she works double time to prevent them from falling. Her eyes are already rimmed red and puffy from crying over the last several hours. As much as I don’t want to see her cry anymore, I wouldn’t mind these tears shed for me.

“Did you just give me a key to your house?”

“I figured it was time.”

“It hasn’t even been a month since we met and we’re not official or anything.”

“First, we were official the moment you let me hold those perfect tits in my hands. Second, time is insignificant.”

She looks back down at the key in her hand. I give her a moment to soak in my sincerity. I don’t care that I’m not rational. I don’t care that most people would disapprove. Fuck them. She is my everything. She’s in the marrow of my bones, and I will never let her go.

Spencer brings her eyes back to mine. “I can try,” she croaks out.

“That’s all I ask.” Resting my forehead against hers, I breathe her in and close my eyes.

One more moment of peace.

I’ll give myself that much before I am unleashed on this city.