Savage Betrayal, page 20
His Nickie. He spotted her going in low toward Xena. A man in black darted and rolled toward her from around the front of one of the bullet-filled SUVs. Duncan took aim and shot him in the shoulder, knocking the gun from his hand. He fell on top of one of the other downed men a few yards from Nickie.
Gunfire ceased.
The lack of movement from around the shattered glass and mangled black metal was in direct contrast to the mass hysteria consuming his house. Ignoring the flames, he made his way to his wife as she slid over the messy pavement to their dog. She dropped her ear to her mouth, then moved it to her chest.
Nickie wrapped her arms around Xena and rocked.
Guns drawn, Duncan, Hurst and Eddy closed in. Moans and grumbles came from the injured as they rolled in pain over the gravel around and in the vehicles. His eyes darted from one to the other, watching for a weapon or danger.
A figure came sprinting from the west side of Duncan's burning home. He spun his aim in the direction of the movement. It was James. He ran with his light brown trench coat flapping behind him. Maneuvering around the vehicles, Duncan saw what James chased. One of the perps slipped away on all fours. James landed on him and pounded him with one blow after another.
With Hurst and Eddy to cover him, Duncan ran the rest of the way to Nickie. He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her as she wrapped hers around their pup.
Chapter 29
On the first floor of the police station, Nickie stood between the only two conference rooms in the building. "Are you sure this is okay?" she asked. Jess Larsen, co-founder of Child Rescue stood next to her.
He folded his arms and nodded. "It's unconventional, not that any of this was conventional. But for you, yes."
In one room a training session began for the NPD officers and detectives as well as the men in blue from surrounding counties. An anonymous donor had paid for it. She looked to Duncan. He winked.
NPD was one of the lucky ones. Budgets no longer afforded this kind of training. It provided strategies and options available for women and children as victims of trafficking rather than treated as prostitutes. A safe house for rehab instead of juvie.
The unconventional part came with the others who attended the class. Duncan's brother, Andy, and Andy's wife, Rose. His aunt and uncle, Brie and Nathan. And Nickie's foster family, Gloria, Gil and Teresa. Each had browbeaten her into attending. It was the least Nickie could do since she refused to bring them along to confront her father as she'd promised.
They pushed their way into Nickie's past, present and future. She smiled as she scanned the room. She needed them to be safe. This wouldn't keep them from a bullet, but it would bring them that much closer to knowledge. And knowledge was power.
The young Nevaeh Thornton led a group in the adjoining room. College students. Her age. Nickie didn't know of any who were victims of rape as Nevaeh was. Or maybe they were. All Nickie knew was that she was as proud as if Nevaeh were her daughter.
The class was a training session of a different kind. Nevaeh was teaching college students to be trainers. They would, in turn, teach high school and college girls safety strategies to prevent rape or abduction. Duncan described it as a small ripple in the water of a calm pond.
Duncan.
He stood on the other side of her with Xena sitting next to him. Until the girl's ribs healed, he wouldn't leave her side. Broken from the force of the explosion onto the Fu Haizi SUV, she sat wagging her tail.
Nickie stepped closer to him and inhaled his scent. His presence was like a battery giving her the energy to go on. "I'm really tired of having your house blown up because of me," she whispered.
"Our house," he corrected, "and not because of you, but because of Fu Haizi." He kissed the top of her head. "Brick and mortar is just that. We have each other, our Xena and family." He gestured toward the group of faithful people who loved them enough to be present that day.
"Will we ever stop them?"
"The hydra has many heads," he said. "We've cut off Jun Zheng and Dale Parker. We destroyed a fleet of their vehicles and arrested over a dozen of their men in their failed attempt to steal intel and intimidate us. We have your father in custody. It's only a matter of time until we have the rest of them stuffed and mounted on a wall." He laced his fingers in hers. "Our time is coming, my Nickie. This isn't over yet."
The End
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Want more from R. T. Wolfe?
Here's an excerpt from
SAVAGE ALLIANCE
The Nickie Savage Series
Book Five
~
Dozens of patrons crowded the corridors. The museum accommodated the number with ease, but that did little to placate Duncan Reed. While greeting his admirers, he scanned faces and evaluated tuxedo jackets for hidden weapons.
His landscapes and still lifes replaced the customary artwork and would be on display through the following week. However, since tonight's event doubled as a fundraiser, Duncan reminded himself to be cordial.
He and one of the attendees locked eyes. The mayor of Las Vegas. Duncan nodded toward him as he stepped around a smaller portrait. It sat on an easel next to one of the massive marble beams that broke up the area. The mayor was safe. The subject of the portrait was not.
Oscar awarding winning actress, Coral Francesca, didn't pose the kind of threat Duncan feared that evening. Nonetheless, a threat she was. Since she slithered her way toward him at that moment, he stopped and raised his guard.
He had been on her arm the evening she won Best Supporting Actress. It was one of many events that netted him the label, Taste of L.A. Crooking her wrist, she closed the space between them and placed her forefinger on his shoulder. After a telling pause, she slid it down the arm of his tuxedo. "I'm terribly sorry to hear about the fire, dear." She shook her head and tsk'd. "Such a shame. I hope you didn't lose everything."
His everything appeared from around a corner. He lifted the side of his mouth. The difference between the two women caused him to accept a more sensible view of the fire's results. He may be temporarily living in a hotel, but his wife and family were unharmed. The crime ring responsible was depleted and on the run.
Coral glanced over her shoulder at the subject of his grin. His Nickie glided across the floor in an ivory sequined, tea-length gown. He'd purchased it for her during an undercover operation. The back was high enough to cover her scars. In contrast, Coral's dress was fire-engine red, a halter gown that exposed her back from the clasp at her neck to just above her buttocks.
Nickie smiled and greeted each patron with a raised ivory-gloved hand. The gliding and the gloved hand—they was necessary. He understood this. However, he preferred her as the unrefined Detective Nickie Savage. A brassy, complicated and selfless woman who wore black boots, tight pants and often spoke like a sailor. Although he appreciated each hat she wore, tonight's hat was rather disconcerting.
"Hello, Coral," Nickie said as she approached. "Thank you for coming to the fundraiser this evening. I do hope you're hungry."
"Oh goodie," Coral said and checked the backs of her nails. "Small town food."
Nickie dropped her chin and nodded. "If you're worried about the menu, no need. I believe the chef has prepared a red-wine braised duck with capers and lemon." She smiled and tilted her head. "If you're just being a bitch, don't eat."
Coral rolled her eyes. "I see Johnny and Bebe. I think I'll make my way to more suitable conversation." She rotated on the balls of her five-inch heeled ice-pick sandals and slithered away as slowly as she'd approached.
Nickie's smile faded. "I shouldn't have done that."
"It was the highlight of my evening," he said and brought her gloved fingers to his lips.
She lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back. "Tonight is important. The ticket price has a friggin' comma in it. I can't believe how many people showed up."
Her poised posture may have been unnerving, but at least she spoke like his Nickie.
"Child Rescue needs this money." She placed her hand over his heart. "Thank you. This is going to fund their next jump team to Central America. It could help rescue dozens of children."
"You're welcome. Let us get through the evening. We leave first thing in the morning to start our search for Fu Haizi. You are right to begin your search for the rest of the organization in their weakened state."
"Or I just thought it was a good time to go since we're homeless and all."
A cell phone rang.
"Nickie, my wife," Duncan said. "Your dress is ringing."
Nickie blushed as she reached between her breasts to retrieve her cell. "Savage," she said into it and turned away. "How many children? The Belmont Stakes? That's tomorrow."
Duncan looked around. Dozens of people were here to view his work and donate to Child Rescue. He was the host of honor.
"I'll be right there," she said and spun to face him, an apologetic expression written over her face.
They exchanged a silent conversation before he gestured toward the back door. She nodded and slid her hand in his.
~
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Savage Alliance
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R.T. Wolfe enjoys creating diverse characters, twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance. It's not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in R.T.'s candy dish, her rescued Saint Bernard at her feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on her counters. R.T. loves her family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found in a third world country helping others help themselves.
R.T. enjoys hearing from readers. You can contact R.T. through her website: www.rtwolfe.com
R.T. Wolfe, Savage Betrayal
