Page 13 of Burn Dragon Burn

Knowing he was only trying to protect her because they’d known each other forever and a day wasn’t enough. She’d had to pull rank. Had to show the other officers that she was in charge and would take no shit. Woman or not, she was a Detective First Class and they would do as she said or pay the price. She’d earned her rank and would be damned if anyone would ever discount her abilities.

Looking at the four First Responders then across the parking lot at the six others who’d just arrived, she turned back to Tommy and his crew before putting the ear bub with a wireless mic in her ear and giving her orders to her backup. “No one, and I meanno one, fires a shot until I give the order.”

Almost immediately the two teams on either side of her responded to the affirmative then came Teams C and D, those covering the back of the building,“Roger that.”Finally, as she was walking out from behind the two sets of four officers that were covering the shopping center exits called out,“Roger Detective. Teams E and F are a go.”

Stopping twenty-five feet from the large glass double doors, she raised the bullhorn and in the calmest, softest tone she could achieve while talking through the most obnoxious mechanical creation, she beseeched, “Earl? Earl Jones? This is Nat Hale. Can you come up to the door and talk to me for a minute?”

No, she wasn’t using all the psycho-babble bullshit the Police Psychologist had told them was ‘absolutely necessary’ to talk to a hostage taker. Nat was talking to Earl Jones, the older brother of Josiah Jones – the first boy she’d ever kissed. Ft Worth may have grown by leaps and bounds over the years since she’d been born, but these were her people and she’d damned sure talk to them like she always had.

An ear-splitting screech of the store’s PA system cut through the early morning haze, causing Nat to jump and the little hairs at the nape of her neck to stand on end.

“I got no beef with you, Nat. Never have. You’re a good girl, doin’ a good job. Call off those boys of yours and go home. Jason and I have some business to discuss.”

Surprisingly, Earl sounded calm, cool, and collected, which freaked Nat the hell out and made the two possible outcomes that were running on a constant loop through her head, stop, flash, and take slightly different courses. Unfortunately, what changed was that in both Earl was now dead.

I just can’t let that happen…

“Thanks, Earl. I appreciate that.” Taking a step forward, she continued, “If you just need to talk to Jason, why don’t you let Mildred and Tracy come on out? I’m sure Mil’s dying for a cigarette and Tracy’s beau is waitin’ for her at home.”

Eerie silence was the only answer she received. Counting to ten, she had just raised the bullhorn again when Earl called out, “I’ll let the ladies go, even Sally. Doesn’t matter that she called y’all. But, there’s one thing I want, Nat.”

“What’s that, Earl?”

“I want you to come in here and talk to this asshole for me. He owes me my back wages. He fired me for no reason. It’s the least he can do, right? He’ll listen to you.”

Before she could answer, Asshole Supreme, aka Woodrow Long, shouted, “Stand down, Detective Hale. That is an order. This is now my crime scene. I have command and you will do as you’re told.”

“Yeah, sure, Woody.” Marching forward, she added, “I’m goin’ in and getting’ these people out. You shoot me in the back and I’ll haunt you ‘til the end of time.”

8

Racing down the steps, into the parking lot, and into the rented SUV with Max exactly one step behind him, a growl escaped Rafe’s mouth as Gil’s voice invaded his mind. “Did you see that?”

“Hell yes, I saw that. She is my mate.”

Visions of Donatella bleeding out on an over-polished, dingy, tile floor had ripped him from his slumber. Dressed in less than a minute and happy to see Max ready when he nearly pulled the door of the room he was sleeping in from its hinges, Rafe had known what he was seeing was a premonition, but that did absolutely nothing to stop both man and Dragon from nearly having a heart attack.

“I know she’s your mate, but you hadn’t called to me.”

“Holy hell, man, canna guy getta break? You’re my brother, not my keeper.”

“Whatever, Asshole. I was tryin’ to help.”

Max’s barely contained chuckle instantly made Rafe realize that hewasbeing an asshole and that Gilwasjust trying to help. Taking a deep breath, he admitted,“Yep, I’m a jerk. Sorry. I know you’re just doin’ your big brother thing.”

“No worries.”

“No, I shouldn’t have snapped it’s just this whole mating thing is…”

Unable to speak as the barely evident mating bond he shared with Donatella flared to life, doubling, tripling, quadrupling in size and strength until he could see what his mate was seeing, feel what she was feeling, and hear her thoughts. Pushing the accelerator to the floor as he watched her raise her hands, flip someone off, and march right into the market where a man named Earl was holding four hostages at gunpoint, Rafe roared, “What the fuck does she think she’s doing?”

“It appears she is saving the day, mi dragon,” Max grinned. “Once again proving, the Universe does not make mistakes.”

“Yep,”Gil’s authoritative tone turned comical as he added,“Ditto what the King said.”

“Shut. Up.”Rafe grumbled aloud as well as mentally.

Tamping down his flaming temper and searing emotions, he slowed the SUV to a roll as he turned the corner and entered the parking lot. Jumping from the vehicle, he caught the eye of Captain Rogers.

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