Page 12 of Lack of In-between
Paul ran in and, without pausing, tackled the now-screaming man, carrying them both to the floor with a heavy crash.
“Gary, call the police.” She raised her voice to a shout as she heard the first of several meaty thuds, Paul’s fists unerringly finding their target on the would-be robber’s face.
“Stop,” the man cried. “You’re assaulting a police officer.”
Paul’s head jerked back at that, and he held the man down with one fist around his neck. “Fuckin’ cut. Are you kidding me?”
Gary appeared next to Rose, portable phone in hand, face pale as he spoke into the receiver. “Yes, he’s contained for now. Just get here.”
Rose lifted the barrel of the shotgun to the ceiling and realized somewhere in the past few seconds the register had finally stopped its infernal racket.
“I’m a cop. Get off me.” The man writhed under Paul, who didn’t seem disturbed by his movements at all.
“You were robbing me.” She laid the shotgun on the counter and flipped the safety on. Leaning over so she could see the pair on the floor, she ignored the glass and puddles of coffee and shouted down at him, “You wererobbingme atgunpoint.”
“I just wanted to talk to you.” His head jerked to the side as his face turned red, and she realized Paul had clamped down on his throat. “Ggargh.”
“Paul, don’t kill him. I wanna move in with you, honey, and that’ll be kinda tough if you’re in jail.”
“Castle law.” He didn’t look up at her, using his other hand to restrain the man’s wrists. “Within my rights.”
“Uh, we’re in a diner, not a house.” The man’s lips were turning purple, and when he blinked, she saw red in the sclera of his eyes. “Let up on him a little.”
“You’re my goddamned home. Don’t matter where we are. He was threatening you.” Paul angled his head so he could cut a glance up at her. “You wanna move in with me?”
“Well, your house is closer to the bike shop and I like your kitchen. Nice counters. Lots of storage. Big plus in my book.” Sirens sounded in the distance. “Gary, be sure to tell them the man on top is the good guy.”
“Rose Bronson, I love you.” Paul looked up at her, a poignant vulnerability in his expression. Then he whipped his head back around and snarled at the still-struggling man sprawled on the floor. “Stay the fuck still, fuckwit.”
Rose was still laughing when the state police swarmed through the doors.
Seven
Wolf
First man through the door was Doug Putnam, the major he’d spent time talking to when the diner had been shot up. The man took one look and didn’t hesitate to hit a knee beside Wolf, with that knee directly in the middle of the asshole’s chest. The cop muttered, “Got this,” and Wolf handed control over, giving fuckwit’s wrists a final hard twist before he released and stood up, the sweet sound of the man’s sobbing breaths music to his ears.
“Rose.” He rounded the end of the counter and reached for her, only relaxing enough to suck in a deep breath when he felt her arms close around him. “Jesus, baby. Scared the hell outta me.” It struck him again how well they fit. She snuggled closer, and he rested his chin on top of her head, watching the cops deal with the man on the floor. If their actions and words were to be believed, they weren’t tolerant of having a bad apple in their midst. “You’re so damned fearless, Rose. He could have killed you.”
“Nah.” She shook her head, and he angled his mouth next to her ear.
“Yeah, he could have, baby. And then where’d I be?” He couldn’t remember being this frightened during his entire roster of deployments overseas, even the missions that put him far behind enemy lines. “Huh? Where’d I be without you?”
“He wasn’t a threat.”
“Fucking hell, woman?” He stepped back, hands on her shoulders as he held her in front of him, crouching to put their eyes level. “He had a goddamned scattergun and you had a fuckin’ coffeepot.”
“He never racked it. The chamber was empty, Paul. I wasn’t careless. It was a considered risk, and one I felt warranted in the moment.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not a fainting daisy, waiting for rescue. I’m trained Security Forces, nearly seven years of overseas assignments, and I can handle myself.”
“I know you can. I’ve seen it. Doesn’t mean I’m not scared to death when it’s happening right in front of me.” His chest swelled with pride at how she’d responded, both with the asshat and with him just now. “I kinda dig the fact you aren’t afraid to put me in my place, because you know your own worth. Proud of you, Rose.” He squeezed her shoulders, slipping his hands down her arms to her hands. “I don’t want to live through that again, though. Fuck, baby.”
Putnam had walked over beside them, and Wolf waited for Rose to acknowledge the man before he did.
“Are you all right, Ms. Bronson?” His voice was soft and smooth, aiming at soothing, and Wolf had to hide a grin when he saw Rose zero in on the man. “This is twice now we’ve met under trying circumstances.”
“Major Putnam.” She addressed him sharply, and Wolf rocked back on his heels as he watched the wave of confusing emotions roll over the man’s face. “Is that man a member of your troop?”
“Until we can officially terminate his employment, yes, ma’am.” Putnam opened his mouth to say something further, but Rose cut him off.
