Page 22 of Captured By the Dragon Warrior
“I wasn’t breathing it. We burn as we do because our blood contains a combustable substance that we can gather and ignite.” He cupped my cheek and looked down at me kind of mournfully. “I’ve only done it in extreme circumstances, but when he pointed his weapon at you…” Ram gulped and looked a little sick.
And I understood. He’d used the only weapon he’d had that would stop a man from shooting me. Violent and seriously fucking dangerous though it was—what if he’d caughthimselfon fire?—it had done the job of getting Murray the fuck away from me and disarming him, too.
Before either of us could say more, officers flooded the area. Every last one of them stopped shortwhen they registered the fire damage, Murray on the floor, and two cell doors dangling. Ram started turning orange again.
“Okay,” I hollered, stepping around him. “Everyone needs to calm the fuck down before my boyfriend burns this place to the ground.” A lot of wide eyes stared up at Ram in clear shock as I pointed at Murray. “He came in here to harass and threaten us. He pulled his weapon on us, too. The fire was self-defense, but it’s out now. Somebody had better take that asshole,” I pointed to Murray, “into custody A-SAP because we’re definitely pressing charges.”
Someone I didn’t know walked into view then and said, “I have to agree.”
He was younger than me, blond, with bags under his blue eyes and wearing a suit that looked like he’d slept in it last night. He gave Ram and me a tired smile before snapping a glare over his shoulder. “Well? Go on. And somebody turn off that alarm.”
A uniformed officer practically sprinted around him and right over to Murray. He was rolled over and cuffed before being hauled to his feet. I hoped they had more cells somewhere else since these two were ruined.
“Detective Brudnicki?” I guessed with a smile at the newcomer.
“The one and only.” He accepted my handshake when I offered. “Let’s get you two dry and find somewhere a hell of a lot less damp to talk.”
Brudnicki might looklike a cute twink, but he was a man to be feared and had thewhole precinct dashing to do his bidding. He’d gotten all of our personal items back, including phones and tablets, helped us get dry and changed into lost-and-found clothes, and sequestered us in a small room with ancient couches and a humming vending machine in under twenty minutes.
“Coogan is in custody obviously,” Brudnicki said tiredly, “along with Rex Dennison, Peter Samson, and Karl Erwin. Erwin admitted to both shooting and burning you, Sergeant, so in addition to the other charges, he’ll also be charged with aggravated assault.”
It felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders, and I had to assume Ram felt the same as he sighed and nodded. I reached under the table and rested my hand on his knee.
“Everyone’s pointing at Coogan as the head of the operation,” Brudnicki continued. “If he was hoping for loyalty, he chose the wrong crew.”
Well, at least they were talking and giving everything up. I’d watched my fair share of police procedural TV shows, and it always seemed to work out best when the criminals blabbed about what they’d done. Hopefully, they’d all plead guilty and that would be the end of all this.
“What about us?” I asked Brudnicki. “Are there any real charges against either of us?” I hesitated to mention driving like a deranged bat out of hell and leaving the scene of an accident if he didn’t already know about my part in all that.
Brudnicki made a face and waved it all away. “I’m chalking it up to self-defense and escaping your captors, blah blah blah. Your truck’s at the impound, which sucks for you, but you’re both free to go. Oh,” he said and looked between us. “There is the possibility you’ll need to testify if anyone pleads not guilty. Will you…be around for a while?”
I looked to Ram since it wasn’t like we lived down theroad. Could Brudnicki tell us not to leave town? Or, uh, the planet?
“We came here to speak with you,” Ram said, “and will be returning to the ship once Quincy concludes his business at his home. I’m assigned to the prince, so unless he plans to leave, I’ll be in orbit and can testify in person or via remote feed.”
“And I’m with him, so same,” I said with a grin for Ram.
Brudnicki huffed a laugh and nodded. “Alright then. Can I assume contacting Specialist Munni is still the way to do things going forward?”
“Regarding the centers, yes,” Ram said and got out his tablet. “For anything related to my experiences, I’ll give you my direct contact information.”
I got my phone out to take down the info, too, since I didn’t have it, but Ram said, “I’ll see to it that you’re issued a tablet. As my mate, you’re entitled to such things. I apologize for not doing so before now.”
“Oh. No, it’s cool. Awesome adventures and fun new toys, my boyfriend has it all.”
Brudnicki snorted before clearing his throat, his cheeks turning pink, while Ram smiled and shook his head at me.
CHAPTER 12
RAMPON
Imanaged to hold myself in check until we were on the shuttle, but once the ramp closed to seal us inside, I couldn’t help grabbing Quincy to me. He made anoomphsound as he collided with my chest, and I wrapped both arms around him. I missed having another hand to hold onto him—and oh, how regrowth ached—but my right arm had a wrist now, so in a few days I should be able to grasp my mate fully.
“Everything okay?” Quincy asked from between my pectorals. He patted my lower back as though offering comfort…or needing more room to breathe? I loosened my grip on him.
“I didn’t like being separated from you.” I let my tongue flick out again and again, drawing his scent in and savoring it.
Quincy turned his head and shuffled closer, straddling my thigh and leaning against me. Bless him for letting me have this moment.
