Page 77 of Crow's Haven
Cynthia’s eyes glitter coldly, her voice is filled with venom. “Be very careful, Agent whatever your name is. You’re accusing me of something quite serious.”
Harper turns her around and looks her in the eye. “I’m stating facts. You orchestrated a cover-up to protect your family’s investments. How many more people need to suffer before you were satisfied?”
Cynthia sneers, “You think you understand what’s happening here. This is bigger than you and me. We’re just pawns, insignificant and disposable.”
Agent Harper gives her a rueful look. “Sounds like a personal problem. I’d advise you to come along quietly. I’d hate to have to tase you for getting rowdy.”
Cynthia leans closer, voice low and chilling. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. Cross me, and I promise you’ll regret it.”
Harper brings her hand up to her earpiece. “Can I get you to add ‘threatening a federal agent’ to Brenner’s list of charges?”
I tell her quickly, “I don’t know why you’re threatening federal law enforcement, Cynthia. It’s too late for that.”
She stares at me, eyes icy with rage. Her composure fractures, revealing a dangerous, irredeemable fury simmering beneath the surface. “We’ll see about that,” she shoots back. “You’ll be lucky to make it out of this situation alive.”
I glance at Agent Harper. “Yet more threats.”
“Don’t worry, ma’am. You’re under the protection of the DOJ.”
Cynthia snorts a laugh. “My brother-in-law is a dangerous man. He’ll make you both regret causing such a huge issue for this company.”
“His company is responsible for at least one child’s death.”
Our conversation is interrupted when Harper’s radio crackles sharply. She listens, nodding once. “Martin’s team has secured all the administrative personnel,” she announces clearly. “The hospital’s leadership is being brought in for questioning. I’m told the board of directors will be here shortly to cover until other arrangements can be made.”
Cynthia’s face pales. Gasps ripple through the gathered nurses and techs, and shocked murmurs break out, spreading rapidly down the hallways. I close my eyes, relief flooding through me. It’s finally over. The people who destroyed lives, who lied, who hurt innocent children are all in handcuffs. I wasn’t naive enough to think all of them would necessarily end up behind bars, but I had to trust that most culpable would.
Harper hands off Cynthia to another agent and I follow her to the exit, the hallway clearing in stunned silence as we pass. I keep my eyes forward, my steps strong. Outside, fresh morning air floods my lungs, washing away the stifling antiseptic hospital smell. My knees feel weak, but my mind is strong. I walk proudly across the parking lot, lit by flashing lights and swirling blue strobes from police cruisers.
Chapter 26
Sharon
Iscan the parking lot, my eyes searching eagerly for Crow, desperate for the steady reassurance of his presence. Agent Harper said she contacted my attorney to let him know that the warrant had been served. Smoke would have told Crow immediately, but I don’t see him anywhere. Even if he couldn’t come because of the boys, he would have sent someone for me. Something feels off but I can’t put my finger on it.
Footsteps crunch behind me, heavy and deliberate. I turn sharply, my stomach drops as a tall, bulky man steps from behind a pickup truck. His broad shoulders stretch the seams of a fitted black jacket with the Salinas Pharmaceuticals’ logo on it. A scowl is carved into his granite-like features. I take a gigantic step back, I don’t know who he is, but he radiates danger.
“You are a very foolish woman,” he growls, his voice thick with anger. “You ruined everything, when what you should have done was kept your fucking mouth shut.”
I straighten, forcing myself to stay strong in spite of the tremor of fear coursing through me. “The truth always comes out in the end,” I say, my voice surprisingly steady. “When someone dies, you can’t keep the cause secret forever.”
His jaw clenches, eyes narrowed as he reaches into his jacket. My breath catches as I see the unmistakable glint of metal. It’s a handgun with a silencer attached to the end. Coldterror washes over me, rooting me momentarily in place. He points it directly at me, his hand disturbingly steady.
“This ends now,” he snarls quietly. “My boss isn’t going down because you can’t keep your fat trap shut.”
One moment the world seems to slow as I brace to get riddled with bullet holes. Then, the next minute I hear the throaty roar of a motorcycle shattering the silence. Crow’s bike comes skidding across the lot. The bodyguard’s head jerks towards the sound, distracted just long enough for Crow to launch himself off the motorcycle, barreling straight into him with full force.
They hit the asphalt hard, the gun skittering across the pavement. Crow moves fast, fury radiating from every movement as he wrestles the bigger man to the ground. Fists fly. The bodyguard fights back, fierce and violent, landing a heavy blow to Crow’s jaw. My heart aches as Crow staggers slightly before throwing himself back into the fight with savage determination.
“Crow!” I scream, stepping forward instinctively.
Their loud and vicious fight draws the notice of several agents. They shout behind me, boots pounding the pavement as they sprint towards the fight. But Crow’s relentless, powerful blows land in rapid succession, his fury unmatched. The man gets a hold of his gun again but Crow rips it away, tossing it towards the approaching agents just as they are within striking distance.
It takes three agents to pull them apart, shouting commands and shoving my assailant face-first onto the asphalt, cuffing his wrists roughly behind his back. Crow staggers back,chest heaving. Blood trickles from his split lip and his eyes are wild with adrenaline and rage.
Our eyes lock, and in that heartbeat, the rest of the world fades away. I rush forward, my trembling fingers brushing the dark bruise already forming on his jaw. His arms fold around me fiercely, pulling me close as he buries his face in my hair.
“Crow, are you okay?” I whisper, unsure I want to know the answer to that question.
