Page 45 of Serve and Protect
“But it’s true. When we were in school, I made some bad choices. I thought I was protecting you, but in reality, I hurt us both. And then later, with David, I made a monumental mistake that’s haunting me still to this day.”
I link our fingers, our palms pressing together, and bring her hand to my lips to kiss.
Her hand comes up to touch my face, her fingers gentle as they trace the edge of my cheek. Unshed tears glimmer in herdark eyes like stars in a night sky. “I don’t deserve you,” she says as she presses her forehead to mine.
“Well, if we’re going down that route, I don’t deserve you either. I’m the damn fool idiot who sent you into this house where that motherfucker was waiting. I practically handed you right over.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known he was here.”
And then there’s a knock on the kitchen door.
“Jennie? It’s me, Maggie. I’m here.”
Jennie pulls back from me, her eyes glistening. “We’re in the living room!”
Maggie walks into the living room.
Jennie practically jumps off the sofa and nervously tidies her hair and clothes.
“Is that awful man gone?” Granny asks as she walks out of her bedroom.
“Yes, Granny, he’s gone,” Jennie says as she goes to put her arm around Rosie’s thin shoulders.
“You need to put him in jail, young man,” Rosie says to me. “He’s a vile monster. He hurt my granddaughter.”
I stand. “Yes, ma’am. I’m on my way to do that right now.” To Maggie, I say, “Thanks for coming. I’ve got to get to the station so I can oversee Braggart’s booking. We can’t afford to screw this up and give him any leverage when he goes before a judge tomorrow.”
“It’s no trouble,” Maggie says. “Owen is at home with Claire, so I can stay as long as I’m needed.”
Maggie opens her arms, and Jennie walks right into them, undoubtedly needing a hug after what she’s been through today. First the fire, and then Braggart attacking her in her own home.
When I reach Jennie, I pause long enough to hold her a moment. “Everything will be okay,” I murmur to her. “I promiseyou.” And then, after giving her a quick kiss, I head for the kitchen.
“Are you all right?” Maggie asks Jennie. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m okay,” Jennie says, but her voice is quiet and subdued.
I pause. “He did hurt her,” I tell Maggie. “And I’m going to make sure he pays.”
* * *
I head to the Larimer county jail to be present when Braggart is booked and placed into a holding cell. As soon as I walk into the jail, I hear him yelling his damn fool head off.
“Do you know who I am!” he shouts. “Who my parents are? They won’t stand for this. You can’t treat me like this!”
When Braggart sees me walking toward him, he grows even more livid. “Arrest him!” he yells, nodding in my direction. He would point at me if he could, but his hands are cuffed behind him. “Arrest the fucking sheriff!”
Rolling my eyes, I ask the booking staff if they’ve performed a breathalyzer test on him yet. I could easily smell the alcohol on his breath back at Jennie’s.
“We sure did,” Officer Cindy Carver says with a grin. “We could smell it on him the minute he walked in. It read zero-point-one-six.” That’s twice the legal limit.
“Good. Add three more charges: public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and DUI. And that’s on top of the kidnapping, assault, and battery charges.” I’m going to throw the book at him. See how he likes cooling his jets in jail.
Braggart is still screeching his head off, demanding that someone call his parents and his attorney.
“Hold your horses,” I tell him. “You’ll get your phone calls.”
After he’s processed, he’s permitted to make a call to his attorney. Then he’s put in a holding cell, where he’ll stay until his arraignment. He might get to see a judge tomorrow, if he’s lucky.
