Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Olivia saw it coming. Time seemed to slow down. She moved behind Izan, dragging his arm around because pulling was easier than suddenly pushing against all that strength. She needed him out of the line of fire.
They spun around together and landed on the floor, gunshots overhead. A steady beat of two…three…four shots. Alonzo stopped firing.
The ringing in her ears quit, the smell of gunpowder in the air. Alonzo was chuckling. “That was impressive.”
Hmm. Not as impressive as what she was going to do next.
The entire plan had been foiled. All her attempts to shake her head and silently order Ainsley and Izan’s young-adult-aged brothers to stay in their seats and not intervene were hanging by a thread.
She scrambled out from under Izan and stood. “You aren’t taking that young woman anywhere.”
Olivia should’ve worn her vest for this date. She should’ve been carrying her gun.
Now she had to rely on backup to solve a problem she could’ve solved on her own. But wasn’t that the point of being a police officer? She didn’t have to do anything alone.
Alonzo’s eyes narrowed.
Ainsley’s expression shifted as well, but in an entirely different way.
Olivia clocked the slight movement as she adjusted her stance and then twisted.
Ainsley rammed her elbow back into Alonzo’s side, hammering his abdomen so that he doubled over.
She brought her elbow up again and slammed it down onto his back.
Olivia raced to him and grabbed his gun.
But Alonzo was already scrambling up. He ran at her, but one of the boys stuck his leg out and tripped him. He fell onto Olivia, and her back hit the carpet of the church aisle. The gun dropped from her hand.
Alonzo reached for it.
Izan dove on him, dragging him to his feet. Izan pulled his fist back and hammered Alonzo in the face with a punch that sent the guy spinning around.
The door slammed open, and a crowd of boots pounded into the room. So many it sounded like thunder. Like the sound of backup. “Police! Hands on your head!”
Olivia lay back on the carpet and just breathed.
Ainsley slumped down into a seat on the end of the pew, hand on her chest. Breathing hard. Her face pale.
Officers ran by Olivia, and she shifted to the side so she didn’t get stepped on. Alonzo was secured and cuffed.
She sat up, her head swimming. Okay, fine. It was pounding.
“You good, Tazwell?” That was Lieutenant Basuto. He stood over her, a disapproving expression on his face.
She lifted both hands. “I didn’t do anything.”
He shook his head, then held out his hand. “You need an ambulance?”
“No.” She grabbed his wrist, and he helped her to her feet. Basuto let go, and she glanced at Izan. “Good?”
“I am now.” He touched his chest and let out a long breath.
The cops led Alonzo back down the aisle, clearing out of the church. Olivia held out her hand, and Izan took it. She tugged him over to the row behind Ainsley and they sat. “Are you okay?”
His sister nodded. The other family members gathered around.
Someone yelled, “Ains!”
Ainsley shot up out of the seat and ran down the aisle to meet Junior, racing in with a haggard look on his face. His arm still in a sling. He hugged Ainsley, looking as relieved as Olivia felt that this was over.
Olivia chuckled. “I’m fine too. Thanks for asking.”
Izan put his arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, not quite feeling like she could sit still. “Adrenaline,” she said on a breathy exhale.
He kissed her forehead.
An older couple sat in front of them—Izan’s parents. The other siblings got up, hanging out in the aisle now they were free to get up from their seats.
“Mom, Dad. This is Olivia.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder. “It’s really nice to meet you guys.” She held out her hand and shook with them. Brenda and Sean, they said their names were. “Really nice.”
Brenda smiled. “You stood up to that man.”
“Saved two of my kids,” Sean said. “Means I owe you.”
Olivia shook her head. “I was just doing my job.” But it was more than that, wasn’t it? “I care about Izan a lot. I wasn’t going to let Alonzo take him anywhere.” She glanced over her shoulder, where Ainsley and Junior spoke quietly to each other, still in their embrace. “Junior is my partner.”
Brenda smiled. “It’ll be good to have more heroes in the family.
Can’t have too many if you ask me.” She glanced at her sons, twins but not identical.
They reminded Olivia of a much younger version of Bryce and Logan.
The kind of boys who would grow up to be heroes, like so many of the men Olivia knew.
“Agreed.” Izan squeezed her shoulders.
She looked at him. “You realize we’re still on our first date, right?”
Izan’s father chuckled. “Didn’t take me long to know Brenda was the one. That’s for sure.”
“We’ve all heard the story plenty,” one of the boys said.
“I’d love to hear it.” Olivia smiled.
Brenda got up. “He can tell you while we decorate. These wreaths aren’t going to hang themselves.”
The family dispersed, finding decorations. Discussing where they were going to be hung around the sanctuary.
As if just moments ago they hadn’t been held at gunpoint by a man who could easily have killed one of their family—or all of them. As if life simply moved on, or you got on with it.
“They’re pretty amazing.”
Izan said, “It’ll hit them later. We can get ice cream or put a movie on and all pretend we aren’t crying.”
“That’s how you all process your fear?”
He shrugged against her. “Christmas will help. All being together and relaxing. Remembering the reason for the season and being thankful we have each other still.”
“Sounds magical.”
“Want to join us? Be part of the Collins Christmas celebration?”
Their faces were close, and she realized they were whispering like Ainsley and Junior. Olivia scanned the dark brown of his eyes, soaking up the affection she saw there. “I’d love to.”
Izan leaned down and touched his lips to hers, gently exploring. As if he had all the time in the world.
In a way, they did.
This was only the beginning, but if they stuck together and looked out for each other, if they treated this start like a fragile thing to be tended, they could watch it grow into something strong, with a solid foundation.
The fact it started here in God’s house gave her the confidence to trust that it was His plan for them.
A Christmas like no other.
Maybe even one that would last forever.