Chapter 24 #2
Nikki leaned over him, grabbed the gun from the back of his pants and then stepped over him to open the storm door. “Come and get him out of here,” she called out to the cops, who rushed the house.
She handed the gun to Jack from the state police, took her grandmother’s hand and led her out of the house.
Riley came running up to her, scooped her up and hugged her so hard, she feared he might break her ribs. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, but he’s gonna have one hell of a headache.”
“Least of what he deserves. You’re like Wonder Woman.”
“That’s what we call Gran,” Nikki said.
“I’m more than happy to turn my cape over to you, darling,” Evelyn said. “You should’ve seen her take him out. It was awesome.”
“I have no doubt,” Riley said. “She’s amazing.”
Now that she’d taken care of business, Nikki began to shake from the aftershocks. Her sister’s ex had shown up looking for her with a gun. Thank God Jordan had been nowhere to be found when that happened.
“He was going to kill her,” she whispered to Riley, who continued to hold her like he might never let her go. That’d be fine with her.
“Thanks to you, he’ll never get the chance.”
Mason was already at the airport when Jordan’s plane came into view.
A few minutes ago, he’d heard from Blaine about what Nikki had done and couldn’t wait to tell Jordan her loved ones were safe.
Her ex was on his way to the clinic, where he’d be treated before being arraigned on a wide variety of charges that would keep him far away from her for decades.
The sleek Lear came slicing through the clouds on final approach to Gansett.
Mason got out of the SUV and walked through the terminal to the flight line to meet her as she disembarked. His heart gave a joyful lurch at the sight of her coming down the stairs. When she saw him waiting for her, she broke into a run.
She was wearing a sexy-as-fuck black dress with red flowers on it and red heels that she ran in like she’d been running in heels all her life.
He scooped her up, and the second she was back in his arms, all his agitation settled and everything in his life made sense again. “It’s over. Nik knocked him out with your grandmother’s cast-iron frying pan. He’s in custody.”
“Oh my God. That’s the best news I’ve ever heard.”
“By all accounts, Nik was a badass warrior.”
“That’s my sister.” Jordan sniffled as tears streamed down her face. “You don’t want to mess with her.”
“Good to know.”
A throat cleared behind Jordan.
Mason put her down, and they turned to face Gigi, who was the picture of LA sophistication right down to the designer handbag looped over her forearm.
To Jordan, she said, “Are you going to introduce me?”
“Sorry.” Jordan wiped tears as she smiled at Mason. “Gigi, this is Mason. Mason, meet Gigi.”
They shook hands as Gigi tipped her head back so she could look up at Mason. “You are one tall motherfucker.”
“So I’ve been told,” he said, instantly amused by her.
“Jordan says you’re big all over.”
“Gigi, oh my God! Shut up!”
“What’s going on with the dickhead?”
“Nik knocked him over the head with my grandmother’s cast-iron frying pan,” Jordan told Gigi.
“Of course she did. I love it. The douche nugget had it coming.”
“He sure did,” Jordan said.
Mason wanted to kiss Jordan so bad, he could barely resist the urge to do it right then and there. But first she needed to see her sister and grandmother, to see for herself that they were okay. There’d be time for kissing later. Lots of time. He would see to it.
“How’s your elbow and your hands?”
“Everything is fine.” Now that you’re back, he wanted to add but didn’t since they weren’t alone. As they walked to his SUV, he bent his arm to show her his elbow was on the mend. “Hardly even hurts anymore.”
He held the passenger door and the one behind it for the ladies, settling Jordan in to ride shotgun.
It was all he could do to keep from staring at her or pinching himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
She’d been gone one day, and he’d nearly gone mad without her.
Now that she was back, he would do whatever it took to keep her with him forever.
But first things first.
He drove them to the public safety building where Nikki and Evelyn had been taken to make a statement. “Where are they?” he asked the officer working the reception desk.
The officer’s eyes bugged when he recognized Mason’s companions. “Conference room.”
“Right this way, ladies.” Mason led them to the conference room that the police and fire departments shared and knocked on the door before entering.
Jordan ran for her sister and grandmother, the three of them tearful as they engaged in a group hug.
“I’m so sorry,” Jordan said. “It’s all my fault.”
“Don’t be silly,” Evelyn said. “You didn’t send him to the house with a gun, and PS, we’re thankful you weren’t there, because he didn’t come there to talk to you. And PPS, your sister was incredible.”
“I heard.” Jordan hugged Nikki. “I bet you enjoyed knocking him out.”
“Little bit,” Nik said as she returned the hug. “PS, it was all Gran’s idea. I was just the executor. It’s all over now.”
“Thanks to you. I love you guys so much, and I’m so thankful you’re okay.”
“And we’re thankful you are,” Evelyn said. “We’re all okay. That’s the only thing that matters.”