Chapter Twenty-Six #3
Harper and Malone made awkward apologies next, but it was Bradford I waited for.
Head bowed, he stood in front of me. “I-I feel like shit. I’m really sorry for the way I acted and for believing the worst of you.
Here you were, doing superhero shit, and I was treating you like crap.
I know you probably hate me and want a different partner, but can you take some time and think about it?
I love working with you, and I hope I didn’t fuck it up. ”
“Take a breath, Bradford,” I said, totally deadpan, thinking he’d realize I was joking, but from his hangdog expression, he didn’t. “Hey. Look at me. I don’t want another partner. I need us to be able to trust each other and have each other’s backs.”
Bradford nodded with vigor. “Yeah, definitely. It was just…I mean, you looked guilty, and you wouldn’t say anything, but now I get it. I won’t doubt your word again, and I’ll always stand up for you.” He grinned with relief. “You’re a total badass.” He stuck out his hand, and I shook it.
“Thanks, man. It feels good to be here.”
With a genuine smile, Jet approached me. “Dude, what the hell. That’s some wild Hollywood shit.” He clasped my hand, and I snickered.
“Lemme tell you, when I was getting my ass beaten, I wasn’t thinking of anything but not dying.
” With the guys assembled around me, I explained a bit about what I had to do and my father’s goon squad roughing me up, and saw their true fear for me.
Each one of them gave me a hug. I’d always felt a little on the outside with the guys, but how ironic was it that it took me being ostracized and almost killed to finally get welcomed into the fold.
Jet became serious, and the others gathered around me, including Emmy, who hovered on the periphery of the small circle.
“I heard you were force-fed drugs and they needed to give you Narcan. Are you all right now?”
“Yeah. My heart stopped, and they had to pump my stomach, but I’m a hundred percent and want to get back to work.
I don’t really remember much of that part.
All I know is, I was scared shitless, but I had no choice.
I needed to make sure my father was stopped and that he paid for what he was doing and had done in the past. Especially to Kane. ”
Everyone shifted to stare at Emmy, then returned to me, and I could see their confusion. I waved for him to come and join me. A barely there grin teased at Jet’s lips as he watched us.
“See, Kane and I were connected by more than simply coming from the city and being on the force together.” I put my hand on his shoulder, and Bradford’s brows rose.
“My father was the driving force behind Kane’s father being arrested on trumped-up drug charges and jailed.
” I paused because it was still an emotional knife to my heart.
A guilt I’d carry with me forever. “And eventually murdered.”
A murmur rose from the guys, and Emmy cleared his throat.
“I’m still processing everything I’ve learned, and it’s going to take a long time to heal.
But if I didn’t have Starr to lean on, I couldn’t have done it.
And while we were learning how our pasts were forever connected, I fell for him. ” He gazed at me, and I winked.
“And I caught him.” I looked around and waited for the news to sink in. Most of the guys stood openmouthed, processing what Emmy had said, while a few shook their heads in disbelief.
“What?” Bradford sputtered in shock. “You’re…together? Like a couple? How? You hated each other.”
“Yeah, we did.” I slung my arm across Emmy’s shoulders. “And now we don’t. We’re not going to explain, because we don’t owe anyone that. But when it all came down, Kane was the one who was one hundred percent there for me, by my side from the start.”
“And I always will be.”
I gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I guess that’s enough surprises for one day. I’ll let you all get to work, and I should be here tomorrow.”
Jet gave me a hug. “That took courage, and I want you to know Harte and I are always going to have your back.”
From the way some of my fellow deputies were side-eyeing Emmy and me, they might be the only ones. But it didn’t matter. If people had a problem with me, I was used to being the outsider. I could take it all in stride. And Emmy was already talking to Ross, Clarke, and Shaw, which was a good sign.
“Starr,” Ross called from the doorway, Teegan at his side.
I tensed and met his gaze. “Yeah?”
“Sweeny’s after shift? Teeg and I get off at six.”
Relief rolled through me. “Sounds good. See you then.”
He and Teegan gave me a two-finger salute, and I exhaled.
“It’s gonna be all right. You’ll see,” Jet said.
Emmy bumped fists with the three men and joined us.
“You’re looking so serious. I think it went great. The guys are cool about us, and you’re a hero.”
I brushed him off. “I don’t care about that shit. I never have. It took me ten years to figure it out, but now I know.”
“Know what?” Emmy asked.
I took his hand and squeezed it. “That the me I was searching for was always with you.”