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“He shot you?” I grabbed Danny’s arm, and he winced.

“It’s just a scratch. The bullet grazed my arm. It didn’t go into it.”

“What the fuck did you do?” I yelled.

“I was trying to save your life.”

“By giving up yours? Have you learned nothing?”

“Are you for real right now? Most people would say‘Thank you, Danny.’”

“Thank you? You want me to thank you for putting your life in jeopardy? AGAIN! What if you had been shot in the chest? Where would that leave Dante and Danika?”

“Woman, what if he had shot you? You antagonized the son of a bitch until he aimed his gun at you!”

“Oh my God, you two are going to drive me crazy. You’re both equally stupid and reckless.”

Danny and I stopped our bickering and looked at Dante.

“Can you believe he just called us stupid?” I asked Danny.

“And reckless,” Danny added.

“I’m going to check on our daughter. And call in reinforcements.”

Dante walked inside, leaving Danny and me alone once more.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

“You’re welcome,” he replied.

We looked at the detective.

“Who do you think shot him?” I asked. Danny and I looked around again. In the distance, we saw a dust cloud headed our way. Danny reached down and picked up the detective’s gun, pushing me behind him.

“I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Ghost

Entering King’s office, neither he nor Cash said a word. I knew the drill. This wasn’t my first rodeo. Though it was my first time as a civilian. I sat in the chair across the desk from King.

On that desk lay my cut. My fingers itched to reach out and grab it. I wanted desperately to throw it back over my shoulders where it belonged. But Melissa’s face popped up in my mind and I remembered why I gave it up.

“You forgot something when you left,” King said, nudging the cut in my direction.

I stared at the piece of worn leather. The patches on the back that I worked so hard for. “I didn’t forget it,” I said, shaking my head.

“Ghost—”

“Let me stop you right there.” I looked at Cash. What I was about to say was a dick move, but I needed them to understand. “If Rachel were still here and asked you to walk away, what would you say?”

Something flashed in his eyes and his lips tightened. “Knowing everything I know now?”

“Yea.”

“I’d tell her no.”