Page 20 of Rampage

"Breathe, Lily," he murmurs. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. I'm right here. He's not going to touch you."

Through my panic, I hear the approaching wail of another siren. A second police car pulls up, and an older officer steps out. His face registers shock when he takes in the scene.

"Jenkins, what the hell are you doing?" he demands, approaching quickly.

"Following up on a missing person case, Chief," the first officer replies, less confident now.

"Without clearing it with me first?" The chief surveys the crowd, the phones recording, Reid crouched protectively over me, and his expression darkens.

Something in Reid snaps. I can feel it, like a physical change in the air around us. His body, previously tense but controlled, coils with a dangerous energy. His eyes, usually warm when they look at me, turn to ice as they fixate on Officer Jenkins.

"You fucking piece of shit," Reid snarls, rising to his full height with predatory grace. "You see what you're doing to her? You see the terror you're causing?"

"Back up, son—" Jenkins starts, but Reid is already advancing.

"Don't son me, you pathetic excuse for a cop," Reid growls, his voice dropping to a tone I've never heard before. "You came here on the word of an abuser to terrorize his victim, and you think you have any authority?"

The chief tries to step between them. "Reid, let's calm down?—"

But Reid isn't listening. His hands are clenched into fists so tight the knuckles have gone white. "You put your hand on your weapon when you approached her. You tried to grab her. You knew exactly what you were doing."

Jenkins backs up a step, his hand instinctively moving toward his gun again.

Reid sees the movement and lunges forward with frightening speed. Before anyone can react, he has Jenkins pinned against the police cruiser, forearm pressed against the officer's throat.

"Reid!" I gasp, finding my voice through the panic.

"You like scaring women, huh?" Reid hisses, his face inches from Jenkins's. "Like making them feel small? Helpless? How does it feel now, asshole?"

People are shouting, phones are still recording, but Reid is beyond caring. I can see it in the rigid line of his back, the way his muscles bunch under his shirt. This is a different Reid, a glimpse of the man behind the exterior he's shown me.

"I should tear you apart right here," Reid continues, his voice deadly quiet now. "Make an example of you for every other piece of garbage who thinks a badge gives them the right to terrorize innocent people."

The chief is trying to pull Reid back, but it's like trying to move a mountain. "Reid, son, this isn't helping!"

"You know what would help?" Reid doesn't take his eyes off Jenkins. "If this town's police department stopped hiring fucking pussies.”

Jenkins's face is turning red, both from Reid's hold and being called a pussy.

"That's enough!" The chief finally manages to wedge himself between Reid and Jenkins. "Reid, back off now or I'll have to arrest you, and that won't help Lily."

At the mention of my name, something shifts in Reid's expression. His eyes flick to me, still huddled against the wall, and I see the struggle in them, the rage warring with his concern for me.

"Lily," he says, his voice suddenly gentler. "Lily needs me."

With great effort, he releases Jenkins and steps back, his eyes never leaving the officer's face. "This isn't over," he warns, but he's already turning toward me.

In three long strides, he's at my side, crouching down to my level. "Breathe, darlin'," he murmurs, his hand hovering near mine, asking permission before touching me. "I'm right here. No one's taking you anywhere."

I nod, still struggling to control my breathing. My fingers find his, clutching desperately.

The chief approaches cautiously, his expression a mix of concern and wariness. "Miss Chambers, I apologize for this… misunderstanding. Officer Jenkins was acting without proper authorization."

"Misunderstanding?" Reid snaps, not looking away from me. "Is that what we're calling police harassment now?"

"Reid," I whisper, squeezing his hand. "Please."

He takes a deep breath, visibly reining in his anger for my sake.