Page 40 of Jessica's Hero

The belt wrapped around my chest loosens a notch. Not an intruder. Not someone back to hurt Jess. But two of my coworkers, who, although they’re both relative rookies, will do their best to keep my girlfriend safe.

Wait.

My girlfriend?

“I’m going to let them in,” Jess says. “So they don’t break down the door.”

“No!” I almost yell it. In a more controlled tone, I explain, “Stay in the bathroom. Let them clear the house. Okay? Just in case…”

“Oh.” Her voice is so tiny. “Okay.”

“We’re only three blocks away,” I assure her. “I’ll be there before you know it.”

A splintering crash blasts across the line.“Kane?”

“They’re just getting the door open,” Oliver answers. “Okay, Jess? It’s fine. Then they’ll clear the rooms, and we already told them where you are. So they’ll come get you once it’s safe.”

“What if they don’t believe me?” she asks. “What if they think… I did it? That I threw rocks?—”

“They won’t,” I reply quickly. “I promise, sweetheart.”

The turnoff for Jess’s street comes up on the right, and I make a screeching turn onto it. “I’m on your street now. I can see the flashing lights up ahead. Just hang tight, okay?”

Though some of my fear has subsided, it’s still not enough. I’m still envisioning Jess in the bathroom, bleeding, a puddle of spreading crimson on the tile around her. All the worst things I’ve seen in my nearly ten years as a cop are coming at me at once—the woman who was stabbed in the back by her ex and didn’t even realize it because of the nerve damage, the teenager who had a stroke after she was punched in the face by a burglar, and the young mother who nearly died after a blow to her stomach caused internal bleeding.

Rationally, I know Jess is probably ok. But probably isn’t good enough. I need to see her for myself.

I come flying up to the parked patrol car and come to a squealing stop behind it. “Just got here,” I announce. “We’ll be inside in a second.”

Without waiting for her answer, I leap from the car and race towards the front door. After the soft metallicthunk of the passenger door, Oliver comes running up alongside me, his expression intense and his gun held low and ready.

“Don’t go busting in there,” he warns. “You know how it’s done.”

My footsteps slow as I approach the front porch.

Fuck. I do. As much as I want to go tearing inside, straight up to the bathroom where Jess is hiding, I can’t. Not with two other officers inside and still clearing the house.

“I know,” I grit out. But looking at Jess’s cracked front door, hanging ajar, seeing the glint of shattered glass just inside, knowing she’sright there…

Rapping on the doorjamb, I call out, “It’s Kane and Oliver. Let us know when it’s okay to come in.”

From somewhere inside, Kyle replies, “Almost done. Just checking the bedrooms.”

My fingers tighten on the handle of my Glock. I glance over at Oliver, and he gives me a quick chin lift. “She’s okay,” he says. “You’ll see.” Then he smirks. “Shea’s going to be so pleased.”

“What? Why?”

“Because she bet you would get together with Jess. Back when she saw you guys talking at the Halloween Festival. I told her I wasn’t sure. But she said she could just tell.”

“You know I’m dating Jess. It’s not a surprise.”

“True. But I think it’s more than just dating. Wouldn’t you say?”

Would I?

I knew I liked Jess before. A lot. But this…

This is something else entirely.