Page 67 of Liberty

We all looked over to see a uniformed cop, holding a gun, aimed at me.

“Let go of her and step away with your hands up,” the cop ordered.

I stared at him and did as he said, letting go of Belle's arm and stepping away with my hands raised.

He nodded at Fate. “You too.”

Fate raised his hands up.

“Officer, what is this about?” I asked.

“You don't get to talk!” He seethed at me then turned to look at Belle. “Are you okay, Belle?”

I blinked at this.He knew her name?

Nodding, she said, “Nicky, they aren’t the bad guys, ok? Please put the gun away.”

The cop stared at her then looked at us suspiciously again. “Are you sure? I mean they’ve been holding you hostage, right?”

“Hostage?” Fate blustered.

“I said shut up!” Nicky the cop said.

“No, they aren't holding me at all, Nicky.” Belle shook her head. “Can you put the gun away and let me explain?”

Nicky stared at me and then at Fate. Finally, he uncocked his pistol and lowered it.

“This is Liberty, my boyfriend,” Belle introduced me.

Nicky holstered his weapon then turned his head to stare at me as his eyes went wide. “Holy shit! You are Liberty fucking Walker!” he exclaimed.

I slowly lowered my arms and nodded at him “Yeah, that’s my name.”

“The UFC champ!” Nicky gushed. “Holy hell, I almost arrested the Tiger himself!”

I slowly shook my head.

“Nicky!” Belle said as she tried to get his attention. “This is so embarrassing.” She rolled her eyes and told Fate, “You can lower your hands now.”

My brother slowly did so as he looked a bit pale.

Nicky looked back and forth at us. “I am so sorry, Belle. But Briget has been calling me for days, asking if our APB had brought any results. She said you’ve been missing for a longtime. No calls, nothing. She filed a missing person’s report on you.”

“Oh, shit,” Belle muttered.

“I am so confused,” Fate said.

“Yeah, that makes two of us,” I agreed.

“No,” Nicky the cop said. “It makes three and if you count me and my cousin Briget, makes it four.”

“It’s just a huge misunderstanding,” Belle tried to explain. “But I am not missing or kidnapped, ok? Please let the police know that, Nicky.”

He nodded. “You’d better be telling poor Briget. She has been upset for days.”

Belle looked troubled. “I am so sorry and I will talk to her.”

Nicky nodded his head. “Oh and one more thing…” He took out a ticket book from his uniformed pocket and smiled at me, then he produced a pen as well. “Can I get your autograph?”