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R oyce downed a bottle of water. It did little to cool him down as he watched Amber escape the close call with Tyson. He’d thought about going over himself. Thankfully Maverick stepped in quick because he knew he’d end up burying his fist in the jerk’s face. His sister didn’t need that kind of publicity. Neither did he.

So, for the next hour, he made sure Tyson didn’t circle around and try for another shot at Amber. She stayed in the VIP section and was surrounded by Reese, Connor, and her boss, Caris, and her husband Blake Anderson, the Outlaw’s Manager. The group also included the rest of their tight circle of friends, their wives, and girlfriends.

He relaxed, knowing none of the players would let anything or anyone bother her again tonight. He roamed the outer perimeter of the dance floor and tried to put Amber’s face and her body out of his head. He wanted her, but it was laced with something different; something new. He’d desired other women sure, but with her, it was… maddening.

When he looked at her, he saw more than someone to hook up with.

Hell, he hadn’t even spoken to her more than polite greetings, and small talk, so why was he contemplating some kind of future where they could make it work beyond a quick slap and tickle?

“Royce, you look stressed. What’s up?” His sister offered him a soft drink. “Anything I need to know about?”

He could tell her the cliff note version, but knowing Reese, she might pick up on his personal interest in Amber. He’d barely admitted to himself, let alone his sister, that what he was feeling for the curvy office manager went beyond pure lust.

Maybe his interest in Amber was simply because she seemed to always be around. In his real life, not the after dark quest for a hard and fast release where the women understood he was a one-time deal?

For whatever reason, when he looked at Amber, he sensed there was potential. And that was more dangerous than any perp with a knife in one hand and a revolver in the other during a twelve-hour standoff.

Royce remained silent and looked over to where Amber had been sitting earlier. The group had pretty much dispersed, but Connor, Maverick, and Luke, the team’s catcher, were kicked back sharing one last drink. Who could blame them for wanting to keep the celebration going? They’d earned it.

“Hey, c’mon, what’s bugging you? You forget, I know how to read you. And it has nothing to do with missing a stupid workout. Is it a woman? No, don’t tell me. It’s probably two women. Decisions, decisions, right?”

“No, everything’s good. And yes, I skipped my usual trip to the gym this morning. You know how I get cranky if I can’t punch something.”

“Hmm… so no, ‘stay out of my business, sis?’ What’s really going on?” Reese laid her head on his shoulder. “You know I’m a great listener.”

Royce was almost ready to spill a part of his dilemma, and he’d keep Amber’s name out of it, but as he opened his mouth, a kid in his early twenties burst through the main entrance. He gasped for a breath and held up his arm, pointing behind him, “Hey, some guy has a girl… he’s got a gun… outside…somebody call 911.”

Royce strode over to the kid. “Where?”

“Down the street, next to the empty lot, the...the one they turned into a mini-park… he dragged her towards the alley. And man, is she screaming.”

Reese laid a hand on Royce’s arm, “I’ve got dispatch on the line now. They said they already received another call.”

“Keep everyone inside, lock the door behind me.” Royce ran toward the entrance and turned back to his sister. “No one, Reese. No one leaves until the PD calls all clear.”

“Wait! You’re not armed.”

“You sure about that, sis?” Royce lifted his pant leg and retrieved his Glock-27 from his ankle holster. He pushed through the door, sprinted across the street, and kept to the inside of the sidewalk. He ran down Main all the way to the corner. Muffled screaming reached him. Then the sound of a man yelling out in pain.

Sirens roared in the distance. Too far, he calculated; he needed to act—now. He made his way from the building next to the park and hooked a right into the open space. Empty. A lone streetlight illuminated the area. It didn’t quite do its job. He crept along the building, his Glock at the ready. When he reached the end of the wall as it met the alleyway, he stopped and listened.

“You just couldn’t listen, could you bitch? You had to scream.”

A muffled response. Royce couldn’t make out the words but knew it was a woman.

“All I wanted was some fun. But nope, you didn’t want to play. Well, now we’re both in trouble. Stop it! Ow!”

The kidnapper’s voice sounded familiar... Shit, he knew that whiny tone.

Fuck, it was Tyson.

Royce edged around the corner, gun steady, and took a look. Tyson was holding the woman against the building, maybe twenty feet away. Tyson’s left hand covered her mouth; his right held a gun under her chin. And he was shaking his left leg.

Looked like he’d been kicked.

Good for her, she fought back. The move may have saved her life.

Royce returned to his position and turned the safety off. When he stepped out fully into the alley, Tyson continued to spit curse words at his captive. But the woman must have caught his movement. She turned her head toward him. Eyes wide in fear, she blinked rapidly then slammed them shut when Tyson pressed his nose into her cheek.

Amber.

Shit! Goddammit . His heart stopped for a beat, then started back up, pounding the crap out of his chest. He’d never once been in a situation on the job where he knew the victim.

Seeing Amber shoved up against the fucking wall with a gun in her face fueled his anger. He wished he could tear the scumbag apart with his bare hands. Instead, he took a deep breath and centered himself and remembered protocol, then dismissed protocol. Screw it.

Time was his second enemy, and as much as he’d relish beating Tyson to a pulp, he’d settle for shooting him in the leg. A headshot clearly wasn’t an option with how he was currently holding onto Amber.

Amber’s eyes flashed open again. Royce held her frightened gaze and willed her to calm. She gave a slight nod.

Tyson followed Amber’s gaze. “Fuck!” He whirled Amber in front of him and used her as a shield.

Gravel sprayed into the air, and Amber stumbled and let out a whimper.

Her cry wrapped around Royce’s heart and refused to let go. “Pretty pathetic using a woman to protect yourself. Let her go, Tyson, and you won’t get hurt. That’s the only and last promise I’m making you.”

Tyson let out another string of curses and pulled Amber closer into his body. “Back off, Royce. You’re not on duty, man, and your SWAT buddies are nowhere in sight.”

As if on cue, the sounds of sirens increased. The air filled with the screeching of tires and shouts of officers.

“You were saying, dickhead?” Royce aimed his gun low and to the left of Amber’s body. “I’m sure the local PD will back me up. So, do yourself a favor and let her go. The longer you drag this out, the more trouble you’ll be in.”

“Bullshit. We both know I’m going down. I’ve already got a felony on my belt, man. So, maybe I should have a little fun first, huh? Cause I don’t think you’re going to shoot an old friend. You don’t have it in you. Not Royce Kincaid, the pillar of Pineville.”

That’s right keep talking dickhead . The more Tyson rattled on, the better Amber’s chances of coming out unhurt became. “What in the Hell are you talking about? I’m not the pillar of anything. Just doing my job, asshole.”

“Screw you! You think because you’re the law now that people don’t remember? Everyone knows how you messed up plenty in high school.” Tyson stepped backward, dragging Amber with him.

“I think you’re confusing me with yourself. And you’re running out of time, old friend .” Royce matched each step Tyson took. He held out a hand when the first responding office rounded the corner. “I got this.” And he did. No one was taking Tyson down but him.

Another screech of tires erupted as two squad cars blocked the exit to the alleyway behind Tyson. He wasn’t going anywhere. But, would he go down injuring himself or worse, Amber?

Tyson’s eyes were darting between Royce and the officer behind him. Royce was almost out of time. He needed to act. Sweat was pouring off Tyson’s brow, and the hand holding the gun to Amber’s chin had begun to shake. Shit, he was probably on something besides the whiskey he’d been downing all night.

“Let her go, Ty. You’re hurting her.” Royce kept his tone even as he crept closer. When he was within ten feet, he stopped. He let his gaze roam over Amber and checked to see if she was bleeding.

Tyson moved his arm up and wrapped it around her throat.

Royce grimaced as he watched Amber struggle to push Tyson off. He almost lost it when she began to gasp for breath.

“Hurting her? Christ, she’s fine. So fine.” Tyson shouted. He bent down and whispered something in Amber’s ear. She cringed and kicked out. Her leg missed, but it gave Royce the opportunity he needed. Tyson moved his lower body out of the way, opening himself up as the perfect target.

Royce nodded as Amber’s gaze met his again and mouthed the words, “lean to the left—you’ll be okay.” He couldn’t wait to see if she understood; he aimed his gun and fired.

The bullet found its home in Tyson’s upper right thigh. He screamed, let go of Amber, and dropped the gun as he reached down to cover his wound.

She fell to the side and scrambled backward, slamming her back into the brick wall. Royce ran toward her, the officer behind him descended on Tyson as several officers raced from the end of the alley.

It was over.

He crouched down in front of Amber and pulled her into his arms. “You okay, sweetheart? It’s over. He won’t ever hurt you again.”

She nodded, closed her eyes, and wept. Royce cradled her to his chest. Her body shook as she sobbed and buried her head into the crook of his neck. They stayed that way for a long time. He didn’t let go until someone tapped his shoulder. EMS wanted to check her out, and then they needed her to go to headquarters. They needed him as well, but not together.

“Let me know if you need anything, okay? Reese has my number.”

Amber lifted her chin and wiped away a single tear. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She slammed her body into his and held on tight. A muffled, ‘thank you’ vibrated against his chest. Another minute passed before she let go and allowed the emergency tech to walk her to the waiting ambulance.

His heart continued to pound; in fact, it hadn’t stopped pounding since he realized she was the one in danger. Someone he cared for had been victimized, and he’d never be the same again. The fact that just tonight he realized he had feelings for her was not lost in the moment. Dammit, why hadn’t he done more earlier? He should have made sure Tyson had been given a ride home. He wasn’t sure he’d ever forget the horror-filled desperation in Amber’s eyes.

Royce knew it would take a long time before he could breathe easily again. The rage he experienced as he watched Tyson put his hands upon Amber, ... Fuuuck . Lord, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get over the helplessness he felt as he silently promised Amber everything would be okay before he pulled the trigger.

But now it would be someone else’s job to comfort her. Royce had done what he’d been trained to do. And now he needed to put away the unexpected feelings he never thought he’d experience for a woman. And next, he needed to make sure Tyson wouldn’t being seeing daylight anytime soon. He’d have to wait to satisfy his need to further comfort Amber and took solace in knowing she had a close-knit group of friends to be there for her.

But that didn’t keep him from wishing he’d be the one she could turn to when she returned home.