Damon (The Protectors #1)(13)

“Nice outfit.” Mitch shook his head. This is why he didn't fire Nicole, as bad as he wanted to at times. She went the extra mile to do her job and that was something rare indeed. “Just don't get killed. Okay. The paperwork will be a bitch.”

“Love you too Mitch.” Nicole snorted when Damon grumbled loudly. What was his problem?

Walking through the doors, Nicole gasped. At least ten uniformed cops surrounded a curtained partition with their guns drawn. Her eyes then focused on their target. A typical teenager with blonde spiky hair, his eyes huge in his pale face. Not so typical was his scrawny arm wrapped around an older nurse's throat. Slowly she made her way in front, but out of the line of fire. Obviously Mitch had informed them that she was going to try to talk the boy down because no one tried to stop her.

“Don't come any closer.” His fangs gleamed under the florescent lights, his arm tightening around the nurse's throat, making her cry out.

Nicole put her hand out. “I won't Stevie.”

“My name is Steve!” He spit out. “My f*cking name is Steve.”

“Okay, Steve.” Nicole dropped her arm. “Listen to me Steve. We have ourselves in a bad situation here and it doesn't look too good from where I'm standing and I'm sure it's not any better from where you are either.”

“Yeah, ya think?” He shuffled back a step dragging the nurse with him.

“If you let her go.” Nicole motioned to the nurse. “Everyone will leave then me and you can talk about what happened.”

“Bullshit.” This time there was less anger in his voice, more hope in his eyes.

Nicole heard the cursing behind her, but ignored it. If she could get him to let the nurse go, then these guys were going to have to give something up and getting rid of all these cops was going to be the key to ending this standoff. “One thing you need to know about me Steve is that I don't bullshit.” Nicole stood firm, staring at the boy, willing him to believe that she was trying to save his life. “I want answers to what happened tonight so I can help you. I think I know what might have happened, but we need to talk. We can't do that with you holding that nurse.”

“Why would you want to help me?” His eyes nervously flicking around to the guns. “You're human, right? So what do you care about me for? Huh?”

“It's my job to help you, plus I understand more than you know.” Nicole felt nervous beads of sweat popping out on her forehead. God, this could turn ugly so fast.

“Are you kidding me?” He screamed, jerking the woman closer to him. “Are you like that other social worker?”

“Who was your social worker?” Nicole knew exactly who it was, but didn't want him to know she knew. When he didn't answer she sighed. “Is his name Chad?”

“Yeah and he never would call me back. Told me to hang in there and that I wasn't trying hard enough to fit in. I needed to try harder and now look where I am.”

Bitter bile rose up her throat threatening to choke her. Knowing Chad had indeed arrived because she heard his pansy ass voice, she turned to glare at him. “Look Steve.” Nicole said loudly turning her attention back to the boy. “I'm sorry you got stuck with him.”

“You're a social worker?” He snorted and rolled his eyes to the ceiling dropping his head back. “God, just kill me now.”

“Everyone get out.” She turned to Mitch. “Get everyone out.”

“Nicole.” Mitch warned, shaking his head.

Turning back to Steve she took a step forward. “If I get everyone out of here will you let her go and talk to me?”

Steve leveled his gaze back to her. “Why should I trust you?”

“Because I just became your new hostage.” Nicole heard Damon cursing behind her, but ignored it. “I really want to hear your story. I'm not saying you're not in trouble for what you did, but at least everyone will know the real reason behind it and we can work on getting you a good defense team together. My boss has a lot of connections.”

“You like AC/DC?” He asked eyeing her shirt.

“Seen them every year they came to Cincinnati.” Nicole grinned, then shot an I told you so look at Damon.

“Yeah they kick ass.” He nodded seeming more at ease. “I'll let her go if you get them out.”

“Done.” Nicole turned to Mitch. “Keep someone ready around the corner if this goes bad.” she whispered so only those close to her could hear.

“What the hell are you doing Nicole?” Mitch demanded as the chief of police came barreling toward them.

“Can someone tell me who put this woman in charge?” The chief was looking at her as if she was a piece of crap on the bottom of his finely polished shoe.

“No one did, Sir.” Nicole turned back to see how Steve was taking all of this commotion. His eyes stayed steady on her, still holding his arm around the poor nurse's throat. “I can talk him down, but not with guns pointing at him from all directions. I can also get the nurse released, but I have to gain his trust and the trust I have gained so far, which isn't much, is trickling away the more we stand here trying to figure out who's in charge.”

The chief eyed the situation with a stern frown. “If this goes bad it's on your head.”