Raw Redemption (Crossing the Line #4)(21)

His family believed he’d joined the force to follow in the footsteps of his father, a retired Chicago cop, but that wasn’t 100 percent true. Something about fear itself made him uncomfortable. Henrik rarely experienced the emotion himself, but he hated seeing it on other people’s faces. Or hearing it in their voice. To him, being a cop meant preventing and alleviating fear. That goal had always been general, not focused on any one person, until Ailish. She’d sucked every ounce of that driving force and commanded it for herself, without even realizing it.

She’d hidden it as best she could, but her terror had shown through in that interrogation room. Although he hadn’t been working the case, he’d talked his way onto the opposite side of the two-way mirror. He’d wanted to tear the roof off the precinct every time they were aggressive toward Ailish. Instead, he’d come back later that night and used a stolen code to break into the evidence locker.

That haunted house scream from Henrik’s memory sliced through his head now, deafening him until he could only hear a distant ringing. He was back in that makeshift carnival ride, the ground tilting beneath his feet, the air sticky with sugar. Ailish’s expression went from curiosity to dread, making waves crash into the sides of his brain. Gun. Gun pointed at Ailish who liked him but couldn’t believe him and he was already losing her and no, no, no, please don’t let this be happening.

Time sped up again as Henrik launched himself across the bed and dragged Ailish beneath his body. Muscle memory had him pinning the wrist holding the gun, but his mind zeroed in on her. Breathing. Okay, she was breathing. And moving. Alive. She was alive.

“Erin,” Henrik shouted over his shoulder. “Put the goddamn gun down.”

He watched as his blond teammate mimicked his order in a false man voice before holstering the weapon inside her jacket. “Maybe you didn’t notice, but she had a gun pointed at you first. I thought I was saving the day, as usual.”

Connor stepped into the doorway behind his girlfriend. “What the f*ck.”

Erin leaned back against Connor. “Sorry, baby. I couldn’t wait for you to come back from the bathroom. Mafia Princess Runaway here was going to put holes in Henrik. Now they’re just cuddling, though, which is nice.” She reached up and scratched his beard without looking. “That’s where we’re at.”

Connor grunted and entered the room, his sharp gaze running over everything in the space of seconds. The ex-SEAL raised an eyebrow at Henrik and Ailish’s position on the bed, reminding Henrik he was probably crushing Ailish. Or maybe not, since her fingers were drawing circles on the side of his neck.

“Are you okay?” Henrik asked Ailish.

She nodded. “Are you?”

Good God, this girl was confusing. Until a minute ago, she’d been pointing a gun at him. Now she was asking after his well-being? “I’ve been better.”

“Right.” She wet her lips. “I’m not going anywhere now, am I?”

“I really don’t want you to.”

Ailish cast a sidelong glance at Connor and Erin, the latter of whom was perched on the dresser, hand cupped around her ear, making no attempt to disguise her eavesdropping. “I guess you better introduce me to your friends, then.”

Hating the resignation in her voice, Henrik allowed Ailish to scoot out from beneath him. She stood, smoothed her skirt, and held out a hand to Erin. “I’m Ailish. It’s nice to meet you. I forgive you for pointing a gun at me, since you were just trying to protect Henrik.” She heaved a sigh. “I wouldn’t really have shot him. Are you going to shake my hand?”

Erin looked slightly pale. “I’m working up to it.”

Not wanting Ailish’s feelings hurt, Henrik bent down to whisper in her ear that Erin had difficulty being touched due to a past trauma, but Ailish surprised him by giving Erin a firm nod. “Okay. Let me know when you’re ready.”

“Thank you,” Erin muttered, scrutinizing Ailish with increased interest.

Connor stepped forward and shook Ailish’s hand. “Connor.”

Erin hopped off the dresser. “He’s my—”

“Boyfriend,” Connor finished for Erin, amusement flaring in his stoic face. “I’m her boyfriend. Sorry we gave you a scare.”

Ailish’s answering smile would have knocked the wind out of Henrik if he had any wind left. “Oh, you’re a couple. How nice.”

Needing some form of contact with Ailish, Henrik laid a hand on her hip, relieved as hell when she didn’t step away. But that relief did nothing to keep him from reeling. She’d been arrested on purpose. Had wanted to serve prison time, in order to ease guilt she likely didn’t need to feel. And he’d been the one to set her free. How would she react if she knew?

“What are you doing here?” he asked Connor and Erin, ignoring Ailish’s disapproving look. Right now he needed to be distracted from images of her getting hit by a damn bullet. And the fact that she’d been in the process of leaving when Erin and Connor showed up. Knowing he could have tracked her down or followed was of little comfort when men were out there looking for her.

Before the door had burst open, he’d been on the verge of telling Ailish everything. How he’d destroyed the evidence, how he’d been unable to cope with the idea of her in prison. So yeah, he also needed a distraction from the possibility that after he confessed everything…she still would have left.