Risking it All (Crossing the Line, #1)(80)

“Is this what you wanted, Sera? ”

Even from this distance, he could see the tear roll down her cheek, and it sent him struggling against his handcuffs, blood rolling down the palms of his hands.

“Get her out of here,” he shouted at Troy, who made no move to follow his order. “I said, get her the f*ck out of here!”

Finally, Troy yanked opened the door of his squad car and eased Sera down into the driver’s seat, closing the door behind her. He could still see her face through the window, though, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut defensively as they led him to one of the waiting cars.

His fighter’s instinct took on a different form then. Knowing he couldn’t use his fists to get free this time, it took pity on him and numbed his mind. It shut him down so he couldn’t feel a thing. Red and blue flashing lights blurred together and he concentrated on them, trying not to dwell on the fact that the only girl he’d ever loved had just taken away his freedom. How he should hate her for it, but could only lament the fact that he’d never hold her again.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX


Sera watched Bowen through the two-


way glass. Being this close to him made her sore, aching heart race in her chest.

Her hands pressed against the cool surface, itching to touch him and explain everything, but after his behavior at the docks, they’d barred her from the interrogation

room,

thinking

her

presence would only send him into a rage. She hated knowing they were right.

The disappointment on his face when he’d seen her standing there, the misery, she’d never recover from it.

Now he sat slumped in a hard metal chair, staring at an invisible spot on the wall. His hair stood at a hundred different angles; blood circled his wrists, making him look like a battered angel. Beside him, Connor sat looking as though he were late for another, more important,

appointment.

Coolly

detached, but impatient, while Bowen’s lights had gone out completely, like someone had turned off his switch. No, she’d knocked them out. She could only hope when he heard the truth, he would forgive her. That he would understand.

And if he didn’t, she’d already made up her mind to barge in there and scream her head off until he did. She would summon every saint in her arsenal for aid in tearing through his wall and bringing him back to her. Saint Monica, possibly. Wasn’t she known as the saint of persistence? Or was she the patron saint of arthritis?

Focus, Sera.

Since Troy had been the one at her side during the mad rush to bring her new plan to fruition this afternoon, the one who would fix the problems her silence had created, he would be the one addressing Bowen and Connor. Right on cue, the interrogation room door opened and shut, Troy walking in and taking a seat across from the two men. Bowen didn’t make any move to acknowledge him. Connor tipped his chin up once and crossed his arms over his big chest, as if to say about time.

Troy cleared his throat and flipped open the file he’d been carrying.

“You’ve probably assumed by now that we intercepted the stolen equipment, along with several of your accomplices, including Wayne Gibbs. Trevor Hogan has already lawyered up. It shouldn’t surprise you to know they’ve implicated you both, in addition to themselves. So much for taking one for the team, huh?”

Connor split a look between Troy and Bowen. “Come on, man. You some kind of masochist or something? Put the guy out of his misery.”

Troy closed the file with a sigh.

“Bowen, you awake? I’m not going through this twice.”

Bowen held up his middle finger.

“Great. Thanks for joining us.” Troy nodded toward Connor. “We brought in Mr. Bannon this afternoon and made him an offer. I’ve been given permission by the newly appointed commissioner to make you the same one.”

Confusion flared in Bowen’s eyes.

“All this song and dance better have a point.”

“Let me start from the beginning,”

Troy said. “Through the information Sera collected in Hogan’s office, she discovered that her brother had been taking payouts from Hogan before his death. Her uncle was aware of it and covered it up. Hogan had a financial paper trail to back that up.”

“What? ” Bowen sat up straighter in his chair as if he’d been reanimated.

Sera watched as the wheels started turning in his head. “Are you telling me he knew Sera was going to put herself in danger? Hoping she’d find what he needed?”

“Yes.” Troy shot to his feet at the same time Bowen did, holding up a hand to ward him off. “We weren’t told the truth. Newsom had already destroyed the ledger Sera retrieved by the time we found out. Luckily, Sera had recovered a hard drive off Hogan’s laptop and kept it to herself, instead of turning it over. It forced Newsom to make a full confession and as of an hour ago, he has been relieved of his position.” Troy paused. “He had already confessed to Sera last night. It’s why she wouldn’t go with him. And rightly so since he was willing to protect himself at all costs.”

“I…” Bowen’s jaw clenched. His fists shook at his sides. Even without those visible signs of rage, Sera could tell how much effort it cost him to remain in control. “I tied her up and left her for you. For him. You’re telling me I left her…unsafe?”