Risking it All (Crossing the Line, #1)(81)

Troy hedged. “She was technically never in danger. As soon as you left her with Ruby, they called me and told me everything. I contacted the deputy commissioner

immediately.”

He

lowered himself back into his chair.

“We brought in Mr. Bannon and asked him to cooperate. It’s a good thing we did or we never would have known the shipment date had been moved. Sera had originally told us May ninth.”

Bowen flinched and Sera felt an answering pang in her chest. He still thought she’d set him up. She consoled herself with the reminder he wouldn’t think that for much longer.

“What does he mean by cooperated?”

Bowen asked Connor dully.

“They offered me a way out of this place and I took it.” Connor looked uncomfortable, the first time Sera had ever seen him anything but confident, apart from the night he’d been shot. “I’ve got people to look after besides myself, and the way things were headed, I wouldn’t have been around much longer to do it.”

“Way out?” Bowen asked.

Troy

nodded.

“It

took

some

convincing, but between Sera and me, we managed to persuade the deputy commissioner.” He flipped the file back open. “I have a contact back in Chicago.

My old lieutenant. Derek Tyler. He’s a captain now with the Chicago PD and he needs men like you and Mr. Bannon. I’ve spoken to him, informed him of your backgrounds, and he thinks you’re exactly what he’s looking for. He’s rarely wrong about anything.”

Bowen raised a single eyebrow. “You just arrested us for transporting stolen goods, probably breaking at least twenty different laws, and you’re deputizing us?

What am I missing?”

“Nothing. But I’d refrain from repeating that little recap outside of this room,” Troy said drily. “This is why you two were a package deal. You’re all heart, Bowen. Connor’s the thinker. If you can work together, you’ll do well.”

Connor threw an arm over the back of his chair. “They’re forming a new squad, from what I understand. They need us because we think like criminals.” A muscle jumped in his cheek, obviously disliking that description of himself. “At first, I said no deal. But they made me an offer I couldn’t turn down. Guess I’m a Cubs fan now.”

“Chicago,” Bowen mouthed. “What’s my other option?”

“Prison time.”

“Go Cubs.”

A smile tilted one end of Troy’s mouth. “Don’t act so grateful. I might blush.”

Bowen sat back down, looking far less satisfied than he should have been at receiving his get out of jail free card.

“Thanks,

man,”

he

said

quietly.

“Although we both know if you put me in prison, Ruby would have had your ass.”

“That played a part. It always does.

But it was mostly Sera. As of now, the brass has managed to keep this quiet.

They’ve sent Newsom out as if he’s resigned for health concerns. But she raised hell, threatening to go to the media

about

corruption

in

the

department, unless they gave you a chance. They can’t afford the scrutiny.”

Troy paused, watching him closely. “She was something else.”

Bowen didn’t speak for a long time.

Sera could see he wanted to believe it, but was still not ready. When he seemed to realize both men were waiting for a response, he tossed an absent glance at Connor. “So which one of us gets to be Batman and who’s stuck playing Robin?”

“I’m Batman,” Connor said.

“You wish.”

“Actually,” Troy started slowly.

“You’ll be traveling with a third. She’s not exactly a criminal, but she’s had some experience living among them. I guess you could call her Batgirl.”

Sera watched as Bowen went so still, he didn’t even appear to be breathing.

That was her cue to go in, but she couldn’t judge his expression and it made her nervous. What if he couldn’t forgive her? What if he didn’t want her in Chicago? With a deep breath for courage, she left the observation area and joined the three men in the room.

Bowen locked eyes on her the second she walked through the door, intense as always, but unreadable.

Troy and Connor stood abruptly, both appearing all too eager to flee the awkward situation. On the way out, Connor laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. It caused Bowen to tense, his fingers to curl against his thighs. That telltale sign he still felt possessive toward her boosted her confidence in a much-needed way.

When the door closed behind Troy and Connor, she didn’t bother sitting.

This was her chance to explain everything and she wouldn’t waste a moment, wouldn’t risk him tuning her out again. “I asked my uncle to pick you up to keep you safe. That night in Marco’s, I overheard a discussion about everything changing on the ninth. That you wouldn’t be around for much longer after the score.” She wet her lips. “That’s why I went outside…to call him. I didn’t know any other way that wouldn’t blow my cover. And I’m only sorry because my uncle turned out to be someone untrustworthy. Not that I did it, though. I would have done anything to keep you from being hurt.”