Aaron tackled Gina, moving like a pro football player as he knocked her to the ground. The gun clattered to the sidewalk.
Without thinking, Tegan lunged for it, grabbing it as Gina screamed out in rage. The sound cut off sharply as Aaron wrenched her arms behind her back.
Gina started whimpering in pain. “Please don’t hurt me. He made me do it.” Her voice was so different from the demanding, angry woman she’d been inside Tegan’s house.
“Shut the fuck up,” Aaron snarled.
Tegan held the gun at her side, unsure if she should train it on Gina, she was shaking so badly. It was clear Aaron had everything under control as he secured her wrists together with his huge hands.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking up at her, fear etched into every line of his face.
She nodded. “Fine.” She wasn’t fine, but now wasn’t the time to have a breakdown. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the woman across the street rushing her kids inside. Hopefully they’d call the cops. “I…oh my God, I need to check on the cop. And call Carlito.”
Aaron paused for a moment then nodded. “Let’s go.”
“I think De Fiore might be at her place. She was taking me there. It’s around the corner.” Tegan pointed toward the end of the street. “It’s not even a block down.”
Aaron pulled out a pistol before he stood and yanked the woman to her feet. Keeping her wrists secured, he marched her back to Tegan’s, ignoring Gina’s protests as he propelled her. He was vigilant, looking over his shoulder and scanning the street like a trained warrior.
She couldn’t believe he’d showed up but she was grateful he had. Emotion clogged her throat but she shoved it back down. Now wasn’t the time to lose her cool.
“My cell’s in my jacket pocket,” he said.
She fished it out as they hurried back to her place, and avoided looking at Gina. She immediately called Carlito, her pulse hammering in her throat. If Enzo was truly at Gina’s, the cops could arrest him now and her nightmare would finally be over.
Chapter 9
Tegan sat in the cushy chair in front of Carlito’s desk, watching Aaron pace back and forth like a caged wolf. After the cavalry had arrived and arrested Gina—and subsequently the SWAT team had stormed the woman’s rented house and also arrested the not-so-dead Enzo De Fiore—they’d been taken to the police department. The FBI were currently foaming at the mouth trying to take De Fiore into their custody while Gina—whose real name was apparently Grace Gambino—was being interrogated by Carlito and another detective.
Tegan had answered dozens of questions from a detective and so had Aaron. They’d been separated, of course, but as of a few minutes ago, they’d basically both been dumped in Carlito’s office.
Aaron had barely said two words to her. Watching him now felt like watching an angry predator. He wore a beige cable-knit sweater and dark slacks. The sweater sleeves were shoved up to his elbows, showing off all those sinewy muscles and striations. But he wouldn’t look at her, as if he couldn’t stand to. Instead, he simply paced. The divide between them was shredding her up inside but she wasn’t sure what to say.
She’d been held at gunpoint, and had discovered the man she’d thought dead was really alive and after her again. She’d been so certain she would die. Right now she was about to crawl out of her skin at the silence. It was the first time they’d been alone since he’d tackled Gina—gah, Grace.
Finally, she couldn’t handle it anymore. “I didn’t mean any of those things I said!” She didn’t mean to shout, but the words just came out angry and desperate as she surged to her feet. She couldn’t take this silent treatment. She was barely keeping it together as it was.
He stopped pacing to turn and look at her. The little flecks of amber in his eyes seemed to be almost glowing, which she knew was ridiculous, but he was angry and it was clear in every line of his body. “You think that’s why I’m pissed?”
“I…yes.” She faltered because he was looking at her as if she was out of her mind.
He took a few steps toward her, but his movements weren’t normal. No, he was stalking her, as if she were a little bunny and he were the big bad wolf that was going to devour her. “You left a fucking note.” His voice was eerily calm.
“Well…yeah. I didn’t want to just leave.” And she couldn’t use her stupid cell phone. Gah, she really needed to get a TracFone for emergencies. Or maybe she could even start using her own phone now. It was too soon to know yet what threat was still out there.