Sirens.
Breathless seconds passed as all four men exchanged looks. Hogan looked like a trapped rat, while Connor didn’t even react, simply keeping the gun trained on his cousin. Wayne, old school to the bone, made a run for the shadows, disappearing
from
sight
almost
immediately. Bowen had never run a day in his life, so he stayed still and watched the half dozen NYPD squad cars approach with something akin to fascination. Until he saw Sera step out of one of them. His eyes greedily took in the sight of her, even as he registered the gun in her hand. The badge at her hip.
Her professional clothing so different from the dresses she wore in his memory.
When
several
officers
approached them, weapons drawn, Connor finally dropped the gun and knelt, hands over his head, as did Hogan.
Bowen was pushed to his knees, his gaze still locked on Sera as they cuffed him.
Shame ripped him wide open. No, she couldn’t see him like this. Now, now, he truly wished he were dead. Troy came up behind her and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. Seeing anyone besides himself comfort her finally succeeded in breaking him.
“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 fuck 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.”