“Yeah.” They stopped at the corner and waited for traffic to pass. “He’s helping his mother get settled in. Said he’d head to the station afterward.”
Bowen hadn’t found out until the day they left New York what the NYPD had offered Connor to turn informant on his cousin. His mother’s declining health had been the driving force behind his decision. The driving force behind every one of the guy’s decisions, really.
Bowen still didn’t know how the man he now considered a friend got himself booted from the navy, but he wouldn’t press for more information. He was glad his instincts had been on point where Connor was concerned, though. Like him, Connor had been in a bad situation with no easy way out. If it weren’t for Sera, and okay, Troy, he’d still be treading water, just waiting for the day when he would finally sink.
Not anymore. He looked over to find Sera smiling up at him, the Chicago wind lifting the hair from her shoulders to brush across her still-swollen mouth.
If he lived to be a hundred years old, he couldn’t repay what he owed her. She’d given him a life worth living, helped him begin to bury the past. Before they left New York, she’d gone with him to see Pamela, his mother. He’d listened to her explanation for leaving, thanks to her fear of Lenny. She claimed she’d thought of him every single day. There wouldn’t be any family vacations or Thanksgiving dinners in the near future, but he couldn’t deny feeling a sense of peace that night.
News about Newsom’s corruption had leaked and the NYPD had been given no choice but to come clean about what had taken place behind the scenes. Newsom had been indicted on several charges including conspiracy, misappropriation of funds, and bribery. It seemed as if each day brought a new confession, a new crime he’d committed within the department.
The
NYPD
hadn’t
succeeded
in
keeping
the
media
uninformed
completely,
and
he
suspected Sera didn’t like seeing her family name dragged through the mud on the evening news. He sure as hell didn’t like it either, but as long as her identity stayed protected, he could sleep at night.
She’d had a harder time coming to terms with her brother’s dishonesty, but in the end, she’d seemed to realize that shades of gray existed everywhere, just as they did with him. That her happy memories of Colin didn’t need to go away. They could stay along with the bad ones. Bowen had done his part to help her heal by scouring the Chicago pawnshops looking for a Nintendo console. Wouldn’t you know it? The owner had unearthed an ancient Tetris cartridge from the back room. If having Sera in his life hadn’t already proved his luck had changed, that would have done it. Their tournament had started the same night.
When they reached the precinct, Bowen felt a prickle of unease at the officers staring at them curiously; some even eyed him with open hostility.
Wisely, none of them turned it on Sera or they would have been much later for the meeting.
Bowen held open the door for Sera, following her into the bustling front office. Phones rang loudly; men in navy blue uniforms shouted to one another across the space. He might never get used to this, working with cops, going to work at a fucking police station every day. Especially knowing these people planned on putting his girl in danger. It pissed him off royally, even though he knew how capable she was. As if sensing his discomfort, Sera squeezed his hand. It was the only reminder that he needed. He’d go to work on an oil rig in the middle of the Atlantic if it meant sleeping beside her at night.
And come hell or high water, he’s protect her through it all.
A tired-looking receptionist whistled at them. “You here for the meeting with Captain Tyler?” Bowen nodded once and the woman pointed to a closed door.
“In there. You’re late.”
He traded an amused glance with Sera and led her toward the door. When he pushed it open, they both came up short.
Around a giant conference room table sat five people, all staring back at them.
Well, almost all of them. Connor was busy glaring across the table at a gum-chewing half-blond, half-pink-haired girl who wore a T-shirt that said Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe . Beside Connor, an ancient man in a newsboy cap looked absolutely
delighted
with
himself.
Closest to the door, a black-haired girl twirled her hair with nervous fingers, back ramrod straight, obviously agitated by her surroundings.
Who the hell were these misfits?
Bowen didn’t have much time to think about it, because the fifth person at the table stood and blocked his line of vision. In a suit and tie, badge clipped to his belt, the guy had such an air of command, Bowen immediately stepped into his space to let him know he wouldn’t be following orders from just anyone. To his surprise, the guy nodded as if he approved. After the stories Troy had told him, he knew this had to be Captain Derek Tyler.
“Nice of you to show up. Now sit down. We’ve got work to do.”
KEEP READING FOR A SNEAK
PEEK OF
UP IN SMOKE
BOOK TWO IN THE
CROSSING THE LINE
SERIES
UP IN SMOKE