Badge of Honor (The Town of Pearl 9)

She turned and ran toward the other room, then stopped short. There were three men, including Aces. She gasped and his eyes widened in shock as well.

They drew their weapons and she shot. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Aces shot back and charged at her. She felt the hit to her bulletproof vest and it knocked the wind out of her. She fell to the floor, landing on her back. She scrambled backward. She could hear the sirens in the distance, her phone vibrating against her hip.

“You fucking bitch!” Aces roared as he jumped toward her, blood oozing from his neck toward his shoulder bone. She shot him two more times. He landed on her with a thump and she cried out, screaming and using all her might to roll him off of her.

She was crying, freaked out, totally losing any ability to remain in control of this out-of-control situation.

“You killed him. You killed Aces. They’re going to come for you. You’re going to die, bitch. They’ll hunt you down and kill you,” one of Aces henchman carried on as police arrived on the scene and she pointed for them to cuff him.

“Detective, you’re shot,” one of the officers stated and she could feel the adrenaline rush leaving her body as quickly as it arrived. Her vision blurred. “Officer down.” She heard the chaos, the yelling, and the panic on the officers’ faces before everything went black.

Chapter 3

Galvin Watts walked around the new construction site outside of the ranch. Brock, Smith, Rex, and Reno did an amazing job on the house. Everything was up to par and now an additional dwelling was being completed as a guesthouse. He looked at his team members, Gus Parks, Harper Calloway, Orin Neal, and Mace Weathers. They all looked impressed and happy. Finally.

Their dream of a ranch home—upscale, containing high-tech security and a location to secure anyone needing a safe house—was complete. The final touches were being added to the guesthouse as they stood watching.

“I like it,” Asher said to them while his brother Avery fixed one of the light fixtures near the walkway.

“Yeah, we’re impressed with everyone’s work. So you’ll be done by tomorrow?” Gus asked.

“We need to be. That job in Dallas started weeks ago and Storm is on our asses to get some more workers out there,” Avery told him.

“Yeah, Harper, Orin, and I stopped in on our way back from a job in New Orleans. There’s years of work for that site,” Mace told Avery and Asher.

“There sure is. How did that job go anyway?” Avery asked.

“A few bumps along the way but as good as expected,” Orin added and he rubbed along his jaw. Galvin was concerned to hear the details of their latest mission. A bruised jaw and cut by Orin’s eye was a clear indicator it hadn’t been such a piece-of-cake transport as they thought. Seemed he needed to call Dmitri and give him some feedback. The Russian mobster paid well, but the last few jobs they’d gotten from him risked a little more of their lives than they signed on for.

“Maybe it’s time to retire like the rest of us pretty much have? We could hook you guys up with some honest work in construction,” Avery teased.

“Honest work my ass. What’s exciting and fun about hammering in nails and inhaling sawdust?” Orin snapped.

“Better than eating bullets, taking on knife wounds and stitches, and not knowing what’s coming at ya,” Asher said.

“Sounds like Cora has softened you guys up,” Mace teased.

“You’re just jealous,” Asher replied.

“Yeah, she does have a great ass,” Orin said and the others chuckled but not Avery and Asher.

“Watch it, Orin. I may mistake your head for a nail,” Asher told him and the others made sounds and egged on the little fight. But Galvin chuckled. These men were all close, good friends for life and were only teasing.

“I’m just fucking with ya, guys. You know I think hi

ghly of Cora,” Orin told them.

“I know, plus you enjoy her cooking. You’ve been making lame excuses to come over our place every Sunday,” Avery replied.

“Well shit, she’s a great cook, and she invites me over,” Orin replied.

“She has a soft spot for you, Orin,” Asher told him.

Mace slapped a hand on Orin’s shoulder. “She thinks you need saving. Poor woman. She doesn’t know that you’re a lost cause.”

“Go to hell, Mace.