Say Yes (Second Generation 1)

“Who?”

“Grady Taylor. We know where he’s holed up. The team is getting ready. Are you coming? This is your case.”

“Fuck yes.” He hands me the arrest warrant. He’s been on the run for a week now after killing his wife and child. I want his ass strung up by his balls, but I’m sure he’ll get life in prison without the possibility of parole. I suit up in the swat gear and head out with my team. As we get closer to the area, I get a text and check it. It’s from Emily. Doesn’t she look beautiful?

Like a dream. That’s all I add because I refuse to deal with the jealous rage pumping through me. The thought of someone else holding her close, dancing and posing with her sets my teeth on edge.

I seethe in my vehicle as I read the warrant information on this asshole I’m about to arrest. He’s been wanted on drug trafficking and two counts of murder, so I don’t know if he’s going to come quietly or we’re going to have a fight on our hands. I’m betting on the latter, but I can’t get Greta out of my head. I can’t stop thinking about how much I miss her and that even though we hardly know much about each other, I need her.

“Are you ready?” my partner asks.

I nod. “Hell yeah. I want him to face what he’s done.” I could never harm Greta. Even if she never wanted to be with me, so I can’t even picture what this asshole did to his family. He butchered them, blamed an intruder and then went on the run when all the evidence pointed to him as the only possible suspect.

I have a job to do and it’s not one I take lightly, so I do my best to give my sole focus to my mission. My team is ready to make the arrest, so I take a deep, calming breath and then exit my vehicle. I pull out my gun and quietly and quickly rush to the front door where Taylor’s been hiding out. With a loud pounding, I call out, “Taylor, it’s the Boston PD. Open up.”

That’s all I get out as a gun blast shoots straight through the front door, and I’m down. Burning pain rips through my arm and leg. My men fire back into the house as two team members pull me away from the scene. As I lose consciousness, I regret not kissing Greta even once.

****

I don’t know when I wake up, but I do to the sound of a machine beeping. My head’s groggy, but I don’t feel entirely out of it or at least I don’t think so. I turn my head to see my father sitting by my bed, eyes red-rimmed and glossy.

“Fuck, you’re awake,” my dad’s gruff voice chokes out, clearly full of emotion as his gaze meets mine.

“Dad,” I mutter, but I’m not sure if he can hear me. “Get him?”

“They got him. He’s dead,” he snarls. Even in my less than alert state, I see what he’s thinking. He’d kill him if he could.

“Dean, my baby,” my mother sobs running into the room. She freezes as if she’s afraid to touch me. Then I see that my sister Emily is by her side. I don’t miss that there’s another shiny dress behind her.

“You didn’t have to get dressed up to see me,” I tease.

“Well, I didn’t. Someone had to go and ruin my prom by trying to get himself killed. Stupid jerk,” Emily cries, pressing her head to mine. I don’t know the extent of the damage, but I can feel my limbs, so it’s not as terrible as it could have been.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take you out dancing one day. If I can, that is.”

“Thankfully, the doctor says you will. It was a close one.” My dad grips my hand and I feel his strength and pain. My mother hasn’t stopped touching my sheet on me as if she’s scared to hurt me.

“Give the boy a hug already, Angel,” my dad growls, patting her ass as always.

“I don’t want to hurt my baby.” She continues to cry, and I feel like an asshole for letting her worry. She does her best to be gentle, so I wrap my good arm around her and give her a nice squeeze.

“I’m sorry, mom.”

“You’re coming home to stay with us and recover. Then you’re quitting your job. I don’t care. End of story,” she demands. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my mother so angry and sad at the same time.

“I am quitting.” My inheritance kicks in soon and thanks to my father it’s grown over the years. I’ll do my best to find a new career to support my family once Greta and I start one because we sure as fuck will.