Page 74 of Explosive Union
I fucking knew it. This bastard wants revenge. Well, fuck him. Get in line. I’m nowhere near finished with mine yet.
I manage to get to my feet, but the bastard’s hand grabs my hair, his grip tight as he lifts me from the ground.
“Get off of me,” I hiss at him. I bring my knee up and connect with his groin.
He releases me with a pained grunt, just as there’s pounding on the door.
“Jade?” The fear in Annemarie’s voice is palpable. “Jade, are you okay?”
I don’t answer her. No, instead, I land a vicious punch to the motherfucker’s throat, making him suck in some much-needed breath.
“You do not fucking touch me, asshole. Your brother didn’t fuck me, he raped me,” I hiss at him as I step up close so no one would be able to hear me. “What he got was justice. That bastard had it coming to him, and, I for one, am glad he’s dead.”
“Bitch,” he snarls. “Just admit that you did this.”
I move to the door and unlock it. The moment I do, it pushes open, and there’s Annemarie, her face filled with rage as she glances at mine.
“Get that man out of here,” she snaps. She’s all business. “I’ll see to it that you’ll lose your badge, Detective.” She reaches for my arm and pulls me toward the table as four cops rush into the room, their gazes not once coming to me. Fucking pricks.
She pulls a tissue from her pocket and dabs at my lip. Blood drenches it, turning it from white to red. “Oh, Jade,” she whispers.
She should be fucking hurting. This may not have happened had she been here when we called.
“Took your time,” I hiss at her, my lip smarting where that bastard hit me.
“Sorry about that,” she says sheepishly. “I was asleep.”
I frown. Asleep? What the actual fuck?
She sighs. “I’m really sorry Jade.” She sounds sincere, but there’s something she’s hiding. “Don’t tell your ma, okay? But I’m six weeks pregnant. It’s kicking my ass, badly. I’m tired constantly.”
Okay then. She gets a pass.
“Why aren’t we telling Ma?” I would have assumed this would have been a joyous occasion, something to celebrate.
“I’ve had seven miscarriages since Jill was born. Your ma has known about three and I can’t deal with her sadness as well as mine and Hayes’.”
Fuck. No wonder she’s been a bitch.
“You should have told me,” I tell her.
She nods. “I know. I guess I didn’t want everyone to think I was a failure.”
“No one would think that,” I insist.
She waves me away. “Are you ready to get the hell out of here? I have something planned, but it’s going to take at least twenty minutes to get organized.”
“Have at it,” I say, knowing it’s time to trust her a little more. “It’s going to take at least that for me to get out of here anyway.”
She smiles. “Good, then it’s time to teach the Chicago PD what happens when you fuck with a Gallagher.”
Oh, damn fucking right it is. Now I’m excited to see what she’s got planned.
CHAPTER20
ROCCO
It’s been three fucking hours and I’ve not heard a damn thing. I’m currently at the Gallagher mansion with her entire family, along with my brothers. When we arrived, Annemarie was just leaving. She looked like a woman on a mission, and I hope to fuck she is. I want my wife home right fucking now.