Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,85

are, Tibbs and I are coming.”

There wasn’t even a question of whether I was leaving. Short of Cap and the entire crew holding me down, I wasn’t sticking around. They could even threaten to fire me and I’d still be walking, my need to get to Presley at an all-time high.

But Cap didn’t fight us, tossing us a scanner, pointing to the door, and telling us to go. “Keep your radios on and me posted at all times.”

With no way of knowing what else we were dealing with, walking to the club was sidelined. If for no other reason than to have the means to go find the chief, the idea that it was going to take longer to get to Diablo killing me as I fisted my keys.

Tibbs and I raced out of the station without saying a word, both of us sprinting to my Mustang without a discussion. As much as he loved his Impala, Elena could leave him in my exhaust fumes at the lights, and speed was something we definitely needed.

Doors slammed either side of my car, the ignition on and the engine revving before we’d even fastened our belts. Tibbs turned on the scanner, his phone in his hand already dialing as I left rubber in the parking lot.

“Rockefeller, it’s Tibbs. We’re on route to Diablo, any word on Hayden’s location?”

Rockefeller’s impatient voice boomed out of the phone. “We’re handling it, Tibbs. You and your boys keep out of our way. Shit is more complicated than it looks.”

“What does that mean?” I yelled back, changing lanes whenever I caught a break. We’d have already been there if there wasn’t so much traffic, but sitting behind a bumper and laying on my horn wasn’t happening either.

“It means you guys will stand down. Let PD handle this. And for God’s sake, find Mack.”

“Fuck this.” Finding a narrow opening, I hammered on the gas and slid in front of a delivery truck. We almost traded paint, the bastard cursing me out as I drove by him like a maniac.

“Anything goes down with Mack, you don’t take him in, okay. Fuck procedure, Rockefeller, this piece of shit deserves whatever is coming to him,” Tibbs warned, hanging on as we skidded into the parking lot of Diablo.

“Don’t tell me how to do my job, asshole,” Rockefeller spat back. “He’s one of ours, doesn’t need to be said.”

Ending the call, we both ejected from the car and hit the staff entrance of Presley’s club. She was with Bennett just inside the door, her eyes wild, red because she’d either been crying or was trying not to and wringing her hands like a junkie looking for her next hit.

I couldn’t even talk, pulling her into my arms and kissing her the minute I got close enough. “We’re here, Presley. We’re right here.”

A racked sob bubbled up her throat, fisting my shirt as she lifted her head. “Have you heard anything?”

“No, but everyone’s looking.”

Fuck.

If Mack didn’t kill the son of a bitch, I sure as hell would, pulling Presley back to my chest as I nodded to Bennett. “You guys secure? We have no idea if he’s working alone or if he’s got some other agenda.”

Bennett didn’t even bother with his usual bullshit, tipping his chin as his voice barreled out. “Eyes on all entrances and roving guards on the floor. And Presley has a new fashion accessory tonight, me.”

If I couldn’t be the one to keep her safe, Bennett would be the guy I chose for the job. The man could take down a tank with his bare hands and wouldn’t flinch, and right now, I needed her safe more than I needed my pride.

“Shots fired, active shooter. Target, West 225th Street. Bronx. All units please respond.” The announcement from dispatch echoed from the scanner Tibbs was holding. “Please maintain perimeter and wait for SWAT.”

“Jesus Christ, is that where Hayden works?” Tibbs asked, speed dialing Mack. He hadn’t answered the last few times but if ever there was a time to call in a miracle, that would’ve been it.

I gave Presley one last hug, hating myself already for needing to make the choice. “Bennett,” I nailed him with a stare, “I need you to do this for me, dude. We’ve got to go and it’s too dangerous to take her with me.”

He nodded in understanding. “They’d have a better chance at getting to the President tonight. Go, I’ve got it covered.”

Whatever control Presley had before was gone, her beautiful brown eyes pooling