of the Explorer. He was back on the 405, heading home to Brentwood. After the SWAT team raid, and with Ortega in custody, GHD was able to take a breather to reassess, and all eyes landed on Declan who stuck out like a sore thumb. Mitchell ordered him back to the command post. At least he wasn’t kept at the outermost circle with the other spectators. Declan figured the captain didn’t want him disappearing just yet. As if he could, with his stubborn, concussed ex-wife knee deep, sorting through the evidence in Ortega’s latest safe house located behind the clinic.
Seeing Gabby leaning on her partner like a crutch when they left Ortega’s hideaway was a kick in the gut. He hated seeing her hurt and protectiveness won out over the fury. Worry had coursed through him when he found out from Levi that she had left the house with her partner.
And if that wasn’t enough, finding her in an alley in a standoff that challenged his loyalties pissed him the fuck off even more. He did what he had to do.
“Is your head still hurting?” he asked. The paramedics at the scene gave her a painkiller shot that would give her relief quickly.
“Not for the reasons you think.”
He sighed. “I’m the reason.”
“Why would you think you’re the reason?” Gabby retorted, opening her eyes and shooting him a glare. “Oh, let me guess,” she added sarcastically. “Was it because you impersonated a police officer?”
“Your guys were outgunned, and if I didn’t step in there would have been casualties.”
“You’re a smug sumbitch,” she slurred, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. “What the hell was that scene in the alley? You’re lucky we got Ortega or I’d have Mitchell tear you a new one for letting Ariana get away. Maybe a night in lockup would do you good, seeing that you stuck your nose in a police operation.”
She turned her head to look out the window and gave an effusive sigh. There was something else on her mind. And he was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that his ex-wife was a cop. It was her job and danger was a part of it, but he couldn’t help that old feeling of protectiveness that he’d always felt toward her. Even when they first separated, it was only his hurt and anger that kept him away, but without that between them now… Hell. As if the attack on her car and subsequent concussion wasn’t bad enough. Now, seeing her in a hostile situation, seeing her going after a suspect with a gun, had pushed him into unknown territory. He was thankful the SWAT team did the assault, otherwise he wouldn’t know what he would’ve done. He sure as fuck wouldn’t be standing by the sidelines. He wasn’t confident enough in the men around her to have her back.
He wasn’t prepared to address that problem.
“There’s going to be an investigation,” she said finally. “When field investigators review the case, and with the op probably uploaded to YouTube by now with your mug all over it, shit’s going to hit the fan.”
“I’ll think of something,” he muttered. Garrison would shit a brick that he used his fake badge for the unintended purpose, but what did he expect when he put Declan in close proximity to Gabby. His ex-wife who never lost the power to twist him up inside, and he would damn the consequences to keep her safe.
“Oh, you’ll think of something,” she groused.
He should be irritated, but he was amused. Gabby had turned into quite a spitfire. He liked it and, oddly, his dick did too.
Down boy.
“What the hell are you finding so funny?”
“You’ve got quite a mouth on you.” He looked up the 405 and was thankful the traffic was moving. He couldn’t wait to get Gabby home and have it out with her. Then he remembered Claudette. He shifted in his seat and he fished out his phone, and thumbed Levi’s number.
“That’s illegal,” Gabby grumbled.
“It’s an emergency,” he deadpanned.
He imagined her rolling her eyes at him.
On the third ring, Levi answered.
“Claudette get there?”
“Nope.”
Figured. “Dammit.” She probably skipped town. “Did you get a hold of G?”
“No answer,” Levi replied. “You have an update for him?”
“Yeah. Need to run something by him.”
“Did you fuck up, Roarke?”
What? Did this guy have ESP? “Gabby and I will be there in …” He checked the stream of traffic again. “Half an hour.”
He tossed the phone into the console between them and glanced over to