“Step back,” I returned.
He moved faster than I’d seen anyone move and, before I knew it, I no longer had the gun.
Not only that, he had my arm twisted behind my back and he had slammed my front up against his hard body.
I struggled.
This was not a good choice. I’d had a free hand and some of my pride left. In seconds, he shoved my gun in the back waistband of his jeans, had my other arm twisted behind me and he moved me, shuffling me back until I hit the side of my car. Then he pressed into me full body.
I tilted my head back and shouted in his face, “Let go and step away!”
“Two cops were standing in Fortnum’s when you had your showdown with Cordova. They saw the whole thing. You got a permit for that gun?” he asked.
“Yes.” This was true. Zip got it for me. Zip was a benefactor. Zip supported my crusade. Zip taught me how to shoot and Zip was a good shot, therefore, so was I.
Though, it was a little worrying that two cops saw me face down Sal Cordova. However, I didn’t figure Sal was going to run to the police and tell on me, considering he was a criminal and a total jackass to boot.
“I’m takin’ you into the offices. We’re gonna have a talk,” Vance said to me.
Oh crap.
I didn’t know what he thought we had to talk about but I was having no part of it. Lee Nightingale’s brother and father were cops and so was his best friend. No way was I going to any offices with Crowe.
I kept staring him straight in the eye. It was kind of hard, since he was so hot, I was beginning to feel weird about it, especially with him pressed up against me. I kept at it all the same.
“I haven’t done anything to you. Just let me be on my way,” I said.
He got closer. If you’d asked me the second before if he could, I would have said no. But his face came within an inch of mine and his body pressed deeper into me.
“This is a dangerous game you’re playin’, Law. Vigilante justice,” he told me.
I knew that, though I didn’t say.
When I didn’t speak, he went on. “You’ve got the attention of Darius and Marcus. This is not a good thing. Do you know what I’m sayin’ to you?”
I felt a little thrill go through me and not the kind that was going through me with just his body pressed against mine.
Darius Tucker and Marcus Sloan were the two biggest crime heads in Denver, Colorado. I was happy they knew who I was. I didn’t figure they were scared, but I intended them to be.
Well, maybe, one day.
Crowe must have seen something on my face because his eyes flashed.
“I should take you to the offices, lock you in the safe room and keep you there until you’ve had some goddamned sense talked into you.”
He said “should”. This I decided to treat as a good thing. I didn’t know what the safe room was but I didn’t want any part of that either.
I kept staring at him and kept my mouth shut thinking maybe he’d let me go.
He stared right back.
We were both silent, staring, his body pressed against mine.
I kept my chin up and hoped I kept my face blank.
“Jesus, you think you’re f**kin’ Catwoman,” he muttered.
“I do not. Catwoman wore a leotard and stupid ears and fake claws. That’s just silly.”