Linda Castillo - Cops and…Lovers?

"In any case, I thought you should know Officer Perrine was on the take. He was dirty and greedy. Your knowing that makes this moment all the sweeter for me." DiCarlo pulled the hammer back with his thumb. "This is for my son."

Erin sat back on her heels, her hands locked behind her, her fingers fumbling at the bulge of the pistol strapped to her ankle. Sweat pooled at the back of her neck. She closed her eyes against the terror exploding inside her, and concentrated on working the mini-revolver from its holster through the impediment of her jeans. In the back of her mind, she wondered how many more seconds of life she had left. How many more breaths-

"Drop the gun, DiCarlo!"

Erin 's world tilted at the sound of Nick's voice. Hope burst through the choking cloak of despair. She looked up to see him rush through the entrance, his pistol level on DiCarlo. Simultaneously, the mafioso spun. Terror paralyzed her for an instant. Then a rush of adrenaline sent her bound hands fighting the revolver from its holster. She jerked up the hem of her jeans, felt the cold steel beneath her fingers.

Two gunshots rang out in quick succession. DiCarlo stumbled back and went down. Out of the corner of her eye, Erin saw Nick go to his knees.

"Nick!" Her heart stopped. "No! Nick!"

A clap of thunder drowned out her scream. Ten feet away, DiCarlo rolled onto his side and leveled the pistol on her. The gun exploded.

A bullet whizzed past her ear. Erin fumbled with the.22. Her palm found the grip, her fingers the trigger. Leaning forward, she turned and fired blindly behind her back, four shots. Over her shoulder, she saw DiCarlo sink to the ground.

The pistol tumbled from her hand.

"Nick! Nick!"

Before she could scramble to her feet, he was at her side. He dropped to his knees in front of her, drawing her against him. Relief swept through her with such force that she couldn't speak.

"Holy Toledo, McNeal, that was some pretty fancy shooting."

The sound of his voice completely undid her. Erin couldn't catch her breath, couldn't stop shaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn't even try to stop them. The emotions banging through her were too powerful, and not even her iron will was strong enough to maintain a semblance of control.

"Easy does it, that was a joke-"

"DiCarlo… is he-"

Nick nodded. "Don't look, honey. He's dead."

Only then did Erin notice the blood on Nick's shoulder. "You're bleeding."

"I'm all right." New concern gentled his voice. "He just winged me."

"Stephanie," she choked out. "Is she okay? She was so scared. They took her to-"

"I took her into the cornfield to hide. She's fine."

"What about the other men? There were three-"

"One is cuffed to the fence, the other two to the undercarriage of DiCarlo's limo. The highway patrol will get the guy in the chopper." Facing her, Nick wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly for a moment. "You're shaking. Easy, honey. Let me untie you." Reaching around her, he gently untwisted the wire that so brutally bound her wrists. "Your wrists are cut," he said with a grimace.

"I'm okay." Her hands were numb, but the discomfort didn't matter. All that mattered was that they were alive. Safe. Together.

Nick rose. Slipping his hands beneath her shoulders, he helped Erin to her feet. Her legs felt like wet paper, and she leaned heavily against him.

"Dizzy?" he asked.

"With relief," she said. "You saved our lives."

Surprising her, he turned her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Cocooned within his embrace, Erin had never felt so safe, so secure. Only then did she realize he was shaking, too. "I'm sorry, Nick. I'm so sorry. I almost got Stephanie killed. I almost got myself-"

"Shh." He stroked the back of her head, combing his fingers through her hair. "You don't have anything to apologize for."

"But it was my fault. You said I was going to get myself killed, and I nearly did. I put you through hell, risking Stephanie and myself like that."

"I was wrong. I've been wrong about you from the very beginning. It took honor and courage to come here and confront a man like DiCarlo. You were willing to risk your own life to save Steph."

He pulled her closer. "I've been wrong and a blind fool."

Slowly, gently, he eased her to arm's length. Their gazes locked. Erin 's chest constricted at the emotion pooled in the brown depths of his eyes.

"Since Rita's death, I've been frozen inside," he said quietly. "My heart has been a solid block of ice. I've been afraid to live. Afraid to reach out and take all the things life offers. You showed me how to live again. You showed me how all those risks play into the big picture of life. You proved it to me over and over again. You proved to me Steph is young and strong and can lead a full life if I just let go a little. You proved to me that to live, to love, you must first be willing to take chances."

Fresh tears filled her eyes as she stared at the man she loved more than life itself. "I didn't ever think I'd hear you say that."

"Neither did I. And I fought you at every turn. But you're right." Slipping his hands to either side of her face, he kissed her.

The gentleness of the kiss devastated her. She closed her eyes against the rush of emotion, the wave of physical sensation, and kissed him back.

"I know you don't want to hear this," she murmured. "But I love you, Nick. I love you, and I don't even care if you're ready to love me back-"

"I love you, too, McNeal."

The words stunned her, sent her heart tumbling into bliss like she'd never known.

He kissed her temple. Her nose. The side of her mouth. "I love you so much it scares me. But I'm willing to risk it, honey, if you're willing to take a chance on me."

"I've never walked away from a risk," she said.

"Even when walking away is the safe thing to do?"

"Especially when it's the safe thing to do."

"Ah, McNeal, I didn't think I'd ever want to hear you say that, but I'm really glad you did."

In the distance, the sound the police sirens rose above the din of rain on the roof. Pressing his cheek against her temple, Nick skimmed his hands up and down her back. "There's no policy against married police officers in the Logan Falls PD. What do you say we make it permanent?"

Erin closed her eyes and let sheer happiness wash over her. "I can probably outshoot you. And I don't mind jumping into a fray now and again. Are you sure that won't bother you?"

"I think my ego can handle the shooting part." He grinned. "And I might just keep you too busy making love for you to be jumping into frays."

"What about Stephanie? How will she-"

"She's crazy about you, Erin. Mrs. Thornsberry is crazy about you." He kissed her again. "I'm so crazy in love with you I can't stand the thought of being without you."

Erin smiled up at him through tears of joy, knowing she was the luckiest woman in the world. "Well, Chief, maybe we should go get Stephanie and take her home so we can break the good news to her."

"Home," he echoed, and pulled her close. "It's been a long time since I've truly been home."

"We're home now, Nick. You've brought me home."

"You showed me the way. I love you."

Blinking back tears, Erin looked outside. The storm had broken. Hazy tendrils of sunlight broke through the clouds like streams of wet gold. She'd never seen a more beautiful sunrise. And she'd never been happier than at this moment in her life.

Nick reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly, his gaze telling her all the things she already knew in her heart-and felt all the way to her soul.

"I love you, too," she whispered. "Always."

Hand in hand, they started toward the entrance where the future waited with a promise of happiness and light and the unending hope for tomorrow.