“Hey, you don’t need to worry about that.” I pull her towards me, needing to feel her physically. She takes the hint and climbs on my lap, resting her head against my shoulder. “I won’t let anybody touch you. I promise.”
“I’ve got to say the hero thing suits you.”
“And it turns out, you seem to need saving, far more often than I’d like.”
The sound of sirens creeps into the silence between us.
“Do we need to get our stories straight?” she asks.
“I don’t think so.”
“There’s no way I’m giving them what I know about the author. We don’t know if that’s even connected,” Ivy protests, as if it’s her mystery to solve.
“I was hit over the head and woke up tied up in an old farm building. I don’t know anything about an author.”
She kisses me. Hard. And I swear, my heart beats a little harder in response.
~
I let the swarm of police vehicles and ambulance sirens descend around us, staying focused and calm. My priority is getting Ivy seen to, and then taking the officer in charge through the key points of what happened.
I beckon to two paramedics and get them to Ivy.
She immediately starts fussing, but I cast her a stern look, and she thankfully shuts up.
“Sir, DCI Jenkins, I’m the SIO on scene. Please interlock your fingers and turn around.” He’s pointing a gun in my direction. I take a clear step toward him making sure I’m clear of the doorway and out of sight of Ivy. “Are you the man who called this in?”
I raise my arms and do as instructed, noting the other officers flanking him. “Yes. My name is Blake Rhodes. There is one weapon in my waistband that I took off of one of our kidnappers. The other is in the outbuilding in front of me on the table. They will match any ballistics from the crime scene.”
“Are you admitting to shooting and killing the other men?”
“Yes. In self-defence.”
“Hey, what’s going on? Blake?” Ivy shouts as she’s escorted by the paramedics on a stretcher towards the ambulance.
“It’s fine. They’re following procedure. However, I would like to go with Ivy to the hospital.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” Jenkins’ words sink in, and I turn to see Ivy, begrudgingly heading towards the direction of the ambulance. On a logical level, I know she’ll be safe. But that doesn’t register.
“Am I under arrest? If not, I’m free to go. I will answer any questions you have, but at the hospital. I’m not letting her out of my sight.” I try to keep my voice level and calm, but I’m not sure if that comes across.
“He needs an ambulance, too. He was unconscious and has a concussion, I’m sure of it. I’m fine.” Ivy all but shrieks at the paramedic as she’s seated on the gurney. “Go and see to him.” One stays with her as the other comes towards me. The woman looks at my head wound and shines a light in my eyes.
“I would prefer if he was taken to the hospital as well. His pupils aren’t equal and responsive, and he looks like he’s lost a lot of blood.”
“We can travel together,” I offer. Although Jenkins looks like he’s going to bust his blood pressure.
Noise and commotion start up again as officers and crime investigators arrive and start cordoning off the building we were held in.
“I don’t know what the hell happened here. You are going to travel separately, and I’m accompanying you while my team runs the crime scene. I want this man in a forensic suit before he leaves,” he demands.
“Blake!” Ivy calls, but she’s shuttered into the ambulance, and I’m left to follow under DCI Jenkins’ direction.
Chapter Sixteen
IVY
This woman is beginning to annoy me with all her probing and pushing. I glare at her, wincing at another needle going into my skin. “Stop it, will you? I'm not a bloody invalid.” My glare shoots to the officer in here with us. “And where the hell is Blake? Is he alright?” I still don’t understand why we couldn’t go in the same ambulance, but the guy in charge seemed to insist on things his way.
