Chapter Thirty-Two

Alex’s chest ached and his cheek throbbed, even his stitches burned, but he’d never felt better in his life. Olivia loved him. Maybe her admission had been in the heat of the moment, but she’d said it none the less.

While she was on air telling the story, he’d placed a call to her parents to let them know she was okay. He knew she hadn’t had a chance to do so and they would be worried…as would his family. He called them next and had to talk to his mom, dad and sister to reassure them all he was good. After that was taken care of, he phoned his bosses and gave them the details. Several other news stations had rolled to the scene, trying to get the scoop. Trent Charles had been bagged and tagged and carted away.

They were each questioned and their injuries photographed. Security cameras on the outside of the hospital as well as the dash camera from the police car caught the exchange of gunfire. There would be no question that the shooting of Trent Charles was justified. Not to mention the heinous acts he admitted to on tape.

Sawyer was sitting on a curb off to the side, his head down. It was never easy to use lethal force, no matter the circumstances. Alex dropped to sit beside him. “You okay?”

Sawyer lifted his head and stared forward. He nodded. “If it was my bullet that killed him, I’m fine with it.”

“I wish I’d have gotten a shot at him.” Alex’s blood boiled thinking of all the attempts Charles made on Olivia’s life and the bruise blooming on her cheek.

Benson ambled over. “You know how Charles said on the taped confession that he was going to set up his roommate to take the fall?” When they both nodded, he said, “We sent patrol to their apartment and found said roommate hanging from the ceiling, a,” he made air quotes, “suicide note typed on his computer. At least he had the decency to reveal the location of Laurie Spellman’s body so her family can finally lay her to rest.”

“It still doesn’t make sense to me that they targeted Olivia,” Sawyer said.

“The roommate, Ray Smith, was on anti-psychotic drugs that he apparently didn’t take regularly. Cops found full bottles of his medication dated months ago. Plus, he mixed them with narcotics and alcohol, both scattered liberally around the apartment. Made him paranoid. Trent Charles was just a straight-up sociopath.”

“You know what really bothers me?” Alex scrubbed both hands down his face and sighed. “We got the guys targeting Olivia, but the Vigilante is still out there. When this story gets out, what if more crazies think they can try the same thing? Her life will be in danger until the guy is caught.”

Benson sighed. “Speaking of…the video Olivia taped earlier aired a little while ago. We should be getting the info on the bodies.”

As if on cue, Olivia walked over with Detective Kramer. She held up her phone. “The latest location.”

#

By the time they located the bodies and Olivia gave a brief report, it was the early hours of the morning. They all stumbled into the hotel like zombies. Sawyer bid them goodnight and plodded to his room. Alex had just enough energy to sweep Olivia into his arms and carry her to the bedroom. He ignored both her small protest and the larger one from his cracked rib. Gently placing her on the bed, he followed her down. He grasped her head between his hands. He had to grit his teeth every time he looked at the bruise on her cheek. He wanted to kill Trent Charles all over again. Dragging his gaze away, he looked into her beautiful eyes. “I love you, Olivia.”

Those baby blues welled. “I love you, too, Alex.”

“I’m sorry I let you down.”

Olivia cried out and pushed at him. He fell to the mattress beside her and managed to stifle a groan when the cracked rib objected to the move. She rolled to face him. “What are you talking about? You saved my life—again.”

“I let him get to you.” He gently ran a thumb over her cheek. “He hit you. He held a gun to your head.”

“Alex, I’m the one that insisted I go in that room alone. You wanted to come with me but I wouldn’t let you. That’s on me. But when I needed you, you were there. Now quit being a freaking martyr and kiss me.”

She didn’t wait for him to make the first move. She pressed her lips to his and he sighed at the exquisite contact. When he would’ve deepened it, she pulled away. He tried to follow her but she stopped him with a hand. “As much as I want to be with you tonight, you’re hurt.” He tried to object but she shushed him. “I love you Alex and I just want you to hold me.”

He really wanted to argue with her…yes, his rib was cracked but other parts of his body worked just fine. Instead, he gathered her close and held on to her. If he had his way, he’d never let her go again.