Page 69 of Nyx

The second cop sighs as if he's burned out with his job before getting on his radio and calling in detective support.

"I have to secure the scene," he mutters as he walks back to his car.

"Will this at least keep his ass in jail for a while?" I snarl. "Or will he be out by dinnertime and back over here with another weapon?"

The cop pauses with his back to me for a long second before he turns back to face me. The exasperation in his eyes tells his story. He's just as unhappy about how shit works out sometimes as we are.

"I couldn't tell you," he says. "We make the arrests, get them booked in, and then it's out of our hands. I'd bury fuckers like him under the jail if I could."

"Felon with a weapon," the other cop says, having secured Waylon in the back of his patrol car. "I imagine he'll stay for a little while."

"We'll make some calls," Shadow says. "See if we can add a little permanency to his stay in jail."

I know Cerberus does all they can to keep these pieces of shit in jail, but red tape is just that. The fact that criminals have rights annoys the absolute shit out of me, especially those who spend their lives hurting others.

"Wish you guys were on every call," the first cop says. "This guy is going to end up killing them the first chance he gets."

I clench my fists, regretting that I didn't put a bullet in that fucker’s head while I had him on the ground.

Scenarios of being the one working here instead of Legacy run through my head. It would've been justified to shoot him if he walked up with a gun in his hand. I probably would've put him down the second his hand even twitched to make me think he was going to raise it.

"If the women were on Cerberus property, this shit would stop happening," Holler mutters, only loud enough for me to hear.

I can't argue with the reasoning, but the logistics of that would be insane, especially for this woman and her son. They have separate houses for a reason, and I don't see them combining them for that reason alone.

I don't know if Kincaid and all the others would even consider that. Even if someone found out the women were on Cerberus property, the gate alone would stop them in their tracks. But they'd also have to consider inviting trouble to their home, something no one there with loved ones wants to happen.

"You got this?" Shadow asks Legacy.

"I'll handle it," he tells him.

"You want a second?" Shadow asks.

Legacy shakes his head. "He's our only threat, and he's going to jail. I should be good."

"I'll give you guys a call if the powers that be release him," the cop says.

"Appreciate it," Shadow says to him before looking at Legacy again. "Let us know if you need us."

Legacy dips his head in acknowledgment before turning to the cop to help him complete his report.

"Let's head back to Juniper House," Shadow says, walking toward the SUV.

Chapter 18

Juliet

I smile as the women file into the living room, waiting for each one to appear before speaking.

"Would we like to meet in here or outside?" I ask.

"Outside," Caroline says, looking around to see if anyone is going to disagree with her.

"I don't care where we go," Traci says, a heavy exhaustion in her voice. "So long as I get to sit down."

"Outside it is," I say.

I've been here nearly a week, and I've noticed that none of the women go out back unless someone on the staff, Emmalyn, or Misty is out there as well. I don't know if it's fear that keeps them inside or what, but the heat doesn't seem to stop them from going when someone's with them.