Free Held by You by Cheyenne McCray

of her. He responded to the dispatcher then removed his other hand from her shoulder.
    “I have to leave.” His tone was firm. “Stay here until I get back. We’ll take care of it after I handle this.”
    She just watched him as he jogged to the door. He looked over his shoulder for one moment when he went through the door and then he was gone.
    More determined than ever, she bailed out her stepbrothers but left before they could tell her they needed a ride. Their trucks were probably still parked at the Highlander and they could walk there as far as she was concerned.
    Instead, she headed for the closest locksmith. She was going to take care of her problem and there was no stopping her.
    * * * * *
    John sped toward the scene, his lights flashing and his siren screaming. He needed to focus on the situation ahead of him but he couldn’t help his fury over what Carl Whitfield had done to Hollie. John’s anger was hot and liquid and he had to fight to contain it.
    Hollie had looked so pale and fragile, like the wrong words could cause her to shatter. John ground his teeth, wanting to kill Carl with his bare hands.
    John was the first to arrive at the house where the sound of gunshots had been reported. It was in a poor neighborhood without a homeowners association, the yard choked with weeds, and a rusted old car up on blocks in the street in front of the house.
    Without his partner, John was required to wait for backup. Still, he climbed out of his cruiser, weapon drawn as he eased up the porch to the front door. The stairs creaked but he didn’t hear any noises coming from the house.
    When he reached the front door, he listened but still heard nothing. An unmarked vehicle pulled up next to John’s cruiser. Reese and Will Carter. John waited for them to join him on the porch.
    When they were in position, John called out, “Police! Open the door!”
    Silence followed his shout. He reached out and touched the door, which creaked open without having to turn the knob.
    John looked at Reese who nodded. John kicked the door open. “Police! We’re coming in.”
    The smell of death hit him the moment he entered the house. John’s gaze swept over the body on the floor, barely acknowledging it as he, Reese, and Carter first cleared room after room. When they determined the house was empty save for the body in the front room, John holstered his weapon and went to the dead man whose face had been blown off.
    Carter searched the man’s pockets but didn’t find any ID. The one thing they did find was the tattoo on the side of the man’s neck that told them he belonged to Jesus Perez’s gang.
    John dragged his hand down his face. “Too short and too slim to be Jesus. I’d guess this is Bobby Dominguez.”
    Reese nodded. “I’d bet you’re right.”
    John reported to the dispatcher and it wasn’t long before the coroner and techs arrived and the scene was being processed.
    As he walked outside, his cell phone vibrated in his holster. He looked at the number, which looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it.
    “Lieutenant McBride,” he answered.
    “John,” Hollie’s hysterical voice came over the phone. It was a bad connection and he could barely make out what she was saying. “Carl…dead…my gun.”
    “Hollie?” he asked. He needed to make sure it was her since the connection was so bad.
    “Yes.” She sounded as though she was choked with fear and hysteria. “Carl. He’s dead.”
    His gut tightened. “Where are you?”
    “Home,” she said with a sob.
    “I’m on my way.” He started to say something else but the connection cut out and then she was gone.
    * * * * *
    Hollie was covered with blood. Carl’s blood. She barely realized she was clenching her pearl-handled pistol and couldn’t stop staring at his body and the pool of blood congealing beside him, and the smears across the floor. His sightless eyes stared at the ceiling.
    She backed away from his body and against the wall. She slid down