Free Burning For Claire (The O'Connell Family Book 2) by C.M. Steele Page B

him so he could break it to her. I think it needs to come from him.”
    “Me, too. He’s there to comfort her.”
    “What if they come back to the apartment, and you’re still there?” he asked with concern.
    “Hopefully, I can get a team in here to sweep it before they do.”
    “You get the fuck out of there before they come back. Claire hasn’t stopped crying, and she knows you’re coming back. Don’t let anything happen to yourself or I’ll kill you,” Richard threatened.
    “I’m leaving right now,” I said with a chuckle. I hung up the phone just as I grabbed my gym bag and filled it with clothes. Once it was in my hands, I had a strange feeling so I looked out the window and noticed there was a black van on the corner with a clear view of the apartment. That is when I saw movement from the van. The side door slid open and a masked man had a grenade launcher on his shoulder aimed right at me. Shit. I ran out the door just as I heard the shattered glass followed by a loud explosion at my back.
    I was lying flat on my stomach just outside the apartment door. I felt the wind get knocked out of me when I hit the ground, but I still managed to grab my phone and make the call.
    I groaned into the phone. “A bomb has just gone off in my apartment, I need all available vehicles here. They used a grenade launcher.” I paused as I tried to get up. I was hurting bad. “Shit. I don’t know if I should rush…everyone…out…” I choked out as I started to inhale the smoke. I heard screeching tires for the second time today.
    “Are you hurt?”
    “I just got the wind knocked out of me and feeling a little dizzy, but other than that I’m good,” I groaned.
    “They’re on their way to you. Get somewhere safe.” I clicked my phone off as I tried to get out of the building. There was only two other apartments in the building, but I managed to notice that they ran outside ahead of me. I could hear the squad cars in the distance, or so I thought, I had a buzzing in my ears.
    I turned back to my apartment and felt like I was suffering from déjà vu.
    The cops were there and so was the same damn fire chief as yesterday. As he and the medics came up to me, he said, “Mr. Williams, there is something you’re not telling me.”
    I nearly growled at the damn man. I had a rough day and wasn’t into the whole interrogation that I knew was coming.
    “There’s a lot I’m not telling you, but I will say this is getting to become a serious problem. I have a ringing in my ears, so let’s save the talking for a few minutes.”
    “They’re going to take you to the hospital to be looked over. Then we can talk,” the fire chief said.
    “No. I’ll just go down to the station with you. I don’t need a hospital,” I replied with all the irritation I was feeling.
    “At least let the medics take a look.” His ass actually sounded concerned, but then again, it could be because my hearing was off.
    “Fine, but keep your eyes open. If anyone looks suspicious you better duck and run,” I said seriously.
    “I will.”
    They looked me over, and it was clear that I suffered a concussion and some minor bruising. To me it was nothing Claire couldn’t fix. I just wanted this to go away. They wanted me to go in, but I refused. I didn’t expect this to come to a head like this, but until this was over I needed to keep my woman safe.
    I was taken in a squad car to the police station. My head was throbbing like a bitch. All I wanted at the moment was to get some sleep, but I knew it wasn’t going to come for a while.
    The fire chief said, “Mr. Williams, please follow us in here.” We walked into an interrogation room with two damn detectives. One was green and eager and an older cop who was looking to prove something. My head was fuzzy, and I wasn’t feeling up to dealing with these asses. Going to the hospital was sounding like a better idea by the moment. I should have taken up the offer when I had the chance.
    The older