Free Love's Taming (The Love's Series) by Maryann Jordan Page B

him.
    Then once again, he moved through the shadows, his survival depending on him staying out of sight. Rubbing his hand over his face, he realized how tired he was of the game he was playing. Finding a woman he cared about…really cared about, made him know the game needed to end. Glancing back down the alley at her apartment, he couldn’t help but wonder. Will we get out of this unscathed? And if so, will she forgive me?
    *     *     *
    That night, a combined task force of Richland police, DEA, and FBI raided several warehouses arresting a large number of people involved in an organized illegal drug operation. With search warrants in hand, they effectively shut down a huge portion of the gang’s drug activities, including drug sales through prostitution and strip clubs and transporting drugs across state lines.
    Processing the gang members lined up, handcuffed, and being loaded into transports, the officers smiled knowing the hard work and diligence of each of them culminated in a huge investigation finally coming to an end. As they carefully noted the ones arrested, a tall, tattoed, bearded man with dark eyes and his hands cuffed behind him glared back at them just before he was loaded onto the RDP bus.

Chapter 7
    A week passed without a word heard from Stoney. Annie kept running their last time together over and over in her mind, searching for clues as to what his words meant. “ Got shit in my life. Shit I have to deal with. And I’m trying to keep that from you. But you gotta know that this is real. What we’re doin’. What we’re feelin’. It’s real.”
    If it was so real, why did he leave in the middle of the night? Wanting to hope that he came back and being angry at being left warred inside of her until she was exhausted from sleepless nights.
    “Doc, don’t be offended, but you look like shit,” Leon said as he came back toward the lab, carrying a large fat cat in his arms. Putting the cat on the table, he and Suzanne expertly drew blood from the yowling cat, while Annie looked over from staring at x-rays.
    “Gee thanks, Leon.” She glared at him while knowing he was right. She had seen the evidence this morning when she looked in the bathroom mirror at the dark circles under her eyes.
    “Leon! You know never to tell a lady that she looks bad. Shirley would slap you silly if you ever told her that!” Suzanne admonished.
    He cut his eyes over to Suzanne. “I’m not that big of a fool! You think I’d ever tell my Shirley that? Hell no. I need my balls to stay right where they are!”
    Suzanne and Annie couldn’t help but laugh, knowing that he was exactly right about Shirley. As Leon headed back to the front with the fat cat, Suzanne walked over to Annie and put her hand on her shoulder.
    “Seriously though, Dr. Donavan. You don’t look like you have slept in a week.”
    Barking out a rude noise, Annie confessed, “I haven’t.”
    Suzanne speaking softly, “Is it him? Sarge’s owner? I noticed I haven’t seen him around and well…I just wondered.”
    A pithy reply on her lips, Annie looked at Suzanne’s face. True concern shown and Annie knew that only honesty was worthy of their friendship.
    “Honestly? I don’t know. He said he had some business to take care of and when he got back, things would be even better. But it’s been a week and I’ve heard nothing. So…” she replied.
    “I’m sorry. If you want to talk, just call,” Suzanne said.
    The lab phone rang and Annie picked it up, surprised to see that Reception came on the screen.
    “Dr. Donavan? You’re needed up front.”
    Suzanne and Annie looked at each other in confusion. Usually Leon just yelled to the back since the clinic wasn’t very large.
    “Wow, he’s being very efficient. Must be important,” Annie said as she got off her stool and walked to the front.
    Annie rounded the corner and saw two men, dressed in suits standing at the counter. One was middle aged, with graying hair and a kind face that