Protecting You (A McCord Family Novel Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

not happen. I can't wait to see you. I'll try talking to Zane to come with you."
    "Good luck with that."
    ***
    Zane paced the tiled floors, eager to leave. Finally, Austin stepped outside the doors.
    He had to keep reminding himself that Austin mattered, too. It was difficult to do as the grief threatened to overwhelm him. He broke down immediately when he first heard the news, but had yet to succumb to that point since. Keep it together. That's all he had to do. Breaking down in front of Austin wouldn't happen again. He had to be tough. He had to be strong.
    "I apologize that Commissioner Rainer couldn't be here. His daughter was also injured yesterday in the incident and he's at the hospital with her, otherwise he would've been here," Rudy said with sincerity.
    Austin looked surprised and concerned all at once. "His daughter? How was she injured?"
    Zane stopped pacing and waited for Rudy to answer. What was with the abrupt change in Austin's voice?
    "She was the crime scene investigator that responded to the scene. She fought with the suspect and sustained a few injuries from the fall. She was stabbed in the left shoulder before she fell from the window and then she was shot in the right shoulder when the bullet—" Rudy paused. "When the bullet passed through Detective McCord into her. He really did save her life. He knocked her over a bit when he went in front of her. The bullet would've hit her directly in the heart. He's a true hero. She lost a lot of blood. She's not in the clear yet, so that's why he's not here. He wanted to be, but—"
    "No need for explanation. It's understandable. What's her name? I think I may know, but I just want to make sure," Austin asked, refusing to look at Zane.
    "Ava Rainer," Rudy said.
    Zane gasped in shock as Austin rocked back on his heels.
    ***
    "Ava, it's good to meet you. Jimmy failed to mention how gorgeous you were," Austin said with a suave smile.
    "Ooo, Jimmy failed to mention you were slick with words," Ava replied as she shook his hand.
    Austin laughed and patted Jimmy on the back. "I like this woman, Jimmy. You found a good one."
    Jimmy turned red in the face. "She's a friend—a co-worker, Austin. Behave, please. Keep your hands to yourself. She's been showing me the ropes around here. I've been very appreciative."
    "He's a good cop. You should be proud," Ava said to Austin.
    Austin pulled Jimmy into a side hug. "Oh, I'm proud. He's wanted this since he was little. I'm glad he found a great friend to help him along."
    "She is a great friend. Don’t know what I would do without Ava," Jimmy said with pride. "I'd do anything for her."
    ***
    The look of shock on Zane's face couldn't be interpreted in any other way. He couldn’t believe it. The one person he despised and blamed for the discord between him and Jimmy had caused his death. He died for her.
    If he thought he hated her before, he truly hated her now, despised her with every breath in his body. Her life was not more important than his brother's. She didn't deserve to live more than him. It was all wrong.
    He could care less if the Police Commissioner came and spoke to them. In fact, he didn't want to speak to the man and told Rudy as such.
    "I don’t wish to speak with the commissioner. Ever. Or hear anymore about Ava Rainer. Excuse me," Zane said as he walked away.
    He couldn't be near people right now. He was bound to explode and he wished not to do it towards Austin.
    He wanted to rush to the hospital and explode in Ava's face as he did the last time, but knew she couldn't fight back. It didn't seem fair. He needed a good fight. Hearing the news she was the one Jimmy laid his life down for was beyond devastating.
    Catastrophic.
    ***
    "Jimmy, it's time to go," Zane said through clenched teeth.
    Jimmy slowly stood up from his desk and tried not to look embarrassed as his fellow co-workers looked on at the spectacle. "Zane. What are you doing here? Why are you telling me it's time to go?"
    "I won't have that woman