Page 1 of His Kidnapped Queen
1
SOPHIA
My boots pound the pavement as I run, my thighs burning as I swing around a corner, one hand on my gun.
The perp is ahead of me, running full tilt toward the next alley.
I run and run, panting, wishing that I’d eaten a lighter breakfast this morning as my stomach flips.
My heart pounds with adrenaline.
This is why I do this. This is what I’m meant for.
I catch up to him as he tries to push the dumpsters toward the back fence of the alley.
“Hampton!” I bark, and he turns toward me, panic evident on his face.
I draw my gun. It’s the first time I’ve ever had to draw it on shift, and I ignore that my hand is trembling, blaming it on adrenaline. I’ve trained hundreds of hours at the range…my body can do this.
Mark Hampton is a low-level punk, but he knows the higher-ups.
He’s a middleman, nothing in the scheme of things.
He works around the Italian mob, not for it. But he has names. Names that could change everything for my department.
There’s abject fear on his face as he slowly raises his hands.
“Look, miss, don’t shoot me,” he pleads. “I got a wife and kids. I know I’m no good for them, but the kids…they’ll miss me.”
I hesitate, slowly lowering my gun then Hampton rushes me, tackling me to the ground, trying to push me down and climb over me to get away. The air rushes out of me in a rush and I struggle to breathe.
Hampton grins, like he’s sure he’s gotten away.
He scrambles up and I kick out my leg, taking out his knee.
He yelps and goes down, then I’m on his back, handcuffing him as I wheeze, still trying to get my breath back.
Finally, the air enters my lungs and I gasp in air like I’ve been drowning.
Scott Baker, my partner and my best friend, catches up to me, his brown eyes wide with panic.
“Jesus, Soph. Are you okay? I saw him tackle you and I thought…” He pauses, taking in a sharp breath. “Let me call the EMTs, get them to check you out.”
I shake my head, standing with effort, still breathing hard.
“No. I’m good, Scott. Promise. Just remind me to eat smarter before shift.” I grimace, my stomach rolling after all that unplanned activity.
He laughs. “I’m not fighting you over bear claws again. You scratch.”
I grunt as Scott pulls Hampton up and gets him in the back of my cruiser.
Scott has been my partner for the last eighteen months, and we’ve gotten plenty of perps together.
Today, though, he was training a new hire before he was supposed to meet up with me—a rookie.
I used to be one, but that doesn’t mean they don’t irritate me.
Scott has a better temperament for training than I do, I’ll admit. I tend to fly off the handle at times.
