“Then what are you waiting for?”

Terrified, the gunman looked at Rose, then at Bellamy, then down at the weapon by his side. He dropped it on the grass and bolted out of sight. Coolly, after he gracefully shed the stark demeanor, Bellamy picked it up and handed it to Rose. “I think you should carry this from now on,” he said.

Adrenaline pumped through her body like icy fire and she couldn’t seem to find the right words, any words. Instead, just took it from him.

After checking to make sure Alex was still alive—he was—Bellamy suggested they call for an ambulance. The calmness in his voice and his body language and, hell, everything about him, was unlike anything she’d ever seen. There was no hint of stress. Nothing.

“What the hell just happened?” she demanded. “Who are you?”

“Bellamy.”

“Bellamy?”

“Rose?”

“Huh?”

“I think you should call for that ambulance.”

“Oh, I’m okay, thanks.”

“Not for you. For this man.”

“Right, right. Good call.” She still stood there, unmoving. Then suddenly snapped out of a daze. “I mean sure, I’ll make the call. Bellamy?”

“Yes, Rose?”

Rose narrowed her eyes at the man. “I think you and I need to have a long talk.”

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

While the police and the EMS were en route, Rose made Alex comfortable on the grass, with the help of a young man, a neighbor, who’d heard the shouting, glimpsed the gunman, and had immediately dialed 911. The man fetched his kid’s Disney pillow for Alex to rest his head on. His little daughter peered shyly around the corner. Rose thanked her for the loan of her pillow.

A million questions spun around in her mind as she ran Bellamy’s exchange with the gunman, Miguel, over and over in her head. The most obvious: how did they know each other? Why was Miguel so terrified of Bellamy? What bearing did that have on Bellamy’s relationship with her mother? Who the hell was he?

But she only had time to ask him one question before the ambulance arrived. Her own choice surprised her. “Is there anything you want me to say in my statement, about what happened, I mean?” If he was some sort of gang boss or had influence with criminal types, the cops might not want to hear that the gunman knew him. After all, Bellamy had just saved her life.

“You should tell the truth,” he replied, twitching a smile. “But thank you for considering that.”

“I owe you one. You’re sure you won’t get in any trouble?”

“I’ll think of something.”