It Started With Hello

Chap.136

Emma screamed as she watched James's body hit the ground next to Ms. O'Connor. Jason laughed as Mona's eyes turned to James. "That's one down. Lucky for you, I have three bullets left," he said.

Mona lay frozen on the ground, staring at James. This brought back a flood of flashbacks—the day she found her husband bleeding out on their living room floor when she got home from work. She remembered falling to her knees in his blood, holding him close and crying so loudly that the neighbors called the cops.

She felt like it was all her fault then because she was the cop; she was the one who had made too many enemies to count. And he was the sweet town veteran who wouldn't have hurt a fly. That's why she had moved here, to get away. She couldn't go back to their home or the town they grew up in together without feeling pain; there were too many memories.

And worst of all, they had never caught her husband's killer. It was filed as a cold case, and there was nothing she could do about it. James slowly opened his eyes, looking over at her with that dumb grin he always gave her. Why would he jump in front of a bullet for her?

While she was distracted, Jason pointed his gun toward her. "Goodbye, whoever you are." Her eyes snapped away from James to glare at him just as he fired the gun. She rolled out of the way, the bullet digging deep into the ground.

She stood up quickly, surprising him. Running toward him, she wasn't about to let him get away with hurting all these people "Who the fuck do you think you are?!" he yelled, firing again just as Harry and Ms. Kit pushed through the trees. She jumped out of the way of the bullet, rolling on the grass before hopping back up.

She grabbed his wrist tightly, taking his gun away, turning him around, and forcing her knee into his lower back, making him fall to the ground. Harry watched for a moment as Ms. Kit and the paramedics helped Emma onto a stretcher and checked on Mr. Hatter to see if he was okay.

Jason rolled onto his back, pulling a knife out of his pocket. She instantly shot his leg, making him drop the knife to the ground. "You fucking bitch!" he groaned, holding his bloody leg. She walked closer, kicking the knife from his reach.
"I'm Lieutenant Mona O'Connor, and you have the right to remain silent, though I doubt it will do you any fucking good."

Harry ran over, pulling him off the ground and giving her a nod. She smiled at him as he clamped a pair of cuffs around Jason's wrists "You got him, Ms. O'Connor. Good job. I'll take him into the station. I think Mr. Hatter wants to speak with you." She raised a brow, looking in James's direction.

He was sitting in the back of one of the ambulances as Emma was loaded into the other. Emma called out to her, making Mona look her way "Thank you, Ms. O'Connor... thank you so much," she cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. Mona gave her a smile and a nod before making her way to James and sitting beside him.

She punched him softly on the shoulder, making him groan. "You're a dumbass, you know that? You could have died today. Why did you do that?"

He pulled up his uniform top slightly, showing the tough fabric of his vest. "Bulletproof vest. You have no protection on, Mona. You would have died if I hadn't jumped in front of you. I understand you love your job, but there are some things more important."
She bit her lip, realizing what he was saying was true, but still thinking he was dumb for doing it for her. He climbed off the ambulance, pacing back and forth for a moment before facing her.

"You owe me one now," he said with a straight face. "I'm taking you to dinner next Friday at 8, because guess what? I actually really like your crazy ass."
And just like that, he turned and walked back toward the road, leaving her shocked. Since when did he like her? She guessed it didn't matter. They had a date next Friday at 8, she thought with a stupid smile.