The handle turns, and light slices into the supply closet, blinding me. I’m all tensed up, ready to swing with every ounce of strength in my body. But then my eyes adjust and I see Mateo, the breath rushing out of my chest like a popped balloon. There’s a minor cut above his eyebrow, and the slight trickle of blood running down his face turns my stomach.
Lowering my weapon, I punch him in the shoulder.
“How could you do that to me?!” His eyes go wide as I yell, throwing down my splintered broom handle. “How could you leave me up here, not knowing if you were okay? I’m so mad at you!” Tears prick my eyes as I rage at him.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him down and press my lips to his. My heart is pounding, racing in my chest. Touching him is the only thing that makes the all-consuming fear gripping my chest ease up.
Mateo’s palms press into my back as he wraps his arms around me. He holds me so close I can feel his heart pounding in time with mine as he kisses me back with near-bruising force.
“Julia, are you okay?” The voice coming from my bra makes me laugh against Mateo’s lips. He looks down, bewildered.
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry.” I completely forgot the dispatcher was still on the phone.
“That’s okay. The officers have a suspect in custody. Do you want me to stay on the line?”
“No, we’re all good here. I have officially been released from the closet.”
“Make him grovel.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, grinning at the phone before ending the call and handing it to him.
“Did your tits just tell me to grovel?” Mateo asks as he takes the phone.
“Yeah, and you better get ready to get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness later.” I run my hands over the scruff on his jaw, stroking a finger above the cut on his eyebrow.
“I’ll get down on my knees, but if I do it right, I don’t think I’ll be the one begging,” he says with a sly grin. He doesn’t have the decency to look even the tiniest bit repentant.
“You’re terrible,” I tell him, pulling him closer so I can kiss him. “What happened to your face?”
“Ah, the dick threw an elbow when I tackled him. It’s nothing. I didn’t even feel it.”
“You tackled him?” I smack his chest, but he just looks pleased with himself. “Of course, you did.”
I shake my head at Mateo as he grins down at me, a wild glint of adrenaline in his eyes. “You fucking enjoyed it, didn’t you?” I ask, squinting and doing my best to fight back a smile.
Mateo shrugs. “Maybe a little…”
Janelle’s head pops around the door of the conference room. Her hair is a mess and I wonder where she’s been hiding.
“You babies can quit hiding, they got him.” I’m confused at first, thinking she’s talking to me and Mateo, but then the three Berkner lawyers peek out from under the conference table.
“For the record, Ms. Donovan is done with the deposition. Given Doctor Grimaldi’s current legal state, I’m sure the hospital will have no problem accepting Ms. Donovan’s previous statements and evidence at face value. Inform your client that unless Ms. Donovan is reinstated to active employment, we have astackof lawsuits ready to file on her behalf.”
She turns to look at me. “How does financial compensation sound right about now, Julia?”
“If I’m reinstated at work, we could avoid it…” I say innocently.
“There you have it, boys.” Janelle raises her eyebrows at them. “I expect an answer by end-of-business today.” She rounds on Mateo. “You have a lawyer, Rambo?”
Mateo shakes his head.
“You do now.”
“Do I need one?”
“Don’t be an idiot. Of course you do. They’re going to want a statement from you, and given that you just went full Die Hard downstairs, yeah, you might want legal representation.”
Mateo gives her a salute which she returns with a solid three-second eye roll before gesturing at us to join her in the lobby.