Chapter 22

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"Please." Olivia wasn't above begging for her freedom.

Tony rubbed his body against hers with a threatening familiarity before backing off an inch or two to allow her to free her hands to unfasten the chain around her neck. She unhooked the clasp and gathered the chain and charm and key in her palm.

Olivia wasn't above tricking the sonofabitch, either.

She held out the prize he wanted. Then dropped it to the pavement.

"You fucking bitch."

The instant Tony bent down to retrieve the necklace, olivia slipped to the side, wrapped her fingers around the door handle and jerked it open, smacking Tony's shoulder and knocking him on his ass.

The moment he took to curse was the moment she took to snatch up the necklace and dive into the front seat and close the door behind her. She twisted around to turn the key in the ignition. "Come on. Come on!"

An explosion of sound roared beside her ear and shook the car. Olivia screamed.

"Oh, God. Help us!" Peggy started to scream.

Horns hooked around them. The sirens grew louder. Someone was trying to help.

"Give me the damn key!"

Olivia watched Tony's face redden through the spider Web of splintering cracks at her side window. He raised the heavy pot and drew it back to strike again.

"Start the car!" Louise yelled.

His aim was off with the second blow. This time he hit more metal than glass and the pot shattered.

"Olivia!"

"I need that key!"

The entire car rocked as Tony lowered his shoulder to the frame and shoved.

Peggy grabbed on to the dashboard and door as the car leaned towards a forty-five degree angle. "He's going to tip is over!"

Louise slid across the backseat. "Hold on!"

Olivia yanked her skirt up and freed her leg to stomp on the clutch. She turned the key and the engine roared to life.

But it was too late.

Tony bellowed in triumph as the car flipped onto its side. Someone screamed. More glass shattered.

"Peggy?" Her Aunt was holding her head. Blood seeped between her fingers. "Louise, are you all right back there?"

"I'm fine. Peggy's hurt."

The car door opened above them. Olivia tumbled back into Peggy.  Her Aunt groaned. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

A shadow fell over them. "You'll be sorry. now give me the damn key."

"On the ground, Fierro!" Tony froze in the opening above her. "I said, get on the ground!"

Elvis?

A black steel gun pressed into Tony's temple. "On the ground. Now."

Deeply pitched. Perfectly articulated. Absolutely deadly with intent.

Fear gave way to pure, unadulterated relief. "Elvis?"

"Are you all right, olivia?"

She still couldn't see his face, but his voice was clear and wonderful to hear. "I'm fine." Feeling safe enough to think about something beyond survival for a moment, olivia braced herself off Peggy and peeled her off her own tattered blouse. "But Peggy's hurt. She hit her head. We need an ambulance."

Tony had lost a contact sometime during the skirmish, and one colourless, albino eye glared down at her before he raised his hands and climbed off the car. Olivia quickly  shifted her attention to her injured aunt, balling up her blouse and pressing it to the gash at Peggy's temple.

"I'm sorry I didn't see Tony for what he was," Olivia apologised.

Louise huddled behind her, rubbing olivia's back and gently smoothing the hair off her sisters forehead. "It's not you're fault, dear. We liked him, too. It's a good person who expects the best in others."

Olivia shook her head. "Only naive idiots think that way." Peggy blinked her eyes open. "This isn't your fault. You wanted to help him. We all did. It's not..." Her eyes squeezed shut as she groaned in pain.

"Elvis!"

He was at the open door, reaching down for her as she scrambled to her feet. "I'm right here, honey. Come on." His eyes were lined with some strange emotion that left his blue eyes dark, like steel. But the No-nonsense grip on her hand was familiar. His easy, comforting strength was the same as he lifted her from the car and down onto the pavement beside him.

She caught a glimpse of Tony Fierro, facedown on the ground, with Detective Grove's knee in his back while the big detective handcuffed him. She almost got a full look at the circle of onlookers crowding around the two police cars with flashing lights blocking off the scene. But almost as soon as she became aware of the hot sun on her bare shoulders and back, Elvis was wrapping his suit jacket around her and tucking her up against his chest.

"Did he hurt you?" She felt his lips at the crown of her hair, against her cheek, her neck as he bent his head to her shoulder and hugged her close. Olivia snuck her arms around his waist and held on just as tight. "Honey? Are you hurt?"

When she still didn't answer, his hands began to squeeze, to move, to push her away as they roamed over her from hair to waist, inspecting her for injury.

"I'm fine." Olivia caught his hands and stopped his search. She looked up into his handsome face and laid her palm against her cheek, sensing something barely controlled inside him that  needed to be gentled, soothed. "Maybe a few scrapes and bruises, but I'm all right." She turned her face back to the car, feeling the anxiety curdling in her stomach again. "But Peggy..."

He nodded, pulled her hand from his face and kissed her palm. "I'll take care of her."

Finding as much comfort in that promise as she had in the circle of his strength and warmth, olivia slipped her arms into the sleeves of his jacket and clutched it together at her throat. She watched him stride back to the car, his gun tucked in at the back of his waist, his moments quick and confident as he climbed down into the overturned car. With the assistance of a couple employees, he helped Louise climb out, and then carefully lifted Peggy to safety.  He carried Peggy to the front seat of his car and covered her with a blanket.

In Only a matter of minutes, it seemed, Detective Grove was driving off with a sulking, cursing Tony Fierro locked in the backseat. An ambulance had arrived and Peggy was strapped onto a gurney while Louise and olivia held her hands. The EMT's report was reassuring. Possibly a concussion. But a few stitches and a night of observation at the hospital were probably all the treatment she would require.

"I love you, sweetie." Peggy was smiling as she was loaded into the ambulance and Louise climbed in beside her. "I'll be fine. Don't you worry yourself."

"I know you will. I love you both."

The instant olivia stepped back, Elvis was there, standing behind her. One hand took hold of hers while the other rested protectively, possessively, at her shoulder. Olivia smiled and turned, seeking his full embrace. "How did you and detective Grove find us?"

His arms folded around her, welcoming her. "You weren't where you were supposed to be. You didn't show up at the bank at one, so we came looking for you. McCarthy told us you were here."

Before the EMTs closed the doors, olivia snuggled close, blushing against Elvis's steady heartbeat as she listened to her dear aunts chatter. "I definitely like Detective Presley better than that other friend of hers."

"Hush Louise. Apparently olivia does, too."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! and thanks for reading! xoxo

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