Rocco's Atonement

By E.M. Shue

I live in a gilded cage of hell, confined within these walls. My only reprieve is the one day of freedom a month I'm allowed out into the world. And the escape I find in my own words when I write about heroes who save women, and heroines who are strong and beautiful.

Then I meet Rocco. And just like in my stories, he saves me after I'm attacked. He wants to set me free and make me his. He's one of New York's finest, capable of protecting me. But how do I escape hell when I was born into it?

Rocco has made the wrong decisions before, bet on the wrong horse, but he'll atone for his past sins to rescue Guinevere. She's everything he's ever wanted and needed. But with only one day a month of freedom, his window is limited.

Award-winning author E.M. Shue brings us a new spin-off from the Caine & Graco Saga featuring Rocco from Lost in Linc.

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Everyone Deserves a Hero. 

 

9 Authors have teamed together to bring you these heart-stopping, swoon worthy, hero romance stories that will leave you breathless. This collection of books are stand-alone stories that will leave you wanting more.  

 

This Hero Romance Collection is dedicated to the extraordinary men and women who put their lives on the line for the ordinary people of this great nation. In recognition of their faithful service, each of the participating authors made a donation to Tunnels to Towers, a non-profit organization, upon joining this Hero Romance Collection.

 

Rescue Me Series 

This collection includes stories by:

E.M. Shue

YD La Mar

Tracy Broemmer

Mary Morano 

Lux Miller & LC Taylor

LC Taylor 

Lark Anderson

Amy Stephens

Ashley Zakrzewski

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.M. Shue
• Release date: May 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201011048

Book preview

PROLOGUE

ROCCO

I stand there in my dress blue uniform looking at the Chief of Detectives. I knew this could be an option when I lied. I should have just admitted that I handled the situation badly. I shouldn’t have been thinking with my fucking dick instead of my head. I was honestly jealous that every time I was with Tracy she only wanted to ask me questions about Linc. My anger almost got him killed, and I could have hurt his new wife and unborn baby. Not even the daughter Linc shares with Tracy was off limits; her own mother had used her for her personal gain. There are so many things I regret and wish I could change. I had become just like the man I hated.

Distonoli, if I had my way, you’d be walking the unemployment line right now instead of being demoted back to patrol. Prove to me that you deserve this job. Prove me wrong.

I’m about to answer him when there is a knock on the door. It opens, and I turn my head to see who it is. Shit! My body locks up as I stare at the commissioner. He is never involved in situations such as this, but here he is.

I’d like a moment with Officer Distonoli. It’s not a request but a statement. I turn back and face the Chief of D’s as he stands and gives me a sympathetic look before he steps out the door.

I stand there at attention, my hands behind my back, my shoulders back, and my head held high. My mom had always taught me to face my consequences; the one time I didn’t listen to those rules I landed right here.

Rocco. Commissioner Caine’s voice is deep, and I turn my body to give him my full attention and respect. This man started low in the ranks and worked his way up to where he is today. He has a son and nephew on the force, and Linc is like an adopted family member.

Sir. My voice sounds tight to my ears.

You’re probably wondering why I’m here. I was the one who decided that you shouldn’t be fired. I felt you deserved a second chance.

Thank you, sir. I nod my head and wait for more, because I know he didn’t come here to brag about saving my job.

I knew your father. And there it is. That statement causes my already taut body to turn to cement. I know you are a better man than he was. You were manipulated by Tracy, just like several people were. If she hadn’t used you, she would have used other men. She will be going to prison for a long time. Both Linc and his wife, Rylee, will heal and be okay. I’m fairly certain you learned your lesson.

I raise my brow. How can you say that? I put his children’s lives in danger. I could have gotten him killed.

The commissioner nods slowly. You are correct, but you know what you did was wrong. We all need to learn the hard way once in a while. Will you ever do that again? Will you betray another partner like that?

Hell no! This job means everything to me, and I won’t jeopardize it ever again. In fact, I never want to be in another relationship.

He chuckles softly. Rocco, one day you will find the woman meant to be yours, and I’m pretty sure you’ll move heaven and earth for her—

I’m never going to do that. I don’t deserve that after I risked Rylee’s life.

You didn’t risk her life, Tracy did that. Besides, the worst you did was lie to IAD. I can’t make that go away, and other officers will treat you differently after they find out you were sleeping with your partner’s ex. You will have to fix that by proving to them it was a one-off. Now, brush off your uniform and report to the 19 th Precinct for patrol. I don’t want to see you again unless it’s to award you. Do we understand each other, Rocco?

We do, sir. I tip my head again and try not to choke on the words. I can’t believe I’m being given this chance.

Commissioner Caine turns to the door and stops. Oh, and by the way—he looks back at me—you might want to swing by and check on Linc.

I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me. I wouldn’t want to see me if I were him. I slept with his ex-wife and gave her information she could use against him.

That’s where you are wrong. Stop by. He might get bored in a couple of weeks after the honeymoon is over. He chuckles.

I doubt it, but I will stop by. When he starts to argue, I clarify, No, I mean he won’t be bored with his new wife.

He nods and laughs. You’re right, he won’t be bored with her, but he’ll get tired of being stuck at home.

Thank you again, sir.

The commissioner exits the office, and I wait until the chief comes back in.

CHAPTER

ONE

15 MONTHS LATER

ROCCO

I’m standing in another chief’s office with my partner, Damian. He’s a couple of inches taller than my six-foot height and has light brown hair that in some lighting looks dark blond. He also has a Boston accent, unlike my Staten Island one.

Distonoli and Shaw, today is your last day on patrol. We’ll have the full ceremony in a month or so, but you both made detective. Tomorrow report in plain clothes to Lieutenant Marsh.

My shoulders relax but only slightly at his announcement. I don’t deserve this, but for the last year I’ve worked hard to prove myself. My primary focus has been on my job and doing the best I can. I don’t date. I focus on helping my mom when she wants and on the volunteer work I started doing after my demotion. But I still see the other officers whispering behind their hands, waiting for me to fuck up again. I’m lucky Shaw was new to the force here or I wouldn’t have had a partner.

As we move out of the room and toward the exit to our car, I keep quiet and listen as Shaw goes on and on about the fact he knew it was going to happen. Maybe it’s because of him I’m being given another chance; he’s a good cop. He was a cop in Boston before he moved here. He and I became fast friends. I would throw myself in front of a bullet for him, just like Linc did for me. However, Linc was just throwing my body out of the way, he didn’t know he had been shot until afterward.

Told ya we’d get the call to move up. You were the one who kept saying wasn’t going to happen, that you’d be in a car forever. It’s not something cool like Cold Cases, it’s just general precinct detectives, but I’ll do it.

Yeah, I say, trying not to bring him down. Being a precinct detective means we investigate just about any case from burglaries to muggings and so on. No homicides though.

What? he says as soon as we are in the car. I let him drive today, but instead of rolling out he’s watching me.

It’s nothing. Come on, let’s get to work.

Roc, don’t lie to me. What are you thinking?

I shake my head. I don’t want to rain on his parade, but he is my friend, so I want to be honest. I only got promoted with you because no one else will be my partner.

If that’s the case, then be happy for your good luck. As for no one wanting to be your partner, that’s on them, man. Don’t worry about it. Bunch of teen girls is what they are. Come on. You need some caffeine?

Yes. I turn to pull my seat belt on. Some officers don’t wear their belts, but I don’t want to be in an accident without one. Besides, it’s the law for us too.

We stop at our favorite coffee shop, and I make my way back to the car with my black coffee and sandwich in hand. We are patrolling the Lenox Hill area when I catch a sight.

I swear I just saw an angel.

Stop, Damian. He pulls to the side of the road. I set my coffee down and exit the car, using my height advantage to look around for her. Sure enough, there she is. Her blond hair is waving down her back as she moves through the crowds fast. She’s so tiny at maybe only five foot four, if that. She turns to look over her shoulder and I see the fear in her eyes as she watches a couple of men moving fast behind her. She turns down an alley and I’m in motion.

Follow me, I yell at Damian as I slam the door. I click my shoulder mic and inform dispatch that I’m in pursuit of a potential mugging. The alley she slipped down has an opening at the other end, but it is also away from people and she could be hurt.

My boots pound the pavement as I run. Out of my way! NYPD! I order people as I move toward the mouth of the alley, my heart clenched tight in my chest fearing I’m going to be too late. I round the building carefully. Not giving someone my full body in case they have a gun or weapon and saw me coming. I hear her scream and the sound of a body being hit.

NYPD. Stop, I yell as I pull my Taser.

When I come around the trash cans, I see two men in black with hoods up running away, but it’s the body of the small woman on the ground that causes me to pause.

Damian comes up behind me.

Go after them. Two perps. Black hoodies, black pants. One of them dropped something there. I point across the alley where one of the guys threw something metal.

Not a gun, Damian confirms before he takes off after the men.

The woman whimpers and curls around herself tighter. I want to reach for her but see blood. They hurt her in the short time it took me to get to her. Her hair is soaked in the muddy water she’s lying in. Her body shivers from the dampness. She’s not dressed for the chilly air from the rain earlier this morning and will be coming again as the day progresses. Her jeans are baggy on her body. Her sweater is old and tattered. I look down at her little feet in the threadbare tennis shoes. Carefully I reach out for her but don’t touch her.

I’m Officer Distonoli; call me Rocco. I’m here to help you. What’s your name? I try to make my normally gruff voice sound softer.

She rolls her head toward me and I’m frozen by her startling wide-set eyes. One is bottle green, while the other is a hazel with shots of brown through it. They are full of fear and are red-rimmed from crying. Her face is swelling, and her delicate ivory skin is bruised. Some of the bruises are already green, which I know isn’t possible. This poor girl has been attacked before today.

I’m Guinevere, she says, her voice so soft I can barely hear her.

My heart pounds hard in my chest. Her voice holds me captive, just like her eyes. It’s soft and what I imagine an angel would sound like. But she’s so timid, she pushes back away from me.

Guinevere

---

I gave them my purse, but they just threw it back at me. I wanted to beg them to stop, but I couldn’t get the words out. I’m trained to take it. My life has taught me many things, including sometimes people just want to hurt you and don’t care. The men laughed