8. Lapdogs gonna bark
Lapdogs gonna bark
Elena
“I don’t know what kind of lies you’re pulling over on the sheriff, but they won’t work on me.” Officer Brooks narrows her eyes as she slides in a tray of food through the slot.
“What are you talking about?” I glance up from the dog-eared old western novel that one of the other guards let me read.
Otherwise I’d die of boredom in here.
“It must have been one heck of a sob story.” Her voice doesn’t have an ounce of sympathy. “All I know is, he’s acting funny since you came along.” Her knuckles show when she wraps the steel bars and leans against them. “Seducing him won’t help. He’s taken.”
“You’re wearing a wedding band, but he isn’t.” I turn back to the pages, feigning interest in the story. “So maybe he isn’t as serious as you are.” I can’t resist the chance to goad her.
There’s nothing logical about jabbing back. This woman could make my life a living hell.
Fuck it, it can’t get any worse.
She flicks her palm, almost like she’s reminding herself of the binding jewelry on her finger. “I ain’t married to him.”
That makes me close the book and place it on my cot.
Meeting her glare squarely with my own, I recognize jealousy when I see it.
Slowly, I move the blanket and stand, strutting as provocatively as I can towards her.
My skin brushes hers when I wrap my hand around the steel making her jerk her arm away.
“Maybe,” I croon seductively. “You shouldn’t worry about who he is, or isn’t fucking then? Keep your nose in your own bowl, bitch.”
Flipping around on the heel of my slippers, I can feel her eye darts digging into my shoulder blades.
“I’m going to make sure you get locked up for a very long time.” Her teeth flash in a leering smile.
“Won’t stop me from fucking your boyfriend and ruining him from ever wanting you again,” I snap. “I bet your husband doesn’t want you either. Probably because you made ‘cunt’ your entire personality.”
Calmly, I pick up the corner of the blanket and the book, pretending to nonchalantly read again.
Inside, my heart is racing and my stomach is in knots, hoping she doesn’t fling the door open and come inside.
I’d never win. Even if I could fend her off, the fact that she’s a cop and I’m under arrest…I’d automatically lose.
There might be something to the idea though.
It’s not like Wade isn’t attractive. He’s actually kinda hot in a good-ol’-boy kinda way.
In a “I’ll take care of you like a daddy” kinda way.
That turns the nerves jittering through me a little warmer. I bet he’s the pedestal kind of guy, where he’d do anything I wanted if I asked, if the situation was different.
But why he’d want to tangle with that pitbull, I have no idea.
With a clatter, she drags the metal tray of food out before I can have any. “Guess you can just survive on attitude then,” she sneers.
Her boots squeak against the industrial tiles when she leaves.
Jerk. I don’t like that slop anyways.
My belly has been grumbling for a while, and I’m on my second read through of this mediocre western when I hear more footsteps coming down the hall.
These are heavier. Either the guard, or the—
“So has sitting here all day changed your mind about telling me who’s behind all this horseshit?” Wade grabs the chair near the wall and sets it so the back is near the bars, then straddles it, folding his arms across the top.
“It’s like a spa. Apparently it includes the diet plan.
” My hunger pangs fuel the sarcasm. “I’m liking it here.
A few more weeks and it’ll be a race to see if I die of starvation or from your girlfriend.
” I don’t look at him, but I catch the movement of his hat tipping down out of the corner of my eye.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he grunts. “What do you mean by ‘starve’?”
I toss the book aside. I’ve practically memorized it anyway.
“Your lapdog took offense that I’m prettier than her, so decided to not feed me.” The memory of the encounter pushes me to my feet in agitation.
My arms raise and I pull the loose fabric of my shirt so it snugs against my waist. “Do I look like I have a lot to lose?”
His caramel gaze settles on my chest before raising to my face. “I’ll talk to her.”
Sneaky.
I almost want to spill everything I know just so I can get out of here and fuck with her out of spite.
“We’ve been going through your vehicle.” He pulls out his phone.
Probably avoiding looking at me.
He scrolls through several pictures. “The receipt trail is verifying that you only got here a few weeks ago.” His copper mustache tilts. “Elena, tell me who put you up to this so we can help your friend.”
My lack of cleaning out my Jeep might have saved my butt.
Dropping my hands, I wrap them around my growling belly and slump onto the foot of my tiny bed.
I know I can’t do anything to protect my sister from here.
Maybe if I just tell him, I can get out and try to save her.
“It’s my…cousin that’s in trouble.” I’ll allow a half-truth.
If he starts snooping through the foster records, she could be in more danger than I can fix.
“Someone from up here that knew my parents pulled some strings to get her moved in with a foster family and is using her to make me do their dirty work.”
One of his russet brows raise. “Cousin?”
“We’re very close,” I blurt in a rush. “I wanted to try and get custody, but then this guy—” My jaw slams shut.Do I really tell him?
“I can see why you’re worried,” Wade says softly. His lips purse and his eyes narrow. “Elena,” he exhales. “I can make sure that no one knows that I’m checking. That’s if you’re worried about me tipping someone off that you talked?”
“How did you know?” All the strength leaves my body, flopping me onto my back to stare at the ceiling. “You swear on my mom’s grave?” I really hope she means enough to him for him to promise.
He clears his throat, a deep rumbling sound through the small space. “I swear.”
“I remember her telling me once that the only cops she ever trusted were here. I bet she was talking about you.” My fingers lace across my ribs, rising with a long inhale.
“You can’t check.” I half sit up, catching his focus. “You have to promise. She could be killed…or worse.”
I watch him until my abs start to burn.
When he nods, I relax back onto the hard cot.
Closing my eyes to the harsh lights, a wave of panic races through me.
“It’s my sister,” I choke out. “The guy who called me told me his name is ‘Mad Man’, and that he knew my father.”
There’s a silence that sits heavy enough to crush my chest.
Pushing against it, I sit up, hugging my knees.
The whiskers over his jaw twitches. “Your sister? Your mom had another kid?”
I don’t hide the smirk. “Yes. Duh. That’s what that means.” My hand twirls in an idle circle. “It was a while after we got to Texas. She dated lots of guys, so I have no idea who the father is.”
His cheeks pale, then he almost looks like he’s going to be sick. “Whoever is using her for extortion is a fucked up individual.” He runs his palm over his face, then scratches the whiskers on his chin. “Can you tell me what this asshole looks like?”
“I never saw him. He’d send instructions and locations to pick stuff up.” A shiver works through me.
The first interaction I had from him was a short video of him standing over my sister as she was sleeping with a knife in his hand, but it never showed his head.
Wade stands, slinging the chair around him to land with a thump in its original place near the wall. “I’ll get started going through your phone to see if I can track him down.” He takes a few steps, then pauses. “And I’ll send Billy in here with some food.”
“Thank you.” My empty guts would appreciate it.
“Elena? I’ll be careful how I check. You have my word.” He reaches up and tips his hat before disappearing.
I sure hope so, or I’m completely fucked.