Chapter Twenty-Two
Dominic
“Starr, my office,” Simms called to me prior to my tour. I put my jacket in my locker. Emmy and Jet were in the bullpen, filling out their reports, and Emmy had barely acknowledged me.
“Be right there.” I closed my locker door and walked past Harper and Malone, who were putting on their uniforms.
“Hopefully the Loot’s gonna finally fire your ass,” Harper muttered as I passed by. I kept my head up and didn’t answer. When I walked past Emmy, he shook his head and muttered, “Arrogant fucker,” loud enough for me to hear.
Simms closed the door to his office, and my knees gave out. I sank to the chair.
“So I guess I don’t need to ask how you’re holding up, son.” Simms drew a chair next to mine.
“It’s been really rough,” I managed to mumble. “I hate it.”
He placed a hand on my arm. “I know you do. But it’ll all be over soon enough, and I’ll make sure everyone knows you were completely innocent. Your name will be cleared—hell, you’re gonna be a hero for helping clean up this area. There’ll be a medal in this for you.”
“I don’t want any of that—I never even thought about it. Do you know what it’s like to look in the mirror and hate yourself? I walk past these guys who, even if we weren’t close, used to at least respect me as a deputy. Now they despise me. They want me fired.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Bradford asked for a new partner, but I can’t switch you.”
Hearing that, it felt like my soul was crushed. From the start, Bradford had looked up to me as his training officer. “Because no one else will ride with me, correct?”
Simms sidestepped my question. “Do they know how long this should take? What’s your next step?”
“I’m supposed to be hearing from my father today about the first shipment. I’ll have to go to New York City.”
“You’ll need time off.”
“Yeah. I’ll figure it out.”
“Stand strong, Dominic. It won’t last forever. As much as it hurts, you’re doing a good thing. Getting drugs off the street is my number-one priority. It destroys too many families. Kills too many kids.”
From the devastation in his eyes, I sensed there was a personal reason behind his feelings, but I didn’t want to pry.
“I agree. Which is why it makes me sick to think the guys believe everything, but I guess I’m a better actor than I thought.” I got to my feet. “Thanks, Lieutenant. I’m glad you know the truth.”
“Me too. Because if I thought any of it was true, you’d be out on your ass faster than you could blink.”
We shook hands, and I left the office. When I passed the bullpen, I was surprised to see Emmy still there. I tried to pass by him, but he stepped in my way.
“Simms fire your crooked ass yet, Starr? You don’t belong here. Why don’t you leave?”
“Get out of my way, Emmy. Go fluff your hair or something.”
“Fuck you, man. You’re dirty. That’s probably why you came up here, to run away from shit you started while you were with the department. What happened? They caught you? Motherfucking dirtbag drug dealer.” He continued to spew curses at me while Jet pulled on his arm.
“Em, come with me. Cool off.”
“No, fuck him, walking in here with that damn smug smile like his shit don’t stink.” He rounded in my face. “You do stink. So fuck you.”
By now a crowd had gathered, and I saw from their faces they all agreed with him. Emmy stood close enough for me to see the challenge in his eyes. And the tiny smirk on his lips. He was goading me, the bastard. And I loved him.
I drew my fist back and punched him, making sure to give only a glancing blow off his jaw, but there was enough force behind it that he staggered. He charged me, swinging, and clocked me good on the temple.
“Watch it, Emmy. Don’t damage the merchandise,” I murmured and hit him in the stomach. I heard his grunt of pain.
Jet grabbed Emmy, and Simms grabbed me.
“Starr, enough.” Simms glared. “That’ll be a thirty-day suspension without pay for initiating a fight. Get out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”
That little altercation accomplished what I needed. I attempted to appear contrite, but no one believed me. Head high, I walked out to the glares and sneers of my fellow officers. I grabbed my coat from my locker and left for home.
Halfway there, I changed my mind and decided a run around the lake would be good, even in the dark.
I pounded out my pain and anger, the chilly wind flinging the tears from my lashes.
After five miles, I was soaked with sweat.
I headed to my car and drove home. A hot shower revived me, and I pulled on sweats, thinking about dinner and if Emmy was coming after his tour.
My doorbell rang, and when I answered it, my stomach dropped.
“What the fuck do you want?”
My father stood on my doorstep, his once black hair now shining silver in the porch light.
“Is that any way to talk to your father? Aren’t you going to invite me inside?”
I planted my feet wide and folded my arms. “No. I asked you what you want. You were supposed to call me.”
He scanned me up and down, his eyes narrowed and filled with disdain. “I wanted to make sure you really have big enough balls to do this.”
I smirked. “No one’s ever complained about the size of my balls.” Emmy loved licking them, a fact I chose to keep from my father.
“You’ll be coming in two days with the first shipment. My guys will test it to make sure it’s good, then payment is made, minus my cut.”
“What guys? And what happens after delivery?” McGill had asked me to get as much information as possible from my father whenever we spoke, but the wily fox probably still didn’t trust me.
“None of your goddamned business yet.”
I took a step forward. My father and I might’ve had the same appearance, but I was two inches taller, had twenty pounds of muscle on him, and had no problem with intimidation.
“My ass is on the line here, old man. That makes it my business. Maybe I want a bigger piece of the action than what I can get from this rinky-dink town.”
A cunning awareness crept into his eyes. “And you think I’m going to just hand this operation to you? Something I’ve been working on for more than twenty years, just because you’re my son? You need to prove your loyalty to me. You never have before—you’ve been a mama’s boy.”
“I’m risking my career and my freedom for this. That’s fucking proof enough. Who else is involved? I have a right to know the other players I’m dealing with.”
“Maybe you’re not as much of a loser as I thought.
” He regarded me with grudging respect and named several top deputies as well as a few narcotics detectives and, shockingly, even some prosecutors and judges.
“They ease the way for me with the cartels handling the product. We occasionally make a bust to keep it looking kosher, but we got that handled as well.”
Hearing how casually he talked about all this made me want to simultaneously hurl and punch his face in. But I kept it together, even as I recognized Emmy’s car drive down the street.
Fuck no. Not now.
I willed him to keep going. He continued down the street until I lost sight of him and I could breathe again.
“How much can I make? The salary up here isn’t as much as at home.”
“About a quarter million a year for your take. I’ve got a few off-shore accounts I’ve been sending my money to. If you make the cut, I’ll show you how to set it up.”
“Make the cut? What the hell does that mean?”
“You’ll see.” He hesitated. “Where’s your mother now?”
My stomach sank. “I don’t know. She’s traveling with her husband. I haven’t spoken to her in a year.”
“She never should’ve left me. I would’ve given her everything. You turned her against me. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”
He turned and walked down the steps to a car I hadn’t noticed idling at the curb.
He slid into the dark recesses of the back seat and drove away.
I sank to the front step and wrapped my arms around my legs to stop the shaking.
I rested my head on my knees, but at the sound of footsteps, raised it to see Becker McGill striding up the path.
“You were there all the time? You saw him.”
“Saw and heard.”
My brow creased. “Heard? How did…you bugged my house?” At the thought of them listening to Emmy and me in our private moments, a murderous rage descended. “You bastards,” I hissed. “How fucking dare you?” I wanted to wipe that unperturbed expression off his face with my fist.
“Don’t worry. We didn’t put any devices in your bedroom or bathroom. We have some scruples.”
“Goddamn you.” My cheeks burned, and his assurance did nothing to cool my anger. “You should’ve asked me. It’s common decency. Something you IAB guys lack.”
I was ready to tear into him more, but I spied Emmy jogging down the street, and all I wanted was to have McGill disappear so I could be alone with my guy.
“Starr, was that—”
“Yeah,” I cut him off. “We’re done here.” I rose to my feet. “Two days. You heard him,” I said with a snide tone. “I’ll contact you.”
“No need. We’ll know.” Without acknowledging Emmy, he left us standing on the porch. I ducked my head, still embarrassed at what happened between the two of us earlier.
“Wanna come in?”
He nodded and followed me inside. When I shut the door, he pushed me against it and slammed his mouth over mine. Relieved that he wasn’t mad, I held his face and sucked his tongue like a starving man, greedy for his love.
“I hated what happened at the station,” he murmured while touching me everywhere. “I’m sorry, but I had to do it.”
“I know, I know,” I soothed him. “It all came crashing in on me today. I’m sorry I hit you.”
He laughed against my mouth. “I know you held back.” He tugged my hoodie off and removed his own.
“I didn’t want to damage the merchandise.
It’s much too precious to me.” I got on my knees and undid the button tab of his jeans.
Those bright-green eyes flared hot, and his lips parted, showing the pink of his tongue.
“I should do a physical to make sure you’re not hurting.
” I tugged the jeans down and traced the star tattoo with my tongue.
“Have I told you how fuckin’ sexy this is? Like a piece of me is part of you.”
“I don’t need a tattoo for that. You’re in here with me. Always. Forever.” Touching his chest, Emmy smiled so sweetly, my heart hurt with all the love he’d given me.
I nuzzled the heavy bulge of his erection, soaking in his scent and heat. I wanted to cover myself in it to drown the awful memory of our fight, my father’s visit, and the humiliation of McGill bugging my home.
Which meant what was about to happen here…couldn’t. I got to my feet, put a finger to my lips, and motioned for him to follow me. Confused, Emmy left his discarded jeans and sneakers behind. I shut the bedroom door behind us.
“What’s going on?”
After I explained, I thought Emmy’s eyes would pop out of his head. “That son of a bitch,” he swore; then a devilish grin kicked up his lips. “I hope he enjoyed it. Because damn, we were fucking hot for each other in the living room sometimes.”
“Screw him. I’m hot for you now. Dammit, Emmy, I need you.”
He put his arms around my neck. “You got me, Starr. Every single piece.”
We tore off our clothes and tumbled on to the bed, arms and legs entwined, mouths clinging. I nipped the sharp points of his nipples and lapped at the line of dark hair leading to his groin.
“Gotta taste you. Eat you up. Want you to come in my mouth.”
“Suck me.” He urged me on, green eyes blazing with a possessive light.
I gripped his hot shaft and dove down, his thick cock filling my throat.
I tightened my lips and worked him from root to tip, swirling my tongue, loving his sighs and gasps.
His hips snapped, sending his shaft deeper, and I choked but loved the stretch.
“Dom, Dom,” he cried and came, hot come filling my mouth, and I swallowed it all.
“Mmm,” I hummed and released him, then pushed his legs apart and shoved my tongue in his hole. I was fucking feral for him and couldn’t stop the take, take, take, mine, mine, mine running through my brain.
“Oh fuck, Dom, too much,” he moaned, thrashing on the bed.
But feeling him beneath me, watching his face alive with passion and knowing I put it there, broke me, and I knew I could never go back to being that cold, withdrawn man again.
“Baby, this is just the beginning. Wanna feel you tonight, Emmy. All of you.”
He understood immediately. “Raw? You wanna do it without a condom?” I nodded cautiously, and he put out a hand. I laced our fingers together. “Thank fucking God. I’ve been waiting for you to say something. Of course I want that.”
I grabbed the lube and slicked myself up until my dick glistened. I wanted to make it easier for Emmy, but from the hungry expression on his face, he was dying for it. I slipped the head past the tight rim, and he groaned, but when I stopped, he dug his fingers into my arm.
“Don’t stop. You have no idea how good…oh, fuck.” He sighed at my shallow thrust. The hot grip of his muscled passage was like a fist of silken fire, and soon we were clinging to each other, my hips snapping and rolling as I drove into him.
“Emmy, fuck me, oh God.” My heart thundered, sweat blinded me, and I came so hard, I lost consciousness and woke up still inside him, shaking and my face wet. “I love you. Don’t ever leave me. Please don’t. I couldn’t stand it.”
He whispered in my ear, “I’m part of you, remember? You couldn’t get rid of me even if you tried.”
I nudged him with my nose and kissed his smiling mouth. “I’m not trying. I’m many things, but a fool isn’t one of them.”