CHAPTER FOUR
-:- RUGER -:-
Night patrol is boring as all hell. Hardly a person in sight, but if this is what the client is paying for, then we’ll ride past, or stop and check at random times. Making sure we clock into the system showing we’ve done what we are being paid to do.
I like that we wear our earpieces as it gives a sense of security to us in the dark corners we enter.
Tonight, I’m riding with Drake, who is a team member with a security background.
He hardly speaks, but I’ve noticed he misses nothing.
His eyes are watching everything and the slightest noise he stills, able to target where the sound is coming from, which is uncanny and a little eerie.
“Fancy a coffee, Drake?” I ask as I head toward our next warehouse to check.
“Yeah, why not.” Yep, that’s the most I get out of him.
But he must sense how I’m feeling about the lack of communication as he speaks again.
“You know, you’re a good partner, Ruger.
You don’t push to have endless meaningless chatter, and you take your job seriously.
I like that, and I reckon we’ll get on well. ”
“Thanks, Drake. You’re not so bad yourself. Well, it would be nice for you to speak now and again.” I smirk and Drake shakes his head some, but I can see he has a tip to the corner of his mouth, doing his best not to smile.
We grab our coffee from an all-night diner that isn’t half bad, and I don’t mind admitting it. The young man that serves at this place is the grandson of the owner, and he’s looking to do something else. Well, that’s what he was telling us as we drank our coffee at the counter.
“You done any kind of security work?” I ask and nod for him to fill my cup.
“Not really. But it’s gotta be better than this, and Gramps has no intention of retiring or passing on the diner at this time. Any ideas I put forward he vetos and I’ve had enough of just stagnating. The place could be great, but it’ll be like this for quite a few years yet.”
“What’s your name kid?” Drake asks, and I can see the kid part bristles our server.
“Name’s Pryce, and I’m not a kid.”
“Okay, kid,” Drake drawls. Turning to look at him I see he’s doing his best not to smirk, and Pryce must see it too as he gives a crooked grin, shakes his head and refills Drake’s cup.
“Come over to BaronsSecure Services and I’ll see if I can put in a good word for you to join the team. But you may have to prove your worth first.” I’m sure Lincoln will want to see if Pryce can fight his way out of a brown paper bag before he gives him a chance.
“Okay, will do. Thanks.” Pryce walks over to a trucker who has walked in and taken a table. It’s not long before Drake and I leave and get back on patrol.
We are nearly done and heading to our last check before returning to base. “I reckon that kid will be a good one. He has something about him I liked. You see how fit he was, smacks of working out.”
Responding to Drake, I hum in thought first. “Now you mention it…he seemed fit. I liked him and the fact he wanted to do things with that place. It showed he looked to the future and progress. Shame his gramps is going to miss out with him, because I have a feeling he’s going to make the team.”
Pulling up outside the office building, a light is on inside. I look at Drake and he nods to acknowledge he’s seen it, too. We step out of the vehicle and quickly, but quietly check the main door to the building. It opens and we slide inside, making sure we don’t alert anyone to our presence.
Drake flicks his hand, showing he’s going left, and I nod as I point to the door a little further to the right. Splitting up isn’t ideal, but we are both capable of handling ourselves, so we make our move.
Pushing open the door to a large office I come to a standstill because the last thing I expected was a woman behind the desk, head on the desk fast asleep.
I tap my earpiece and make sure it’s active as I walk over to the desk.
I stay on the opposite side of the desk to the woman, and stomp as I walk, to hopefully wake the woman.
When she doesn’t stir I cough, roughly, and loudly. The woman jerks awake and with wide confused eyes she stares at me. “You okay, lady? We are the security team that is employed to check the building during the out of office hours. My teammate is checking the other offices.”
Rubbing her neck while blinking rapidly, the woman becomes fully awake. “I’m sorry. We have an emergency board meeting today and I wanted to be sure everything was in order. I must have fallen asleep at some stage. What time is it?”
Now, the fact we wear a uniform, and we have an ID on our breast pocket is enough to reassure the woman at first sight. “It’s four in the morning, and you should head out, get a couple of hours rest before you have to come back again.”
“You are right, and this has never happened before. Brent, my boss, has been on my back for weeks, and I think he’s looking for a reason to get rid of me.” The woman is around 5’7” when she stands, has short dark hair and is nicely shaped. Not one of the stick figures we keep seeing these days.
“Why is he doing that?” I ask just as Drake walks into the office. “Drake, this lady fell asleep at her desk. Had to wake her.”
Drake nods, then gives the woman his attention, and I mean his attention. He is looking her up and down like she’s a snack he’d like to eat. I elbow him hard, making him grunt, but it brings him out of the haze he had gone into. “Asking again, why is he doing that?”
The woman sits slowly, folds her hands on the desk and looks up with a hint of sadness. “I’ve worked here for five years, and it seems Brent’s side piece has more to offer the firm than I do. She can offer enhanced breasts, and liposuction.”
Drake snorts. “Oh, one of those. Well, the man’s an idiot. Why don’t you apply at BaronsSecure Services? I am sure I heard Penny saying she needed someone for the upstairs office as her assistant. You’d have the qualification for that I would think.”
“Actually, I may just do that. I think waking here with you two has been an eye-opener. The door was left unlocked, leaving me at risk. Not a single employee has checked on me in days. Yet I’ve about lived in this office making sure things are ready for this board meeting.”
“What’s your name? I’ll put in a good word for you.” I look at Drake as he’s still fanning on the woman. That’s going to be a good arsenal I can use against him!
“My name is Everlee Sorenson.”
“Okay, Everlee, I’ll speak with Penny who will be the one you’ll need to contact.” I take a card out of my back pocket and hand it to Everlee. Taking it, she gives me a smile and a nod of thanks.
“You going to be okay when we leave?” Drake asks.
“I’m going now. I’ll lock up as we three leave.” Grabbing her purse, she walks past us and out the door, us following her, and I can see Drake checking out her ass. Shaking my head, I make sure I check the door is locked once Everlee has done it, and Drake walks her to her vehicle.
Forty minutes later we are back at BaronsSecure and take a shower in the locker room. Changing into our day clothes, we hang our uniforms in our locker for the next shift.
We both walk into the kitchen area, which is more like a school cafeteria, and check what the cook has out for night patrol. Magnus walks out of the large pantry area, surprising me as I didn’t know he started this early. “Morning, Magnus.”
“Morning. I have bacon, sausage, hash browns, any type of egg you want, toast, grits, pancakes or waffles.” Magnus doesn’t stop what he is doing as he spouts his menu.
Drake steps up to the serving area and helps himself to some of everything before saying, ‘Thanks,’ and heading to a table. I follow behind and do the same, but grab a mug of coffee, too.
We eat quietly for a while, and then I can’t resist. “So, you liked Everlee?” Drake very slowly turns his head to look at me, stops mid-chew as he does. I can’t resist adding. “Well, you checked her out so well it’s a wonder she didn’t get a medical certificate.”
“Fuck you, Ruger. Shut your trap.”
I can see Drake is doing his best to hold back a smirk, and I give him a moment, then add. “Well, if she comes here to work there’ll be some brothers wanting to jump on that before she’s snapped up.”
Again, Drake stops chewing, and I can see the tick in his jaw. “Not happening. I saw her first.”
“Actually, I saw her first. Fast asleep at her desk. That boss of hers is a total asshole, and I hope his side piece gives him something nasty.” I take a bite of toast and chew aggressively at the thought of the boss who is taking the piss out of Everlee.
Just as we finish breakfast Penny walks into the kitchen, passing us without noticing as she has her face studying her iPad.
Stopping at the service area, Penny lifts her head and gives Magnus a huge smile.
Now, that is not going down well with me, and I jump from my seat, grab my dishes and head to the service area.
Before Penny or Magnus can say anything, I place my dishes on the desk and turn to Penny. “Good morning, Babe. How are you this morning? Is Punkin at the ladies’ house?”
“Good morning, Ruger. Oh, good morning, Drake. Yes, I’m good this morning thanks, and Arabella is with the ladies. She was a little grumpy this morning, but settled with Joan as soon as I walked into the house with her.” Penny runs her hand over her iPad and has a small frown on her face.
“Do you want me to check on her before I go home?”
“Would you mind? I’m wondering if she’s teething, but she’s starting to crawl already and she’s just growing up fast.” Penny looks a little sad, and I understand that it’s hard for her now that she’s not with Punkin all the time, however, you can’t stop kids growing up.
“I’ll check on her and if I think she needs it, I’ll have Stitch check her again.” I watch as Penny gets toast and a coffee. I don’t offer to carry it for her because I know that’ll get her stomping her feet and spouting about her independence.
“Penny!” Drake gets Penny’s attention. “We may have found you that assistant you want for the upstairs office.”
“Oh yes? I have Jayne, Bentley and Wren working a rota to cover the reception area seven days a week. They do gofer jobs for the bosses too, so it’s great that we have the three of them.
But to have a reliable assistant would be perfect, because if I have time off through Arabella being ill, or anything like that, I need someone I can depend on.
Someone I can call and know they will do as I ask without me having to worry.
” Penny taps on her iPad, and I grin at Drake.
Then Penny looks at Drake with an eyebrow raised.
“Oh, her name is Everlee Sorenson. She has worked at Brent Planning Services for five years,” Drake informs.
“That is one we cover on our night patrol. Last night, we had to investigate why a light was on in one of the offices. We found Everlee asleep at her desk. Her boss is an asshole and seems he wants his side piece to take Everlee’s job although she has worked for him a long time.
” I have a hint of attitude in my response, and I’m happy to admit that.
“That is a company that plans weddings, right through to corporate events. She’ll have impressive skills at planning rosters, appointments, and keeping everyone’s schedules in order.
Yeah, she could be a great addition to the team.
” Penny looks at Drake and waits, but when he says nothing, she frowns.
“Well, have you got her contact details?”
Shaking his head, Drake blushes a little. “No, but she has our card and is going to call.”
Penny hums, taps something on her iPad, and looks at both of us. “Well, get moving. You get home, and you…” pointing at me, “go check Arabella.”
Tipping my fingers to my brow I chuckle as I follow Drake out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you tonight, Drake. You can be driver this time.”
“Yeah, I don’t mind that. See you later.” Drake heads outside to his truck and I walk toward my bike but nearly flip my lid when fucking Rosemarie is sitting astride my girl.
“Get the fuck off my bike!” I bellow, and rushing over I grab her arm and drag her off, not giving a shit that she lands on her ass on the ground.
Drake runs over and stands next to me and he has that steely-eyed look that says he’s ready to do whatever is needed.
“You have been told to stay the fuck away from me.”
“Really?” Drake asks. I give him a nod and he grins, takes out his cell phone and makes a call.
“I needed to see you, Ruger. You’ve not been around my place and you know I could be pregnant.” Rosemarie stands now in front of me, trying to look sweet and coy. But everyone and their mother knows she’s anything but.
“There is no way you could be pregnant, so don’t start that shit with me.
You told me yourself and I had it checked that you had a hysterectomy when you were nineteen due to a tumor.
” I fold my arms over my chest and glare.
But it is when I see Penny standing at the door that I know this is going to cause shit between us.
A siren is heard and thank fuck, Forest has arrived. He is in his cruiser, so it’s official. Drake grabs Rosemarie’s arm as she turns to run. Me, I step toward Penny, but she huffs and walks back inside. Fuck me, it’s going to be one of those days.
It doesn’t take long for Rosemarie to be arrested and hauled off in the back of the cruiser. I’m hoping they put her in a mental hospital somewhere because I’ve a feeling she really is nuts, and not, as we say in a light-hearted way.
Now, I have to do damage control between Penny and me because of that stupid bitch. Not sure how I’m going to do that!