Fuck The Police
ROGUE
We were all completely shredded after the mini-orgy in the living room, and I’m ashamed to say that I let Damon and Reb handle getting everyone aftercare and cleaned up.
Javi promised to have cleaners come in during the day today, and I found myself grateful yet again that I’m now functioning in a unit.
Having others who help with shit is more useful than I would have predicted—but then, I was used to taking care of myself.
Shaking my head as I finish my cool-down laps as my other teammates leave the track one by one, I think about what any of them would say if they heard I was giving up control to anyone.
It would be a shock to their systems; I never allow that, whether it’s in my team or my personal life.
Rainbow Smite is known for being fair, tough, and having impeccably high standards that she only asks because she also meets them.
They’ve seen me float from casual relationships to hookup to friends with bennies over and over throughout the years.
I’ve made it crystal clear that I wasn’t looking for anything serious outside of my baller derby team, and my occasional stints at the club.
“Things change, Rogue, even you,” I mutter to myself as I glide over the hardwood slowly. “The Fates make it impossible to say you’ll ‘never’ do shit, and they laugh when they prove you wrong. This family thing is proof of that.”
“Hey, Rogue, where the hell were you this weekend?” Betsy Sue skates over to me, her eyes curious as she moves alongside me. Anita and Melanie join in, followed by Drusilla, and they all look at me expectantly as we move in unison without trying.
I’m not telling my teammates things that could put them in danger, so I shrug. “Off with Reb and the boys causing trouble. Why?”
“You didn’t show at the bar or the club; we wondered,” Anita replies as she switches to skating backwards so she can face me. “It’s weird for you to be totally incognito, woman.”
She’s right, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up more information.
“We’re not married, dude. I can do things not at the same place with the same people all the time. Don’t be weird.”
Drusilla snorts, shaking her head as she joins Anita. They’re all surrounding me now, and it feels irritatingly like a coordinated ‘gang up’. “Come on, tell us. We all share shit, or we did before that ho left for the Sickos. Now you’re closed up like a clam.”
“That’s not a shock, Dru,” I growl low. “She betrayed us, betrayed me, and she was my closest, oldest friend and teammate. I’m not real eager to give anyone access to my private life with her spreading lies and rumors all over the fucking world like some deranged Hilton sibling.”
“Yeah, that makes sense,” Melanie says softly.
“Mina burned us all, but you really got screwed. She’s got this obsession with destroying you by playing the victim, and it’s…
Well, I think it’s downright pathological.
Like, why can’t she just move on? The damage is done, and you’ve left her alone unless she confronts you directly. What’s with the stalking?”
You’re telling me, girl.
I sigh, spinning in a circle once to see them all, then following the pack again.
“I don’t know. It’s not like I’m attempting to challenge her stupid culty team or even bad mouth her—when I definitely could.
I know her deepest, darkest secrets and fears; she knows that.
Pushing me could lead to my releasing that kind of receipt shit, yet she just continues to press my buttons. I don’t get it.”
Anita tsks, looking thoughtful. “Mutually assured destruction should keep her at bay, but it isn’t.
That’s really fucking psycho, Rogue. She doesn’t seem to care that you could easily ruin her rep globally, and even if her cult doesn’t believe it, everyone else will when they see your proof.
I agree that it’s just bizarre that she doesn’t shift her focus. ”
“I don’t have an answer for that, ladies.
” I point at the two skating backwards, twirling my finger to indicate that they should switch with the forward-facing ones behind me.
“All I know is that with the Sickos—and whoever is funding them—behind her, she’s gotten way more aggressive and reckless.
Beating me down in a place where one of them died was foolish and wasteful. ”
“Very wasteful,” Drusilla repeats as she moves around me to her new position. “It hurt their team as she was pretty talented.”
“Bringing Winnie into it was dumb as fuck.” Betsy Sue frowns as she replaces Dru.
“That draws lines in the bar and local hangouts that we don’t need in shifter spots.
It has to be fucking with business because you weren’t the only one not there this weekend.
It was deader than a raft full of corpses in the . ”
That’s probably because of the Apalachin, but again—they don’t need to know.
“Maybe there were other events out of town or something,” I mumble.
Anita cackles. “That we weren’t invited to? Hardly.”
The rest of them join in, and normally, I’d agree.
The Derby teams are always invited to big shit, especially because large sponsors are also our sponsors half the time.
They like the talent to mingle with the normal folks.
But this time, they’re mistaken, and it’s because they aren’t involved in any of the criminal shit in Bay City.
“Whatever the reason, maybe it will be better this weekend.” Melanie looks hopeful, and I smile back at her. She’s gentler in personality than most of us Bombers, but she’s fast and good. “Then we can all hang again, like usual.”
I nod, not really committing since I have no idea what I’ll be doing once the guys and I figure out the various shit we’re focused on this week. “Perhaps so. It’d be fun to let loose a bit before the next match next weekend.”
Oddly, I mean that, but I’m also not ready to guarantee my presence until I know if we’re going to end up sleuthing.
Once practice is over, I head outside, looking for my ‘shadow of the day’. Rebel is leaning against the hood of his car with a smirk, and I roll my eyes at him. “Man, you guys are so damned serious about this shit. I’m not in danger at the rink amongst my longtime team.”
“Since your ex-bestie was one of them until a few weeks ago, I’m still going with a big ‘no’ on being here without someone close enough to step in, little sis.”
Not that again.
“You can’t keep using that,” I hiss as I stomp over to him with my bag full of gear that needs to be cleaned. Shoving it into his hands, I yank the car door open. “When we come out as mated, it will be really fucking jarring, and I’d like not to draw that kind of attention to myself.”
“Ashamed of me?” he asks with a raised brow.
Growling softly, I shake my head. “Obviously not, but I do not want to have that specific slur thrown at us. We aren’t related by blood, and we’re not really brother and sister.
It’s a piece of paper that we don’t even know is legal, given Graciella’s bullshit.
But people will be assholes regardless, and no matter how cute you think it is, I’d rather not have that added to my list of sins along with the rest.”
Rebel tosses my bag into the trunk, then moves to get in on his side.
“Look, Kiandra. We know people are going to be dicks no matter what because of that very topic, plus the poly aspect. You and Arch are well known; Javi and the twins are high-powered. We cannot escape their scrutiny, so why not have fun with it?”
He’s got a point, but I refuse to let him win.
“Whatever,” I reply as he guns the engine and peels out as if we’re on the starting line. “Stop that! We’ll get pulled over. Cops aren’t part of the plan, either, dummy.”
His lips curve up, and he shrugs carelessly. “I’d love to see them catch me, babe. You and I both know that whatever they have under the hood can’t compete.”
“But we have to pick up Archie. He’ll be waiting, and I don’t want him alone either, if you’re so damned worried.” I cross my arms over his chest, and he makes a face at me. “I’m right, and you know it. Be less ridiculous, Reb.”
Despite not getting an answer, I feel him slow down as we hit the highway.
Traffic isn’t great, but he’s good at weaving in and out of it like a pro.
It takes a good fifteen minutes more than it should to arrive at the arena in the end—something that makes me tense.
I don’t completely believe that we’re unsafe in every single place on earth, but the mating bonds in my gut have a field day when they worry my mates might be in danger.
It’s a difficult balance, especially since I definitely cannot tell Rebel yet.
As we exit the expressway, my eyes widen when the arena’s parking lot—which should be nearly empty on non-game days—is packed to the gills. There are emergency vehicles, lights, sirens, and press vans everywhere. Gasping softly, I reach over and grip Reb’s arm lightly as he grimaces.
“What the fuck is this?” he snarls as he whips into the lot and heads for the barriers near the entrance. “And why isn’t there anything coming over the chats?”
I pull my phone out, swiping it open quickly, but he’s correct. Not one word in our group chat, nor anything else, that would alert us to a problem with Archie. “Damn it. Nothing.”
Rebel parks, hopping out and slamming his door as he rounds the car to open my door. I don’t have time to tease him about the knightly behavior because as soon as I’m out, a police officer comes striding over with a stern expression on his face.
“No parking!” he barks, and I groan. I really fucking hate most canine shifters; Anita is an exception to the rule.
They’re territorial and overbearing, but they also have just as much dislike for Fae.
“Take your bullshit fake racer somewhere else, rich kid. You can film your TikTok at the edge like all the other morons.”
My temper flares, and I hunker down, crossing my arms over my chest as I give the guy an acid glare.
“We’re not influencers, Officer. Rebel and I are official Guardians, emissaries of the Council by induction, and we’re related to someone inside that building.
Tell us what the hell is going on and watch your fucking tone. ”
The mutt winces at the word ‘Guardian’ and I know I’m going to win.
Agents, Guardians, and other Council official employees are well above local law enforcement, though some more than the others.
He knows we can make a phone call and have his ass on traffic duty at the worst intersection in Bay City with very little effort. “Fuck, I hate your lot.”
“Fae? Guardians? People who can read?” Rebel snarks as he mimics my posture. “There are so many choices I could list.”
That doesn’t help a bit, and for a second, I think the damn dog is going to dig his heels in, too.
“Look, man. My partner can be an ass, but that doesn’t negate your protocol here.
We outrank you, and we’re family. I’d prefer not to derail your career because you’re being a pain, but I will if you make me. ”
“Freya, give me patience,” the officer says as he turns on his heel to head for the barrier.
“Come on, then. You can deal with the fallout if it comes. I won’t forget your names or this bullshit.
You screw something up and I’m throwing your asses under the bus so fast you won’t be able to see the blur as I move. ”
Rebel laughs this time, letting me go first as we follow. “As if you could even come close to our speed, you flea-bitten ding-dong. I’d say in your dreams, but even there you’re so slow you’re almost not moving. Take us to our family and stop with the empty threats.”
This is going to be special—I can feel it in my bones.