Chapter 3
I’m making small talk around the table. I don’t know why I agreed to come out with them after our shift.
Usually, I don’t. Usually, I keep my distance, because if anyone were to find out, I’m sure I’d be gone quicker than I would realize.
And I don’t mean just off the force, I mean these guys will make sure I can never betray them again, whether that’s in prison or dead.
But if I never come out, that also seems suspicious.
I notice the group looking past me as they whisper to one another.
“She’s here again.” Matthews nudges Clarke, sitting next to him. “Goddamn, what I wouldn’t give to —”
Collins cuts him off. “Eli, isn’t that Anderson’s sister?”
I kind of hate how they talk about her like that. Like her own accomplishments don’t matter because of where she comes from, but I’m sure few people know how she’s in law school all on her own.
“Huh?” I don’t need to turn around to know it’s her, but I need to make the scene look real. “Hmm, yeah.” Turning back around and looking at them, shrugging.
I’m actually a little impressed with myself for maintaining my composure. I guess all these years of lying have made it second nature.
But I know she’s over there, dancing, to tempt me, toying with my willpower.
My dick’s still throbbing from our earlier interaction.
* * *
Earlier
Finishing my beer, I’m met with one as I step up to the bar.
“Thanks?” furrowing my brows.
“End of the bar,” she nods.
I’m surprised to see Drew sitting on the last stool. Her eyes come up, meeting mine before her teeth tug on her lip, smirking as she brings the glass up to her mouth. It now makes sense why all the guys at the table were whispering and looking in what I now realize was her direction.
“Thanks,” I tell the bartender without taking my eyes off Drew. I haven’t seen her in months. Not since I left her apartment. But, fuck if I haven’t thought about it more than I care to admit.
Motioning only with her eyes behind her, she downs the last couple of sips from her glass, stands up and walks towards the hallway behind her.
Glancing back over to the table of cops, I know how fucking risky it is, but goddamn if I can’t pass up the opportunity. Her presence breaking any inkling of willpower I have.
Walking back over to the table, placing the bottle down before heading back in the direction of where she went. The guys at the table are all talking to themselves quietly, so they won’t notice I’m gone.
The dim light coming from underneath the door tells me which one. Knowing it’ll be unlocked since she knew I’d follow her.
A sly grin pull across her lips as she glance up in the mirror. In my head, I’m once again imagining them around my dick.
Slipping through the opening, letting the door shut behind me. I lift my hand up, locking it.
“What are you doing in a cop bar?” I snicker, asking her, leaning backwards.
“I was waiting for you.”
“Why? You know you of all people, shouldn’t be here.”
“Please, I’m not my brother; I’m my own person.” She leans against the sink. “I wanted you to know my gratitude.”
“For what?” I toy with her.
“For not saying anything.”
“That was almost 6 months ago.”
“Yeah, but I know you guys just found the body, what, 2 months ago?”
“So how long have you been waiting around here?”
She hesitates before whispering. “A while.” Her eyes darting to keep from looking at me.
“You could have called.” I say, stepping into her.
“Don’t have your number.”
Biting my lip as I take another step. “Could have stopped by.”
“Don’t know where you live.”
“There’s definitely a way you could find all of that out.”
One more step.
“Yeah, but then I have to explain why I need it.”
“Come on,” I laugh. “There’s only one reason you came by here.”
“And what’s that?” Her words come out rasped.
“You want me to believe you came here because you didn’t have any intentions of fucking me.”
“Who says that’s not why?” she bats her lashes at me.
With another step, her eyes darken as I grow closer. “I do.”
“Then why am I doing this?” She says in a husky voice.
“You have every intention of fucking me; you just wanted the thrill, first.”
“Or I just had no other way to contact you.” She tries to maintain her stance.
Closing in the distance, causing her eyes to widen. “Come on, Sketch, we both know that’s not true.”
“I still hate that fucking name.” She shakes her head.
“That’s what makes it so good.”
“You’re a dick.”
It makes me chuckle as my arms skate around her body, pulling her into me.
“I am.” Slamming my lips down on hers. Possibly bruising them, but right now I don’t care.
I’ve had enough dreams about this goddamn woman in the last 6 months that I can’t help myself.
Maybe a part of me wants her to walk around with my marks.
Even though I know she’ll be my downfall.
This fabricated life I’ve set up for myself will implode, and she’ll be standing in the middle of it all.
She grips my T-shirt, pulling me closer to her. Sinking my hands lower, lifting her up to make it a little more manageable. Her legs locked around me, pulling me flush against her, grinding her hips into me.
Pulling away, I look down at her, shaking my head. “The fuck are you doing to me?”
“Oh, you know, just working my way deep into your psyche.” She smirks.
I look down at her. “This is what’s gonna happen.” Leaning in and kissing her neck as her hips grind back against me. “We go back out there. Wait half an hour and then go to my house. I’ll meet you there as soon as they realize you’re gone.”
“Why not just fuck me here?”
“Cause they’ll notice if I’m gone for much longer, and they probably already know that you’re gone.”
“How could they know that?” she bats her lashes as if she doesn’t already know.
“Don’t act dumb; we both know that’s why you’re here. You know they’re all watching you out there.”
“Why would I want that?” her voice is husky as she asks it.
“Because they’re all gonna go home tonight, lie next to their wives, and even though they won’t know it, they’ll all be wishing they were me.”
“But like you said, I shouldn’t be in a cop bar.”
I can’t help but laugh, leaning into her more. “Don’t you see, baby, you’re a flame, and all they want to do is touch you.”
“What?” She pulls away, confusion in her eyes.
“I’ll see you at my house.”
She just nods her head before I step backward, moving closer to the door, turning around, and unlocking the door.
“Wait,” she calls out.
Turning around, quirking my lips as I stare back at her, knowing that she just wants me to stay here longer.
Our eyes lock as she takes a step closer to me, closing the distance, and she reaches her hand up to my face, rubbing her fingers along my lips.
“It may be a giveaway if you go out there with lipstick on your face.”
“Yeah, probably a little more noticeable than how fucking hard you’ve made me.”
It’s obvious when she’s back. Not just because I can sense her, but because all the heads on the opposite side of the table stare off.
* * *
And now I’m sitting with the cops around the table, having another drink.
“Why is it always the ones you should stay away from who look like that?” Matthews asks as he shakes his head.
I want to hold his head under the water until the bubbles stop.
He stands up. “I’m gonna go try, anyway.”
“That’s a dumb idea.” The words are out before I realize I’m speaking, and everyone’s wondering why.
“Yeah,” Collins laughs, “her brother finds out, he’ll slit your throat.”
“Please,” he laughs, looking around. “I’m not afraid of Z.”
Everyone around the table looks at him with a shocked expression.
“You should be. How many times have we had something we’re sure is him, but we have no way to prove it?” Sherman speaks for the first time tonight. “Isn’t that right, Leech?”
Possibly the thing I hate most about being a cop is how everyone feels the need to go by their last names. I hate mine. I hate what it represents.
“Why are you asking me?”
“You grew up with him.”
“I did. You think what you’ve seen is brutal. All of that pales compared to what he’ll do to protect his sister.” I’m telling myself that just as much as I’m warning him. The body we discovered a few months ago, the one I know was Z’s handy work, and Drew just confirmed, comes to mind.
Matthews continues to stand, downing his shot before moving over.
My mind spins on how to convince him to stay away.
“The funny part is, you probably don’t have to worry about her brother as much as you think.
” The rest of the table looks at me. Matthews pauses, waiting for me to finish.
“You ever heard how Caroline was?” A couple of my older coworkers look down, laughing to themselves as Matthews waits for me to finish.
“I’ll just put it this way: most people were more afraid of pissing Caroline off than the MC.
Hell, even the MC was afraid of pissing her off. ”
Matthews laughs again, shaking his head. “Worth a shot.”
I’m about to ask him what his wife would think when he leaves the table, walking over to where she’s the only one dancing on the floor.
The entire table watches as she turns, looking at him.
I have to maintain any sort of composure as he leans into her, whispering in her ear.
Her brows furrow as she moves closer towards him, as if he’s not making any sense.
Pulling away, she laughs, not sweetly, but based on her posture and her face, I know she’s mocking him.
“Oh, he’s pissed.” Collins laughs as Matthews turns around, his face pursed as he storms back over to us. She waves to him as he leaves.
“I warned him.” Before turning around, her eyes catch mine for a second as she smirks.
“Fucking psycho bitch.” Matthews mutters as he flops into the chair across from me.
“What’d she say?” someone asks.
“She’s a fucking bitch.” He repeats, and as I sip my drink, I realize he’s talking to me.
“Huh?” I’m fighting the urge to punch him. “Why’s that?”
“Because she laughed in your face?” Collins asks him.
I swear, I can see his face changing hue in front of me.