Though we’re barely moving our hips, Talia’s moans stab the ceiling and fill the car. Dropping my right hand from her tit, I finger the front of her pussy. I’m relentless, contradicting our nearly nonexistent fuck. Talia’s right hand falls to mine, and she holds my hand as I work my fingers. With her head slightly above mine, I hear her whispering, “Dylan, I…Put your hands all over me.”
Leaving her tit, with my left arm, I hug her hips. “Like he did?”
“He didn’t.” Talia writhes against me, her moans escalating as she attempts to lift her hips up and down, but I hold her still. Talia pleads, “Let me fuck your cock. Oh, my God.”
That provokes me, so I angle my head close to her ear. “So much that you fucked his?”
This time, her moan quivers. “I’m sorry.”
“But not sorry enough.”
“I am!” Talia keeps trying to raise her hips to move one of us, but we’ll fuck my way or not at all. And if I don’t want to finish, I won’t. She owes me that much. When I don’t relent, Talia whimpers as my fingers polish her clit faster.
“Oh, so now I should trust you?” She only moans in response, but her hand grips mine tighter to slow me, but I don’t let her. “Did his dick make you come?”
“No. Only yours.”
“I’m glad I was good for something.”
Talia begs, “Stop. I’m sorry.” However, when she sits up, I go with her, moving my arm but still fingering. Holding onto the headrests again, Talia slowly fucks me as I hear more whimpering and soft apologies. Was I that stupid not to notice? Was I that stupid to love her? As Talia slides up and down my dick, I’m torn between using her for this last, mindless fuck or giving in, making love to her as I have every other time. Thinking of her having sex with Tristan and how she lied about wanting to be my everything, silent tears drip down my face. I guess I’ve really always been her nothing.
Unable to keep going, I let Talia slow. Her voice is shrill in the enclosed space when I press more firmly against her clit. “Fuck! I’m going to come! Jesus!” She holds my hand to her pussy as it chokes my dick, her clit twitches against my fingers. Talia’s yells resemble a horror movie as her orgasm drips over my balls.
When she finally relaxes, her voice is desolate as she moves faster. “I want you.”
Instead, I lift her off me until she falls to the seat. Still hard, I scoot toward the door, muttering, “You had me.”
She gawks at my hard-on, so I think of her with Tristan and soften enough I can zip my pants. “You didn’t come, did you?”
“I don’t want to.” Confused, her eyes fall to my dejected dick and then fly up to my face, but I don’t meet her gaze.
Talia whispers, “Look at me.”
“No.”
“I want to finish you off.” She reaches for my crotch. I jerk away, irritated I’m not limp enough yet. “Don’t touch me. You finished me by fucking Prescott.”
“Dylan.” Talia sniffs, and I fight the urge not to pull her to me.
Also annoyed by that, I snap, “What? You got one more fuck before cutting me loose.”
“That’s not what this was. I…”
With my dick retreating enough, I tuck myself back into my pants. Bitter, I can’t look at her. “I provided a public service. Just doing my job, helping a citizen get off. Am I wrong?” I finally glance at her face, seeing her tears. But she also sees mine.
“That’s not true. Dylan, I didn’t…” Her voice breaks a few times, saying, “I hope one day you’ll understand and forgive me.”
I shrug. “What’s there to understand? You cheated on me with another police officer and ex-roommate because you were mad that I tried to protect you. So?”
When I grab the door handle, she asks, “Where are you going?”
Gripping it, I say, “Maybe I’ll go to Priority like Taggart ordered. Maybe I’ll go home and jack off. Maybe I’ll quit my job and live in a box. Maybe I’ll fertilize Verna’s garden.” I cringe and scream on the inside. That will never happen.
“Holy hell, Dylan!”
Opening the door, I get out and ignore Talia’s pleas for me to stay. But I can’t, as much as I still want to.
As I reach my cruiser, I look back to see Talia, now dressed and crying near the trunk of her car. Before I can sit down, I hear her call my name. And I swear to Christ, she says, “Oh, God. I love you so fucking much.”
But I get in and leave in a hurry because right now, I don’t trust myself.
Chapter 27
Returning to the station, I park my patrol unit and tell Sergeant Leary I’m sick and going home. He’s engrossed, listening to a hockey game. He eyes me with suspicion but reminds me of everything I need to do before leaving. Then, a penalty elicits another stream of four-letter words and renders me a nuisance. I finish my tasks and change out of my uniform.
Before I leave the station, I check my phone and see missed calls from Taggart, Jordan, and Talia. Clenching my jaw as I grip my phone, I’m more pissed off than sad.
I turn left at Swift Valley Road and punch the gas, knowing no cop sits on this road at night and go down Citrus Grove Drive and then Fireside Road, finally turning onto Marigold Street. Pulling into the complex, I park in my old parking spot and get out. I leave my gun in the car. It’ll be too tempting. Since I don’t have a key anymore, I’m relegated to pounding.
The door flies open, and Tristan’s eyes almost fall out of his skull. “Rook, I’m surprised to see you here so late.”
Plowing through the door, I shove him against the wall with one hand at his throat. “Do you have anything to say before I slam your head through this wall?”
He wheezes, “What the hell is your problem?” Tristan shoves me, but I grab his shirt.
“You.” I yank him closer and then throw him against the wall. “You fucked her.”
Tristan smirks. “Wait a minute. Whoa. Her? Sorry, Rook, you’ll need to be more specific.”
“Don’t pull that shit with me.”
Straightening, he laughs. “Oh. So, it’s true? We’re both fucking Taggart’s goddaughter. Nice, Rook. Taggart warned you to keep it in your pants.”
“You knew she was with me.”
“Don’t you think Natalia should’ve known?” He crosses his arms. “I didn’t know you were together for sure. You know Taggart will have you fired, right?”
“Oh, really? How’s she gonna find out?”
“Come on now. You’re Lying to your FTO? Someone should tell her.”
“When did you nail Natalia? Before or after you blabbed about her dad?”
“It was after you spilled your load without a jimmy hat. How disgustingly irresponsible. You knock Natalia up, Taggart will cut off your dick with a hacksaw and display it during briefing.” He shakes his head with a smirk, and I squeeze my fists at my sides. “Natalia had the right to know her boyfriend’s uncle and her godmother took down that piece of shit. Why was it a secret?”
“She didn’t need to find out from you.”
“Exactly right, Rook. You should have told her before violating her, like all the other guys daddy dearest sent her way.”
I laugh, catching Tristan off guard before I leap forward, slamming my fist into his face. He yelps, “Fuck!” When he grabs his eye, I hook his shoulder and tilt to the side, sweep his leg and knock him to the ground. Stupid fucker should have seen it coming since he helped me perfect it.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he yells, grabbing my throat, but I punch him in the ribs, making him curl beneath me as I straddle his torso. “She doesn’t love you.”
He groans and then takes a swing at me. I dodge him, grab his shirt, and sneer, “But she hates you.” Tristan swings and clips my chin, so I grip his throat. I’m tempted to end him. “You breathe a word to Taggart, and you’ll be the one with your head on a pike in the briefing room.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a fucking threat, promise, and your future, dickhead.”
�
�It doesn’t look like Natalia will be in yours unless you like dueling cum shots.”
I punch him in the mouth, knocking his head against the carpeted floor.
Tristan covers his mouth with one hand and tries to return the punch with his other, but I’m too fast. Jumping up, I leave since I got my point across and have nothing more to add.
Dead inside, I get into my car and drive home. Once there, I go to my room and sit on my bed, flexing my fingers as the night crushes me. That prick accused me of being a lowlife and taking advantage of Talia. I fucking loved her. He deserves to look down the barrel of my gun and eat lead, but I rose above it and busted his face instead.
I lost Talia and probably my job. The throbbing in my chest is far worse than the one in my hand. I dig my hands into my hair as I sob harder than I did after Audrey, and I was with her for two years.
That alone fucks me up more, and I stay like this for what feels like an eternity. Or an hour. Whichever.
Chapter 28
My ringing phone wakes me. Noticing I’m still wearing my clothes and shoes, I sit up to see it’s a quarter after eight in the morning. Taggart’s name assaults me, and I fall back to the bed, only to have her interrupt my wallowing twice more. On the third ring, I pick up the phone to hear, “When I call, I expect you to pick up the phone, officer.”
“It’s my day off. I was sleeping.”
“Not today. I require your attendance in Conference Room A at ten-hundred hours.”
“What? No. I can’t today.”
“You can, and you will. Street clothes.”
I sigh. “Fine.” I end the call but have no will to move until I’m down to the wire. In the shower, I let the water cover me but don’t bother with soap or shampoo. Tipping my head back, I don’t care if I drown. I’m dead, anyway.
Walking into the conference room, I observe stacks of folders and papers surrounding Taggart. I take a seat at the long table and stare at the whiteboard. Great. A meeting with a bunch of people. Can’t wait.
I don’t bother shifting to a more attention-ready posture, slouching against the back of my chair. Across from me, Taggart taps her pen on the table. “Good morning, Officer McGrath. How lovely it is for you to finally show up, twenty-eight minutes late.”
Not in the mood for her judgment, I shrug. “Rough morning.”
“And apparently, a rough night.”
“Am I here for a reason on my day off?”
Taggart’s scowl deepens, but when she glances behind me to the doorway, she smiles and motions. Hearing people enter the room, I turn to see Keisha from human resources, followed by Lieutenant Menezzo. What the hell?
They both greet me as they take their seats next to Taggart, who clasps her hands over a mound of papers. Lieutenant Menezzo clears her throat and says, “Officer McGrath, this morning, we received a disturbing report from a colleague of yours, stating you assaulted him in his home last night.”
I sit up but can’t answer right away. Taggart’s questioning isn’t so groomed. “Speak up, McGrath. Is this true?”
Crossing my arms, I nod. “Yeah. I did.”
Lieutenant Menezzo asks, “What prompted you to do this? Officer Prescott said it was a personal matter that didn’t warrant an assault. Would you care to elaborate?”
Glancing at Taggart, who briefly closes her eyes and shakes her head, I answer, “No, I don’t. It was personal, and I was off duty.”
Taggart barks, “You refuse to tell us why you assaulted Tristan Prescott?”
“Did he tell you?”
Both Menezzo and Taggart frown, with Taggart answering, “No, he wouldn’t say.” At least he did something right.
Lieutenant Menezzo leans forward. “Officer McGrath, we reviewed your dash-cam footage. Even though there was no call from dispatch, you drove the city-owned patrol unit, code three with lights and sirens at a high rate of speed. Do you have a valid reason for that?”
“I performed a welfare check.”
“But you didn’t notify dispatch?”
“I told them I was taking a break.”
“You performed a welfare check on your break?”
“Yes.”
Lieutenant Menezzo looks at the paper in front of her. “The welfare check was at Natalia Welch’s home. Why?”
I narrow my eyes. “A check of her welfare.”
Taggart snaps, “Cut the smart-aleck act and answer the question.”
I sigh. “Sergeant, you were with me earlier when we found Natalia upset on the side of the road. I wanted to make sure she was okay.”
“But you didn’t follow my orders.”
“I was still doing my job.”
Taggart pounds her fist on the table, “Then why did you turn the engine of your patrol unit off? The dash-cam shows you did that!”
“I took a break.”
Taggart and I glare at each other until Lieutenant Menezzo sighs, drawing my attention away from Taggart. Menezzo crosses her arms as she watches me as if I’ll crack under the pressure. “Regardless of your reasons, you’ve earned a suspension without pay for disobeying orders.” I don’t argue, and she continues. “However, the assault is another matter. Officer Prescott wants to press charges.”
I bitterly laugh. “I’m so surprised.”
Taggart snaps, “You think this is funny, McGrath?”
“In a twisted, screwed-up crappy way? Not even a little.”
Confused, Taggart is silent as she contemplates that. However, Lieutenant Menezzo says, “This isn’t a humorous situation. Fortunately, Officer Prescott offered you a deal.”
“Oh, did he now?”
She nods as Taggart’s glare chokes me. Menezzo splays her dark red fingernails on the polished tables. “Officer Prescott will not press charges if we fire you.”
My stomach drops, and I can’t find words, but Taggart does. “You couldn’t stay out of trouble? You just had to punch a fellow officer because he hurt your feelings.”
I’d murder Taggart if I wasn’t so dead inside. “He said heinous things about a friend. I don’t regret it. I’d do it again.”
Menezzo holds up her hand. “If he said disparaging things about someone, I’d like to know. I won’t tolerate that in this department, either.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. It’s done and over with. Press charges.”
Shaking her head, Menezzo says, “Unfortunately, if you’re charged with assaulting a fellow police officer, we’ll have to terminate your employment.”
“Hang on. So, I have two choices. Quit, and he doesn’t press charges. Or refuse to quit, and he presses charges, and you fire me. Either way…”
Taggart says, “If you shut your mouth, there’s more.”
“Great.”
Lieutenant Menezzo’s chair squeaks as she shifts, appearing to contemplate what to say next. “We have a deal for you. If you resign and quietly leave, we won’t add this to your record, and we’ll provide you with references. You’re a Malone, and your career has promise, Officer McGrath. It won’t be long before you’re hired somewhere.”
“Why would you do that?”
Menezzo glances at Taggart. “Ask your FTO. It’s her idea.”
Surprised, I stare at the table, unwilling to meet her eyes. I failed her, no matter the reason. I see my vague reflection in the polished table. Heartbreak, disappointment, and unemployment. Awesome. I mumble, “I guess I quit.”
“I hope you’ll use this as a learning opportunity. Keisha will handle the paperwork. Please turn in your work cell to Sergeant Taggart. Thank you for your service to Joy Springs. I’ll need your badge on my desk before the end of the day.” Lieutenant Menezzo leaves the room while Keisha handles my exit interview and termination shit. Taggart stays, silently stabbing me with her glare.
When Keisha’s finished, she leaves the conference room while Taggart texts. I thought she didn’t know how. We sit there, not speaking. I hear traffic outside the window and a phone ringing in another room. Taggart sits bac
k and crosses her arms. “Are you going to tell me the truth?”
“There’s nothing to tell. I warned Prescott I’d kick his ass. He asked for it, so I did.”
“You’re leaving out a huge chunk of last night. You don’t just decide to assault a coworker for funsies.”
“His mouth. That’s reason enough.”
“You said he disparaged a friend? Marilou?”
I know where she’s going with this. “Thank you for the opportunity to work with you.”
“Verna?”
“Who says it’s a woman?”
“There’s no way you’d waste that much testosterone to defend a man.”
I shake my head and look to the table. “I’m sorry I failed you.”
“You failed yourself.” She taps her pen on the table. “Natalia?”
I swallow and shift in my chair—a dead giveaway. Still, I refuse to throw her a bone. “Again, I’m sorry I ruined your record.”
“We’ll see about that.” Taggart glances to the doorway and waves someone into the room.
When I look up, I groan, “Shit.” Grant sits in the chair on one side of me while Dalton takes the other. I shoot daggers at Taggart. “You had to tell them now?”
“Good as any.” She shrugs, and I roll my eyes, more unreserved now that she’s not my FTO.
Grant asks, “Dylan, what happened?”
I hesitate to answer, and Grant says, “Sergeant Taggart, we’d like to speak to Dylan alone.”
I watch Taggart collect her folders. She says, “Detective, please inform me of the outcome.” Grant slightly nods as he returns his attention to me.
When Taggart closes the door, Dalton smacks my arm. “Why in the fuck did you beat the shit out of another cop?”
Grant adds, “In his own home! Dylan?”
“If you’re here to scold me, save it. I’m not in the mood.”
In jeans and a Clippers T-shirt, Dalton leans against me. “Get in the mood. You’re in deep shit.”
Adjusting his green tie, Grant says, “We want honesty. Did it have anything to do with Natalia?”
Rebel Rook: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 29
