Shake Down

by Jade Chandler

  That morning Jensen had stayed over at my place. He’d kissed me and told me he loved me before hurrying out for his shift. I’d been on nights then and was barely awake. I’d just dressed for the night when my doorbell rang. Daddy had been there with the saddest look I’d ever seen on his grizzled face. He’d sat me down and told me. Jensen had died going after a suspect. The guy had shot him in the chest. Jensen had shot the guy, but it didn’t change the fact it had cost him his life—our life. My life froze that day and it hadn’t really started again.

  I shut off that line of thinking and focused on the beauty surrounding me. The smell of water mingled with the spring day was my definition of happiness. By the time, I’d returned to camp, my mood had lightened and I was excited about a day on the boat.

  The sunlight bounced off a shiny black motorcycle parked by Brie’s SUV. Whose bike was that? Motorcycles had always intrigued me in a morbid kind of way. Death traps was what Jensen called them but I bet it was exciting to speed through the night on one. Not that Brie would ever ride one, let alone drive a motorcycle—she didn’t do reckless. Danger was entirely different than being reckless. She’d walk into a firefight with guns blazing because she’d been trained and knew the risks. It was her job to analyze risks and stop the reckless who broke the law.

  “Hey, Charlie, you in for the poker run?” Brie waved me over.

  Joe Marcone stood beside Tom and his friends.

  Brie hustled my way. “He’s so damn hot and he’s friends with Tom, so he can’t be a bad guy, even if he is a biker.”

  My pulse had spiked as soon as I spied Marcone but that didn’t mean I wanted to jump him. Okay, maybe the idea did excite me, but I definitely wasn’t acting on it. Besides, I didn’t do casual sex with coworkers or colleagues—okay, if I was honest, I’d never had a friend with benefits relationship, let alone a one-night stand. No way was I taking a walk on the wild side with a biker.

  “Drop it.”

  Brie gave me her stubborn glare that had her chin jutting in my direction. “You didn’t die too, it’s time to live again.”

  My eyes watered as I sucked in a fast breath trying to recover from Brie’s verbal punch. I would not cry. I’d promised myself no more tears and I hadn’t cried about Jensen in more than six months. She wouldn’t make me break. I dug in the back pocket of my shorts and pulled out three twenties for the poker run.

  “Tom already paid.”

  I thrust the money out. “Take this and stay the fuck out of my business. You’re way over the line.”

  She clasped the money as I strode away. I needed distance to bring my temper under control and rein in the emotions Brie unleashed. I walked a tight wire every day, trying not to fall into the gray depths of hopelessness. I always felt it lurking just below me, hungry for more of my soul. I didn’t think I could manage my balancing act if I added one more tiny thing, let alone the huge weight of a man, even one I only wanted for one night. No, I was safer this way.

  “Charlie.” Marcone jogged up beside me. “You in for the poker run with Fisher and Brie?”

  I stopped and glared up, a long way up at him. He made me feel like a dwarf at five four. “Yeah, I’m in. Although I’d rather be working the Logan case.”

  “Fuck, I know that’s right.” He shook his head. “Worst damn time for me to have to play host.” Genuine frustration laced his words.

  “I thought you’d be down to party, isn’t that the biker thing?”

  “Biker thing?” He shot me a strange look I couldn’t read.

  I lifted a shoulder, feeling a bit self-conscious now that he’d called me on my bias.

  “You interested in trying the biker thing?” He arched a dark brow, looking good enough to lick in his muscle shirt. I had a serious weakness for muscles, and my fingers itched to glide down his chest.

  “Not my style.” I blew out a breath.

  “What is your style?” He turned to face me.

  “Don’t have one these days.” I met his almost black eyes. Big mistake. Interest and intensity radiated from him.

  “Then I might be just your style. If you’re brave enough?” His face lit up with his smile.

  My gut clenched. He’d gone from sexy to irresistible with the smile—make that almost irresistible.

  “I’m not stupid enough.” Shit, I hadn’t meant to say that.

  But he laughed a low sexy rumble that only made me want him more. “I guess that means you don’t want to ride on the back of my bike...for the poker run.” His teasing smile said he knew I wanted him.

  Good thing I didn’t give in to all my desires or my ass would be six times bigger and he’d be in my bed. “Not in a million years.” I returned his smile. “You get any leads on Archer Logan?” I needed a new topic.

  “Not a whisper, which is new for me.”

  “Because everyone bends to your will?” That sounded like flirting. I was not flirting with the Italian Stallion.

  “Obviously not.” He nodded toward me. “But I always get what I hunt.” His gaze settled on me.

  “Is that a warning?” I challenged him.

  “No, I only make promises. See ya around, Charlie.” He gave me a two-finger salute and sauntered toward his bike.

  Damn, his ass was a perfect tight ball of sexy that filled out his Levi’s in the best way. Not that it mattered, I had a will of iron and some sexy bit of biker wouldn’t change my mind.

  I headed to my tent to change into my bikini and cover-up before we left for the poker run. Vince, one of the guys who worked with Tom, loitered in the camp, the rest had already headed to the dock to get the boat ready.

  “Damn, you got a nice pair of legs.” Vince greeted me.

  “I like that they work. Real good at kicking asses.” I stared him down.

  “Shit, no problem if you aren’t interested, no need to threaten a man.” He held his hands up and stepped back.

  I grunted and hurried past him. I wasn’t even tempted by Vince’s blond hotness, but Marcone still had me worked up. And I didn’t like it one bit.

  I followed the path to the boat dock and onto Tom’s speedboat. “I want to ski.”

  “You can ski on the way to the first cove—party cove no less.” Brie laughed. “The Brotherhood set up kegs there just for the run.”

  After Tom backed the boat out and made it to the center of the lake, he turned back to me. “Get your ass in the water.”

  I threw out the skis and ropes then dived in after them. After I’d locked my feet in the water skis, I grabbed the leads and nodded to the guy on lookout duty. Tom sped up and I stood, enjoying the wind and spray of water hitting my face. I only wished I could go faster. Too soon my legs wobbled and my arms began to noodle. I dropped to the water and the boat slowed and turned to pick me up. Someone else took my place on the skis.

  It took us about forty minutes to hit the first poker run stop. Tom anchored the boat offshore and we waded to land. We’d beaten the bikes but a handful of boaters had made it here already. A big guy in a cut stood at the makeshift bar, handing out cards.

  “Hey, Thorn, how’s it hanging?” Tom gave the giant a slap on the back.

  “Dude, at least a foot long.” Thorn’s deep laugh made his whole body shake.

  “What is it with dudes and dick jokes?” Brie elbowed me in the ribs. “We don’t make boob jokes.”

  “’Cause, baby, everyone can see what you have.” Tom snaked an arm around her.

  “And we are left waiting to see how much you don’t have.” I laughed at my own joke and Brie joined me.

  The men gave us wounded to outraged looks, but I didn’t care.

  “Beer is over there. Blackjack is going on over there.” Thorn pointed to three tables where bikini-clad girls sat behind folding tables. “Two hours until the next stop opens.”

  Bikes roared, and it was a few minu
tes before I saw the motorcycle parade heading our way. Marcone led the way, and my captain rode beside him. I had no idea Captain Danvers would be here.

  “Why didn’t you say they were friends?” I hissed to Brie.

  “Does it matter?” She frowned at me. “Let’s get to the blackjack table before all the spots are gone.” She pulled me after her.

  Of course it mattered. I came from a proud police family who’d taught me the value of connections at an early age. The force was a political animal, and it was best to stay on friendly terms with the beast or it’d chew you up and spit you out. If Marcone was tight with Danvers then I needed to watch my step. I’d always loved to put things in bins. Good. Bad. Right. Wrong. Gray wasn’t my friend, and Marcone was the most annoying shade of gray, the one that shifted from light to dark depending on how you looked at it.

  Chapter Four

  JoJo

  I rode into stop one, leading a procession of wannabes with a few real bikers mixed in among the hundred riders. I didn’t give a shit why someone rode, but I had no desire to be ringleader of this particular circus. This was Rebel’s show, but he was making Elle his old lady tomorrow, so I’d volunteered to take over. I was kicking myself over that. Big time. I needed to find Archer Logan.

  “How ya doing?” I clapped Thorn on the back. He and I had worked together for years in the Brotherhood security business. Now he was sergeant at arms for the club.

  “Handed out all my cards, so I’m done. Headed back to the real party.” He gripped my shoulder. “See you later.”

  Our Brotherhood parties were a thousand times wilder than the poker run. And our private sandbar would have a nonstop party going all weekend. It wasn’t every weekend we got a new old lady.

  “Thanks. We’ve raised ten thousand for the runaway program up in Oklahoma City.” I’d gotten to pick the charity, so I wanted to put our cash where it could help kids.

  “That’s a good haul. Nice job, brother.” Thorn headed for his chopper and sped back to our home base. The party we’d planned at each phase of the run was vanilla compared to what went on at our beach. Normally I’d be all over the chance to let loose, but it didn’t appeal today. Not women. Not booze. Not brotherhood. There was only one place I wanted to be. However my phone stayed silent, meaning the prospect hadn’t found shit.

  The time passed faster than I expected. The blackjack tables shut down and the keg floated. It was time to ride again. I hopped on my bike and revved the motor, signaling it was time to move on.

  At the second stop, we arrived before the boaters. I headed down to where the prospect was stationed to hand out the cards.

  “I figured you’d be gone by now.” Lyle greeted him. He was another one of our bounty hunters in training.

  “I wish.” It frustrated me that my network was coming up empty. I’d spent time and money creating a net that covered the city’s underworld, not that Oklahoma City was all that grimy. It proved these guys were outsiders, not connected to the scum who made the underworld tick.

  I spotted Charlie wading through the water on her way up for a card. She grinned over at her partner, Brie. That was a sight to pay for—her smile. Not to mention her smoking-hot body on display in the blue two-piece she wore. No sadness hung around her now. I liked her happy, wished I could make her happy for a night.

  Not a chance of that happening, though. She’d made that clear this morning. Too bad, she was exactly my kind of trouble with those perfect legs, intelligent gray-blue eyes and sassy blond hair.

  I stayed next to the kid, wanting another crack at Charlie. She beat Brie to the table and turned to give her friend a triumphant grin.

  “You owe me twenty bucks.” She held a hand out to Brie.

  “Bite me, bitch.” Brie slapped her hand before pulling a twenty from her cleavage. “JoJo, you better give me a winning hand, she’s sucking me dry.”

  “That’s up to Lyle.”

  Brie leaned forward and his eyes followed her bountiful cleavage. “You won’t disappoint me, will you?”

  Lyle turned red, you could take the kid from the country but not the country from the kid. He had to get that brothers didn’t get embarrassed. Lyle handed her a card without a comment, unlike the smart-ass.

  “Stop embarrassing the boy. He could be your son.” Charlie elbowed her partner.

  “Fuck you—if I were twelve when I got knocked up.” Brie turned to catch her boyfriend’s eye. “Charlie’s being mean to me.”

  “You better kick her ass,” Tom encouraged. “Nothing like a girl fight.”

  “Do all men think with their cock?” Charlie quipped. When no one replied, she snorted and headed toward the food.

  Each station had a different kind of gambling and refreshment. This one was craps and food. Next was sweets and Texas Hold’em. The fourth one was shots and roulette. The last one was poker and a full bar where people could party while we figured out the winner.

  I spotted Danvers and headed his way to get more information on Detective Charlie Pine.

  “This is a nice spread.” He nodded to the roasted hog and sides.

  “Only the best for our friends.” I filled up my plate and sat at one of the picnic tables we’d brought in. “So, you enjoying the ride?”

  “Yup, but can’t say I’m in love with the idea of these idiots drinking and driving.” Danvers looked at the beer littering the tables.

  “Gonna have to take off your cop hat or be pissed off all day. The last stop is a free-for-all.” I grinned wide, loving to tweak his moral streak. We’d been deployed together and I knew just how wild he could be. But he’d grown up in the time we’d been out. Not me, but then I never planned to become the kind of man who turned his nose up at a good time.

  Danvers grunted.

  “Tell me about Charlie.” I nodded in her direction.

  “One of my best detectives even though she’s only been in Homicide a few years. Cop is in her blood, her whole family are cops. Two brothers in the state patrol, and the youngest in uniform for us. Her old man retired a few years ago. Good man.” Danvers narrowed his eyes on me. “She’s too good for you.”

  “Why the sad?” I ignored his warning.

  Danvers looked away. “Her fiancé was shot in the line of duty working a case in sex crimes. Shot by the man he was going to arrest. She’s climbing out of that funk.”

  That sucked. I’d lost three good friends in Afghanistan, but none of those hurt as much as losing my little sister. Maybe I should just leave Charlie be, since it couldn’t be easy to recover from that kind of loss. But something about her called to me.

  “I hear the warning loud and clear,” I told Danvers.

  “And you’ll listen like always, which means not at all.” His former commander gave him the look. The one that said don’t fuck it up. I’d gotten that look a lot since I tended to fuck up. Yet Danvers had never turned on me like the other brass. He’d always had my back, even when my temper got the best of me.

  “I’m not good at following orders.”

  “Tell me about it. But you’re a damn fine investigator. You track down Logan yet?”

  “I wouldn’t be here if I had. Son of a bitch is a ghost.”

  “That’s not good.” Danvers grunted. “I hoped you’d turn something up when my detectives didn’t.”

  “Oh, I will, even if I have to beat every person in the city.” I stood, restless. “I’m going for a swim. We got about an hour before we leave again.”

  The day poked along despite my wish for it to end. I didn’t drink in case I needed to haul ass back up the interstate, and being one of the few sober sucked, especially since the drunk posers kept swaggering around like they were the real deal. I was just in a pissy mood, hell I’d rival Delta for the bad mood title today.

  We pulled into the final station as dark descended around us. Rebel showed up
to announce the winner after Delta tabulated the results. My duty was almost done, once Rebel placed the cut on his wife’s shoulders tomorrow I’d be gone. Already twitchy, I might not survive the wait.

  “You made it to the end.” Rebel gripped my shoulder. “I know this is the last place you want to be. You don’t have to stay.”

  “Fuck that, I’m seeing Elle wear our cut...unless something breaks, then I’ll jet even if I miss you claiming her.”

  “Can’t blame you for that, I don’t know if I could’ve left the chase.” Rebel grinned at me. “But you’re a good soldier, following orders and shit.”

  I flipped him the bird. “The case is cold, even the detectives on the case are down here.”

  “Yeah, heard the blonde turned you down cold.”

  That bastard Thorn had been telling stories. “Yeah, she’s complicated and I’m...not.”

  Rebel laughed. “Nope, believe me, you want to stay away from the complicated chicks.”

  “Like you did?” Elle had immersed him in her battle to win Jackson Bonds. It didn’t get more complicated than marrying a chick to save her company.

  “Mine isn’t a cop. They’re not flexible.” He squeezed my shoulder.

  Was he sending me a message? No cops in our club? Not that I’d listen if the whole club yelled it. They didn’t get a fucking vote.

  “She isn’t interested...yet.” I winked at him and walked away. Some things weren’t up for discussion.

  My phone rang and I hit the answer button. “Hey, Tiny.”

  “I have eyes on your guy. He’s in a dive bar outside of Norman. Text you the address. He and his woman are drinking like tomorrow will never come.” Tiny was a small-time drug pusher who owed me for bailing his ass out of jail even when he didn’t have the ten percent we required. Sometimes I did favors for two-bit criminals to build up my network. Tiny had been a damn good investment.

  “You stick to them like glue until I call you back. I got a guy close.” I started walking toward my bike but Rebel stepped in front of me.