Chris just nodded as tears fell. “I shouldn’t have let her go.”
“This isn’t your fault, Chris.” Lana patted his arm. “And you were smart to stay out of it.”
Sid came in with Chris’s parents who went straight to him.
“Is he free to go?” His mother looked at Lana, her eyes red from crying.
“Yes, we have all the information we need for now. But we may need to talk to him again, so please stay in town.” Lana gave the woman a sad, understanding smile as she watched Chris and his parents walk out.
“Thank you.” Chris’s father shook Sid’s hand.
Once they were gone, Sid closed the door, turning to Lana. “So what do you think?”
“I think you owe me dinner,” Lana replied with a groan, leaning down to rub her feet.
“What makes you think that?” Sid’s sexy grin appeared.
“I think that because you rudely interrupted my date before I could take a bite of food.” Lana sat straight again then stood. “I haven’t eaten since this morning, and I’m starved. I want to eat, go home, take this dress off and then sit by the fire I’m going to start by burning these damn shoes.”
“Even though I love the thought of you getting out of that dress, we still have work to do. Though, if you’d like to do it out of the dress, I won’t complain. I believe in employee rights.” Sid’s teasing remark was said lightly, but the searing heat in his eyes warmed the room. “Jill has to do another profile pic and…”
Being in the police force, Lana was used to these kinds of remarks, but none ever gave her that fluttery feeling she experienced with his words. Usually, she just had a comeback that shut the men up real quick. But this Warrior was different. The way he looked at her, as if he was seeing the real person behind the mask she tried so hard to hide behind, was throwing her way off. “I believe I will do my job fully dressed, Mr. Boss Man. I do have rights, which I believe so strongly in, and I will fight for them. I am officially off. Now feed me before I turn into a moody bitch who even I can’t stand,” she replied, hoping her voice didn’t betray that she would love to be standing in front of him completely naked. Jesus, she was doomed.
Sid simply stared at her for a few silent seconds before laughing, “You are something else, Lana Fitzpatrick.” Sid went to open the door, looking at his watch. “Not much is open this time of night.”
“That’s what’s great about White Castle,” Lana ignored his first comment as she tried to pass him to walk out the door without making contact, but he was big, which didn’t leave her much room. As their bodies touched, she tried to hide her reaction to his closeness. “They never close and have the best damn coffee.”
“I’m not going to White Castle,” Sid shook his head, his inner cook cringing at the idea.
“You owe me.” Lana didn’t let up.
“For what?” Sid opened another door for her, but stood in her path, blocking the exit.
She looked up at him and frowned. “For messing up my date.” Then she tapped him on the chest. “Moody bitch is breaching the surface.”
Sid’s head fell back as he laughed. “Yeah, well you should thank me.” He moved out of the way. “Denny wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like you.”
“His name is Doug.” Lana rolled her eyes as a small smile slipped across her lips when she looked over her shoulder. “And he’s a nice man.”
“Who you’d eat alive and spit out,” Sid snorted. “You’d be too much of a challenge for lawyer boy. You need a man who isn’t afraid of a challenge.”
“Oh, really.” Lana frowned, stopping at the car they rode in. “And who would that be? You?” she laughed. She immediately wished she could pull the words back in her big mouth at the look he gave her.
Sid’s smile grew as he reached for the door handle, but pushed his body against hers, pinning her to the car. His head leaned so close she could feel his warm breath on her face. “I’m always up…” he cocked his head, his eyes intense, “for a challenge.”
As Lana instinctively leaned in toward him, he moved, opening the door for her, his cocky grin plastered on his face. Acting like she hadn’t been leaning toward him, she quickly leaned toward the door and plopped in. When the door slammed, Lana let out a string of curses knowing that, in truth, this Warrior wouldn’t have a challenge at all since she was ready to do him right there in the parking lot of their headquarters.
“Calm down and get control, you hoe!” she reprimanded herself before he gracefully slid into the driver’s seat.
“Who’s a hoe?” Sid asked, starting the engine, his eyes pinning her to the seat.
“I didn’t say hoe,” Lana laughed nervously, feeling heat climb up her neck. “I said…I’m hungry so…let’s go…bro.”
Sid sat staring at her for a second before laughing and putting the car in gear. Lana turned her head, looking out the window and making a disgusted face at her reflection; she was screwed in more ways than one. “Bro?” she silently cursed at her reflection.
*****
Sid sat and watched Lana put away two double sliders with cheese, onion chips, a large coffee and was now draining a diet Pepsi. He was impressed. “Feel better?” he asked, watching her luscious lips wrap around the straw of her drink, wishing her lips were wrapped around a certain part of his anatomy.
“Mhmmm.” She tossed her napkin and sat back. “Told you I was starved. You sure you don’t want anything?”
Glancing around, he shook his head. For a Friday night at midnight, he wasn’t surprised that the only customers in White Castle were people going to get their drink on or had already had their drink on. He had picked the booth in a corner with his back to the wall so he could keep an eye on everyone. “I prefer food, but thanks.”
Lana waved her hand over her empty cartons. “What’s this?”
“I have no idea.” Sid made a disgusted face.
Lana rolled her eyes. “Well, if it doesn’t come in a bag or box, I’m screwed.”
“You can’t cook?” Sid’s eyes narrowed as if that was the sin of all sins.
“Nope, but I can whip up a mean mac and cheese,” Lana smiled. “Now, my mom can cook like a goddess.”
“So how is it you were undercover, but using your real name and identity? Lana is your real name, isn’t it?” Sid leaned back, stretching his legs out the best he could under the table.
Lana took another sip of her diet Pepsi. “I was supposed to be Linda Lovelace, but Susan messed up saying my real name, and like you, she didn’t give me time to disguise myself.”
“Pretty dangerous mistake when undercover,” Sid pointed out.
“Oh, like using the name VC Warrior was playing it safe?” Lana cocked an eyebrow.
“I like to live dangerously,” Sid grinned. “So how did a beautiful woman like you become a cop?”
“Just like the men. I put my time in, studied hard and went through training.” Lana frowned, indicating she didn’t like the question.
“So calling you beautiful didn’t lessen the harshness of that question, did it?” Sid was pleasantly surprised. Most times when he used the words like ‘beautiful’, the women were putty in his hands. This was a new experience for him, and he liked it very much. The only women who didn’t fall for his bullshit were his brothers’ mates, and now this woman sitting across from him, looking sexy as hell, who had a gun strapped to her leg and knew how to use it. Shit he was getting hard thinking about it.
“No, it didn’t.” Lana relaxed, looking sleepy and totally clueless of his thoughts. “It’s a typical question from chauvinistic pigs.”
“Touché.” Sid’s eyebrow cocked a notch.
“Very.” Lana imitated him by cocking her own eyebrow.
“Okay, fair enough.” Sid laughed, wanting to know more about this woman who didn’t seem to fall at his feet wanting to worship him. One would think he would be turned off by that, but the easy conquests who threw themselves at him daily were getting old, and funny thing was, he just
now realized that. “So what made you want to become a cop?”
A small smile lit her face. “My father is a retired Sheriff.” Her eyes met his. “For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with what he did. I would beg him to take me for rides in his police car, mercilessly ask him questions about his day and the bad guys he put away. I was a constant visitor at the station. I drove my poor dad crazy, along with all the other cops in his division when I could corner them.”
“I bet he’s very proud of you.” Sid said as he watched the emotions dance in her eyes.
“Well, he really didn’t want me to become a cop, but he knew all along that’s what was going to happen.” Lana straightened up and rolled her shoulders, which made her breasts jiggle, and she was totally unaware, which was another unexpected turn on. She wasn’t trying to be sexy.
Sid groaned low in his throat. It wouldn’t look good on either of them if he pulled her across the table so he could latch onto one of those nipples begging to be touched with his mouth. He was pretty sure White Castle would frown on that, and Sloan would have a major meltdown. Sid cleared his throat, forcing his eyes up to hers. “So are you going to tell me about what happened to your neck that night?”
Lana nodded. “Not here though,” she replied, glancing at the table diagonal to them. Five guys and two girls were crammed together. The guys were staring at her and making crude comments.
Sid glared at them. “Excuse me.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Lana tried to stop him.
Sid ignored her as he stood and headed to their table. Stopping, he stared down at them. It didn’t matter that he had been looking at Lana the same way these little dickheads were, but it was different when he did it. She was his. Shocked at his thoughts, he didn’t say anything; he simply glared at them.
“What’s up, man?” One brave idiot trying to look cool asked, the smell of beer hovering over their table.
“My foot up your bony ass…” Sid replied, slamming both hands on the table and leaning in the guy’s face. “if you don’t stop remarking about the lady I’m with.” Just to make it clear he wasn’t fucking around, Sid sneered at them showing his sharp fangs.
The table, as one, leaned away from him, crushing each other. “Hey, man, we don’t want no trouble.”
“Hey, man…” Sid mocked with a glare, “good choice. Now, why don’t you sober up before you find yourself in more trouble than you can handle.”
Turning, he made his way back to Lana, who was getting up, making sure she flashed the gun beneath her dress. With a wicked grin, she shimmied the dress down. They all stared at her with wide eyes.
“Good thing he got to you first. Night boys,” She warned. With a wink at their table, she passed Sid, who was holding open the door for her. “Oh, and make sure you don’t drive out of this lot unless you have a sober driver. I just texted my good friend, Officer Beckman. I’d get some coffee if I were you.”
Sid waited until they were out in the parking lot before he started laughing. “That was great.”
“I think you scared them back to puberty,” Lana snorted. “They about peed themselves when you showed your fangs.”
“Did you really text someone?” Sid shook his head as he opened the car door.
“Sure did.” She waited until he slid into the driver seat. “I’m sure they’re not old enough to be drinking, and I sure don’t want to hear about a bunch of kids being killed because I did nothing. It’s my job.”
“Which you do well,” Sid nodded as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Lana looked at him shocked. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Sid glanced over at her. “So start talking, Officer Fitzpatrick.”
Lana sighed, taking off her shoes. “It’s kind of a long story and I’m wiped out, so how about the next time we work?”
“Well, that’s going to be at nine tomorrow morning, so be ready to talk, because I’m not letting this go,” Sid warned, pulling up to a small one-story white house with dark blue shutters.
“I’m not trying to get out of telling you. Just the night that it happened, we were not working together, and you know…” Lana grabbed her shoes then looked out the window. “Hey, I didn’t tell you where I lived. How did you know where I lived?”
“I Googled you,” Sid smirked, getting out of the car and walking around to open hers up.
“You did not,” Lana laughed when he opened her door. “Guess being a Warrior gives you special privileges to information.”
“Some,” he replied, following her up the walkway to her front porch.
“I didn’t get to learn much about you tonight.” Lana frowned as she stopped at the door.
“Not much to tell,” Sid shrugged, looking uncomfortable. He didn’t talk about himself, ever.
“Oh, I don’t believe that for one second. There’s a story or two I’m sure you can share, and I will be getting it out of you,” Lana laughed. Reaching up under her dress, she opened a small pouch on her gun strap, pulling out a key.
“I’m sorry. I know I’m supposed to be your boss, but that is fucking hot,” Sid growled, his eyes heated.
Lana stared at him for a second before her shaking hand finally got her door opened. “Yeah, well it’s uncomfortable as hell, I’ll tell you that. If the strap doesn’t fit right, it feels like it’s sliding down. I hate wearing dresses, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.” She stood inside her open door. “Thanks for standing up for me with those guys at White Castle. Sometimes, it’s nice to have someone stand up for you.”
“Not a problem,” Sid smiled down at her. “Just because you’re a badass cop doesn’t mean a man can’t be a gentleman when the need arises.”
“You want to come in?” Lana had stood silent before she asked.
“Yes.” Sid stared at her, taking a step closer to her, but stopped. “But I’m not going to.”
“Yeah, I guess we both know what will happen if you do” Lana shrugged as if indifferent, but a sad loneliness that was hard to hide shadowed her eyes.
“Oh, there’s no guessing about it, lovely Lana.” Sid leaned close. “It will happen, just not tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow at nine. I’ll text you the address to the warehouse where I’ll be. Lock your door. Sweet dreams.” He stared at her for a second longer before giving her a sexy smile and wink, leaving Lana at the door panting.
Chapter 12
Jill ran laps, her iPod blaring. She knew Slade had come in, but she didn’t make eye contact. She wanted to get her workout going before Sid and the cop Lana came in this morning. Sid had texted her about doing another profile pic. She also knew the blood bimbos were due in early, so she needed to get her ‘suck it up’ mode going. Something just told her that this day was going to suck like no other.
Passing the window where she had her phone sitting, she glanced to see if she had a missed call or text. Adam hadn’t answered any of her calls or texts, the jerk. She’d officially decided she was going to kill him, or at least beat the shit out of his sorry ass. Thank God, Tessa was going to be okay. Regardless, Jared was pissed and stressed to the max. She needed to get to him before Jared or any of the other Warriors did.
She had lost count of how many laps she had run, but sweat poured off her. Slowing down, she picked up a towel, and wiped her face before grabbing her water.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, her phone flew out of her hand. Juggling it before it fell to the floor, she grabbed it finally and turned. “What?” she yelled, and quickly frowned when Steve pointed to her ears. Looking around everyone was staring at her. Pulling her earphones out of her ears, she looked at Steve. “What?” she asked again, but this time in a normal voice.
Rolling his eyes at her, he glanced around. “I talked to Adam.”
“When?” Jill cringed when she spoke too loudly, once again drawing attention to them.
“A few minutes ago, okay.” Steve continued as low as possible, “He’s okay. He’s worried about Tessa,
but I told him she was going to be fine. He said he knows everyone thinks he’s going rogue, but he’s not. He’s on to something and needs our help.”
“Why the hell didn’t he call me?” Jill hissed. “I called him all damn night.”
“I don’t know, but he’s going to be calling you at noon today so try to be alone.” Steve took a drink of water. “He’s going to try to do a three-way call.”
Jill nodded, glancing at the clock. She had four hours to get done what she needed to get done before then. Glancing toward the back, she saw the blood bimbos walk in, and, of course, they headed toward Slade who stood talking to Sloan. They were having a meeting after they fed. It was Alice and someone Jill had never seen before.
Alice waved a finger at Steve, which put a goofy grin on his face.
“Oh, please,” Jill snorted.
“What? She’s nice and looks damn good.” Steve waved back.
“And you’re a douche.” Jill nudged him.
He nudged her back. “And you’re jealous.”
“Of that?” Jill didn’t even look toward Alice. “She’s a bitch, and you just like her because she has big boobs and will drop her pants for anybody.”
“So, what’s wrong with that?” Steve grinned.
Jill tried her best to ignore when Slade and Alice walked by heading toward the back. Jill squeezed her bottle of water a little too hard causing the water to spray out.
Steve laughed. “You are so jealous of Alice. Just admit it.”
Fire shot out of her eyes as she glared at Steve. Without a thought, she dropped down, kicking his leg out from under him, pounced on him, grabbed his arm and got him in an arm bar. Jill tightened the arm bar, making a funny noise come out of Steve’s mouth. “You better tap before I break it.”
Steve slapped on her leg, tapping out. Jill let go and rolled to her feet, grabbing the water and her phone she dropped when taking him down. “Damn, Jill.” Steve rubbed his arm glaring at her when she sat down on the mat. When she wrinkled her nose at him, he smiled. “I don’t care how many arm bars you get me in; you’re still jealous.”
Sid (The Protectors Series) Book #4 Page 10
