Kevlar to My Vest

by Lani Lynn Vale

  Other Titles by Lani Lynn Vale:

  The Freebirds

  Boomtown

  Highway Don’t Care

  Another One Bites the Dust

  Last Day of My Life

  Texas Tornado

  The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens MC

  Lights To My Siren

  Halligan To My Axe

  Kevlar To My Vest

  Keys To My Cuffs (February 2015)

  Life To My Flight (March 2015)

  Charge To My Line (April 2015)

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Text copyright ©2014 Lani Lynn Vale

  All Rights Reserved

  The purchase of this E-book allows you one legal copy for your own personal reading enjoyment on your personal computer or device. You do not have the rights to resell, distribute, print, or transfer this book, in whole or in part, to anyone, in any format, via methods either currently known or yet to be invented, or upload to a file sharing peer to peer program. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U. S. Copyright Law. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. If you no longer want this book, you may not give your copy to someone else. Delete it from your computer. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Acknowledgements

  FuriousFotog for taking the beautiful cover photo, and Gary Taylor for modeling. I saw this picture and knew it was perfect for this book!

  Asli- my editor. What you do goes beyond words.

  My mother for reading…and then re-reading this book.

  My mother in law- you’re the bomb.

  My husband- for just being you.

  And finally, my kids. This is all for you.

  Kevlar To My Vest

  You’re the Kevlar…

  Behind the badge and the pretty face was a heart. A heart that bled just like the rest. A heart that was so in love with Viddy Sheffield that it was humiliating. Trance had been burned before by a woman that couldn’t handle the fact that he risked his life each and every time he went on shift. She was too vulnerable; somehow he had to convince his heart to let her go. His life would chew her up and spit her out.

  To My…

  Viddy couldn’t get the man out of her head. Just the thought of Trance put a smile on her face. And when he walked into the same room? Words couldn’t explain. God help her, but she was even in a relationship with another man. She shouldn’t be thinking about the sexy biker with the voice that made shivers dance down her spine.

  Vest…

  Then the unthinkable happens, and the sexy cop she can’t stop thinking about is there for her, giving her what she never knew she needed. One moment in time, and she finds herself falling for the man, lock, stock, and barrel. The two of them have a lot of work to do to make this relationship succeed. What they didn’t know, however, was that there were people behind the scenes that were working to keep them apart. Sometimes the saying is true. You can’t always have what you want.

  Prologue

  Viddy

  Please don’t leave me. You’re my best friend.

  -Viddy

  “Trance?” I cried into the receiver.

  “Viddy? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Trance yelled into my ear.

  I clutched Hemi closer to my chest and gasped in pain.

  “C-can y-you c-come over? P-please?” I cried out.

  I heard the sound of a car door slamming shut, and then the roar of an engine as it sped off in the background.

  Normally, I’d nag at him about going too fast, but I was about ten seconds away from losing it, and I needed him here. Fifteen minutes ago.

  “What’s going on, Vid? What happened?” Trance asked urgently.

  He sounded like he was in a tunnel or something, which meant he’d put me on speakerphone. Which also meant he was at work, ‘cause he couldn’t be caught with a cell phone to his ear while he was driving his police issued vehicle.

  “Hemi’s vet called. They told m-me he h-had cancer and he needed to be put to sleep. I knew it was something bad, but I couldn’t take him in until today. I didn’t have a ride, and Paul refused to take him for me.” I cried.

  Oh, God. What was I going to do without him here? He was my best friend!

  Hemi had started acting strange a few days ago. After several frustrating attempts to get my boyfriend, Paul, to take me to the vet so I could get Hemi checked out, he still refused. My sister was on vacation and there was no way I’d call her to come home for this. She and her husband deserved a little alone time before their baby came in a few more months.

  This morning, when I’d finally gotten frustrated and called a cab, I’d never dreamed that it’d turn into this. First, the cab had nearly refused to transport us due to company policies about pets, but when the dam on my emotions broke, he’d relented, but only barely.

  Then, as soon as we’d walked into Dr. Tucker’s door, they’d yanked him away from me so fast my head spun. I could practically feel the condemnation pouring off them at the state he’d been in. Yet, I’d called the vet numerous times in a vain attempt to get one of them to pick him up, and they’d said they didn’t offer those services.

  That was when I started calling other vets, but with him being a new patient to them, they’d refused as well.

  “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. I’ll be there in just a few minutes. I’m on duty in the residential district right now, but it shouldn’t be more than ten minutes at the most.” Trance’s velvety deep voice said through the receiver.

  Mellifluous.

  That was the word that came to mind every time I heard it. So deep. Smooth. Rich and flowing. I wanted to put my lips up against his throat to feel the vibration that poured out with each word that was let loose from his mouth.

  Trance was a very good man. When I’d had the privilege of being in his company, I felt alive.

  It wasn’t often that I got to see him, though. He was a very busy man. He was a member of the police department as well as a member of the local motorcycle club, The Dixie Wardens.

  “Thank you, Trance.” I whispered and then hung up.

  Hemi was a nine year old English Setter with the silkiest fur I’d ever felt. He was a gentle, mid-sized dog with curly locks around his ears, flank, and face. I’d been told that he was snowy white with brown splotches, but that wasn’t what made him beautiful to me.

  What made him so perfect was the way he’d help me wind through the house, moving little things that might trip me up. On our walks, around the apartment complex I’d just moved into, he’d steer me in the right direction, and always lead me back to our door.

  He never barked unless someone was at the door, and always stayed close to my side.

/>   Until he started acting weird.

  He still stayed by my side, but he didn’t move as easily. I’d gone to fill his food bowl up and found it still just as full as it was the night before, and the day before that. Then his bathroom habits started to dwindle. He was going out more and more, staying out longer.

  Then, yesterday, he stopped drinking water.

  Now, Hemi had his head pillowed in my lap as I stroked his coat, and tried to do my upmost best not to freak him out with my crying.

  “Oh, Hemi. I don’t want you to leave me.” I cried, tears dripping down my cheeks and most likely onto his face.

  Fifteen minutes on the dot, after my phone call to Trance, I heard the front door open and Trance walk in.

  The click-click of nails on the hardwood floor let me know that Radar was with him, too.

  I could feel his presence like a shock, and knew instantly when his body was close.

  He hunkered down beside the couch where I was sitting with my legs folded underneath me. Hemi’s tail thunked furiously on the couch beside me, making the whole couch vibrate with the intensity of it.

  I felt the glasses covering my eyes lift to rest on the top of my head, followed by Trance’s thumbs wiping away my tears. “I’m here, baby.” He said reassuringly.

  Any and all hope of not crying my eyes out fled, and I curled down until my head was buried into Hemi’s fur.

  “What am I going to do without him?” I cried.

  I could feel Trance as he stroked Hemi’s head, and finally Trance moved, shifting me and Hemi until we were both situated on either side of him.

  I curled into his side, moving as close as I possibly could.

  My head was pillowed on his chest, one arm around his back and the other around his front, clutching at Hemi’s head.

  Then I felt Radar’s head lay down on my leg, and I cried all the harder.

  I’m not sure how long we stayed like that. I know it had to be quite a while, because once I was done with my crying, only little hiccups remained.

  “What do you want me to do?” He asked softly, sifting his fingers through my hair.

  I felt the rumble of the question vibrate through his chest, and a low deep thrum of contentment coursed through me. One that I never felt when I was in Paul’s arms. Never.

  Which was why I’d never slept with him, despite his nagging about it.

  “Will you take him to the park with me? I want him to play...” I started to ask, but the hard pounding at my door startled me out of finishing.

  Then the yelling started. “Hey, Elise! It’s time to go. Remember? It’s Tuesday, we have to meet my parents for dinner!”

  Why did he insist on calling me by my middle name? What was wrong with Viddy?

  I didn’t move, and neither did Trance.

  Radar did, however, go over to the door and started growling low in his throat.

  “Hey, is that guy in there with you again? Is that his stupid fuckin’ dog? What did I tell you about him?” Paul snarled.

  I lost it again. After everything he’d done to me lately, I just couldn’t handle his shit anymore.

  Paul was not a nice man. He’d threatened me on more than one occasion on what he’d do if he caught me with Trance again. Not that Trance and I had ever crossed that line, but Paul didn’t care, and wasn’t willing to listen. Everything I did pissed Paul off, and I really just didn’t give a flying fuck anymore.

  Paul could go fuck a duck.

  I stomped hard towards the door.

  Counting my steps, I got to seven and held my hand out, making contact with the door.

  “Move over, Radar, I’ve got to get rid of the trash.” I said to the big boy who was still growling low at my door.

  Turning the knob, I felt the full blast of Louisiana heat belt me in the face, as well as Paul’s anger.

  “What the fuck have you two been doing in there? Your face is flushed, and you’re not wearing your glasses. You know how I hate that.” Paul chastised me.

  Paul was an asshole. I’d started dating him a little over a year ago, and I’ve been nothing but disappointed since. My sister hated him. My sister’s husband hated him. And Trance hated him.

  Yes, it was definitely time.

  “My face is flushed because I’ve been crying, you idiot. Hemi isn’t well, and I’m putting him to sleep later this afternoon. As for you, I would like you not to come back anymore. We’re over.” I said as harshly as I could.

  Silence greeted me after that statement.

  Paul’s silence wasn’t in my best interest, because before I could even blink, Paul had me by the wrist. “What are you talking about? You know we’re not through. You’ve said that three times in the past four months, but you always come back.”

  “Stand down.” Trance’s beautiful voice said from behind me.

  I wasn’t sure if he was talking to Paul or Radar until, suddenly, Radar’s low growling abruptly quit at my side.

  Then I felt Trance’s heat at my back, and I involuntarily leaned backwards into him.

  His hand went around my waist, and he pulled me backwards until I was flush against him with his arm pinning me to him tightly.

  “You heard her. Please leave.” Trance’s authoritative tone booked no room for argument.

  “You can’t tell me what to do. This is my girlfriend’s place. How about you leave? Hmm?” Paul replied snottily.

  “I want you to leave. Now. Oh, and lose my number.” I said stiffly, before yanking my wrist from Paul’s grasp and closing the door in his face.

  A snarling snap from Radar had me jumping, and then Paul’s squeal of indignation followed.

  “What was that?” I asked in surprise.

  Trance snorted. “He tried to sneak his hand into the door before it closed all the way, but Radar convinced him not to continue with that line of thought.”

  “Good,” I whispered.

  Neither one of us moved.

  My head was still pillowed against his chest, and his arm was still wrapped tightly around me.

  We stood like that for long moments until Hemi’s heartbreaking whimpering from the couch broke up the moment, bringing us both to the couch.

  “He needs to go outside, I believe. Would you mind doing that? I want to gather some of his things to take with us before we take him.” I said, looking into the direction I thought Trance was standing.

  His warm hand cupped my face until he moved it up and to the left, before he replied. “Okay, baby. Just let Radar lead you out when you’re ready. I’ll be outside near the grass.”

  “Thank you,” I said softly.

  He broke away after that. I heard the click of the door handle unlatching, followed by the clicking of Hemi’s nails as he walked out the door, before it closed softly behind them both.

  “Radar?” I called.

  When Radar’s cold wet nose touched my hand, I smiled and patted his head. “Can you find me the balls?”

  I’d heard Trance ask Radar that once, the last time he was over with my sister, when they helped me move six months ago.

  I’d had the balls packed in a box, and I’d wanted to show the guys Hemi’s trick at putting three balls in his mouth. Since I’d had no idea where exactly the toys were, I’d been about to give up when Trance had said that Radar could find them. And find them he did.

  Walking stiffly forward, I went to Hemi’s bed and picked it up.

  A loud bark came from my side as I opened the front door.

  ***

  Trance

  “Listen, you need to leave. Things aren’t going to be pretty if you make me remove you. I have things I need to do, and if you make me arrest you, I will not be a happy person.” I said to Viddy’s boyfriend.

  No, make that ex-boyfriend.

  Thank God.

  I didn’t know how much longer I could follow my moral code when it came to taking some other man’s woman.

  “We always get back together, though. We’ll be back together by tomorrow
afternoon at the latest.” He sneered, before he angled into his car that had to be a compensation for a small dick.

  I took the high road and didn’t reply, even though it went against every bit of my ingrained nature to throw the words at him that were sitting on the tip of my tongue.

  The main one being, over my dead body.

  The door behind me opened as I watched Paul back out, making me turn and watch as Viddy dragged out what looked like every single thing Hemi ever owned.

  Jogging up to the door, I stopped and surveyed all the million balls that were now lining Hemi’s bed.

  “That’s a lot of balls.” I observed as I scooped up the entire thing and walked back towards my police issued patrol SUV. Opening the back door, I dropped all the contents inside and slammed it shut before returning to the passenger side door.

  I resisted the urge to offer Viddy help, even though it annoyed the ever-loving shit out of me to do so. It was like rubbing fur in the wrong direction, or walking with sand in my shoes. It wasn’t right, but Viddy hated the fact that she was blind. She hated it even more when someone dwelled on the fact.

  “Trance?” Viddy called when she was three feet away from me.

  Her face seemed to lose the determinedness to it and she held out her hand for me, making my breath ease out of my lungs.

  Taking her hand, I led her around the car’s door and helped her settle in her seat.

  “Where is Hemi?” She asked sadly.

  In answer, I picked Hemi up from where he was laying in the grass and placed him on Viddy’s lap before closing the door softly.

  Radar, who was sitting on his haunches beside Viddy’s door, came instantly when I whistled and hopped into the back door of the car before I slammed the door closed behind him.

  “What’s on your agenda?” I asked her once we were on the road back to town.

  “I want to take him to the water park, and then I want to get him a steak dinner from the Salt Grass Steakhouse. Then, well then, we can take him to the vet’s office.” She explained quietly.

  I took my eyes off the road for a split second to regard her, and a pang of sadness poured through me as I saw the haunted look to her face.