by River Savage
That’s the plan. We just need to pull it off.
“Copy. Alpha team in place.” Hart checks in for the first time, letting me know he’s on board.
Ryan Hart is the oldest member of the team. Before I made the team, he was the top negotiator the force had. Then four years ago, the poor bastard lost his wife to cancer. Mourning his loss, and trying to figure out the ropes of being a single dad to his two kids, he stepped down from the team and took a leave of absence. It took a few years for him to return. First coming on part-time, and then working his way back up. After passing his physical and mental exams last month, he was offered a full-time spot back on the team.
“Bravo team in place,” Fox whispers, confirming both teams are ready. Even though this is the second run through of the day, it's a new play, one I want to make sure we get right.
“Alpha team on my count. Three, two, one.”
“Alpha team breaching now,” Sterling speaks through his coms. The flash bang is loud enough for me to hear it outside the perimeter.
“Bravo team down,” I order, watching them all unfold the play on the small feed in the command unit. Hart’s flash bang is enough to get the boys on the ground while Fox and Tate manage to secure the weapon and place Kaighn in custody. It all happens fast like we’ve trained.
In and out in ninety seconds.
“Subject secure. All hostages safe.” The final coms come from Sterling, letting me know the play worked, and our team pulled it off.
“Good job, Sergeant Hetcherson.” My lieutenant taps me on the back, reminding me today’s training session was being closely watched. “Risky to split the team up like that, but it played out for you.”
“Thank you, sir.” I release the earpiece from my ear. Today’s training drill was to assess if the team is cohesively working as a unit. While each and every one of us is an asset to the team, we still need to make sure we’re working as one. I think after that run-through, both teams, not just ours, proved where we belong.
“Tell me. You’ve been acting team leader for three months now?”
“Yes, sir.” I nod, wondering where he’s going with this. It’s been a week since psych evaluation, and so far, I haven’t been removed from duty.
Is today the day I get pulled?
“You still feel like you’re the best person for the job?”
“I can’t answer that, sir. Only you and the team can.” I don’t know what to say, or if I should say anything. I want to say when I’m on the job, I’m focused, I’m switched on, and for the most part, I am, but when you’re constantly questioned on your mental ability in these sorts of situations, you can start to doubt yourself.
“You passed your physical, you requalify at the top of your team every year, but as you are aware, we had over twenty applicants for new team leader.”
“Yes, sir. I was aware.”
“Your psych testing.” He pauses.
Fuck, here we go.
“The guy was a pompous ass. Got in my head.” I come right out and say it. No point beating around the bush. He’s gotta know I fucked up.
“They all are. It’s their job.” He’s right; it’s their job, but a fucking polygraph to test my stress? I call bullshit.
“The department outsources to different companies. I had no idea what went on until after the fact. Seems to me you received the short end of the stick.” I don’t say anything as I nervously wait for the setback I’ve been expecting all week.
“Is your head in the right space, Hetcherson?” he questions, and it takes everything in me not to say I don’t know.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. The decision will be made next week. I suggest you think long and hard about what it is you can bring to the team, Hetcherson, because from what I saw today, you have a team ready to follow your lead. It’s only you holding yourself back.” I nod, releasing a quiet and steady breath. “I’ll see you back at headquarters.” He leaves me standing there more confused than what I was last week.
Does this mean I’m being considered, even though I blew my psych evaluation? Or is his warning a preparation for things to come?
All the questioning in the world won’t give me the answer I’m looking for; all I can do is wait.
“You doing okay, Hetch?” Sterling steps into command as soon as the lieutenant steps out.
“Yep, good job out there.” I don’t relay the lieutenant’s conversation, opting to keep it to myself for now.
“The team is heading to The Elephant after debriefing, you in?”
“Yeah, I’m in.” I school my features the best I can and act like I didn’t get a warning to sort my shit out. The truth is the lieutenant’s words have me stuck in a gray area.
Maybe team leader holds too much power over me. Or maybe I am the only one holding me back.
I have to figure out what it is I want.
’Cause right now, I’m not sure.
“I want her.” I signal as the woman I’ve been eyeing stands from her table and moves toward us. Her short blonde hair hangs below her jaw in soft, loose curls.
Fuck, just enough to hold on to.
Her sharp green eyes find mine briefly before she drops her gaze to the floor. A small, possibly shy smile drags my eyes down to her mouth. She’s wearing red on her lips, and the small dip in the top pout has my cock wanting to claim every inch of her fuckable mouth.
Jesus, she’s fucking beautiful.
I noticed her as soon as we walked into The Elephant twenty minutes ago, and I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off her.
“You keep going at this rate, you’ll blow through all the available women in town.” Sterling throws back the remainder of his beer. He’s not gonna fight me on it. He just wants to give me shit.
“You going to start on me too?” I continue to watch the blonde. Her hips sway from side to side as she makes her way to the restrooms. I’m not fucking stupid; the little sway is for show. Like a fucking peacock displaying her feathers. Presenting herself to me.
“You won’t hear any complaints from me. Who’s giving you a hard time?”
“Who isn’t? Mom, Kota, my new fucking neighbor.” My mind skips over my mom and sister and flashes to the mystery woman who’s managed to turn me on and surprise me at the same time.
“I still don’t know why you’re in that place when you have a perfectly livable house.” Sterling nods to RJ, signaling for another beer. He doesn’t bother checking if I want another. He’s picked up my vice for the evening will be pussy, not alcohol.
The truth is I’ve had the house for over three years. Before my father killed himself, he was helping me renovate. The first two years after his death, I couldn’t go back. The reminder of him around the place was too raw. Too fresh. It’s only been in the last twelve months I’ve started spending days off out there. Slowly working on it. Of course, I don’t tell Sterling any of this.
“I told you, I’m not living there until I’m done fixing it up.” I know it’s counterproductive, paying a mortgage on my own place and paying rent in town, but the house needs major work, and I refuse to live in the mess of construction while I renovate. The job most days takes it out of you, coming home to chaos won’t cut it for me. I don’t need the clutter in my life.
“So what about this new neighbor? Nosey old bat is she?” The bastard smirks, probably looking forward to the story.
“Not that I know of.” I shake my head, still unable to get her out of my mind. Her soft whimpers the other night when I heard her pleasuring herself, the sharp gasp of air when she realized I was listening. It all keeps replaying over and over.
Jesus, I need a do-over.
“What do you mean?” Fox asks, drawing me out of my own personal wet dream. The whole team is here, and even though I didn’t want to head out after training, I’m glad I did.
“I’ve never seen her,” I tell him, knowing it’s only going to generate more questions. These little team get-togethers are the only time I see the moo
dy bastard relax enough to drop the permanent scowl he wears and open up enough to know behind the steely attitude, he’s genuinely a good guy.
“How is this possible?” His eyes fill with suspicion like he thinks I’m keeping something from them.
“Well, she only moved in a few weeks ago, you know how it is. Between training and late night call outs, I barely see anyone these days.” They all nod, agreeing with my summary of the life of Trebook’s tactical team.
“So what is she doing to piss you off?” Sterling presses for more information.
I’m not sure pissing me off would be the correct word to describe the woman in apartment seven. I’m not even sure she realizes she’s pissing me off.
“Let’s say she’s a bit of a prude.” It’s the only way I can describe the issue with the mystery woman since I’m still trying to wrap my head around the strange turn of events.
It all started the night when I fucked up and talked to her. I should have let her get off, but my need to want to come with her had me calling out and scolding her.
My demand was met with silence, followed by a thud to the floor.
I nearly laughed. I managed to contain it, but I did give a tap on the wall and asked her if she was still with me. I didn’t hear anything back and after a few minutes waiting around, I realized I was alone.
I thought about heading over and knocking on her door. But this situation is not something I’ve ever experienced before and, to be honest, part of me wasn’t sure it happened the way I had imagined it. It wasn’t until I received the anonymous note a few days later letting me know I was too loud, that I knew it really happened. At first, I thought her smartass letter was funny, maybe a little sassy, but then the more I thought about it, the more it pissed me off. I mean, why would she care how loud I am? Clearly, she needs to work on that issue herself if her fucking vibrator is waking me up.
I should have marched over and knocked on her door the day I received the note, but that didn’t excite me. Instead, I found myself being louder, more obnoxious, hoping to rile her up and get some kind of reaction.
“Earth to Hetch!” I cop a slap up the back of my head.
“Sorry.” I stall, not sure I should go there with them. If my promotion goes through, conversations like this will need to simmer down.
“Come on, you gotta give us more. How is she a prude?” Hart enters the conversation, making it harder for me not to spill.
“She left me a rather interesting note about my extracurricular activities.”
Hart, Sterling, and even Fox laugh, understanding my meaning right away, but Tate is slow on the uptake.
“What sort of extracurricular activities?” he pushes, making the guys laugh harder.
“His fucking activities,” Hart answers, and we wait for Tate to catch on.
“Jesus, Hetch.” He blushes slightly, reminding me he’s still fresh.
“All I can say is it’s the thin walls.” I shrug, not in the least apologetic about it. She wasn’t so fucking worried how loud she was when she was getting off last week.
“So what are you gonna do?” Sterling leans in closer, more invested in the story than the others. Of course he is. The fucker lives for my discomfort.
“What do you think? Fuck louder.” The boys burst out in laughter, and I earn myself a slap on the back from Fox. The truth is I’m not sure I know what I want to do. Part of me wants to replay the night over, preferably with no wall between us. The other part wants me to say fuck you and make her regret the stupid note.
Fuck, I need to fuck her out of my head.
As if on cue, the blonde woman from earlier takes my attention again when she walks past our table and heads back to her friends.
Maybe she can help me stick it to the prude in apartment seven.
“What’s the tall blonde drinking?” I ask RJ while watching her take her seat next to a pretty redhead.
“Rum and coke.” RJ answers, already knowing my game plan. “But, you’re wasting your time. She already sent one back from that douche.”
I follow his gaze and eye the sorry fucker who struck out.
“Send her a rum and coke.” I ignore his warning. I’m pretty sure her earlier display of feathers tells me I’m not wasting my time. RJ smirks as I sit back and watch the waitress walk over with her drink.
She doesn’t turn like I expect her to; instead, she whispers something into the waitress’ ear. I wait for another beat, before she returns back to the bar, drink still on her damn tray.
“Ohhh, burn.” Tate smacks me on the shoulder, offering me some bullshit comfort.
“What the hell was that about?” I try to think of the last time I struck out.
Besides the mystery neighbor last week, never.
“I told you it wasn’t going to work.” RJ offers no sympathy as he moves on to serve another customer.
Not prepared to accept defeat, I stand and reach for the drink.
“Where the hell are you going?” Sterling calls out when I head toward the woman in question.
“Going to ask her what her deal is,” I call back.
“Oh, Jesus, here we go.” Fox laughs, no doubt shocked at my play. Normally, I don’t have to work this hard. The badge alone gets me the pussy I need. Chasing after a woman with huge effort is not my normal play, but something about the way she is sending mixed signals has my attention. Sure, it may also be the way her legs look in her tight-as-sin jeans. It might even be the hint of a fucking delicious cleavage that has every guy in the bar’s attention. Or maybe I just want to see those red lips wrapped around my cock, while I fuck her mouth into submission.
Whatever it is, I’m not giving up.
Not yet at least.
Four
Liberty
“What is your deal? At least that one’s cute.” Payton scolds me as the waitress walks back to the bar, drink still firmly on her tray.
“I’m not interested.” I shrug, knowing they won’t understand.
“Please, we just watched you walk past him, adding a little extra sway in your hips.” My cousin Sophie cuts in.
“What? I was walking.” I don’t try to hide my lie. Seriously, could I have been any more obvious?
“I’m with the girls. That was rude. You’ve been eye-fucking him since he walked in, sending the poor guy mixed signals and then you send the drink back.” Fiona, the final link in our foursome, adds her opinion to the table.
Tonight we’re out for a girls’ night. Something we’re not able to do too often these days.
Between Payton’s time restraints with Arabella; Fee and Sophie’s new business venture, and my heavy caseload at work, we’ve barely seen each other in the last few weeks.
“Please, I'm a grown woman, Fee. I can admire the view. I can also buy my own drink.” I place my straw in my mouth and watch them all shake their head in disbelief.
“You’re crazy. I get the first guy’s brushoff, but this one, he’s sexy as fuck.” Sophie sets her disappointed eyes on me.
Sophie’s mom and my mom are sisters. Extremely close sisters. This meant we spent practically every moment of our lives growing up together. Born only a few days apart, it was almost like we were twins. Growing up with a built-in best friend was awesome. The first day of school was always less stressful, heading off to college was less daunting. Christmas was always fun and the few times we’ve had a fight, we knew there was no getting rid of each other. Even now, thirty years on, she may be my cousin, but she’s also one of my best friends.
“Come on, guys, I told you all, I’m on a sabbatical.” They all groan, clearly thinking my sabbatical is a bad idea.
“Accepting a drink doesn’t have to lead to sex,” Fee presses, in the mood to argue with me on this tonight.
Fiona is the type of friend who gives it to you straight and isn’t about to apologize for it. I met her six years ago when I moved back from college. I had just started at Boys Haven. She was the house cook. The boys loved her cooking, and I lov
ed her carefree, no-bullshit personality. We hit it off right away, and even if some days she pisses me off with her bluntness, I know she’ll always be there for me.
“It does when the guy is that hot,” I admit, knowing damn well he’s too dangerous for me. Sure, looking is fine, but accepting a drink will only lead to having to speak. And by the looks of the guy in question, I can almost say with certainty talking would lead to more.
I need to stay strong.
“Hang on a minute, rubbing one off to a stranger behind a wall is okay, but accepting a drink from a cute guy isn’t?” Sophie questions.
“No, 'cause her sabbatical only includes penetration,” Payton mocks me.
Bitch.
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?” I look to each one of my friends, wishing I didn’t trust them with the stupid shit I do.
“Girl, you think we’d let you off the hook? Hell no. This is too much fun.” Payton winks.
“What happened with apartment nine anyway?” Sophie takes the conversation back to my issue with my neighbor. “You still haven’t met him?”
“No, she left him a note, telling him to keep it down,” Payton tells them before I can.
“But you were the one who was loud.” Fee points out the lack of logic in my actions.
“It was a personal moment. He shouldn’t have eavesdropped.” I tell them my reasoning behind the little note I left. It wasn’t like I was rude about it. I just said maybe he should be a little quieter.
“So it’s okay for you to listen to him fucking, but because he joined in with you, he’s in the wrong?”
“Yes.” I nod, unsure to what I’m agreeing. Fuck me. I need another drink.
“Girl, you need to get your vibrator back out. I think you’re losing rational reasoning every week you don’t have an orgasm.” The table erupts in laughter, and I let it wash it over me.
