by Lola StVil
“We brought Luis here because it’s the right thing to do, but that’s it, we can’t let our son be involved in any of this,” his father says.
“No, of course not!” I reply.
“But I want to help. I’m not scared anymore. I can be tough,” he pleads with me.
“I know you can, Luis, but we will figure this out another way, okay?” I reply.
“I’m not afraid. I can be brave like Mr. Hunter said in the class when he came to the center. He said you have to do what’s right even when you’re afraid. I didn’t do it before but I’m ready now,” Luis says.
Aw, this kid is breaking my heart.
I don’t get a chance to reply because Decker enters the room at that moment with a stack of large black photo books. Decker greets me with a quick nod and places the books on the table for Luis to look through.
“Like we said, we don’t want him involved in this,” the father says as he places his hand over the books so that Luis doesn’t open them.
“This is just to confirm who we already know was involved. If you decide to stop here, we understand,” Decker says.
“So he’s just looking at some pictures, you’re not gonna force him to testify or anything?” his foster mother says.
“No! I promise Luis is not gonna do anything of the kind,” I assure them. Wyatt looks over at me and signals that he wants to see both Decker and me outside.
“Alright, Luis, we’ll be right back,” Decker says as we exit the room and walk out into the hallway.
“You can’t promise them that, Winter,” Wyatt says as soon as we are alone.
“There’s no way I’m gonna let anyone put Luis in danger,” I counter.
“I get not wanting anything to happen to him, I am on the same page. But he’s the only witness and we have no other leads,” Wyatt replies.
“Then find another lead, honey, because I won’t let Luis be involved in this in any way,” I swear.
“He might not have a choice. The Street Kings might already know about Luis and if that’s the case he’s already in danger,” Decker says.
“So you need to give him protection. But don’t drag him deeper. This is my kid,” I remind them.
“Babe, I get that you are looking out for him but putting him on the stand might be the best way to get rid of all the danger he’s around,” Wyatt says.
“No. There has to be another way,” I push.
“There isn’t another way. We’ve been at this for days now and I’m telling you, there’s no other way,” Wyatt says, pushing back.
“Well, that’s not exactly true…” Decker says, then hesitates. Wyatt glares at him and Decker raises his hand as if to surrender.
“Hey, what are you two not telling me?” I demand.
“It’s nothing babe,” he says, clearing holding something back.
“Yeah, he’s right. Let’s just get back in there and see if the kid can even make an ID,” Decker says.
“No! I’m not leaving this spot until you two tell me what’s going on. And I think you both know me well enough by now to know that I am not bluffing. Talk,” I demand as I fold my arms across my chest.
“We found out that they’ve been having your place watched. They really are pissed at you for denying them a new member. The word is out and it makes them look weak. So if they were to get you, it would show everyone just how serious they are. You’ve become very important to them.”
“They are watching my place? How long have they been doing that?” I ask as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a shiver passes though me. Shit. It’s so creepy to know that someone is watching you so they can hurt you. Wyatt steps closer to me and reads the sudden panic in my eyes.
“Hey, you know I won’t let anything happen to you,” he says firmly.
“Yeah, I know. It’s fine. What does this have to do with Luis?” I ask.
“Decker suggested that we give them what they are looking for,” Wyatt says, clearly unhappy with the thought.
“That’s perfect! We could use me as bait and you guys would be standing by. Then we could get them and Luis wouldn’t have to testify. Decker, that’s brilliant!”
“You. Me. Office. Now,” Wyatt demands as he pulls me away from Decker and into a small empty room across the hall.
“Wyatt, I—”
“No!”
“But—”
“No!”
“You would rather put a little kid in danger instead of putting me in danger?” I ask.
“I would rather neither of you face danger. If Luis can ID them, we will place him in protective custody, we’ll keep him and his family safe.”
“Yes, and you’ll do the same for me.”
“Him testifying in court, in front of a judge, security, and half the police department, is different than you being used as bait.”
“Wyatt, I am the reason this all happened. I need to do this. I can’t keep Carlos away from these guys forever. This is the only chance we have to get them. Let me do this.”
“No. No. No.”
“You are not the only one who wants to help. Just because I don’t have a badge doesn’t mean I can’t be useful.”
Wyatt rakes his hands through his hair as his jaw tightens. “I can’t put you in danger. Please try and get that,” he pleads.
“I won’t be in any danger.”
“Oh really? You have that much faith this plan?” he demands.
“No, I have that much faith in you…”
Wyatt is not happy about our plan. I am pretty sure that if we don’t get things moving, he’ll back out of it. Decker feels the same way, so as I was leaving the station he told me he’d get started on all the paperwork right away. I leave Wyatt and head back to the house. Not long after, Bree and Jana come over. While Bree goes into the bathroom to change, I ask Jana how the afternoon went.
“I don’t know who that woman in there is but it’s not your sister,” Jana replies.
“She’s a little more…laid-back huh?” I tease.
“‘Laid-back’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. She was flirting with any and everything moving. She stuck her tongue out at a cop like she wanted to lick him, she cornered a mall security guy and told him she was in possession of something valuable and she invited him to come find it. And I can’t even describe what she tried to do to the male mannequin. All you need to know is we are no longer welcome at Macy’s.”
“Aw, no. My poor sister is losing it.” I moan.
“Yeah, she’s going through it hard.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t take her out,” I reply.
“Truth is, if we don’t go out, she’ll go out on her own. She is feeling unwanted since her husband cheated and now she wants a guy who will tell her that she’s smoking hot and that her hubby is an idiot.”
“Okay so we take her out for a few, she’ll get hit on, and then her sense of self will be back to normal?” I venture.
“Oh, if only we lived in a sitcom where everything got fixed in a half hour. The truth is, this is just the start of her downward spiral.”
“Great, Jana. Any more good news?
“Actually yes, she has you to watch her and for tonight she has me. It’s all good. We can handle this.”
“And what about you, are you okay going out tonight?” I ask as I put my hand on her upper arm.
“Yeah, I’m not looking for anyone tonight. I’m just here to help Bree and have a drink.”
“Thank you so much for this, Jana.”
“Anytime, chick,” she says with a smile. Bree bursts out of the bathroom in a short, tight, gold tube dress.
“Wow, where is the rest of it?” I ask.
“Are you kidding, it was all I could do to stop her from hiking it up more. If she had her way, that dress would be the length of a headband,” Jana replies.
“Do you like it or not?” Bree begs.
“You look great, sis.”
“Thank you,” she says as she takes out her purse
to apply makeup. Jana changes into black leather cutout leggings and a sequence crop top. She adds heels and dangling earrings. I wear a lace romper with a plunging V-neck and strappy heels.
Thank God we’re going in a cab; otherwise, I would freeze my ass off in this thing. That’s the thing about living in New York City—it’s easy to fall into an “all-sweater mode” and stay there until spring. But tonight, I thought I’d put some effort in and make it not just about Bree but about us girls getting together, looking good and feeling good. I wasn’t looking forward to tonight to be perfectly honest but after pushing Wyatt to let me be bait, I kind of need something to take my mind off what I agreed to do.
Back in the police station, I focused on getting Wyatt to say yes to the plan. But now that he has, I am a little nervous. When I say a little, I mean a lot. So, maybe a few drinks, some music, and girl talk will ease my mind.
I’m in the bathroom, putting on the last finishing touches to my makeup when I hear Wyatt put his key in the door. “So…girls’ night?” he ventures as he greets the ladies in his living room.
“Yeah, we can’t let all you men suck up our time,” Jana says.
“It’s more than girls’ night. It’s ‘revenge sex’ night,” Bree says.
Did she just say that out loud?
“She doesn’t mean it like that,” Jana says quickly.
“Yeah, I think I know what she means,” Wyatt replies.
“So, what do you think, Wyatt?” Bree asks.
“You look amazing. If you want to get some attention, mission accomplished. And Jana, you look great too,” he replies.
I give myself the once-over in the mirror: my hair is up in a sleek, high ponytail that works well with my matte bright red lipstick. And the small stone pendent I’m wearing brings out the grey in my eyes. I’m all set. I enter the living room and he turns to see me.
“Wow,” he gasps softly. Okay, just standing there having him look at me like that makes my heart flutter. I’m the only thing he sees right now. He has somehow removed everyone from the world except him and me. I love him for that.
I love him.
Okay, okay, everyone stay calm. Let’s just enjoy this moment and not go crazy, okay? I smile and greet him with a quick kiss. He takes my hand and practically drags me into the bedroom. “Excuse us, ladies. Be right back,” he says as he closes the bedroom door behind us.
“What is it?” I ask him.
“You…”
“What about me?” I tease.
“You look…” He bites his lower lip and rakes his eyes over my body like he’s seconds away from ripping my clothes off. He extends his arms and places them on the door on either side of my head, basically trapping me between him and the door. Having him so close to me, looking at me like he is, makes it impossible to focus. He nibbles on my neck as he slides his hand under my bra and kneads my breast.
“What are you doing?” I sigh as I try to manage the desire surging through me.
“Giving you a reason to stay home,” he says as he slides his tongue into my mouth and pries my lips apart. I place the palm of my hands against his chest and feel the solid mass of muscles beneath my fingers. He squeezes my already taut nipple between his fingers, and I cry out in ecstasy, but he steals the air form my lungs, so I can’t make a sound.
“Ah, baby, you have to stop,” I plead as my eyes roll to the back of my head. He moans but continues to fondle me. It takes everything in me, but I manage to break away from his hold and put some much-needed space between us.
“Don’t go,” he says.
“I have to, I’ll be back,” I promise. He grumbles but resists the urge to come after me. Thank God, because a few more minutes of his lips on my skin and I would never leave the damn house.
“Are you supposed to be working tonight through the night?” I ask.
“Yeah, I just stopped by to check you. But I do have to take off.”
“A case?”
“Yeah but it’s not ours. We’re just there for backup. It’s no big deal,” he says.
“If you’re late, Decker is gonna kill you.”
“He won’t be there. He’s messed up in the head about the upcoming custody hearing, so I told him he could go home,” he says. Wyatt previously told me about Decker’s divorce and the battle with his soon-to-be ex-wife.
“We should have him over to dinner,” I suggest.
“Really? Are you cooking?”
“No but I think the chef likes me. And I think he’d whip up something if I asked nicely,” I tease.
“How nicely?” he says as he tries to pull me to him. I step back, knowing I won’t be able to pull away if I get caught up again.
“You don’t have to wear an outfit that sexy, you know,” he accuses.
“What am I supposed to wear to a nightclub?”
“Sweats,” he replies.
“Oh really?” I laugh.
“Yeah, it’s a new trend,” he says, getting dangerously close to me again.
“Who made up that trend?” I ask.
“Guys who didn’t want their girls being eye fucked at clubs, especially when he’s not around.”
“Wyatt, you have nothing to worry about. I’m not looking for anyone; anymore.”
“Tell your outfit that,” he says like a kid.
“You are hopeless. I gotta go,” I reply as I quickly kiss him on the cheek and head out the door.
He calls after me. “Babe.”
“Yeah?”
“Be safe.”
***
We enter Output, a warehouse turned club in Brooklyn. The space is vast, dark, and crowded. The music is blaring, the drinks are overflowing, and just about everyone in Brooklyn is in here. I thought it would take a little time for Bree to warm up to the scene but within ten minutes of entering the club, she’s had two drinks and was dancing with some stranger.
Jana looks over at me and I shrug and signal that we should let her have some fun. I was going to get us some drinks but a few guys over at the bar sent some our way. We thank them, and to my surprise, Jana doesn’t go over to them. Instead she hangs with me and we dance together.
This DJ is known for his crazy mixes and tonight he’s really keeping the crowd going. Jana has had more than her share of guys coming to her and she has politely sent them all away. She’s just having fun on her own, and I’m so damn proud of her. I had a few guys ask me to dance and offer to buy me drinks. I declined the drinks but danced with them as long as it was a fast song. I also kept Jana nearby so it was like a group thing and not one-on-one. The whole time we are dancing, I keep my eyes on Bree.
She was only a few feet away but in all the craziness of the crowd, she has drifted to the middle of the dance floor. Worried that she may have drifted too far, I stop dancing and seek her out. Jana points over to the woman grinding up on some guy in the middle of the dance floor. She’s moving her hips and waving her hands wildly in the air. She’s in the zone and as of right now, genuinely doesn’t give a fuck about anything.
“Is she okay?” I shout at Jana, trying to be heard above the music.
“Yeah, but she should stop drinking right about now,” Jana says. I cut through the crowd and head over to her. I try to get her attention but she’s too busy sucking down two drinks in a row. The guy she’s dancing with offers her a third one, and I push his ass away from my sister.
“What are you doing?” Bree shouts.
“No more drinking,” I tell her firmly.
“What? No way is this my last drink,” she says as she makes her way to the bar. I follow her and try to stop her from ordering. But she doesn’t need to order it—a new guy, who just walked in, is more than happy to supply her with a gin and tonic.
“Bree, don’t drink that. You’ve had enough,” I shout. She looks at me and downs her drink without the slightest hesitation.
Seriously?
In need of backup, I look for Jana out in the sea of people and find her surrounded by three guys who
have no sense of personal space. Goddamn it!
“Bree, stay here. I’ll be right back,” I shout as I head over to rescue Jana. I get between the guys and at first they are happy because they think I want to be a part of their circle. They signal for me to come in closer and I do. I come close enough to nab Jana and get the fuck away from them.
“You okay?” I ask her.
“Yeah, I didn’t even realize they had gotten so close. I was just dancing and they snuck up on me,” she says.
“It’s okay. That’s why we go in groups. This was fun but I’m ready to go and Bree needs some damn coffee in her system,” I reply.
“Sounds good. Where is she?” Jana asks.
“She’s right over—fuck! Where did she go?!” I ask. We scour the dance floor and there’s no sign of her. We split up and try to look for her again. We find nothing. Jana checks the bathroom and I check the coatroom. There’s nothing. Jana grabs our coats in case we have to go outside to find her.
“Damn, where did she go?” Jana asks as she checks the crowd again.
“You looking for the girl you came with, the gold tube top chick?” one of the bartenders shouts.
“Yeah, do you know where she is?” I ask.
“Saw her go out back a while ago. Cute chick. Was gonna give her my number but she was…busy. Or at least her mouth was,” he says crudely. I roll my eyes and head for the back entrance of the club. Jana is right behind me. She hands me my coat and we burst through the heavy metal door that leads to the back alley. I find my sister leaning against the wall of the club, making out with some stranger.
“Ohmygod” Jana says as she puts her hand over her mouth.
“Okay, okay, that’s enough.” I shout as I try not to look. I pull my sister away from the guy and drape her coat over her. The guy begs me to let her stay.
“Aw, sorry baby, I gotta go.” Bree says with a smirk. The guy groans as if in agony, as I drag my sister away. And yes, she is still smiling.
“Please tell me you were planning to use a condom.” I demand.
“Yeah, yeah, Mom. I brought one with me. I came prepared.” She gloats.
