Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
God, she had a shitty day ahead of her.
“Okay, you two have your marching orders.”
“Yes, sir, we do.” Andrew hopped to his feet and snatched the warrant off the desk with the enthusiasm of a kid about to find what Santa had left for them.
She stood slowly, aware of her lieutenant’s assessing gaze on her. Time to ham it up. “We won’t let you down, sir.”
The LT’s face morphed into one of proud pleasure. “There you go, Baker. Have fun out there.”
Fun? Even in the best of times, collaring a deserving criminal wasn’t what she’d call fun.
Satisfying and fulfilling? Maybe.
But fun? No.
Fun was Disney World.
Fun was girls’ night with wine and brownies.
Fun was a romantic date night.
Fun was not destroying a man’s life, even if they’d earned it, and fun was definitely not framing an innocent man.
But she smiled and nodded. “We will, sir.”
She didn’t have much to say to Andrew as they walked out to their cruiser together. He slid into the driver’s seat, which worked for her. She could let her mind drift as they drove to Lock’s house for an unproductive search.
She hoped.
“Hey, Jo, can I give you a word of advice?” Andrew said, a few miles into the trip.
Nope. She had no desire to hear him spout some bullshit he thought of as wisdom. “Sure.”
“Don’t fight this.”
She faced him to find his attention on the road. “Excuse me?”
“This thing with the MC. I know you’re feeling a little squeamish about arresting Lock, but it’s for the best. Trust me when I say this. You have no idea what these men are like. You haven’t spent time in their presence. They’re lowlifes, Jo. Bottom of the barrel scum-sucking lowlifes.”
Clearing her throat gave her a second to compose her response. If only he knew she’d been screwing Tracker. If only he knew she’d spent the entire morning with the MC. Helping them. Growing affection for the men and women. “I hear you, Andrew. I just worry we’re going about this the wrong way.”
He slowed to a stop at a red light, then glanced her way. “And I hear you. I also respect you for your convictions, but if I’m being honest, they’re naïve. There are some people who need to be off the streets no matter what. No matter how it’s done. They’re on a mission to destroy this entire police department. These men are too good at slipping through the cracks. We need to fill those cracks with cement so they can’t slither in anymore.
From what she’d seen, the club would prefer the police department left them alone, and in return, they’d stay far away. Curly and Tracker specifically had reasons to hate the police, but neither seemed to want vengeance. Just to be off their radar, which was impossible given the people she worked with.
Curious, she asked, “What do you think of Olivia and Brooke? I’ve met both women, and I can’t imagine they’d stick around the club if the men were as evil as you claim.”
He grunted, then hit the gas, and they were on their way again. After a few seconds, she assumed he wasn’t going to answer her question, but then he spoke, “I think their situation is really sad. For whatever reason, they feel they don’t have a better option than to stay with Curly and that psycho, Spec.” He shook his head. “I figure they’re afraid, and that’s why they won’t leave. I’ve approached them both separately when I’ve seen them out in town and offered my assistance to help them get free whenever they’re ready. I just hope they’ll take me up on it one day.”
Jo’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. How could she even form a response to that garbage? Five minutes in the presence of Brooke and Curly or Olivia and Spec, and two things were obvious. Those women worshiped their men, and more importantly, the men worshiped them right back. Those women were queens among the rough, tough group of bikers and treated as such. All the men cared for and treasured them, but none more than two men who loved them. They were strong, resilient, and happy. How could Andrew not see that?
“Do you really believe that?”
“That they’ll come to me for help?”
“No, that they’re afraid and abused, or whatever.”
“Oh.” He nodded and took a right turn onto Lock’s street. “Yeah. I do. Hundred percent.”
Her heart sank as they pulled into Lock’s quiet driveway of his little house. The conviction in Andrew’s voice told her all she needed to know. He wouldn’t be swayed from his misguided opinion. She wouldn’t be able to count on him if she needed help from within the department. The news didn’t surprise her, as he’d always openly expressed disdain for the MC, but she still experienced a crushing sense of disappointment.