King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 2

Job & Neighbor

I t’s been a long day. This call should be my last, but I’m not counting on it. I can’t wait to get back to my place and have a cold beer. A book, a beer, and a bath are all calling me.

Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved to escape into a good book. This day is escape worthy. I’m looking forward to getting lost in my e-reader.

I was already halfway home when I got the call. Our squad has been shorthanded, and they’ve been working me like a dog. The amount of paperwork alone has me questioning my life.

If I couldn’t see for myself that our team has been light, I would think my captain has been punishing me to keep me from digging into the case I can’t get him to approve me to make a move on. I know Candido and Pauly Ricci are hiding something. All I need is a task force to nail them for a RICO case to put them both away.

Especially Candido, he’s the type of asshole I became a cop to put away. He may have everyone else fooled, but I see right through him. One of these days, he’s going to fuck up, and I’m going to be on his ass. That’s a promise.

“What do we have, Jenkins?” I ask as he lifts the yellow tape to let me through.

“Homeless guy found a body behind the dumpster. Female, early twenties,” he replies.

“Fuck. Any ID?”

“Nope, Jane Doe looks like she’s fresh. I’m thinking she was dumped here just after the rainstorm. Looks like cause of death was asphyxiation. She has a contusion to the left side of the head and her clothing was torn, indicating there may have been a sexual assault before the time of death,” Jenkins rattles off.

I go to step toward Jane Doe and step into a puddle of water. I look down at the puddle and it’s like I’m sucked into its reflection. That’s the best way I can explain it.

I lift my head, and a couple appears before me. He’s a lot taller than her that’s the first thing I note about them. As he has her pinned to the wall, I home in on everything about them.

She shoves him back and her face comes into view. She doesn’t look very lucid. As he stumbles back, she actually falls to the side as if drunk or high—maybe even drugged.

“Come on, you little slut. You were in there shaking your ass for me all night. Don’t try to be hard to get now,” the guy snarls.

He closes in on her and she pushes at him once again. This time, he punches her on the left side of her head. She stumbles back against the concrete wall behind her and hits her head again. That’s when the guy grabs her by the throat, and she grabs his wrist.

I note they both have a stamp on the backs of their hands, probably from a nightclub in the area. I want to draw my gun and pull the trigger when he tears her dress and proceeds to violate her.

However, the vision is popped and I’m brought back to the present. “Detective Salvado,” Jenkins calls. “You all right?”

I take a step forward and shake my head to clear it. “Uh, yeah, I’m fine.” Lifting a hand to my head, I try to figure out what the heck is going on with me.

I move to where the body lies covered by a sheet. Jenkins squats to pull the sheet back and reveals the young woman beneath. My mouth falls open as it’s the same woman from the vision I just had.

I take a calming breath as my thoughts spiral. What the fuck is going on? How did I see her face? Was that what happened to her?

I squat to check for the stamp on the back of her hand. The moment I see the same stamp from the vision, I purse my lips. This is the same girl.

“I want to know which club in the area uses this stamp for their patrons. Get me their CCTV footage and get me the footage from those cams as well,” I say, nodding my head up at the surveillance cams I’ve noted since stepping into this alley.

“Tanner, Robinson, and Jones, y’all come with me. My gut is telling me this guy hasn’t called it a night. Let’s go party,” I start to bark out orders, knowing I plan to head into the local clubs for myself.

I already know who I’m looking for. He probably thinks he got away with this, so he’ll be partying without a care. I’m counting on it.

My little squad follows me out of the alley. I turn right and find a club down at the end of the block on the other side of the street. Holding my hand up to the oncoming traffic, we then jog across the street and move toward the club, bypassing the line awaiting entry.

I flash my badge at the bouncer. “We’d like to speak with the manager.”

He nods curtly and lifts his wrist to speak into the comm. “We have PD out here asking to speak with you.” He looks back to me and says. “He’ll be right out.”

“Good, he can talk to my officers here. My partner and I will be heading in,” I say, waving Jenkins to follow me in.

Jenkins isn’t really my partner, but he is in plain clothes, so he won’t stand out as much as the uniformed guys we have with us. I’m the only one who knows who we’re looking for, but it won’t hurt to have someone inside to watch my back.

We walk into the club. Once we step through the door, the music thumps so hard I can feel it in my chest. I keep my gaze sharp as I look around for the big guy from my vision. I know this is crazy, but my gut is telling me to go with it.

“What are we looking for?” Jenkins leans to whisper in my ear.

“White male, around six-two, dark, medium-length hair, light-blue T-shirt and blue jeans,” I murmur back.

“And you got all that from a hand stamp?”

I turn to look him in the eyes. “Just trust me.”

He shrugs. Then his eyes go wide as he looks over my shoulder. I turn to see what he’s looking at. A grin comes to my lips as the perp comes into view.

It’s him, the guy from the vision. His shirt is now damp. One would think he’s been sweating. I know better. It had been drizzling just a bit while he was in the alley with our vic.

I nearly growl as I watch the asshole slip something into the drink of a young woman at the bar. He’s actually going to try this shit again tonight. Jenkins calls for backup.

Without a word, I saunter over to the bar to stand beside him and get a good look at his face and hand. I signal for the bartender once there and order a beer. The perp turns his attention to me, forgetting his intended target.

His gaze drops to my badge as he gives me a once-over and his eyes light up as if I’m a new challenge. The sick bastard. Up close, I know I have my guy. He has scratches on his wrist and his face is the same as the one in the vision.

“How about I buy your next one,” he says cockily.

“How about you turn around and let me put these cuffs on you?”

“If that’s what you’re into. Although, I’d rather be the one doing the restraining.”

“Too bad, the only one you’ll be restraining will be your cellmate. You’re under arrest for murder. You have the right to remain silent—” I begin to read him his rights as backup surrounds us.

However, he turns to bolt before I’m done. He shoves by my officers and takes off. I’m hot on his heels as I find my second wind for the night.

I follow him through the club to an emergency exit he ducks out of. His long legs are carrying him forward fast, but I’m faster. I jump up in the air and kick him in his back, sending him flying forward onto his face.

Before he can roll over and fight back, I’m on him with my cuffs. I grin as he calls me every name in the book. I’ve been more bitches from better mouths, so I’m not fazed in the least.

Ardan

“You heading out, brother?” Dagger asks as I stand from the table and rap my knuckles against it.

I’ve been drinking with a few of the captains and some brothers tonight to pass the time. I can feel the eyes of the club bunnies on me, hoping I’ll entertain them for the night.

Most wouldn’t dare try to sleep with me, but many have offered to blow me in hopes to get closer to me. I’ve allowed it with a few, but not often. I have held out hope that my mate will someday appear. That’s the reason I ignore the stares and the flirting.

“Yeah, I need to go for a ride to clear my head and then I’m going to my place,” I murmur back to Dagger.

“I heard you haven’t been using your room here at the clubhouse. Too good for your brothers, eh?” Brass says with a taunting smile.

I snort. “If that’s how you want to take it.”

I don’t bother to tell him that I’ve been spending more time at my apartment these days because something is drawing me there. It feels more like home than anywhere else, so I’m there most nights. I purchased the building about a year ago.

Then I moved into one of the units. None of the tenants know I own the place. I like it that way.

“I’m not offended. These motherfuckers around here can get unruly. Don’t blame you one bit for wanting to get away from them,” Dracon says through a laugh.

I snort at that one. “You brothers have a good night.”

I turn to leave as they continue to throw jeers at me. I stroll easy, in no real rush. While my apartment does feel like home, it’s still lonely. A grin comes to my lips.

Maybe I’ll run into my little neighbor. She’s a hot little cop. If humans were an option, I would have been all over that months ago.

I may not be able to do anything about the attraction I feel toward her, but I love when I get to see her. She’s pretty and gives off this independent vibe that I love about her. I’ve tried to help her with carrying her bags into the building or offering to hold a door for her, but she manages to sidestep me or decline my offers for help each time.

Not that I don’t see the lust that often fills her eyes. Now her … I’d allow her to wrap those sexy lips around my dick any day of the week. I’d give anything to have those eyes looking up at me as she takes me in deep. I have to adjust myself as the thought crosses my mind.

I shake my head clear and throw my leg over my hog. I might need to get laid sooner rather than later. That mermaid Oasis has been giving me the eye. She might be worth a try. I’ll have to ask about her the next time I meet up with Amadeus.

As I ride, I begin to think about club business. The books have been looking good. Everyone has been paying their dues and turning in earnings.

We’re thriving and that’s always a good thing. I’ll be able to approve quite a few requests for financial assists from those needing help. Not all supers are great at money management, much like humans.

The club also foots the bills for things like new schools, repairs to our neighbors, and business start-ups for those who relocate. I mentally make a list of the requests that have come in that deserve priority.

By the time I pull into the parking garage of my apartment building, I have a firm plan in my mind and I’m ready to head upstairs to find a book to read.

However, I’m not the only one to pull in. The black sedan that belongs to my pretty little neighbor pulls into her spot. I take a glance at my watch.

It’s almost three in the morning. I honestly hate that she keeps such late hours. If she were mine, I would make sure to be waiting outside her precinct every night to see her home. Heck, I don’t think I’d be able to take her career if she belonged to me.

For the millionth time, I wonder if she has a boyfriend who waits up for her calls at night. I’ve only seen one guy come by her apartment in the last year. He seemed to be into her, but she was indifferent from what I could tell.

It wouldn’t have been hard to take her from him if he were her man. I swing my leg over my bike to dismount with a smile on my lips from the thought. She climbs out of her cage and releases her hair from the ponytail she had it in.

She looks tired but sexy as her wavy locks fall into her cocoa-brown face and she reaches up to push them out of her eyes then scratches her scalp.

I would love to take her up to my apartment and draw her a bath to let her soak. Then I could be the one to scratch and massage her scalp as she relaxes.

“Good evening,” I say as we reach the elevator at the same time.

She shivers, then looks up at me as if just noticing my presence. “Hey,” she says with a smile.

“Long day?”

She scoffs. “You have no idea.”

We step into the elevator silently. I can’t take my eyes off her. She leans against the wall and closes her eyes. I take in her full lips and the way her T-shirt hugs her breasts.

As if feeling my eyes on her, she opens hers and stares back at me. A sweet smile comes to her lips as she takes me in from head to toe. I return the smile and the gesture as I stand with my legs set wide and my arms across my chest.

“You make sure to get something to eat before you go to bed. You’re looking a bit hungry over there,” she says.

I release a laugh and smile wider. “As long as you drink plenty of water, gorgeous.”

She shakes her head as the elevator dings on our floor. “Yeah, right.” She smiles. “You have a good night, neighbor.”

“You too.”