Relenting (Dirty Cops #2)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Roxy

“ D amn, I missed you, sis.”

“Stop, Derek. I don’t want you touching me.” I hold my hand out as he tries to pull me in for a hug. I didn’t come here for a family reunion or a date, I came to finally get everything off my chest and put the selfish jerk in his place once and for all. When I saw all his texts, I was going to ignore them and block his number, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized there were things I needed to say. The first being exactly what I think of him and the way he treated me.

“Don’t be like that, Rox. I know I fucked up. I know I should’ve called or texted. It doesn’t mean that I wasn’t thinking about you all the time. In fact, I realized I don’t want to be apart anymore. I want to move you into my building.”

God, he’s such an asshole. Notice how he didn’t say move in with him. No. He wants to put me up in one of the neighboring condos so he can sneak down and fuck me anytime he wants. Meanwhile, I have no doubts he intends to carry on with his life as usual. Dating rich heiresses, kissing my dad’s ass.

“I told you last night, Derek. I’m done. I’m not going to be your whore anymore.”

“Fuck. Don’t say that, sis. That’s not how I think of you. I want to marry you. You’re my everything.”

Bullshit. “Really? I’m your everything?” I can’t even comprehend that. “You go weeks without calling or texting, Derek. You go on dates with other women. Kiss them and fuck them. You can stand by and let my dad call me trash, accusing me of corrupting you, and you want to say I’m your everything.” God, he’s such an asshole. It makes me sick to think I was ever in love with him, and that I fell for his shit for so long. “If I were your everything, you wouldn’t call me for sex and then drop me off on the side of the road in the middle of the night.”

Until Bentley, I made excuses for Derek’s selfish behavior. I didn’t want to cause my brother any problems or hurt his reputation. I never once put myself first. I always felt insecure, like I wasn’t good enough. But now, I hate him for how he treated me. Despise him for using me. And I know that I am good enough. I’m worthy of so much more. And Bentley is the man I want to give my heart to.

“You know I can’t be seen outside of a lawless motorcycle club. The media would have a fucking field day with that.”

“My point exactly. You care more about your reputation. More about the money and the fame than my well-being. If I were your everything, you wouldn’t have let me live there to begin with. You would’ve told my dad to fuck off and started a life with me. But you didn’t. And now, you want to put me up in some adjoining condo so you can have access to your on-call pussy anytime you want. Well, guess what. I don’t want you, Derek. I don’t ever want to see you again. I don’t ever want you to touch me again. And I sure as hell don’t want you contacting me.”

He steps forward, trying to reach for me, but I shrug away from his grip. “Don’t do this, sis. I’m the only family you have left.”

No. He’s not my family. He was, back when he was young and unfazed by the fame. Now, he’s just an asshole.

“I have a new family now.” I have a man who’s given me more love in one month than I’ve had my entire life. I have a group of men who respect and care about me. I have Chrissy and Shiv. Hailey and Grit. People who not only accept me for who I am, but would bend over backwards to help me out. People who would never make me cry. I do have a family. I have all the family I need.

“What?” He laughs. “The thugs you live with? Man, you really are trash.”

“I suggest you shut your fucking mouth and give my girl an apology.”

The deep voice from behind startles me. Bentley comes up to my back and I’m flooded with fear. I’m not sure how much he heard. I’m not sure if he’s now aware of my illicit relationship with my stepbrother. I don’t think he did since his hand is braced around my waist.

“You.” Derek’s eyes go up in surprise as if he knows Bentley. “You’re that stupid cop who was too afraid to get the rat out of my house. What the hell do you want? I suggest you get your nose out of my business before I file a complaint.”

When Bentley’s frame turns to stone, I chance a glance over my shoulder. He looks absolutely livid, staring Derek down as if he wants to pull his gun out and put a bullet in the center of his head.

“I don’t take lightly to threats, you little shit. And I certainly won’t tolerate you harassing my girl.”

“Your girl?” Derek looks down at me. “Are you dating him? Is that why you’re breaking up with me?” His laugh is evil, sending goose bumps down my arms. “You’re giving up a life full of happiness, wealth, everything your heart could desire for some piddly small-town cop whose salary is what I make in an hour. You’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”

“No.” I shake my head, the anger oozing from my tight voice. “I’m giving up a life of misery with a self-absorbed rich little snot who has a puny dick and sucks in bed, for a life with a real man. A man with integrity, intelligence, and a heart of gold. The biggest mistake of my life was wasting all that time on you. But I’m not going to waste a second longer.”

I turn in Bentley’s arms, looking up at the man I love. “I’m sorry I never told you. I didn’t want you to be disgusted with me.” The guilt barely lets me get the words out, the tears slipping down my cheeks. “I was afraid I was going to lose you.”

He grabs ahold of my neck, shaking his head. “God, baby. When are you going to get it? I don’t care about where you came from or who you fucked in your past. All I care about is you. And there’s nothing that’s going to change that. I’m never leaving you, babe. I never want to wake up to a day that I don’t get to talk to you and hear your voice or see your pretty face. I don’t want to know what life is like without your stubborn attitude and your grumpy mood swings when you’re hangry or tired.” He suddenly slides down to one knee taking my hand, and a gasp leaves my mouth.

“Life’s too damn short, baby, and when you know you know. And from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were my one. So, what do you say, Roxanna? Will you do this with me through thick and thin? Will you marry me, baby?”

It feels like my heart is about to beat out of my chest. I thought he was going to hate me. That he was going to run from the trash as fast as he could. But he’s not. Now he knows my dirtiest secret, and he still wants me. And I…want him.

“Yes, Bentley. Yes, I want to marry you.”

“Damn, baby.” He scoops me up, giving me a smile that melts all my fears away. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.” My toes tingle as his lips press to mine, his tongue taking the lead and kissing all my thoughts away.

“You can’t be serious, Rox. I’m the one you’re meant to be with. You’re not going to be happy with him.”

I ignore the arrogant ass as Bentley takes my hand and slips on the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen.

“Thank you,” I whisper as I take it all in. It’s breathtaking, and so is the man who gave it to me. “I love you so much, Bentley. I’ve never been so happy.”

“What the fuck? What the fuck?” The panic in Derek’s voice almost has me laughing, but I’m too enamored with my soon-to-be husband to worry about the asshole who for the first time in his adult life since becoming a billionaire heartthrob isn’t getting what he wants. And I’m so happy to be the one delivering that very important life lesson. If you don’t treat people with respect and kindness, they won’t want to be around you. Now, he’s the one who can figure out how to live with a broken heart.

“You’re in so much trouble.” Bentley’s words slip between our lips, pulling me right back into the heat. “Never want you keeping secrets from me again, princess. Need you to trust me and trust in what we have.”

“I do trust you,” I moan as he wraps my legs up around his waist and starts carrying me down the street. “I promise this is the only thing I’ve kept from you.”

“That’s good to know, sweetheart. But your ass is still going to be punished.”

He squeezes my backside, drenching me in need. His punishments are my new addiction. The way he takes me to new heights of pleasure, always pushing the envelope and testing my boundaries. When it comes to him, I have no boundaries. I know he’ll always keep me safe. I know he’ll always protect his little princess.

“Can’t wait.” I smile against his lips. “I don’t want to sit without feeling your mark on me. I want the dirty cop to teach me how not to be a bad little girl.”

“Fuck,” he groans, pushing me up against the side of his car. “Now, you’ve gone and done it, princess. I’m going to have to arrest your ass and take you to jail.”

“For what?” I turn my head as he pulls out his cuffs and hooks them onto my wrist.

“For stealing,” he states, slapping them on the other one.

My brows go right up, wondering what exactly it is I stole.

“Do you want to tell me exactly what it is you’re falsely accusing me of taking?” I’m already getting soaked, thinking about the strip search that will be coming as soon as we’re alone.

“My heart.” He winks, pushing me into the back of his patrol car. He closes the door, locking me inside and then he hauls me off to my prison. To the place where I’ll be serving a life sentence of happiness, hoping I’ll never be paroled on the charges. Because this girl has fallen head over heels in love with one very dirty officer.