Resisting (Dirty Cops #1)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Rowan

A s soon as the bell rings I’m rushing out of the classroom and making a beeline for the exit. My skin is clawing with heat, and sitting in a desk today was pure torture. Everything that happened last night has been replaying in my mind. Ryker’s hot words. His commanding tone. The desire oozing off of him like a thick blanket. And then there was that word: daddy . Every time I think of him saying it, I drench myself.

Thankfully, I don’t have to work tonight so I can go home, stick my head in the freezer, and get my mind cleared of all these dirty thoughts. Maybe I’ll bake myself a pie and have a movie marathon to help my cause. Thankfully, Rhonda works a double shift today, so I won’t have to deal with her. I don’t think I could handle one of her raving rants right now when I’m barely holding it together.

My phone dings with a text and I quickly check it before I pull out of my parking spot.

Hunter: I’m struggling with calculus, Row, and desperately need a tutor session .

It’s Friday. Tutoring, my ass ! What he needs he can get from the cheerleaders he’s always flirting with at lunch. All of them are vying for his attention and are practically begging for his cock. All of them are girls his parents would approve of. I throw my phone onto the passenger seat, ignoring the message. Unfortunately for Hunter, he’s going to have to get himself another “tutor.”

I pull up to the trailer and see Rhonda’s car still parked out front. I was hoping she’d be gone by the time I got home, but once again, she’s late for work which means I’m going to have to lock myself in my room until she leaves.

“Where have you been, you little brat?” the witch shouts the second I walk through the door. “I had to clean this place up by myself.”

She’s frantically trying to wipe up all her cigarette ash that’s covering every surface of the living room. What I don’t understand is why the woman who never cleans a thing in this place is doing it now when she’s supposed to be at work already.

“I was at school,” I state the obvious reason for why her slave wasn’t around to do her bidding. “And aren’t you late for your shift?” I’m wondering if she’s drunk or high, and has forgotten she even has to work today, which wouldn’t be a first.

“I called out sick. My boyfriend is bringing dinner over. Now, help me with the dishes and then get the fuck lost. And don’t you dare come home tonight. I’m lucky he even wants to see me again after running into your sorry-ass yesterday. No man wants to be burdened with a step-brat.”

Jealousy and rage nearly knock me to the ground with full force. I can’t believe after everything Ryker said to me last night he’s going to come over and pretend like nothing happened between us, act like there wasn’t this insane attraction pulling us together. I guess he wasn’t kidding about wanting to be my “daddy.” Well, like I told him last night, this isn’t a two-for-one deal. I’m not going to let him sneak into my room after he’s done fucking my mom.

The knock on the door rattles my frayed nerves along with the rusted-out metal doorframe.

“Shit! He’s early,” Rhonda whisper-yells, looking panicked. “I’m not dressed yet.”

She’s still in a ratty old T-shirt and her hair’s a straggly mess. I should open the door right now and let Ryker get the full picture of the woman he’s in a relationship with. Without the fake eyelashes and thick layer of makeup caked on, Rhonda looks just like the haggard witch she truly is.

“Get the door and stall for me while I go get ready. And whatever you do”—she pins me with a warning glare—“don’t you dare say anything bad about me or I’ll call the police and report you for stealing again. And since this won’t be your first arrest, I don’t think they’ll let you off the hook so easily.” She leaves her usual threat hanging in the air and then rushes into her room, closing the door behind her.

God, I hate her. She’s the most vile human being I’ve ever met. And if it weren’t for the fear of my future being tampered with by her evilness, I’d ruin things for her with Ryker. I’d tell him every horrible truth about his “girlfriend.” I doubt that once he learns she’s a lying, stealing, cheating, wretched individual, he’ll stick around. And if he does, then he deserves to be with a witch like her.

I open the door and nearly stumble backwards when I come face-to-face with a shiny police badge. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach and I break out into a nervous sweat as light bounces off the silver metal. The air in my lungs suddenly feels shallow and not enough to keep me upright. I should’ve peeked out the window first and seen who it was. I should never have just opened the door, not when I know the creeper cop is stalking me .

“You going to greet me properly, baby doll, or do we need to have a discussion about your manners again?”

The panic starts to recede. My lungs begin to fill with air. I look up and see that the face attached to the police uniform is the one who’s been starring in my fantasies all day. Based on the way Ryker was dressed last night along with the company he kept and the generous six-hundred-dollar tip he left, I assumed he was a wealthy businessman. But apparently, he’s a man of the law.

The vision of him cuffing me and doing a very thorough strip search infiltrates my thoughts, and once again, my breathing becomes shallow and my heart begins to race.

“Fuck.” The whispered groan that leaves his mouth casts over my forehead and makes those butterflies take flight in my stomach. That overwhelming attraction is trying to drown me again. But when I hear my mother’s voice, “Be out in a few, Ryker,” I resurface to the frigid reality and find my way back to the sharp rocky truth. He’s here for a date with my mother.

I step away from the door, feeling sucker punched and needing space. “My mom’s just finishing getting ready. She’ll be right out.” I turn to go to my room to grab some clothes for tonight since I’ll be sleeping in my car, but Ryker’s arm braces around my stomach and stops me in place. His mouth coming right to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine as his lips brush softly across my skin.

“I’m trying to behave, Rowan. But that stubborn peach of yours is asking for a spanking. Now, why don’t you try that again. The proper greeting is hello. And this time, lose the sass.”

Apparently, he thinks he’s the one in control and can boss me around. But based on the extremely long, hard length pressing against my backside, I’m pretty sure I’m the one who holds the power. And I’m ready to prove the fact. I twist in his arms, gliding my fingers up his solid chest, gripping onto his shoulders, and raising up on my tippy toes to put me at eye level. I lean in and brush my lips along his cheek, teasingly close to his mouth before I run them up to his ear. His sharp intake of air proves the effect I’m having.

“Hello, daddy,” I whisper, nibbling on the side of his lobe, realizing that I’m about to lose at my own game. Being this close to him is overwhelming and tempting my sex like nothing ever has. If I don’t put a stop to it, I’ll end up letting him have his cake and eat it too. I’ll be the daughter who sneaks into her mother’s room at night to suck her stepdaddy’s cock. I’ll be riding him wild while the witch is in the shower, then hop off his dick before she catches us, acting like we were innocently watching a movie together on the couch.

Oh God, I’m sick. The forbidden thoughts are causing a rush of wet heat to pool between my legs.

I trail my fingers back down his chest and straight to the massive erection pressing against me. I give it a firm hug with my palm, loving the soft guttural groan that comes from his throat. “Like I said last night.” I slide my lips seductively along the crest of his ear, licking into him with my words. “I don’t fuck my mother’s boyfriends. So you need to get that through this very thick head.” I give his cock full strokes as I make my point, shocked by how big he is. I thought my mother was just trying to flatter him. But she wasn’t kidding. He’s hung like a mammoth. Easily twice as large as Hunter.

I release him and step out of his reach before the desire to unzip his pants and drop to my knees takes over. There’s an indescribable lust in his hooded eyes. The man looks like he’s about to break and fuck me dirty against the wall. And I don’t think I’d stop him. Right now, it feels like I’m talking a very big game because all I can think about is wanting him to make me his dirty little girl.

My mother’s voice breaks the charged silence. I move away from Ryker just as her door opens and she comes walking out of her bedroom. She’s wearing one of my fitted black dresses, which she must’ve taken from my room while I was gone. I bet it’s not the only thing she stole from me. She’s the real thief in this family, not me.

Thankfully, I took my seven-hundred-dollar tip and deposited it at the bank during my lunch break or else she would’ve taken that too. I learned early on to keep my money hidden or it would go missing—used to buy more booze and cigarettes. When I was too young to open my own bank account, I kept it buried out behind the trailer, a place she’d never think to look. And when she’d ask about my money, I’d tell her I spent it on food since there was nothing to eat in the house. Thankfully, she bought my lie. But she also started making me buy the groceries too.

“Mmm…you look seriously sexy in your uniform, Officer,” she purrs in that raspy smoker’s voice. She’s trying to sound sexy but it just sounds like she needs a tube shoved down her throat. She walks toward Ryker, and I fight the urge to block her path and tell her that he’s mine. Clearly, he’s not, or he wouldn’t be here for a date with her.

She advances on him, reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck, but he holds up the big bag of food which prevents her from making contact. It’s as if he’s using it as a shield, although, I may be reading too much into it and he could just want to put the heavy-looking sack down. “Where do you want the food? Should I lay it out on the table or on the counter buffet style?”

Rhonda looks thrown by his deflection. I’m not sure what to think of his actions either. Maybe he’s not that interested in her anymore. And maybe…I have something to do with that. The satisfaction in knowing I could be ruining her chances with him, the most incredible and impossible catch of her life, has me biting back a smile. After the hell she’s put me through, it’d be nice to dish her up a big pile of payback.

“I’ll take it,” she says, practically jerking the thing from his hand and carrying it over to the table, her hands wringing the top of the bag like she’s wringing a neck. I bite back a smirk, seeing her irritation.

“Rowan, will you point me to the plates,” he asks.

I walk over to the cabinet and take two out and hand them to him.

“You’re eating with us, right?” His voice and eyes are imploring me to say yes. I wonder if he’s uncomfortable with the idea of being alone with her. I know I’m not comfortable with it. “I told your mom I was bringing dinner for all of us. I was hoping to get to know you better.”

Interesting . The witch didn’t mention that. No wonder she wanted me to get lost. There’s no way she’ll share a moment of his attention, especially not with me.

I feel like I’m caught in a trap and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I know what will happen if I don’t leave, but the look in Ryker’s eyes has me wanting to stay.

“She was just leaving to go study,” the witch chimes in, no longer making my decision difficult for me. She’ll make good on her threat if I don’t follow her orders and I won’t let her rip my future away from me.

“On a Friday?” Ryker questions. “Come on. You should take the night off. At least eat dinner with us first.” He grabs another plate from the cabinet and takes them over to the table. “Can you grab utensils and some serving spoons, Rowan?”

My eyes shoot to Rhonda. Once again, not knowing how to respond. “Well, don’t just stand there, girl. Ryker brought us a nice meal and we don’t want it to get cold.”

I guess I’ll be joining them. But my gut twists up tighter. Even though I had nothing to do with this decision, I’m going to pay for it later. I’m not sure how, but I will.

I grab utensils and glasses of water then join them at the table. Ryker pulls out container after container of food. He really did bring a feast. “I hope you like Italian, Rowan. It’s from Magalina’s in town. ”

I absolutely love Italian. It’s one of my favorites and I rarely ever get to have anything other than box spaghetti so this will be a treat. I nod, opening my mouth to thank him but Rhonda cuts me off.

“I love Italian, Ryker. Thank you so much for bringing dinner. It was so sweet of you.” I can see the irritation on her face and hear it in her voice. She doesn’t want me to have any of his attention.

“You mentioned it was your favorite on the phone.” He nods, his tone a little crisp too. “And no thanks needed. Like I told you, this is my way of apologizing.”

That’s odd. What exactly is he apologizing for?

“Do you like it as well, Rowan?” He returns his attention to me. “What’s your favorite food?”

I crack a smile, amused by his blatant irritation with her, but it quickly fades when I see the glare the witch is shooting me. As soon as he leaves, I’m doomed.

“I…um…love Italian, too,” I say, trying not to think about the aftermath of tonight’s dinner. “But my favorite is probably Chinese. Give me those little white containers and a pair of chopsticks and I’m a happy girl.”

It’s another food I rarely treat myself too. But on Christmas day, I let myself have it. That’s probably the reason why it’s become my favorite food. It’s the only thing I look forward to about the holiday. As a kid, Rhonda would leave me at home with a can of corn while she’d go out and celebrate with friends all day and night, but as soon as I had my own babysitting money, I started ordering myself Chinese food and would have it delivered. Now that I can drive, I go to the movies in the morning, then pick up Chinese on the way home and tuck myself onto the couch with my little white boxes and the Hallmark channel playing those cheesy Christmas movies in the background.

“Next time, I’ll bring Chinese then.” He winks .

My hunger suddenly disappears. The idea that he’s going to do this again—bringing dinner and having us all sitting around the table acting like one big happy family—pisses me off. I don’t understand what’s going on. If he’s interested in her, then why does he seem annoyed by her? And why does he keep flirting with me?

“You don’t have to do that, Ryker. Rowan eats dinner at work,” the witch says with a mouthful of baked ziti, already digging into the food when the rest of us haven’t even served ourselves yet. Talk about manners. She’s the one who needs the real lesson on how to behave, not me. “She’ll be moving out as soon as she graduates,” she boasts, smiling broadly and showing off a chunk of tomato that’s stuck between her yellow teeth. God, I seriously don’t understand how he could even sleep with her. She’s awful in every way.

“You’re moving?” Ryker snaps his eyes to mine. “Where are you moving to?”

“I got a full ride to State and my scholarship requires me to start in the summer. So as soon as I graduate, I’ll be moving on campus.”

The shift in his eyes almost seems like pride, but I’m doing a really shitty job of deciphering this man’s intentions and emotions so I’m not going to read too much into it. But it would be nice to have someone other than Myrah excited for all I’ve accomplished.

“That’s incredible, ba…Rowan. What’s your major going to be?”

“I want to be a social worker,” I admit, avoiding eye contact with Rhonda. We’ve never discussed my plans. She’s never asked or shown any interest in what I want to do. In fact, this is the first time she’s learning of my scholarship and what I’ll be doing once I leave here. And judging by the angry look on her face, I don’t think she likes knowing that I won’t just be living on the street like she probably hoped .

“That’s absurd!” Rhonda scoffs. “You may as well keep your job at the restaurant and skip all that work because it’s a waste of time. You’ll be making diddly-squat as a social worker.” She shoves another bite of food into her wrinkled mouth. “How does the scholarship work anyway?” she yaps as she chews. “Do they give you the money up front?” I can see her thieving mind churning like the pasta in her open mouth. She’s trying to figure out if there’s away for her to get her hands on it, but she’ll never see a dime.

“It’s an admirable job, Rowan,” Ryker states, dismissing the witch’s comment. “We need more social workers in this world so we can help more abused and neglected children.” He turns toward the bitch, looking as though he’s struggling to maintain his composure. Or maybe I’m reading too much into his narrowed brow and red cheeks. “You should be proud of the daughter you’ve raised, Rhonda. She’s got an incredible head on her shoulders.”

Now, I’m the one scoffing. She didn’t raise me. I raised myself. From as far back as I can remember I was left to fend for myself. I think the only reason she provided me with clothes, shoes, and cans of vegetables to eat was because she was worried she’d stop receiving government aid if she didn’t show proof that she was providing for me in some way.

“I only said that because I know what it’s like to scrape by. I’ve busted my butt as a single mom in order to make sure she had everything she needed,” she lies, desperate for his praising attention. “It hasn’t been easy raising her by myself, trying to work a full-time job and put food on the table, but I managed. Now, she’s going to have to go out there and do the same. And I don’t want her to have to struggle in order to support the people in her life.”

The pounding in my ears almost blocks my hearing. I’ve never been so enraged in my entire life. She hasn’t given me shit. Barely even fed me. I ate two meals at school and came home to nothing but a can of vegetables if I was lucky. And if she thinks I’m going to continue supporting her and paying her way after I’m gone, she’s dead wrong. Once I leave here, I’m never looking back.

“I’m sure it has been a challenge, Rhonda.” Ryker nods. “But in spite of the cards you both have been dealt, you’ve surpassed the odds and come out on top.” He raises his glass of water. “We need to toast to both of you for being such incredible women.”

Rhonda smiles. “Let me go get something stronger for us to toast with.” She gets up from the table and rushes into her bedroom where she keeps her stash of booze hidden under her bed. I’m not a thief, nor do I care to become a drunk like her, but she still insists on keeping her alcohol locked away.

“Don’t mind her, baby doll.” Ryker’s hushed voice has me looking up from my untouched plate of food. “Having a kid so young, she had to make sacrifices and she just wants you to have a better life. Deep down, I know she’s proud of all you’ve accomplished and will support you with your career choice. It just may take her a moment to come around.”

The fact that he’s trying to make excuses for her pisses me off. But I have to remember that he doesn’t know the truth. He’s feeding off of the lie. Her resentment and anger have been a constant in my life. She’ll never be proud of anything I do. That shit she just spewed was only said to impress him.

“Here we go! Whiskey or wine?” The witch comes walking back out of her room holding up the two bottles. “Or both? We can start with wine and then move onto the harder stuff later.”

Ryker shakes his head. “I’m on duty tonight, so I better pass, but you enjoy.” Rhonda nods and untwists the cap off the wine bottle, pouring herself practically to the rim of her glass. She’s perfectly fine drinking alone.

“So tell me more, Rowan. What made you decide you want to become a social worker?”

The truth is obvious. To protect kids like me from spending their lives living in hell. Rhonda always told me horrible stories of what happened to kids that were taken away from their homes. She told me how they were beaten and abused by foster parents, and that if I was ever taken away, I’d be forced to live in a cold basement with rats, possibly not even being allowed to go to school. Therefore, I kept my mouth shut and never told a soul about the way she treated me. I figured I was better off living with the monster I knew than the one I didn’t. In becoming a social worker, I want to ensure that not only are kids protected from their abusers, but I want to make sure they’re given safe homes to live in.

“Why don’t you tell us about you, Ryker?” Rhonda says, clearly not wanting me to answer his question, nor does she want me to have his attention. “What made you want to become an officer?”

“My grandfather was a cop,” he says. “He was one of the best men I know and I wanted to be just like him.” The pride in his voice shines bright. It makes me want to ask him questions and learn more about his upbringing and the great man he looks up to, but it’s better for me to remain quiet, so I shove my curiosity away and let Rhonda do the talking.

She continues to pepper him with questions throughout the meal and I listen intently, realizing that it’s not just Ryker’s looks that make him incredible, it’s his bravery, his selfless soul, and his strong conviction in wanting to make a difference in the world. He’s fighting to make the world a safer place to live in. Ryker is nothing like the dirty bastard that’s been following me around and issuing me warnings on bogus charges. Ryker is a good cop.

It makes me wonder if I could talk to him about what’s been happening with the creepy stalker. Maybe Ryker would believe me. Or…maybe he’d tell me that I’m reading too much into it and the man is just doing his job. Cops have been getting a seriously bad rap in the media lately and he’s likely to go on the de fense and get upset with me for even suggesting that a man offering to make sure I get home safe at night is out to hurt me. So maybe it’s better to keep my mouth shut.

“So, Rowan, what do you like to do for fun? Are you involved in any clubs or sports?”

The spotlight is back on me and I see Rhonda roll her eyes, but this time she doesn’t say anything. She just chugs her wineglass like she’s gulping down water in a desert. If she keeps up her pace, she’ll be passed out before the meal is over.

“I don’t have time for clubs and sports,” I say. “I work six days a week, and when I’m not working, I’m studying.” Even if I wasn’t working all the time, I still wouldn’t be involved in any of the activities at school. I doubt they’d even let trailer trash in any of their clubs anyway. And I’d rather not spend my free time with snobs that think I’m dirt.

“You really are a hard worker.” He smiles, and that look which resembles pride is back in his eyes. “Someone your age should be having fun, though. You should take a night off every once in a while.”

Someone my age also shouldn’t have to pay all the bills either, but that little fact will remain behind my sealed lips so I don’t end up locked behind bars.

Ryker jerks in his chair, knocking the table and almost spilling the waters over. I don’t understand what caused his sudden knee-jerk reaction but when I see Rhonda’s arm reached over, her hand hidden beneath the table, shoulder jerking forward, it’s more than obvious what’s happening.

Jealousy hits me like a ton of bricks. I pop up from the table, grabbing my plate and glass. There’s no way I’m sticking around for another one of their fuck fests. God, I’m such an idiot. Sitting through dinner all dreamy eyed for the man who’s clearly dating my mother and trying to do who knows what with me on the side. I can’t believe I was mentally raving about what an honorable man he is. He’s nothing but a dirty bastard. He’s just like the other cop.

I take my dishes to the sink and quickly begin to scrub them. If I left them in the sink for later, they’d end up in my bed, pasta sauce smeared all over my sheets, and I’d be spending my Saturday down at the laundromat before I go to work.

“Oh God, he’s so big and hard.” The plate slips from my hand and clatters against the stainless steel. Thankfully, it’s plastic and doesn’t break.

“Rhonda, your daughter’s in the room,” Ryker whispers.

My anger spikes. He only wants her to stop because I’m in the room. He should be pushing her hand away, telling her he’s not interested because I’m the one he wants to be with, but he’s not. And, as soon as I leave the room, he’ll let her do whatever she wants with his dick.

Jealous rage charges through my veins at such a force it almost takes me to my knees. I quickly finish the dishes then rush into my room. There’s only one way to cure the invasion of emotions taking over. I pick up my phone and shoot off a text; immediately it dings back. Let’s see how Ryker feels listening to me fuck Hunter for hours.