Resisting (Dirty Cops #1)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

Ryker

I can’t even concentrate on this shit. Knowing that my beautiful girl is tucked in my bed is killing me. But I don’t have a choice. With all the shit going down right now, I have to be on duty. Thankfully, Rowan understands. She even gave me a happy little send off this morning, bouncing on my cock like it was a pogo stick. Damn, that girl’s incredible. I can’t wait until five o’clock hits and I can get home and ravish her all over again.

My personal cell starts ringing, Traeger’s name appearing on the screen. “I was just about to call your ass,” I answer. “Got what you needed and I’m shooting the file over as we speak.”

“Yeah,” he says, “well, I got something for you too. Just sent it to your inbox. Password is roundhouse. R and H caps.”

I smirk at that. But I’ll have to wait until I get home to open it. Don’t want anything lingering on this hard drive. Especially not my hot little girl getting fucked hard and rough by her daddy.

“By the way,” he says. “While I was working on deleting your porn flick”—the amusement rings loud and clear in his voice, bastard, all I can say is he better not have watched it—“I figured out a puzzle piece to the code. Went back into the system and was able to retrieve the most recent deleted files from Diaz’s dashcam. I should have enough for you to haul his ass in; he’s definitely been taking bribes and ripping up tickets.”

I might have enough to make the arrest, but that’s not enough to keep him there. There’s no way in hell I want him getting out with a slap on his wrist, which is why I need more. I need enough evidence to burn him at the stake.

“I’m not going to read him his rights until I can guarantee his ass will be doing life.”

“Well, I better get to fucking work then,” Traeger grumbles. “I’ll talk to your ass later.”

The line goes dead and I look up through my office window to see if anyone was watching me. Don’t trust anyone in this joint. But everyone seems to be minding their own business. The two dirty pigs—Ferguson and Diaz—claim to be out patrolling together, but when I pulled up the tracker I have on their cruisers, it says they’re at the local titty bar. Doubt they’re giving out tickets there. But I’m sure they’re taking bribes. Fuckers.

A flash of red has me looking toward the main doors, and walking into the station is my girl. I hop out of my chair and head straight for her, worried she had a run-in with her mom when she went to pack up her things. I still can’t fucking believe that piece of shit haggard bitch put my girl through hell. By the time I’m done with her, she’s going to regret every single one of her actions.

But when Rowan spots me and her smile turns into a seductive smirk, I know exactly why she stopped by. Problem is, this is neither the time nor the place for me to give it to her. In fact, no one can know we’re together. I still have a reputation to protect until all this shit’s been cleaned up .

She comes straight for me and reaches out, wanting to wrap her arms around my neck and give me a hug and a kiss, but I pull her into my chest and give her a one-armed hug instead. “It’s good to see you, Rowan,” I say, my voice a bit stiff. This whole situation is fucking awkward. I pull back and see the look on her face. She doesn’t understand why I’m being distant. I glance over at Cheryl in hopes my girl will pick up on my hint, and her eyes seem to light with understanding. She nods and mouths, sorry .

I wave off her apology. There’s nothing for her to be sorry for.

“I…um…do you have a minute?” she asks. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Sure.” I nod. “Come into my office.”

“Ryker, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Damn, I wish she was on her lunch break. “Cheryl, this is Rowan. Rowan, this is Cheryl. The one who keeps us all in line around here.” I wink.

The old woman smiles as she greets my girl but I can see the questioning look in her eyes. She’s wondering who this teenager is to me. She knows I don’t have any kids. And that I was an only child so there aren’t any nieces or nephews running around either.

“She’s my girlfriend’s daughter,” I state, before she has the chance to ask Rowan how we know each other and learn the truth. The last person I need losing respect for me is Cheryl. She’s one of the few people who have my back around here, and for now I need to keep it that way.

Rowan’s step falters as she reaches out to shake Cheryl’s hand. I can see I have some explaining to do. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, and even the tone of her voice is off. So is her smile.

“Nice to meet you, too.” Cheryl grins broadly, then raises a curious brow in my direction. “You’re going to have to tell me more about this girlfriend.” She gives me a wink. “She must be beautiful since her daughter is stunning.”

I look toward my stunning girl. There’s no comparison between her and her mother. My girl is like a beautiful rainbow where Rhonda is the dark and angry clouds blocking out the sun.

“You know I don’t kiss and tell, Cheryl. Come on, Rowan. Let’s go into my office where nosy bees aren’t spying on us.” I give Cheryl a glare and she just laughs me off and returns to her paperwork. I start leading Rowan back to my office, hoping she’ll understand once I explain things. Although, I’m not sure how much I can tell her. If anyone catches wind of what I’m doing, then I’ll be fucked.

“Ryker.” The Chief’s voice stops me right as I’m about to enter my office. “Did you ever follow up on that lead with the Brimmer case?” Fuck. I’ve been so damn preoccupied I completely forgot.

“He sent me in,” Bentley says from behind, covering for my ass like usual. I’m going to have to buy him dinner for that. The man is one of the few good cops we have left. One of the few I trust. “I’ll have it to you by tomorrow. Working on a couple other leads too.”

The Chief nods at him then turns his attention toward my girl. His eyes travel over her in a way that has my fists clenching. “You want to introduce us?” he asks, in a voice much smoother than the clipped tone he was just giving me. The fucker is trying to hit on her right in front of me. Well, I’m going to put a fucking stop to it.

“Chief, this is Rowan. Rowan, this is Chief Burrow.”

Rowan steps forward, politely offering her hand. He takes it and gives her a lecherous smile. “Never seen your pretty face around here. Please don’t tell me you’re in trouble with the law. Better yet, if you are, I’d be happy to bail you out of jail.” Motherfucker. He’s not any fucking better than Diaz and Ferguson. No wonder this place is going down the drain. The man in charge is as crooked as the rest of them.

“Careful, Chief,” I say, desperately trying to force my lips up and look friendly. “She’s my girlfriend’s kid and will soon be mine, so she’s off-limits.” She’s also too fucking young for you. Then again, he’s only two years older than me, so that argument doesn’t exactly work.

He nods toward me, then offers her another slithering smile. “Well, if your stepdad here ever gives you any grief, you know who to come talk to.”

Rowan nods, again struggling to force a smile. She doesn’t want his attention on her either. I swear, once I’m done, this dirty pigsty is going to be squeaky clean, and all the crooked swine will be locked in the pen where they belong.

“Come on, Rowan.” I gesture for her to enter my office, needing to get her away from the snake and anyone else who thinks they’re going to steal her from me. No one can have her. She’s mine.

She walks inside, looking nowhere near as happy as she did when she walked through the front doors. I tip my chin toward Bentley as I close my door. Later, I’ll thank him properly.

“It’s not what you think, baby.”

She whips around, that defiance that stirs my cock hardening those gorgeous eyes.

“Oh, it’s not.” She crosses her arms. “So you aren’t trying to cover up the fact that we’re dating? Because you just claimed to be dating my mom. Unless that’s the truth, and the lines you fed me in bed last night were just bullshit?”

I shake my head and stalk to her, holding back since the blinds to my office are open and people can see in. “I’m not a fucking liar, Rowan. I’m not dating your mom.”

“You are a liar!” She throws her hands on her hips, exasperated. “You just lied to your boss and everyone in that room.” My teeth clench so tight I can feel the pulse in the side of my cheek. Goddammit. If my blinds were shut, I’d bend her over my desk and spank that stubborn ass so she’ll listen to me.

“I had to lie to them. My reputation is on the line.”

Her eyes waver. She looks like I just slapped her across the face. Fuck me. I’m usually good with words but right now I’m clearly doing a shit job getting my point across.

“Well, I certainly don’t want to ruin your reputation, Officer, so I’ll leave.” She tries to move past me but I grab her arms and stop her. Dropping them when I realize others could be watching.

“You’re not fucking going anywhere until we settle this.” Like hell I’m letting her walk out of here with that look of rejection on her face. I need to fucking fix this.

“I’m thirty-eight, Rowan. I’m old enough to be your dad. If they find out we’re together, they’re going to think I’m no better than the pedo fucks rotting in prison.”

“But I’m an adult and you’re not taking advantage of me. I want this. Age is just a number, Ryker.”

To me and her that may very well be the case. In fact, I’ve never met a stronger, more amazing woman in my life, but that’s not what the outside world will think.

I step closer, trying to remove the gap I feel forming wide between us, my voice softening. I wish more than anything I could pull her against me and wrap her in my arms, but there are too many nosy dirty pigs in this place that would probably snap a pic of me and post it online just to ensure the world can see what a cradle-robbing bastard I am.

“I want this too, baby. Like I told you last night, you’re it for me. But it doesn’t change the truth about us. Fact is, right or wrong, they’re going to form their opinions, and I’ll no longer be deemed an upstanding officer of the law.”

My cell phone starts going off and if it weren’t for the name on the screen I’d ignore the call. But I can’t ignore the man calling. When Caprizio calls, you answer .

“Baby, I have to take this. It’s important. I’m sorry.”

“Dominik,” I answer, realizing it was the wrong move as soon as my girl tries to shove past me again.

I shake my head, blocking the door with my giant frame and point to the chair. She refuses to budge so I just stand in place. There’s no way out. Eventually, she turns on a huff and takes a seat.