Rebel Rook: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Ren Alexander

  She gestures to the windows. “It’s just a glorious day. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, a certain coworker is smiling. It’s all beautiful.”

  “I hope we’re thinking of the same coworker.” I roll my eyes, thinking of Verna.

  Marilou tempers her overzealous grin. “Don’t even joke about that and be on the lookout. That one is beside herself because you wouldn’t water her flowers.”

  “Say what?”

  “You know what I mean. She continues to complain about her…barren desert.”

  I mutter, “Fuck me to hell and back.”

  “And she would have, probably trapping you like a snake in a cactus.”

  “There’s no chance of that.” I frown at a mental picture that’s both confusing and horrifying.

  Marilou purses her lips with a nod. “Mm-hmm. You know what I’m talking about.” Looking up, she winces with a hiss, “Danger ahead!”

  I follow her line of vision in time to see Verna at my table. “Good afternoon, Officer McGrath.”

  “Hey there, Verna. How’s it going?” I really don’t care but got to keep the peace, yada, yada, yada.

  “I’m unhappy to tell you the truth, and it’s your fault.”

  “Why’s that?” Here we go, and I have no patience for this today.

  “You left our date early. I had a surprise for you.”

  “I wasn’t aware.”

  Like the flip of a light switch, her annoyance shifts to a bright grin. “That’s okay. Come over to my apartment tonight. We’ll pick up where you left off.”

  “I can’t, but I appreciate the offer.”

  “Are you going out with that…woman? You know, I’ve seen her in here.”

  “No, I’m not. Everyone comes here.”

  “Then, what are you doing tonight?”

  “I have stuff to do.”

  “We need to plan a date. I don’t even have your phone number.”

  Taggart returns, asking, “Where’s Natalia?”

  “Hello, Sergeant. She’s in the kitchen.”

  “Well, she should be out here. Kindly get her, please.”

  Verna sighs. “Sure. Let me get your orders first.”

  “No need. Just get Natalia.”

  Sitting back, I watch Verna huff before leaving, and Taggart warns, “Watch the fraternizing with your girlfriend. You’re still on the clock.”

  My responding frown is immediate and a given. “I wasn’t, and she’s not my girlfriend.”

  “Whatever you kids call them these days.”

  Ticked by the kid comment, I argue, “She’s nothing to me.”

  Taggart glances at me with zero interest, and I give up arguing. “Hello, there, Lynn.” My gaze shoots to Talia, whose hair is in a high ponytail, and her grin is higher, if that makes sense. She then looks at me, trying to restrain her smile but fails. “Hello, Officer McGrath.”

  Crossing my arms, I bite my lip to stop from smiling so damn much, but that fails too. “Hey.”

  Taggart smiles at Talia too. “There you are.”

  Talia hugs Taggart, and I’m disappointed I won’t get one. “Thank you for including me in your lovely speech. That meant a lot to me. I appreciate it.”

  “I mean every word, young lady.” Not wanting to get all mushy in front of me, Taggart clears her throat as Talia leaves her embrace. “It seemed like you had a nice evening.”

  “I did. It was incredible.” Though directed at Taggart, I know Talia’s smile is mine this time.

  “Well, now. I’m rather surprised. Maybe I was wrong about Officer Prescott.” But not me? “Will you be seeing him again?”

  “Oh, Lynn. I don’t know. We haven’t discussed it much.” Nope. No way. It’ll be a cold day in hell.

  “As long as he’s good to you, then there shouldn’t be an issue.”

  Talia glances at me. “I’ll put in your sandwiches and be back with your drinks.”

  Taggart then takes her usual leave, and Marilou uses the opportunity to rush back over to her perch, asking, “What the hell did you say to Natalia?”

  “Nothing. Why?”

  “I’ve never seen her so damn happy!”

  I laugh. “You’ll have to ask her.”

  “I did! Come on! Pour me some tea!”

  “What’s that mean?”

  She rolls her eyes. “You got to give me more than that.”

  I shrug. “There’s nothing to tell.”

  “Mercy! You love her!” Marilou shrieks and I immediately shush her.

  “Keep it down! How do you come up with this shit?” I can’t be in that deep yet. No way. Not after Audrey.

  She excitedly whispers, “Sweet Jesus, it’s obvious!”

  Talia returns, delivering our regular drinks. She glances at Marilou, who giggles like she won ten bucks on a lottery ticket. Talia asks, “What’s your problem?”

  “Oh, nothing at all! Just doing my civic duty and telling the officer the news in our community. Why?”

  “Yeah, sure,” Talia mumbles. She then turns to me, striving for casual in front of Marilou, who is beyond that. “Is there anything else?”

  As Marilou looks on, I say, “I have everything I need.”

  “You know where to find me. I’ll be happy to help.”

  “I sure hope so.” My slow grin makes Talia suck in her smiling lips. I want to kiss them until they’re swollen.

  Marilou howls, “Oooh! Shit, that was fire!”

  Talia and I frown as Marilou again fans herself. Talia says, “Settle down. You’ll scare away the customers.”

  Smacking her fist on the wall partition, Marilou whisper-squeals, “Then they’re old fuddy-duddies because hot damn!”

  Talia rolls her eyes but smiles at me before leaving. I watch her go down the hall to the supply room. A woman nearby asks Marilou for something, which gives me a tiny window to act. Getting up, I go toward the restrooms but then hang a left, pushing open the storage room door. Surprised at first, Talia runs over to me but then stops, dropping her gaze to my firearm. Glancing at it, I say, “I won’t hurt you. I promise. Trust me. Please?”

  Slowly nodding, Talia then rushes for my lips. She repeatedly whimpers, and I pull back to ask, “What?” Talia hesitates, restless as she squirms against me. “You got to tell me what you want.”

  “You.”

  “You have me.”

  Talia hesitates but then clutches my dick. “I want you,” she repeats with resolve. “Make me come.”

  “I don’t have—”

  “I do.” Talia pulls out a condom from her pocket as she locks the door, and I laugh.

  “Well, then. I’m at your service.”

  Talia sighs as she lets go of me. “We don’t have much time.”

  “No pressure.” I remove my pistol belt as she sets down the condom on a freezer and bunches up her skirt.

  “No undies,” she announces with a wry smile. “I hoped you’d be up for it.”

  “I’m up for it,” I say, grabbing my hard-on through my pants.

  Talia returns to me, her hands going for my fly as I harden more from her fingers working my zipper.

  I kiss her and clasp her right tit through her uniform. Talia pulls me out of my underwear, priming me. Our kiss grows hotter as we tongue each other, and I ask, “Where and how do we do this?”

  She nods toward a metal chair. “Sit. I’ll straddle.”

  Going to the chair, I pull down my pants as she removes the condom, shakily putting it on me, which only turns me on more. I quietly moan, “Fuck, I need you.”

  Appearing shocked, Talia asks, “You do?”

  “So much.”

  Distracted somewhat, Talia positions herself over me, and I impatiently pull down on her hips until I sink into her, slowly at first but then smoothly sliding. “Dylan, damn.”

  She controls the fucking, raising and then lowering herself, faster and faster until the chair’s metallic screeching fills the room.

  Looking up at her, I whisper
, “We’re a perfect fit.”

  Talia nods as she pants. Even though I’m wearing a rubber, her skin and hair rub against mine. Taking a moment to appreciate how close we are, I cradle her face and kiss her, but then Talia pulls away, gasping, “I’m going to come on your cock. Oh, my God. I want it.”

  As she bites her lip with restrained groans, her warmth hugs me, and I move my hands to her hips. Coming with her, I whisper, “Fuck, Talia.”

  “Dylan!” she quietly shrieks, gripping my shoulders harder as another orgasm rolls through her.

  Talia then looks down, meeting my eyes, and I pull her face to mine, kissing her. Again, in a rush, Talia leaves my lap, and I remove the condom. “What do I do with this?”

  Talia takes it, tying a knot at the end, and puts it in her uniform pocket. When I gawk at her in disbelief, she says, “Don’t worry. I won’t carry it around all day as DNA evidence.”

  My disbelief changes to a frown as I stand. “Yeah. Don’t do that. That’s all Taggart needs.”

  “She’ll have to get her own.”

  “Don’t even go there.” I make a disgusted face as Talia watches me pull up my pants and resituate myself. “What?”

  She bites her smiling lip. “Nothing. Just thanks for…this.”

  “You’re thanking me for sex on the job? It’s not a service I usually provide. Even so, no thanks needed.”

  Talia grins. “You’d better not. That would…” Her smile falls, and she looks toward the door. “We need to go.”

  “What would it do?”

  Talia sighs and meets my gaze. “It’d crush me.”

  Meeting her at the door, I put my hand on her cheek. “You never have to worry about that.” Talia’s smile is instant, and I kiss her. Checking my watch, I mutter, “Shit. I have to go.”

  As I unlock the door and covertly check the hallway, I see Taggart sitting with her back to us. I kiss Talia again before returning to my table, preparing for Taggart’s beatdown and accusations. As soon as I sit, she barks, “Where’ve you been?”

  “The restroom, and then I talked to Marilou.”

  “About what?”

  “Nothing, really.” That’s usually true.

  “Everyone’s disappearing around here.”

  “Sorry. I’m here now.”

  “Your girlfriend is checking our sandwiches since Natalia went AWOL. They’ve never taken this long.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend,” I irritably remind her, trying hard not to rip her head off before I finish training.

  Talia approaches our table with our sandwiches, and I can’t stop grinning. Taggart asks, “Where’ve you been? Lunch is nearly over.”

  “I’m sorry, Lynn. Ollie’s been riding me today, and I forgot they were ready.” Another mental picture I don’t need and better not happen. Talia’s eyes sparkle with her rueful smile as she sets down the plates. When Taggart looks away, Talia’s gaze drifts over my body, and I already want to fuck her again.

  “I’ll forgive you this time,” Taggart says with a small laugh. Fucking hypocrite, but I don’t want her blaming Talia for anything. It’s all my fault.

  “Hello there, Rook,” Tristan says as he and Hayes sit down at the table across from us, which isn’t their usual. Tristan’s attention slides to Talia. “And hello again, Natalia. You still haven’t told me when we’re going out for date numero dos.” He even makes Spanish sound dickish.

  Talia turns to him. “Oh. I’ll get back to you. Can I get your regular sandwiches?”

  Hayes answers, “Yep, please.”

  Tristan stares at Talia like she’s teasing him. “We’ll talk later.”

  I hear her faint sigh. “I’ll be back.”

  “Hang on.” Tristan grabs her arm and then moves it to her waist. “Did you get home okay? I worried about you.” Oh, no, he fucking didn’t. I glance at Taggart, who is watching the exchange. If she weren’t here, I would’ve knocked out his teeth already.

  “You have my phone number. You could have asked last night.” Talia subtly steps away, making his hand fall, and Hayes snickers behind his fist, which Tristan ignores.

  “Do you work later?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. Maybe I’ll stop by to see if you need help changing sheets.” That’s a horrible pick-up line, and if Talia falls for it, that will crush me.

  I grip the edge of the table and deliberately keep my hand away from my gun. This son of a bitch is purposely goading me. Dick.

  “I’m fine. Thanks.”

  Taggart says, “Have a good night at work, honey.” She then rises when I have only taken two bites. Sex in a storage closet stole my lunch. Worth it.

  “Bye, Lynn. I’m off tomorrow, so I won’t see you.”

  “Okay. Call me if you need anything.” I want to be the one Talia calls.

  Taggart walks past me. As Tristan watches, I throw a tip down and smile at Talia. “Tell Marilou I said bye.”

  Talia smiles back, trying just as hard to appear casual. “Will do.”

  Taggart rolls her hand. “Get a move on, McGrath.”

  “See ya, Rook. Have a great rest of your day.”

  I frown at Tristan but nod at Hayes, whose sympathetic smile speaks volumes.

  Walking outside, I turn to the window above our unit to see Talia subtly waving at me.

  “Get the lead out,” Taggart snaps, preventing me from responding to Talia.

  Some days, I really hate this motherfucking job.

  Chapter 21

  Last night, after texting Jordan and Ricky, mostly about mundane shit, I called Talia but got her voicemail. Disappointed, I watched TV and fell asleep.

  Lunch at the diner sucks since no Talia, and she hasn’t replied to any of my messages. I can’t even ask Taggart if she’s heard from her.

  When Taggart steps out for her call, Marilou leans over the half-wall. “Good afternoon, Dylan. Why so, glum?”

  “No reason.” My attempt at nonchalance falls flat when I get a case of shifty eyes. I’m usually a better liar than this.

  “Mm-hmm. Our Miss Natalia isn’t here.”

  I temper my involuntary smile as I mindlessly tear my napkin in two. “I wonder what she does on her days off.”

  “Probably catching up on laundry. I think she works later at the hotel. So...” I smile at the pieces of napkin but don’t comment. Still, that doesn’t deter Marilou. She leans closer, and I look up to see her smile evaporating. “You better not let Officer Dickweed steal her away. I’ll never forgive you.” I laugh, but she doesn’t and swats my arm with a dishtowel. “I’m not kidding, Dylan. He’s trouble with a capital FU. I don’t want her twisted up in him. He’ll steal the lonely life right out of her and then cast her aside. I know it.” Marilou shakes her head, swinging her earth globe earrings. “Please, Dylan. Don’t let him get his hooks into her.”

  “I won’t.”

  Marilou’s smile returns. “Thank you. I knew you were a good one.”

  “I try.”

  “Why, hello, Officer McGrath.”

  I cringe, hearing that voice, as does Marilou. I slowly turn with a sigh. “Hi, Verna.”

  Her red hair is in a high ponytail, and her lipstick is extra bright red today, making her smile almost menacing. “I’m still waiting for you to change your mind about a second date.”

  “Yeah. I can’t. I need to focus on my job. Dating is…distracting.”

  “But I’m the best kind of distraction.” She juts out her anthill tits, and I bite back a laugh.

  “I’m sure you are, but I can’t risk it. My job is too important.”

  “How noble of you.” Verna rolls her eyes and hangs her head. I glance at Marilou, still standing by, whose nauseated look speaks to my soul. “I’m new in town, and nobody likes me.”

  Marilou escapes amid Marilou’s stifled howls of laughter. I must remember I’m a public servant, and it’s my job to pretend I care when I don’t give a shit. “Oh, Verna. Don’t say that. There’s plenty of fish in the…sea.
” Jordan lobbed a version of that at Byrd Park.

  Verna whips her head up. “Don’t insult me, officer! I don’t need you to feed me some crapola line!”

  I laugh at her frown and her word choice. “It’s not a line.” I clear my throat, dumbstruck I have to defend plans for my DNA. “I was upfront with you. Just friendship.” If that.

  “You’re wasting my time! You don’t have a uterus shriveling up and eggs with an expiration date!”

  “Uh…Okay. You’re around my age. You have plenty of time.”

  “Men! Would you say that to Marilou or Natalia?”

  Marilou interjects, “Don’t go dragging me into this. I don’t want kids. And you don’t know what Natalia wants.”

  Verna crosses her arms. “Well, you’re…” She studies Marilou, who angrily puts her hands on her hips.

  “Don’t you dare say it, girl.”

  “Okay. Well, Natalia’s in her thirties. She needs to get moving, or it’ll be too late. Her eggs will wither away.”

  Marilou again returns to the wall, demanding, “Says who?”

  Verna rolls her eyes, and I refrain from rolling mine or arresting her for being a conniving drama queen. “It’s a known fact women’s eggs dry up like toast as we age. I don’t think she’s dating anyone, and if she is, she needs to nail that down.”

  Verna glares at me as I frown back. Marilou waves her hand. “Girl, get back to work.”

  A customer on the other side of the wall says, “Amen to that.”

  Taggart returns, and for once, I’m grateful as fuck. When she sees Marilou and Verna near our table, staring, Taggart grumbles, “What did I miss?”

  I shake my head. “Absolutely nothing.”

  I wish it had been.

  Walking into the lobby, Sadie greets me. Her blonde hair is in pigtails, and it’s reminiscent of an extra peppy cheerleader. “Hi, Officer McGrath.”

  I’m in street clothes, a civilian, a nobody carrying a concealed weapon. I raise an eyebrow. “Hey, Sadie. It’s just Dylan.”

  She giggles as she grabs her jacket. “But you might arrest me!”

  Refraining from rolling my eyes, I say, “I’ll give you a pass.”

  Her blue eyes light up, and her pigtails whirl like fan blades. “Cool! Natalia is in the office doing cash posting, but she’ll be out soon. I’m heading home. Please have a seat.”