Misconduct (FSCU Pitbulls Book 1)

by Stella Marie Alden

  “Shut the door. I’ll explain on the way.” The guy in the rear-view looks vaguely familiar. Who is he?

  While I hesitate, he curses under his breath. “I’m her lawyer, Finnegan. Get in or get out, either way, I’m starting up this car. We’re already late.”

  I take my one frozen foot off the road, jump in, and sit. While I put on my shoes, he glares at Kira and stops the car. Then, she opens up her purse and gives him a small palm-sized box with an antenna.

  “I got this mic from Star.” She lifts her shirt, and he tapes on some kind of small electronic device to her stomach. “Test, test.”

  “What’s going on?” I don’t like him touching my girl.

  The guy turns to me, “Quiet. I’ll explain everything in a minute.”

  “You trust him, Kira?”

  “Of course, I do. He’s your coach’s brother, Andrew Quinn.”

  No wonder he looks so familiar. As my jealousy fades, my sense of unease grows. Obviously, the two of them are setting up some kind of sting.

  “All set?” Andy shoots her a smile and she nods nervously.

  “Yeah.”

  “Hey, I’m not.” Neither one of them pays me any mind as the suited man starts the car again.

  He makes the turn onto Montgomery Street where Knight Walker is staying. No fucking way. I hiss out my breath as Quinn pulls to the curb a few housed down from the devil.

  He gives her a smile and pats her hand. “Remember, if anything goes wrong. I’m right here listening.”

  “Kira, don’t.” I don’t want her anywhere near that bastard Knight and poke Quinn in the shoulder. “Do you know everything he’s done?”

  She reaches over the seat and cups my cheek. “It’s the only way. We got to put an end to this.”

  “Are you both out of your fucking minds? That’s Knight Walker. He tried to attack her.” I grab her wrist. “No. I forbid it. You do this, we’re through.”

  The minute the words come out of my mouth, I regret them, especially at the hurt in her eyes. Her mouth turns down and her voice grows low.

  “You can’t tell me what to do. This is maybe the most important thing I’ve ever done and I’m sorry you feel that way.”

  If it were just me and her in the car, I would’ve driven her away and kissed some sense into her. With coach’s brother in the front seat, I sit back and take a fist to the leather seat.

  Fuck this shit.

  She walks up the stairs, rings the bell, and Walker answers. He looks up and down the street, asks her in, and slams the door.

  “Give me one of those earbuds.” I climb over the seat, land in the one she just vacated, and stick out my hand.

  Head to head, we listen as Kira and Walker exchange greetings.

  I mutter, “If anything happens to her…”

  “Calm down. It won’t. I got a couple guys from Patten Securities standing by if anything goes south.”

  Shit. I’ve seen their jackets at NFL games, guarding the best players in the league.

  Inside the headset, Kira’s voice quakes. “I want you to drop the lawsuit.”

  ~~

  Kira

  Damn Ryan for following me. Instead of focusing on my mission, his we’re through echoes in my brain.

  I want to rush back to the car and explain how there is no more time. It’s now or never. I can’t afford a lawsuit. Not only that, if the Walkers sue, who will ever hire me? I might as well say goodbye to becoming an investigative journalist.

  Knight’s been drinking and is more arrogant than usual as he eyes me up and down. “You could’ve dressed nicer.”

  “I figured now that we’re friends, you’d understand.” I smile sweetly and swallow back the acidity bubbling up from my stomach.

  “I got plenty of friends, sweetheart. I need a good fuck. You willing to give out if I take your name off the lawsuit?” He reaches over, cups a breast and squeezes.

  “Not so fast.” I turn out of his grasp and walk into his kitchen, hoping I sound like someone who’s nonchalant about sex.

  “Got anything to drink in here?” I open the fridge, lean in, and pull out a bottle of champagne. “Last time I didn’t get any.”

  His eyes narrow. “What about your boyfriend, huh? What’s he going to say about you being here?”

  “Nothing. In fact, we just broke up… because of you.” It’s so close to the truth, tears well and my voice cracks.

  Knight reaches over and pinches my chin. “Damn. Those are real. I wish I could say I’m sorry but I’m not. I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you.

  I place my palm on his arm. “I’m so sorry I broke your nose.”

  His hand goes to his face, no doubt remembering that evening. “I never meant to hurt you. I was just so pissed when you wouldn’t drink my juice. It was like you expected me to drug you. I would never…”

  He starts to kiss me but I thrust the bottle between us. “First, bubbles.”

  “Go into the bedroom. I’ll bring some there.”

  “Just kissing, okay? I’m not quite ready for sex.”

  He chuckles. “No sex.”

  The bottle pops as I sit on the edge of his bed. What if I’m wrong and he doesn’t try to drug me? What if notices the microphone on my chest?

  All of a sudden, this whole thing seems like a very bad idea.

  ~~

  Ryan

  “I’m going in.”

  Andy’s brows narrow, his face green, lit by an LED in the electronics. “You do, and she’ll never forgive you.”

  In the microphone, a cork pops and I fucking go nuts sitting here while she puts herself in danger. “He’s going to try to drug her.”

  The lawyer grimaces. “Shush. That’s the point. We need him to.”

  “And you agreed to this?”

  “Melanie said, if I didn’t, Kira and Star were going to do it on their own.

  Which would you have preferred?”

  “None of the fucking above.” I stick the earbud in further because she’s whispering. “Andy? He’s coming back.”

  My hand goes to the door. “Any sign of trouble, this shit ends.

  Understand?”

  “You need to let her finish this.”

  I don’t know a lot about the law but I’m pretty sure this recording will be inadmissible in court but I can’t argue now because Knight’s voice is closer to the mic.

  “Here you go, trust me?”

  “Of course.” She gives him a fake giggle and slurps loudly. “This is good.”

  My God, is she really drinking his champagne?

  Bedsprings creak and Knight says, “Finnegan can’t give you what I can.

  Even if he makes the NFL, my family’s loaded. You’re better off with me.”

  “So, you’ll drop the lawsuit?”

  “Drink up, then, I’ll tell you.”

  Hell no. I glance at the lawyer, way, way too calm for what is going down.

  The bed creaks again, then footsteps click on the floor. “Wait. Before we do this, you need to call your parents and tell them you want the lawsuit dropped.”

  Andy looks my way, a bead of sweat on his forehead. “She’s supposed to pretend to drink and get him to think she did.”

  “We have no way of telling if she was drugged, do we?” I can barely hear their speech over the thumping of my heart.

  The lawyer shakes his head. “We’ll take the champagne bottle to the police.”

  My fists clench as Knight snivels in my earbud. “Mom? Can you and Dad leave Ms. McKenzie off the suit? She’s here now and swears she had nothing to do with the email. I know… Ah huh… Right, but it’s not what I want. No.

  I mean it, Mom. She’s off or our deal is off. Thank you. Love you, too.”

  There’s some silence.

  “Drink.” Walker’s tone goes low and menacing.

  Does Kira hear it, too?

  “Thank you. I appreciate you going out on a limb for me.”

  Damn, I think she’s
kissing him.

  “We need to get her out.” I glare at the lawyer pressing a palm to his ear.

  “Shush.”

  Because Kira swallows hard and gasps, me and Quinn exchange worried glances.

  ~~

  Kira

  There’s no choice. Walker’s a hawk and me the sparrow. I take a sip of the champagne, fake a big gulp, and try to relax.

  “Finish it.” Leaning in, his hand wraps around mine, and he tips up my glass, forcing me to swallow.

  If it’s drugged, I got about thirty minutes, max, before it kicks in.

  “I did my part of the bargain, now you.” When he sits next to me. I jump up.

  “Can I use your bathroom?”

  “Stalling?”

  “Sorry, it’s that time of month.” I smile sweetly as I take a step back toward the expensively tiled room, Then, I shut and lock the door.

  Kneeling in front of the toilet, I stick a finger down my throat. When nothing happens, my heart pounds. I need this shit out of my system, fast. At the thought of another hole in my memory, my stomach lurches. Finally, I gross myself out with images of forced sex with Mr. Hollywood.

  As I purge, I flush and run water I the sink.

  Holy crap. I look like shit. Looking in the mirror, I splash water on my ashen face and reapply some color. Then, I fluff my hair, don my armor of Southern charm, and walk into the bedroom.

  “We agreed, just kissing, a little making out. No sex, right?” I grab the bottle of champagne and fake a deep chug.

  He tosses off his shirt and I almost laugh. The guy is lean with Hollywood abs, not at all like Ryan.

  I step in and give him a peck but when he reaches for my pants. I hop away.

  “No.”

  “Yes.” As he pushes me onto the bed, I wonder if I have enough of a recording.

  Probably not. “I don’t want sex with you.”

  “Just relax. In a few minutes, you’ll think differently.”

  “I feel a little weird. Did you put something in my drink?” I hope my acting is good.

  He laughs. “You are so fucking gullible. I didn’t call my mom, either.”

  He thinks he is so smart but this time, I got him. All I need is the green bottle. With that evidence and this recorded conversation, I can go to the police.

  Standing, he gets naked and jumps onto the bed next to me. I put my knee between his legs, take a deep breath, and thrust it up into his balls as hard as I can. Then, I grab the bottle of champagne, leap off the bed and rush down the hall, In a flash, I’m at the front door.

  However, as hard as I pull, it refuses to give.

  What the fuck?

  I cradle the bottle and shout into my chest and shout, “Shit I’m locked in.”

  ~~

  Ryan

  The minute her voice panics, I jump out of the Beamer, fly down the street, and hop Walker’s front steps. I tear off the screen door and take a shoulder to the one behind but it doesn’t give.

  Kira screams from within, my heart goes in my throat, and I shout, “You fucking touch her, you’re a dead man.”

  Two big guys shove me aside and one puts some electronic device to the door handle. It clicks and we all bust in.

  Knight’s on the floor, holding his junk as Kira straddles him with a bottle of Dom Perignon over her head.

  “Thank God.” She hands the evidence to Quinn and rushes into my arms.

  “I got him.”

  Knight whines, “You will all be so sorry.”

  She puts her hands on her hips in a kind of Wonder Woman move. “This time, you’re going down.”

  Reaching up her shirt, she pulls off the mic, and waves it in front of his face. “I recorded everything.”

  “No judge will let you use that.” He sneers at the two Patten bodyguards trying to help him to his feet.

  Quinn shakes his head back and forth. He holds up the bottle, “This, we’re giving over to the police. The audio, I’m playing for your parents.”

  Kira relaxes in my grip. “We did it. He’s never going to roofie another coed again.”

  Police sirens announce the arrival of two squad cars and I open the door. Four officers with serious faces take in the scene and we all start talking at once.

  “Quiet!” The cop who must be in charge points to Knight. “You. Tell me what happened. The rest? You’ll get your turn.”

  Knight turns over, “She kneed my nuts. Assaulted me.”

  The youngest cop takes out her notepad and says as she writes, “Assaulted his nuts.”

  “Salted nuts?” I whisper for Kira’s ears only.

  Her eyes water as she tries to keep a straight face. This is priceless.

  Her lawyer glares at us both. Laughing is probably not appropriate right now. She giggles, I snort, and turn to face the ceiling.

  “Is this funny, you two?” The cop turns his attention our way, piercing blue eyes sending his disapproval.

  “No sir. Assaulted nuts are definitely not amusing. Y’all keep going. Me and Kira here were just, ah… nothing.”

  “Good.” The corner of his mouth goes up goes up as he catches the joke then, he gets serious again. “What happened here?”

  “Can I get my phone?” Andy slowly reaches into his suit jacket, pulls out his cell, and audio plays out of the speaker:

  “I don’t want sex with you.”

  “Just relax. In a few minutes, you’ll think differently.”

  “I feel a little weird. Did you put something in my drink?”

  “You are so fucking gullible. I didn’t call my mom, either.”

  Andy hands the officer the bottle of champagne. “Test this.”

  The officer shakes his head. “I’m going to need y’all to come down to the station so we can sort this out.”

  It takes over four hours for the wheels of justice to turn. When it ends, Knight is arrested for possession of Rohypnol. Later, they find more at his house, and the crime turns much more serious.

  Quinn drops me and Kira off at her apartment and she gives him a hug. “Thank you for everything.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow. Until then, say nothing to anyone without me present. That includes the paparazzi who are bound to find out. I’m keeping a bodyguard around, just in case. He’ll be watching the house.”

  “Coffee?” Inside her cozy apartment, Kira pulls out a bag of coffee bean and grinds.

  I sigh. “Fuck, in three hours, I have practice.”

  “Sorry.” She rubs her eyes. “That’s why I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want it affecting your career.”

  “My career? Kira, I thought you and I agreed you’d stay clear of Knight? Do you know those Patten Security guys found a gun in his apartment?” At the thought of what could’ve happened my stomach churns. She is do damn clueless, my temper snaps.

  “Why can’t you think before you act?” Standing, I bang my fist on the table.

  She jumps, drops the glass carafe onto the counter, and stares with her mouth wide.

  “Shit.” I rub my hand, hoping I didn’t break anything, mutter an apology, and dash out the door.

  “Ryan, wait.” Her horrified look says more than words could ever convey.

  I want to turn around and take her in my arms but I won’t, I can’t. What if I’m like my old man? What if instead of the table, one day, I hit her?

  Chapter 26

  Kira

  What the heck just happened?

  As Ryan races down the street, I stand in my doorway and try to instant replay the last few minutes. Back into the kitchen, I examine the glass coffee carafe. Not finding any cracks, I brew a strong pot and sit back in my kitchen chair.

  He was pissed. I guess I should’ve warned him but to be honest, there wasn’t time. Think before I act? Who does he think he is? I pace the small area.

  “Shit!”

  We had two high-priced body-guards, a lawyer, and cops on speed dial. My lawyer and I did a damn fine job of trapping Knight Walker. Ryan should’v
e been congratulating me, not yelling. I put an end to the class action suit and made sure Mr. Hollywood will never roofie another coed again. Not only that, I’m sure to ace my Journalism final. How had Ryan Finnegan turned the best night of my life, into the worst?

  After my first class, I check my texts, sure I’ll see an apology, but not. By dinner, I figure I can be the bigger person.

  Me: Sorry, cowboy. Forgive me?

  Nothing. And nothing before bed, the middle of the night, or the next morning. Holy shit, I haven’t gotten the silent treatment since middle school.

  Pissed, I call him and when it goes straight to voice mail, a fear like no other sets in. Is he breaking up with me? I need to know.

  I’m contemplating storming his apartment when Star comes in, her face flushed from sex. “All good with Jackson?”

  “Yeah.” She grins all happy-like and heads to the shower.

  From inside her bedroom, she shouts out, “How’s Ry? He must be ecstatic about the game. Everyone says he’s going to be made most valuable player.”

  I don’t say anything so she peeks her head out the door. “What’s wrong.”

  Tears well. “I think he broke up with me.”

  “What?” She wraps a towel around herself and joins me in the kitchen. “Tell me.”

  I stare at my phone as if somehow, I can make Ryan fall back in love with me.

  Me: If you’re not talking to me, at least tell me why

  Star looks over my shoulder. “What happened?”

  I share my Knight Walker story, the police station, and Ryan’s weird response. “Then, he just ran out and I haven’t heard from him since.”

  Tears roll down my cheeks. “Can you find out what’s going on from Jackson?”

  My friend hugs me. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you guys will work it out. He loves you.”

  I blow my runny nose and sniff. “I know, but when someone truly loves you, they don’t just walk out of your life.”

  “Give him a couple days. I’m sure he’ll call back.”