Cajun Protection

by Whiskey Starr

  Today we took Hawk’s jeep instead of my truck. I know we stand out like a sore thumb, but in this area we need to find this rat bastard, we want the attention on us. Both Hawk and I jump out of the Jeep and look around to see people sitting on old steps and makeshift patio areas. You can tell this is an area that was hit hard during Hurricane Katrina, but they didn’t take the help. Many people look like they live in filth or are high or drunk. It sickens me to see children running around the street this broken glass and other items littering the ground. Even the smell makes me sick. But that’s what you get when you’re down in these parts. It’s a small bounty, guy skipped bail, and just looking at his track record, it’s easy to see he would go home. I take lead and Hawk flanks behind me, checking my back as we walk up the small stairs. The smell of cat piss and dog shit hit me like a baseball bat to the head. Not to mention the mixture of vomit and alcohol. I step over what I really hope is puke and find the door we need. The white paint has chipped off leaving the dark grey of the under door exposed. I listen for a second and hear voices yelling. I nod to Hawk to stand at the end of the step and keep cover. Raising my hand, I knock.

  “Who is it?” a woman’s voice yelled out.

  “Mrs. Foret, I’m from Wild Bounty, I need to talk to you about your husband, Leroy.”

  “I’m sorry, he’s not here, and I don’t have any information.” She isn’t opening the door. This is where it becomes tricky. I can’t legally open the door; I have to get her to open it, or draw him out, which is what I really want anyway.

  “That’s fine, ma’am. Can I give you my card, so if he does come back you can give us a call?” I pull out my card to the shop and wait for her to open, no such luck.

  “Just slide it under the door. Thanks.” I know that is a simple fuck you and leave me alone term, so I back away from the stairs. I make sure she watches me go down, while Hawk stays at the bottom. I give a small signal for him to stay put while I get in the Jeep. But I only park enough out of the line of sight and Hawk stays under the stairwell. I creep around the back of the apartments and wait for him to make the first move. Huntin’ like this is like a game of chess. We move a piece, and see how they respond. Except in the end we are the ones who go check mate and catch the bounty.

  Hawk

  Hiding behind a bush, I wait. No sooner than twenty minutes have passed that I see a back window open and someone climb down a small fire escape ladder. It’s pretty rickety and even if he wanted to be quiet, there is no way he could. I’m shocked the damn thing even stays up. I send a message to Hawk as I continue to watch.

  Once his feet hit the ground, he looks around and doesn’t see me. With great luck, he walks closer to my location, and once I know for a fact I can grab him, I try to bring him to the ground. But the little shit starts to fight me. His head comes back and cracks my nose, making me loosen my grip enough for him to get a hand free.

  “Let me go you fucker.” I see him grab a piece of glass from the ground and try to cut me with it. I dodge each move he makes and I finally have had enough. I bring my fist up and hit him square in the jaw making his head snap back and he is out cold. Thank God.

  “Dude, you couldn’t wait two seconds, could you? Shit, he got your nose good too.” Hawk comes running up and helps me hog-tie him with zip ties. I watch as people start yelling at both of us, either because we are taking him, or yelling how happy they are he is going. Very strange area. With him secure in the Jeep and unable to move, Hawk takes off to the jailhouse. For the first time, I don’t have paperwork to fill out once I get there other than my name. I am loving having Zoey in the office.

  Zoey

  It was nice to have things to do. I finish typing up the notes from older cases so everyone can reference them later and we can store the paper ones in the attic and avoid all the clutter downstairs. The guys have gone on what Hawk says is an easy case and should be back for dinner. I like being able to cook for them at night, although both said they do know how to cook, just not make coffee. The thought still makes me laugh.

  Since no one is in the office, I play some music to eat up all the outside noises and silence from inside. I eat my lunch of gumbo, which Shay had brought me earlier. I love gumbo. Eating it while drinking Coke, I look around the building. I have organized everything within it, but it’s not very friendly-feeling. Although not many people would come to the office, but still. It would be nice to have some brighter colors, maybe something on the wall. I think I’ll ask them when they come get me. The office phone rings and I wait for the voicemail to pick up. Today we have had a total of three calls, two have been about them going out of state to help get someone who is lost in the woods, and one is about a possible job. Instead of leaving them on the machine, I write down the messages and then erase the voicemail. I wait once again for the machine to click over when I don’t hear anything.

  Huh, must be a wrong number and it hangs up. No big deal, it happens. I go back to eating. The damn phone rings again, this time I check the number and it says unlisted. I’m getting used to those. A lot of the law enforcement from other states called in for assistance with some cases, maybe it was one of them this time. So, I set down my gumbo by my desk and hold the pen and paper waiting. It clicks on and I turn the volume up. An unexpected shill runs through me as I wait, then I hear breathing, heavy breathing.

  “I know where you are, Zoey. You can’t hide from me, soon you will be mine. Either dead or alive, I will have you. See you soon my love.” And then he’s gone. Instantly my lunch comes back up. I grab the trashcan and throw everything I have up trying to catch my breath. Panic overtakes me as I run into the back office and lock the door and place the chair behind it. What should I do? Call Hawk and Wolf? No, because what if I do and their phone goes off and they get busted. Shay, I’ll call Shaylene. Grabbing the office phone I wait for it to ring, and it does, several times.

  “Sorry, bitches, I’m busy, leave me a little love message and I’ll fly wit’cha later.” And a beep. Shit, she didn’t pick up. I leave a quick message for her to call me. I turn off the light in the office and crawl under the desk. God, the day was turning out to be amazing. It started with breakfast, then the office, I managed to get a bunch done. Then the kiss from Wolf. Boy was that unexpected. It wasn’t anything deep, but the feel of him on my lips and the rich taste of his coffee lingered on me. I never would have guess, especially looking at him and then me, that he would ever give me the time of day. So yeah, I still have insecurity issues. But right now, I’m hiding under a desk, and I’m really glad it was a larger desk, rather than a small one, because I couldn’t fit any other way. I hold the phone to my chest and wait. Wait for what, I have no damn clue. The music is still playing in the front office area, and all I can hear is the sound of my breathing.

  The clock is starting to drive me nuts; the damn tick-tock won’t shut up. My mind is starting to play tricks on me as the phone rings. Time passes and I have no clue how long I’m sitting here, but my butt has fallen asleep.

  Bang, Bang, Bang.

  Shit, who is that?

  “Zoey, damn it open the door.” Was that Shay? But there are other voices.

  “Don’t make me break down this door, bitch, ‘cause you know I will, and I don’t wanna break my damn heels today.” Standing on shaky legs, I about fall over when the sensation returns to my ass and it becomes all tingly.

  I move the chair out of the way, turn the lock on the top, and open the heavy door. Standing there is Shay who looks worried and Hawk, who actually looks pissed. Shit, did I do something wrong.

  “You okay, chick?” I nod and wait for whatever comes next. But instead, I feel arms wrap around me and Shaylene is hugging me. Wait what is going on? Normally when shit like this happens I get yelled at, not hugged. “Let’s get you home okay?”

  “Sure,” I follow her out the building to her car, but Hawk grabs my arm, halting me to the spot.

  “You ride with me,” he says as he walks me to his truck then help
s me in. It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact. Just looking at him I know not to push him. What he is pissed at me about I have no damn clue, but goodness gravy, it isn’t my fault this time, or well any other time. Ignoring his mood, I wrap my arms protectively around me and sit in silence on the drive home. One thing is for certain, tonight is going to be a game changer. Andrew isn’t giving up, and now he knows where I am.

  Chapter Ten

  Hawk

  I need a fucking drink, preferably three. After dealing with Wolf being a jackass and not waiting for me, and now Zoey. Yeah, I need one. I can handle Wolf, because he has always done shit like this, but knowing that Zoey was alone in the office and Andrew knows her location pisses me off. Wolf is cleaning up at the house and I know Shaylene will pick up dinner so I, or we, can take care of Zoey. She is too quiet for my liking. Over the last few days she has come out of her shell more and more, and the more I see, the more I crave her. And damn it if Wolf didn’t get to taste her first. Sure she is sexy and feminine in the way she looks, but she is very smart, and caring, and has a witty sense of humor too. But seeing her closed off like this again eats at me. But it’s good she is quiet. Because despite me being worried, I’m so pissed at her. If she talks, I just might stop this Jeep and paddle her ass. Shit, maybe I will do that, my dick seems to agree with it as well.

  I’m not use caring about other people, even Wolf, I try and keep some of my internal feeling to myself. Zoey, she makes me feel more, want more, especially outside the bedroom. Maybe it’s because she is like me, but the same sweet nurturing type as Liz. The combination is sending me into a spiral of unfamiliar territory. The sickening thought that Andrew could have gotten her, anyone could have gotten her and took her away from them, from me, scared the shit out of me. She was just some chick, at least that is what I keep trying to tell myself, but the more I push it down, the more my heart wants to fight it. Fuck, I really need that drink now.

  Pulling up, I see Shay isn’t there yet, good. I wait until she is out heading up the stairs before I follow her. The door opens and Wolf is standing there glaring at her, arms crossed. I’m glad he is pissed as well.

  “Shay is stopping by to put a pizza order in, but it’s gonna be delivered. She said she will talk to us tomorrow.” He speaks directly to me, not to Zoey. He moves so both of us can move into the apartment. Once we are all inside Wolf slams the door shut behind us making Zoey jump.

  “Where was she locked in at?” Zoey walks into the kitchen and grabs the wine, pouring it into a glass before downing half of it and refilling it again. Not taking my eyes off her, I reply.

  “Our office, she had a chair behind the door. Message is still on the machine, and her voicemail on Shaylene’s phone is also recorded and put into evidence. But isn’t this what we wanted? Him to come to us?”

  “Yeah, but you and I both know that’s not why I’m pissed.”

  “Yup I know. Let’s get her seated first.” Walking over to Zoey in the kitchen, I point to the couch after taking her glass of wine from her. Her look is shocked and confused, but she started to walk into the living room without arguing. Waiting for her to sit, I set her glass down and pull out two beers, one for me and one for Wolf. She sits and I hand her the wine after I hand Wolf his drink.

  “So we have an issue.” She does a small nod. “You know why were pissed?” She shakes her head, but doesn’t look at us.

  “Damn it, Zoey, look at me and answer, you’re smarter than a stupid little girl head nod and shake, fucking use your damn words.” Over the last few days, she opened up and spoke all the time. I enjoyed it, though it is annoying when she gets hooked on a subject I just don’t get, such as the difference between wines. I came to enjoy her arguing with me, or telling me I’m wrong with something. Someone who actually looked and talked to me as a person, and damn it if I didn’t start to care about this curvy woman.

  “What the hell do you want me to say, Hawk. I’m sorry, I’m sorry I have a psycho after my fat ass, but I do. I didn’t think he would find me. But you know what, I don’t need your shit about this. Look, thanks for taking care of me, but I’ll go stay with someone else, or whatever and you can get back to whatever you two do.” Her chest was heaving up and down while she stood up, as if she was waiting for me to blow up at her. But what she doesn’t know about me is I don’t hit women, ever. Hell, I hate to yell at them if I can avoid it.

  “Princess, you better sit your ass down before I spank the shit out of it. That’s not why we are pissed,” I state between gritting my teeth.

  “It’s not?”

  “No, now sit.” This time she did. I let out a slow breath. “It’s not your fault he found you, it’s mine. I put out feelers about him and he followed them back. And taking care of you is nothing. It saves me from cooking all the time. What I’m really fucking pissed about it the fact you called Shaylene and not me or Wolf. We should have been your first call. No matter what.”

  “I know, but what if I had called and the ringer went off and you got found. Then what? Or you had it while dealing with someone. I can’t imagine what would have happened then.” Zoey grabbed her wine and drained it in two large gulps. I am too mad to even drink the rest of mine, I just hold it. My eyes don’t need to look over at Wolf to see he is seething too.

  “Don’t blame this on us, Zoey. You know damn good and well we should have been the first call no matter what. We have been over this time and time again. You are by no means stupid, so stop pretending you are. If we didn’t turn our phone off or pick up then it’s on us, but at least you would’ve called. Never again. Ya ’hear, never again.” I look straight into her big brown eyes and made sure she knows I mean it. Her brown eyes have unshed tears, but she is being brave right now and not crying. I have never had a female care about me other than Hawks mom, Liz. And here she was worried about our safety instead of her own. It seemed she needs a keeper, or hell a leash, as long as she remembered to call them. I had never been so worried driving back worrying if she was okay, and what state we would find her in. I hate not fucking knowing shit, and with Zoey, I am second guessing everything I said I would never do.

  I start to say something, but someone knocks on the door, halting me. Nodding to Wolf, I take the few steps and look through the small hole. Pizza guy. I pull the money out of my back pocket and open the door. The kids gives me the total and the pizzas as I hand him the cash. Shutting the door, I notice Zoey is still sitting on the couch.

  “Want a refill?” pointing to her glass.

  “Do we have anything stronger?” Chuckling, I nod, grab her glass and take the pizza into the kitchen. Wolf isn’t talking, then again, with a giant ass bruise on his noise, I don’t know if his pain pills kicked in, or even if he took the damn things. Putting a slice of pizza of the plate and grabbing the ranch, I set it in front of Zoey, while I make her a drink. She is a lightweight, so Lemonade and vodka will be her drink tonight. I don’t know if I can say anything to her.

  I want nothing more than to spank her sexy round ass and leave my hand print there before I bury myself deep inside her, but I don’t know her well enough, and she is part of the case, and, fuck, I’m making excuses. Hell, Wolf got to taste her first. I want to taste her, all of her. Her big breasts, round stomach, and sexy ass. She has hips that can take me as I pound into her deep and hard. Several of the woman I have been with in the past didn’t have the curves or the shape as Zoey. She is a real woman, a woman who eats food, and gives sass when aggravated. But I can image she would be a submissive type of woman in bed. Damn my cock is riding me hard now. Leaving her with her pizza and Wolf keeping his eyes on her, I head to the kitchen. I need something stronger than a beer.

  Wolf

  I have a headache, but Tylenol took care of some of it, well the part that came from getting my nose bashed in. My real headache is sitting down in front of me, picking at her pizza, and it’s only getting worse.

  “Eat,” I say, but she isn’t listening to me. “Damn it, Zoey
, eat your dinner.” My voice makes her jump, but she still isn’t eating. Damn this woman. She is so unlike anyone I have ever met. She lifts the piece of pizza on her plate and takes a small bite, but she doesn’t look at me. I don’t know what to do. Seeing how right now Hawk is being the bad cop, I guess I’m playing the good cop. Taking a seat next to her, I spin her body so she is now facing me. Lifting my hand, I cup her cheek. I can feel the small bit of moisture from the few tears that fell. I hate it when chicks cry, but knowing she is, is eating at me more.

  “Look at me, Zoey.” Making sure my voice is softer this time, she raises her eyes and looks right at me, and then the rest of the tears fall. “Oh, chéri, don’t cry.” But she does, and falls right into my arms. Holding her tight to me, I stroke her hair while she cries more, holding me to her. “It’s okay, I got you, and it’s okay. Shh, that’s my good girl.” I kiss the top of her head and smell the sweet perfume from her shampoo. I watch as Hawk softens some and sits on the other seat next to her, rubbing her back. How I turned into the softer of the two of us, I haven’t a damn clue. Her head lifts from my chest and I wipe the tears from her cheeks. I offer her a small smile and she returns it. But the more I look into her tear-stained face, the more I feel the pull between us. I have had girlfriends before, and woman I cared about deeply, but nothing compared to what I was feeling with Zoey. I can’t explain it. It feels as if it’s an attraction, not one out of lust, but wanting, and needing more from her. The more I look at her the more I remember her sweet tender lips on mine and I am like a damn moth to the flame and sweep down.