That was the case that really opened my eyes to how frustrated I was at being a cop. Nadia and I knew the man convicted of Ariel’s murder was innocent, but no one would listen because he had been convicted of other crimes before. But we found the guy who had really done it, and he had been sitting under everyone’s noses.
“What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were taking some time off to look after Cara,” she says, looking at me over the screen.
“I wanted to tie up some loose ends. I still have one case that I haven’t wrapped up.”
“Send me the information, I’ll handle it,” she offers, shrugging. “No big deal. And we won’t take any new cases until we both have the time to invest in them.”
“Is this the perk of having two incomes?” I tease.
She pauses and then laughs. “Why yes, yes it is. And because I now own the space, I don’t have to worry about being kicked out if I don’t pay rent.”
I sit down and send her the case details. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
“Any time,” she replies with a smile. “You’d do it for me, and besides, who am I to stand in the way of true love?”
“And to think you were doing so well at not being annoying,” I grumble.
“Not ready to hear the L word?” she presses, amusement dancing in her brown eyes. “Am I making you feel uncomfortable, Decker? I’ll never understand men. They are too scared to say they are in love with someone, but would take a bullet for that same person without thinking.”
“Maybe dying is a better alternative,” I joke. “She wants to meet you, by the way.”
“Well, I’d say drop in whenever you want, but you have people after you, so maybe don’t,” she says as she stands up. “However, we can meet you at the clubhouse or something, if that works?”
“Fair, and that sounds good.”
“I’ll sort out this case—you get out of here,” she says. “Oh, and give Atlas a call. He’s at Fast & Fury waiting on his instructions for him, Aries and Diesel.”
“I will do. Thank you.”
“Any time.”
I leave the office and head home. When I sit on my bed, it still smells like Cara’s perfume. It distracts me as I send Felix a text, asking him where is he is.
Felix: Just leaving the station. You at home? I’ll drop in.
Me: Yep.
I’ve finished tidying my room and changing my bedsheets when he arrives, knocking loudly.
“Hey,” he greets when I open the door. He’s still in his detective uniform, and a little bit of me misses that uniform. “Cara with Clover?”
I nod. “Where do we want the MC members? I have to give them a call and tell them what the plan is.”
We sit down and come up with a plan, to have one of us and one of the Knights watching Cara at all times. Felix connects his home security to my phone too, so I know what’s happening there and can be on call to help if something goes down.
“What do you think they will do next?” I ask.
He leans back and stretches his arms out over the back of the couch. “If they know the Knights are also now involved, they would be stupid to keep targeting her, but I don’t know. They are bold. I think it’s only a matter of time. I know Clover can handle herself, but it’s scary knowing Sapphire is also there and something could go down.”
“That’s why we leave one of the Knights there keeping watch at all times. We won’t let anything happen to your girls, any of them,” I promise. “And if it gets worse, we get Fire out of there and to somewhere safe.”
He nods in agreement. “Yeah, we have a few safe spots we can leave her. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
“We’ve got this, brother. We’ve been through worse.”
His lip twitches. “I know. It’s just a whole different fucking ballgame when people you love are involved and could get hurt.”
“Not happening, Felix.”
“I hear Cara spent the morning here with you,” he says with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. “You want to talk about that?”
“No, I sure as hell do not,” I reply, mirroring his body language. “And I couldn’t even if I wanted to, because I have no idea. My plan right now is to keep her alive. I can worry about all the rest later.”
“I’m just saying—I’ve never seen you like this with a woman before. Any woman.”
“I know.”
He nods. “She’s a good woman, and I think the two of you make a beautiful couple.”
“Getting ahead of yourself—”
“Welcome to the Wind Dragons madhouse, Decker. Happy to have some company here.” He laughs, standing up and heading for the door. “You call the Knights, I’m going to go home and watch over the girls.”
He closes the door behind him and I’m left pondering his words. I send Simone a text.
Me: There’s some shit going down. Be careful. Don’t trust anyone. Call me if you need me. Better yet, why don’t you come and stay here?
Simone: What’s going on? I’m fine. I have Whitney. I’ll be careful.
Me: Make sure your cameras are on and everything is locked.
Simone: Always.
She’s so stubborn. The world could be coming to an end and she’d still tell me that she’s fine. But you know what? I believe it. Simone is one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. She fits in well with Cara and Clover. She might not be a badass martial artist, but she’s smart and emotionally unbreakable. And she’s right, Whitney is a good guard dog.
I send Cara a text to check in with her.
Me: You all good?
She replies instantly.
Cara: Yeah, I’m fine.
Me: Okay, good, just checking.
Cara: Something goes down you will know it.
I miss her. I want to tell her that, but I don’t.
Me: I’ll be over soon.
Cara: Okay. Bring some food.
I laugh at her message and reply, asking her what she wants. Damn, I’ll drive all over the city to get her exactly what she wants if I have to.
It’s in this moment I know that I am truly in trouble.
I finish cleaning up, call up Atlas and tell him the plan, and for them to make a roster to take turns. I grab my gun and then drive off to buy food for Cara, Clover, Felix, Sapphire and myself. I know what would have happened if I showed up without food for Clover too, and I’m not that stupid.