Bulletproof Butterfly Read online

  Brandon and I glance at each other.

  “Jay, your application for narcotics has been approved.”

  “What application?”

  “This one.” Cap points at a piece of paper on his desk.

  I lean over and laugh at the application I didn’t fill out. “Where are you goin’ with this, Cap?”

  “This conversation never happened. The note from Judge Hurley? We obey it, show Marco Denati that his money was well spent. You continue with your plan as normal with the charges you’ve already got, and once he’s in interrogation, treat him like you have any other time. We know he’ll be released and the charges will be dropped, and then he’ll continue to infest the city like the rat he is.”

  “Nothing new about that,” Brandon mumbles.

  “You’ll move on to a different case, Parker, but Jamison will move to narcotics.” He narrows his eyes at me.

  “Understood.” I nod. He’s not taking me off the case. Just letting everyone think I am.

  He stands from his desk and leans toward us. “When you bring him in, you do it clean. We don’t need any fucking blowback, you hear me? Nothing to fuck this up and nothing to make him suspicious. We’re letting him think he won again.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Parker?”

  “Yeah, Cap.”

  “Jay.”

  I stand, and he narrows his eyes at me. “Clean.” He reiterates his warning because he knows how much I want this guy. He wasn’t the one who got to my sister, but anybody who could treat women like he does doesn’t deserve to have an ounce of freedom.

  After Brandon and I sit at our desks across from each other, we both work on filling out a shit ton of paperwork and making some calls, acting like we’re closing in on a lead with Marco. I like the new plan. A lot. Too many people in this department know too much.

  The small team of men already working undercover are the only ones I trust anyway, aside from Brandon. And apart from Cap knowing, it’ll just be me and those two other guys. It’ll suck not having Brandon as a partner anymore, but all good things must come to an end, and quite frankly, this case is holding him back, so it’ll be good for his career to focus on other things.

  Four hours later, my back is sore and I stand to stretch it out. “I’m gonna head out for a little bit. Bring back some food. You want anything?”

  He looks up and cracks his neck. “Sure. Just grab me a sandwich.”

  “Sounds good. Call me if anything comes up.”

  Without answering verbally, he nods, and I take off to run home first. I wanted to talk to Mel last night, but when I got home, she was practically asleep on the couch, and then this morning, she was still sleeping. Her depression has gotten better, but when she sleeps a lot, I fear it may be coming back.

  As I pull up to the house, I scan around, looking for anything out of place. Walking to the front door, I do the same thing. After I get inside, I shut off the alarm.

  “Mel?” I shout. It’s been my sister, Mellicent, and me since I was a rookie cop. After a drunk driver killed our parents, I was left to raise my little sister who’d just barely reached thirteen. It’s hard to look at her as an adult now even though she’s legally been one for a year now.

  “Kitchen.”

  I head there and toss my keys on the counter then grab a bottle of water from the fridge. Sensing she’s okay, I don’t waste time and get right to the point. It’s something I’ve wanted to address for a long time but never felt she was ready. “I want Livvie to spend the night.”

  She looks up from her computer, likely editing a book, and raises her shoulders. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Yeah, okay. Has there been a reason she hasn’t?” When I don’t say anything, she gasps. “Really, Jay?”

  “I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable. And when you wake up—”

  “It sucks. And it’ll be embarrassing, but it shouldn’t be a reason your girlfriend can’t sleep over. Jeez.” Clearly frustrated, she runs her fingers through her light hair and sighs. “I didn’t even think about the fact you’d purposely not have her come here because of me.”

  I pull out the stool next to her. “We’ve been together over two years, Mel.” I met Livvie shortly after Mel’s assault.

  Understanding hits her. “I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t think; I just assumed that maybe you guys were, umm… I don’t know. Taking it slow or something. I didn’t even think, or I would have said something earlier. I’m so sorry.”

  Her eyes fill with tears, and I shake my head at her. “Don’t. You have no reason to apologize. This is your house, too. I don’t and didn’t want you to feel pressured to think you had to say it was okay for her to be here if you weren’t ready.”

  “For what? Your girlfriend to hear me screaming in the middle of the night? It’s fine.” She shrugs, and I mentally kick myself in the ass for even bringing it up. I shouldn’t have. She shouldn’t feel embarrassed about her nightmares. “Really. As long as you don’t think it’d scare her off then—”

  “It won’t.”

  Another shrug. “Then have her stay here. I don’t care.” She focuses on her computer. “I have a lot to get done today.”

  “Don’t do that.”

  “What?”

  “Shut me out because you’re upset. Honestly, Mel, if you don’t want her here, then I don’t want you to feel like I’ll be mad if you tell me that.”

  She shuts her laptop and turns to face me. “I’d rather have you guys stay here than at her place all night.”

  “I’m not ever leaving you home alone all night.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  I shake my head. “Don’t be. You’re my sister, Mellicent. I’d do anything for you. You know that.”

  “You have, Jay. You’ve sacrificed your life for me, and I feel so selfish asking—”

  “You’ve never asked me for anything. You won’t because you’re too stubborn.” I smirk. “I just happen to know you, and I know you wouldn’t feel safe if I wasn’t here at night. It’s been us and us alone since you were thirteen years old, Mel. I kind of know you better than you know yourself by default.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You do not.”

  “I do. But it’s all good. I’m happy you’re okay with her staying here.”

  “I like her.”

  “Me too.”

  “Do you think you’re going to marry her?”

  The thought makes my heart skip. “I know so.”

  “Must be nice to have that much confidence she’s going to want to spend the rest of her life with you. Does she know how bad you stink up a bathroom after you’ve eaten Mexican?”

  “Shut your face.”

  She laughs and opens her laptop again. “I really do have a lot to do.”

  “Okay.” I stand and mess up her hair before grabbing the water bottle. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

  “Okay.” She tosses a wave at me, and I swipe my keys off the counter before resetting the alarm.

  A huge part of me feels guilty and selfish for putting this on her, but I had to. Livvie is patient and kind and sweet. She’d say it was okay forever if she had to. I’m the one who’s impatient. I want my woman in my bed. I need to know I have my arms wrapped around her and there’s no way anybody would be able to get to her.

  I’ve had two years of missing her at night. I can’t wait any longer to wake up with her in my bed.

  On the way back to the station, I run into a sub shop and get a couple of sandwiches for Brandon and me. Then I make a quick detour to Corner Bar & Banquet.

  “Hi, Jay.” Allie waves at me from behind the bar, relatively empty since it’s only about two o’clock in the afternoon.

  “Hey. Livvie in the back?”

  “Last time I saw her, yeah. The party came early, so she’s all flustered.”

  I shake my head because there’s no way my girl doesn’t have it under control. She’s fuckin’ amazing at what she does. I’m so glad she dec
ided to start looking for office spaces because I think she would be a kick-ass wedding planner. “Thanks.” I lift my chin at her and head down the hallway. The noise from the banquet room gets louder as I approach.

  My body reacts knowing she’s near. Heart rate increases. My spine straightens. My dick hardens. When I can’t find her in the hall, I open the door to her office without knocking—because I can—and reach into my pocket to give her the penny I found.

  THE FAMILY FOR THIS PARTY came over an hour earlier than expected. I’m not only rushing to get everything set up as I normally would, but I’m now doing it with nervous and excited people flitting around and getting in my way even though they think they’re helping.

  Too many cooks in the kitchen.

  I ran out of tape, so I go into my office and dig through my supply closet to get a new roll. Washi tape, duct tape, electrical tape—all kinds I don’t need. I just want some regular old Scotch tape, but I can’t find it. I reach way in the back of the shelf to see if I can feel some that may have fallen. Yes! A roll of it brushes against my finger as arms wrap around from behind me. I screech just as a penny is held up in front of my face.

  The tape falls to the floor, and I reach up to grab the coin. “Thank you, honey.”

  “Found it when I was talking to you.” Jay kisses me right behind my ear. “What are the chances?”

  His solid frame holds my weight when I lean into him, my back to his front. His arms hold me a bit tighter as my head rests against his chest, and all the crazy outside of our embrace vanishes for a moment. It dissipates as our love surrounds us instead, and we take a moment to be only us. The only us we’ll get to be until at least tomorrow.

  I jump from the vibration of his phone, but he ignores it. His lips ghost over my cheek and down to my jaw then back up to my ear. “I talked to Mel.”

  That makes me turn. “What?”

  “Not tonight, but tomorrow, want you packin’ a bag. Plan to stay the whole weekend. I’ll come here with you Saturday, but you’ll come back with me when you’re done working.”

  The smile that I try to hide is impossible to conceal. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really. She was totally cool with it.”

  “Really?”

  He reaches up and rubs his thumbs along my cheekbones. “Yeah. Really, baby.”

  “Yay.”

  His phone vibrates again, and he groans. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’ve gotta go.”

  “It’s okay.”

  He nods at the penny still in my hand. “Wanted to give you that.”

  “Thank you.”

  With no warning, he pulls me to him and slants his mouth over mine. His fingers flex against my butt and in my hair. It’s insane how he touches me, and I practically melt. I wrap my arms around his neck and open my mouth when his tongue slides along my lips.

  It’s hot and so, so good. Everywhere tingles and because we’ve done it in here a time or two, I know how easy it would be for me to bend over and grab onto a shelf while he took me there. I express this by pressing myself closer and moaning into his mouth when I feel him, hard and ready against me. He rocks into my belly, and I involuntarily arch my back as his phone buzzes again.

  “Fuck,” he mutters, resting his forehead on mine. “Wish I had the time.”

  I don’t want to tell him that he does since it would only take about forty-six more seconds. “It’s okay,” I whisper.

  “Tomorrow,” he promises.

  “Yeah.”

  “Love you.”

  I smile. “I know.”

  Right before he walks out, he kisses my forehead, and unlike every other time, his lips don’t linger. He’s so stressed with this case, yet he takes the time to visit me and make me feel special. I have to remember to do more stuff like that for him. I lean against the wall as I catch my breath and thank the Lord for whoever dropped a penny on the ground two years ago.

  I’m not proud of the fact that I’m pouting, but I totally am. This stupid parking ticket is bogus anyway. The meter was broken. What was I supposed to do? I even left a note on the windshield saying it was broken because it was the only spot in a four-block radius. Whatever. Lesson learned.

  I yank the door open to the police station and walk directly to the corner of the room and stand in line with the rest of the law breakers. There’s only one worker, and about seven people in front of me, each one of us not exactly happy to be here.

  Once my turn is up, I slide the ticket under the window along with the check I’d written out before I came. The woman, who should probably get the award for best customer service this month, stamps the back of the check then clicks a few buttons on the computer before a piece of paper shoots out of the printer.

  She hands me my receipt without managing to even look at me during the entire transaction. That’s some real talent.

  “Thank you,” I chirp. “You’ve been so helpful. Have a lovely day.”

  “Next.” She looks beyond me, waving for the next person in line.

  I can’t help but laugh. Life’s too short to be so miserable. She’s alive. Breathing. That’s something to be happy about. It must be really sad to live a life where you’re so unhappy you can’t even crack a smile.

  Even on bad days, on my dark days as a teenager, I still managed to fake it in front of others. Just because I was miserable didn’t mean I should make everyone else miserable, too.

  I head back outside, and as I’m looking at the invoice, a glint on the ground catches my eye. Bright and shiny. I have a thing for collecting lucky pennies, so I walk over a few feet to the corner of the building. Just as I’m leaning down to pick it up, a boot fills my vision.

  I screech, my paper falls from my fingers, and I snap up, barely missing clonking heads with the guy. “Shit. Sorry.” I back up and luckily don’t trip over my own two feet.

  “It’s okay. I didn’t see you around the corner.” He bends down and picks up the receipt and the sparkling copper circle. “Here.” He holds the penny out to me.

  I take advantage of the moment to admire him. He’s ridiculously good looking. And it’s not just the way he fills out his uniform. His jaw is sharp under a five o’clock shadow, and his intense dark blue eyes bore into me. A flutter of butterflies tickles my belly, and I swallow to slow the pulse throbbing in my throat. A shiver coasts up my spine, and I lick my lips. “Oh no, it’s fine. You can have it.”

  He glances at the receipt and then back at me. “Olive.”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s an unusual name. I like it.”

  I glance at his name tag that reads Jamison, but instead of asking for his first name, I launch into a story. “My parents. They’re weird. My sisters all have O names. Nobody calls me Olive, though. Dad calls me Ollie while everyone else calls me Liv.” I realize I’m rambling and shake my head. “So. Yeah. Thank you.” I reach for the receipt, and as the paper settles between my fingers, I pull.

  When it doesn’t budge, I risk looking up at him again. “Are visits to the police station a regular occurrence for you, Ms. Winters?”

  God, that voice. “What? No. The stupid meter was broken. I put money in it and everything. This is the first ticket I’ve ever gotten.”

  “Never been in trouble with the law before?”

  “I’m in trouble with the law?”

  “You weren’t until now.” His lips tilt up on one side, and I realize he’s… flirting with me.

  “Trouble,” I whisper, agreeing. I am most definitely in trouble, and it has nothing to do with the ticket.

  “I’m not trouble, babe. I’m Jay.” Of course, his name is sexy.

  He finally releases the paper enough for me to pull, but his body follows as I tug it to me. He’s now inches away, the warmth radiating from him palpable. Even if I wanted to look away, I wouldn’t be able to as I’m mesmerized by him. Drawn into the sex appeal and confidence he exudes.

  Between us, he raises his arm and holds the penny at my eye level, but I can’t take
my eyes off his. “Don’t forget to take this.”

  “You can have it.” My voice is breathy.

  He slowly shakes his head, and he slides his fingers down my arm at my side, making goose bumps follow in their wake. When he reaches my hand, he settles the penny in my palm and then curls my fingers around it. Keeping his hand wrapped around my fist, he inches even closer. “Don’t need luck anymore, Livvie.”

  With that, he gently squeezes my hand and walks around me. I’m left a bundle of nerves and excitement and confusion. On some kind of cloud, I manage to get to my car and drive to work without incident.

  Thankfully, I only have a small event in the banquet hall tonight. Halfway through, I grab the empty pitchers of water and head over to the bar to fill them back up. Flashes of Jay, God… flashes of his sexy smile and soulful eyes pop in and out of my vision. Water sloshes all over my hand, and I snap out of my daydream about the sexy cop as I realize the pitchers are overflowing.

  My boss puts a hand on my shoulder. “You okay, Liv?”

  “What? Yeah. I’m fine.”

  “Are you not feeling well? You seem out of it.” He is genuinely concerned, and I’m so glad I have him for a boss. He hired me when I didn’t have much experience and was patient with me while I learned. It’s really hard to find a good person to work for, so I jumped at the opportunity he offered.

  Faking a smile, I lift the pitchers. “I’m good.”

  He nods, heading to the other side of the bar while I go back to the opposite side of the building. The next couple of hours go by at a snail’s pace, and then my event wraps up. As I’m wiping tables down and folding chairs, a loud commotion sounds from the front of the building. For me to hear it all the way down here, it has to be something bad.

  I slowly walk down the hallway, and when I arrive in the main bar, I see two bouncers holding down a man and another guy leaning on the bar with a rag to his face and blood dripping down his arm. Clay calls to me, and I scurry over to him behind the bar. “What happened?”

  “Alcohol and testosterone.” He shakes his head. “Cops are on their way.”

  My heart jumps.

  My stomach flips.

  My palms sweat.