Cajun Protection (10 page)

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 helps 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.

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.