My ride-around turned into me renting a car for this evening because I knew that if I rode my bike, Chops would sniff me out from a mile away. I needed to stay as obscure as possible while keeping my eye on her at all times. Especially on Baron Street.
The woman had completely lost her mind.
I wasn’t sure if Tanner had talked to either of the girls or not, but I didn’t care either. My only job tonight was to keep Sloane alive and out of trouble, but damn it if I didn’t hate watching her work. Her outfit was shocking enough. It showed just about everything except for the salacious bits and jealousy coursed through my system every time a man stopped his car to catcall her. Drunken idiots had their hands all over her and one particular altercation almost had me leaping out of the car just so I could strangle the fucking idiot.
I didn’t trust this woman at all. But, I trusted the fuck-ups on Baron Street even less.
She looks hot, though.
Her tits spilled out of a zip-up leather crop top and her fake leather booty shorts sparkled in the road lamp light. Her thigh-high boots practically had me salivating, and if I had been the kind of man to want these kinds of services I might have simply propositioned her just to let her know I was there. I kept dreaming about those legs wrapped around my fucking head. I licked my lips as I watched her tits jiggle with every step she took up and down the walkway.
Guess you can find someone you hate attractive.
Nevertheless, I promised myself I’d stay at a distance, but if something happened to her I wouldn’t hesitate to step in. Whether she knew I was really there or not, I wasn’t sure. But, when I heard my phone dinging with a text, I knew who it was before I even looked at it.
Sloane: Way to be completely obvious.
I looked up and saw her staring through my rental car windshield right at me.
Me: I have to keep eyes on you.
She typed back quicker than anyone I’d ever messaged before.
Sloane: Yeah I know. But you are making it fucking obvious that you are following me.
Me: For fuck’s sake woman. How am I supposed to keep an eye on you and stay far away.
Sloane: Just keep your distance. I’ve found my mark and if you ruin this, I’ll make sure you end up in handcuffs by the end of the night.
Me: Is that a promise?
I saw her blush and bite her lip. I chuckled at my own joke as she turned away from my car and I stayed the course. I parked my car so that I had a good angle of the whole of Baron Street in either direction and I tried to not look like I was fucking stalking the damn woman. And as creepy drunk men started coming up and soliciting her for services, jealousy rushed its way through my veins.
It took every ounce of willpower I had not to leap out of this car and beat the shit out of all of them.
One particular drunk put his hands on her and I pulled my glock from my hip. I readied myself to get out of the car and shoot him from across the street, but I watched as Sloane quickly handled the situation. And I had to admit, I was a bit impressed. Not that I didn’t believe she couldn’t handle herself, but this was an entirely different world.
I wondered if she had any idea how many people around her were packing heat when she wasn’t.
“Stay the course, Sloane,” I whispered.
She struck up a conversation with a woman who came up to her and she seemed to be really engaged. I wondered if that was the person she was looking for, but the woman didn’t stand there for long. She crossed the road and headed into an alleyway, completely disappearing out of sight. So, I turned my gaze back to Sloane and kept clocking her every move.
Before a wave of worry washed over her face.
Out of nowhere, she started booking it across the road as quickly as possible and I leapt into action. I watched as she disappeared into the darkness of that same alleyway the other woman had ducked into and I got out of my car. I wanted to call out to her, but I also didn’t want to ruin her cover, so I stormed toward the entrance to the alley and tried to hide my gun away from prying eyes that were curious as to the commotion happening on their block.
And when I finally entered the alleyway, I was ready to kill anyone who laid a hand on Sloane.
I heard the whimpering of a woman and a growling voice that I couldn’t place. Lights flashed momentarily, but the light was so glaring that all it did was force me to close my own eyes. I heard quick footsteps along the damp alley floor as gurgling sounds hit my ears, making me cock my gun so I could blast away whoever was in this alley with Sloane.
Then, I heard a lightbulb shatter before glass rained down to the ground.
I covered my head to protect myself from the flying shards and everything happened so quickly. I heard a girl gurgling before a man started groaning, and the growling voice quickly identified itself. I heard Sloane threaten the man in a tone I’d never once heard in her voice, and after that I heard footsteps skittering away like a child afraid of the dark.
Holy shit, did Sloane just take those guys on by herself?
I was so stunned at the sheer badassery of it all that I completely missed the conversation the girls were having with one another. And I should have known that conversing wasn’t Sloane’s best choice of action. Before I knew it, Sloane had not only introduced herself by her last name, but she had threatened the fucking girl with jail time if she didn’t cooperate.
So, I stepped out of the thick shadows to try and salvage what she was about to ruin.
“Well, I see you two are getting along just fine,” I said.
Sloane’s eyes whipped over to me as Beth shrieked. “You’re a fucking cop!?”
Sloane didn’t respond, however. She simply glared up at me.
“You might want to answer her question before she books it,” I said.
She slowly turned her eyes back to the woman I didn’t recognize. “Yes, I am. But, you don’t have to end up in jail if you’re willing to help me with something.”
The woman got into her face. “I was the one that was just attacked and you want to threaten me with jail time? No wonder no one trusts pigs around here.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “At least someone gets it.”
If looks could have killed, I would have been dead four times over with the glare Sloane shot up to me after that comment. But, it was well worth it.
“What I mean, Beth, is that I watched money between you and that first guy exchange hands. And with your rap sheet, it wouldn’t be that difficult to land you in jail again for something as little as that.”
Ah, Beth. “She’s got a point there, too.”
Beth scoffed. “And who the fuck are you?”
Sloane waved her hand in the air. “No one important. The only thing important here is that–.”
But, Beth’s eyes quickly danced around my leather jacket. “Holy shit.”
I blinked. “What?”
Beth turned to face me. “What in the absolute hell is a Dirty Misfit doing with a cop?”
I grinned. “You’d love to know, wouldn’t you?”
Sloane stepped in between the two of us. “Beth, you have to tell me about Chops.”
Beth played dumb. “Who?”
Sloane groaned. “I know you’re lying and I don’t have time. I need to know about Chops and the Black Flags.”
Beth scoffed. “I have no clue what you’re going on about.”
While Sloane continued to question her, I stared peering up and down the alleyway. Apparently, Sloane was under the assumption that Beth had some connection to these guys, and if there was one thing I knew about Sloane it was that she wouldn’t make that assertion unless she was absolutely certain. But, if Beth was denying things this hard, that meant someone was watching us.
Whoever she reported to had their eyes on us.
“Sloane?” I murmured.
She held her hand up to me. “Beth, I can’t help unless you talk to me.”
I bent down to her ear. “Sloane.”
She shrugged me off. “Seriously, I can get you out of all of this if–.”
I hissed at her. “I don’t know how much research you did, but every woman out here has a pimp. Someone they report to. If she’s denying it and you believe she’s lying, then that’s probably the reason.”
She slowly turned to look at me. “Do you really think I’m that stupid?”
I gazed into her eyes. “Yes. So, make this quick. The last thing we want is a shootout on our hands.”
Sloane turned to face Beth. “You knew who he was and who he belonged to, so I know you know who Chops and the Black Flags are. So, you can come with me and start talking, or you can spend a few years in jail. Whichever you prefer is fine with me.”
Beth started looking around. “Trust me, I’d take my chances with jail.”
“Look,” Sloane said as she stepped toward the scared woman, “I know you’re the crew’s bottom girl. I know you’ve been with them long enough. I have photographic evidence of several outings you’ve had with Chops, and the two of you look pretty cozy. So, come with me and start talking, or you’re looking at a very long, very serious list of crimes that’ll fall onto your shoulders.”
I rolled my eyes. “Good God, I really hate cops.”
Sloane elbowed me and I stifled my groan.
“We can get you out of this,” Sloane said as she lowered her voice, “all you have to do is trust me. Do you really not trust me after what just happened?”
Fear rose behind Beth’s eyes and she looked over at me. And while I didn’t want to vouch for a cop, I knew Sloane could help. So, I nodded. One silent, tiny little nod that she had been looking for in order to reinforce what Sloane was telling her.
I simply hoped Sloane didn’t make me look like an ass.
Then, without another word spoken, Beth pulled her long, jet black hair off to the side. She wiped at her skin, smudging away the makeup that covered up her collarbone. And when the dark, distinct bruises finally came into view, I was ready for blood.
I was ready to kill all of those Black Dildo idiots once and for all.
“Those bruises are old, Beth. When did you get them?” Sloane asked.
Beth’s voice trembled as she spoke. “You have no idea what you’re getting into. You have absolutely no idea who you’re taking on.”
Sloane placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “In my career, I can tell you that I’ve personally dealt with worse. This? For me? This is mild. This is run-of-the-mill. Work with me, and you’ll never have to answer to them again. Work with me, and you’ll be able to walk away from this a free woman and wash your hands of this life altogether. You have my word.”
In some ways, she even had me convinced.
“Beth, the first step in getting out of this is being honest with me about where you got those bruises. Can you simply trust that I know that for a second?” Sloane asked.
Curiosity piqued my interest, but I kept myself cool and collected.
Beth pushed her hair back over her shoulders. “Then, you should know that clients can get rough sometimes.”
Sloane snickered. “Clients get rough when they smack you in the face. But, pimps will hit you where the clientele don’t usually notice.”
How the hell does she know that?
“How the hell do you know that?” Beth asked.
And when I looked back at Sloane, I saw tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “Because I’ve been where you are right now, Beth. I’ve been that girl. I’ve been in that impossible situation that feels like it’ll never end. And it took a wonderful, honest detective that eventually became my mentor to get me out of the lifestyle.”
Beth’s face showcased the shock I tried to bury, but holy fuck. Was she telling the truth? If she wasn’t, she was a damned good actress. Hell, I’d never met a woman that would create tears like that on demand.
However, something in the pit of my gut told me she was telling the truth.
“Just ask for my help,” Sloane whispered. “Hell, just take what I’m offering, you don’t even have to ask. But, that’s all you have to do. Let me help, and this life you’re leading disappears forever, along with your abusers.”
But, Beth shook her head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
Sloane sighed before she pulled out a card from her tits. “Call me if you change your mind. And I’m telling you, you really need to change your mind, okay?”
She took the card and quickly slipped it into her own bosom, but she didn’t say anything after that. Not that she had a chance to, since bike engines started revving off in the distance. The sound alone made Beth jump and my heart ached for her. I wondered how many other girls the Black Flags had sunken their talons into.
I wondered who had sunken their talons into Sloane.
“You have to go,” Beth choked out.
I grabbed Sloane’s wrist. “She’s right. We need to leave.”
Sloane ripped away from me. “Please, seriously consider it.”
Beth’s eyes said yes, but her head nodded toward the alleyway. “Get out of here. Now. And if this guy beside you is smart, he’ll act like your John while you’re coming out of this alleyway. People are watching everywhere. Don’t think for one second you’re not being watched.”
I saw a panic rush behind Sloane’s eyes for a split second and I knew she had gotten in way over her head. Nevertheless, I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close, trying to make it look like she had just treated me to a good time as we made our way out of the alley. The bike engines grew closer and I knew we had to get to the privacy of my car. Otherwise, they’d all see my leather cut and we’d be fucking toast.
But, the feeling of Sloane’s body pressed so tightly against my own sent sparks crackling through the marrow of my bones.
How the hell did things get this fucked up?
