Chapter 7 - Finding some answers

It was still early evening when I parked my old VW Beetle beside the police precinct I had brought in Umbridge the week before.

I got out and strolled to their front door. I came here often, so many workers didn’t pay attention, except those who knew why I usually came inside. They were shooting me “please leave” glances my way.

I ignored them and pulled up a chair before Dan’s desk to sit down.

The man lifted his eyes from the paper mess on his desk and backed away, giving me a stern look.

“Do you want to get me fired? You know you’re not allowed in here anymore.” He eyed me inquisitively.

“Who bailed Michael Umbridge? They found him dead today.”

Dan dragged his hands through his hair and huffed slightly out of annoyance.

“You know I can’t give you that information.” He whispered.

“Bullshit! Either you give me a name or show me the video surveillance of who was waiting for him outside when he left.”

He paused, waiting for someone to pass his desk, then leaned his upper body over a lot of paperwork that littered his work surface.

“Why do you want that information? Huh? They found the guy in his home, his wrists cut open and a note saying why he did it. He lost all his money, received an eviction notice, and had nothing left in this world. It’s an apparent suicide, and the case was closed,” Dan frowned. “Shouldn’t have told you that. Unless you’ve got compelling information I should know about, I’m afraid I can’t help you. Please leave before one of my bosses sees you.”

I groaned, but I understood. I wasn’t a police officer and had no right to ask for that information. However, I still had that gnawing feeling deep inside of me that just wouldn’t go away.

“When I caught Umbridge, he said if I took him in, people would find and kill him. Also, when I placed him in my car, two black SUVs flanked me and demanded I hand him over to them. I thought they could be competition, but Moe confirmed that the contract wasn’t open. I find it strange that he’s found dead in his home shortly after being released. I mean, what are the odds?”

Dan’s head perked up at the mention of the black SUVs. He pushed out of his chair and discreetly tilted his head so I would follow him.

“I can’t give you a name, but I can show you the recordings. You’ll have to make out the rest for yourself. Someone paid his bail the following morning, and they picked him up in a black SUV.”

He turned the doorknob to the surveillance room and sat on one of the empty chairs in front of twenty monitors.

Dan selected the camera he wanted the recording from and rewound it to the day the precinct released Umbridge. As he had said, a black SUV similar to the ones that had stopped us was waiting for him. A man wearing a black suit and sunglasses came out, ushered him inside the vehicle, and left.

“Zoom in on the licence plate, please, and give me a pen and paper.”

I scribbled the number and placed the paper in my back pocket.

Dan grabbed my arm and stopped me mid-stride when I made my way out.

“Listen, I know you’re very resourceful and have a bunch of old contacts, but you might find yourself way in over your head. Just promise me that you will tell me if you find something substantial in this case.”

“I feel you know more than what you’re letting on…” I crossed my arms in front of me and stared at him deadpan.

When he didn’t budge, I sagged my shoulder and grunted, letting my head fall back. “Fine. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

Dan gave me a tight smile and escorted me back to the front entrance. He had already done more than he should. I thanked him again and returned to my car. When I sat down, I gripped the steering wheel and let my head fall at the top of it. I’d need to go to the DMV to get a name for the licence plate and figure out who bailed the guy.

I didn’t think it was just a coincidence.

I started the car and looked at the clock. The DMV was closed by now, so it would have to wait until tomorrow.

I didn’t know what to do with the rest of my night. I had ditched a perfect date, all for a lousy plate number that could lead me to nothing.

I froze. I had called my meeting with Lukas a date. Not a date, I repeated sternly to myself.

I shifted the car in reverse and made my way over to Sal’s. I needed to do something to change my mind.

I didn’t know if I was becoming paranoid, but I noticed a black SUV trailing three cars back after some time on the road. That type of SUV was popular, so it could have been anyone simply going in the same direction as me.

I didn’t want to take any chances, so I slowed down and looked for opportunities, but every time I made a turn, it followed, keeping at least one car’s distance.

I entered a multi-level public parking space and stationed my car there. I waited to see if the SUV would come up, but nothing.

I grabbed the duffle bag on my back seat and got out. I had my training clothes inside and would head out to Sal’s on foot. We weren’t far from my home, so I didn’t mind leaving my car there for the night.

I pulled the bag’s sling over my head, secured it tightly, and then leaned out from the concrete wall to look below. The SUV was parked on the side of the street. The windows were tinted black, and I couldn’t discern anything other than the engine still seemed to run.

I went to the other side and climbed over the edge. The apartment building’s roof beside the parking was at a level with me, so I backed away and jumped. When I landed, I moved to the far side, found the fire escape, and got down.

I popped my head toward where I had seen the SUV below, and sure enough, it was still there, the engine running and all. I turned around and briskly paced to Sal’s, six blocks from there.

When I arrived at Sal’s, I had to blink twice when I found Lukas sitting by the side of the door. When he saw me, he hastily brushed the back of his jeans and walked over to me.

I could feel tiny butterflies slowly swarming in my stomach. There goes my common sense, I thought. I didn’t think I’d see Lukas again so soon, especially with how I left him at the café.

“I thought I’d find you here,” Lukas said while rubbing his jaw, then neck. “I didn’t get your phone number, and I really wanted to see you again.”

I chewed on my lip as I moved over to where he was standing. His gaze burned my skin, making me blush. I could feel how anxious and uncertain he was about how I would react to seeing him.

“So you stalked me?”

When I saw the colour of his bronze skin pale, I cursed under my breath at how harshly I had said those words. I was awkward around people.

“Sorry about earlier. Are you up for another one-on-one? I’d like to make it up to you.” I nodded toward the door to the gym, and I saw his mood brighten up.

I went first, Lukas trailing behind me, and I could feel his body heat seeping into the back of my clothes. Tingling shivers travelled down my spine, making the hairs on my neck stand out. I hoped he didn’t notice the effect he had on me.

It was pretty unusual, even for me. That feeling just didn’t happen when I was with other men. It was like lightning hit me every time I saw Lukas.

Since I was the only girl who came here, Sal had offered me the use of his office to change. That way, I had a little privacy. I changed into a sports bra and leggings, pulled my hair into a high ponytail, and waited for Lukas to leave the changing room.

When he strolled out, he stopped walking and looked at me with a sort of hunger. I pretended I hadn’t noticed it but secretly giggled at his heated stare.

Fuck, why was I acting so pathetic?

“Just give me a few minutes to stretch, and we can meet on the mat over there.” I pointed a little further away.

Lukas smirked and sauntered to the area I had pointed. I bent over just as I saw Sal coming over to me. He had a cheerful face, but it slightly darkened when the bell attached to the main door jingled, and David entered.

If there was one guy in the gym who desperately wanted to beat me in a sparring match, it was him. He was fair game and entertained me, but I hated how he always touched me. It was deliberate; he enjoyed touching my ass or brushing himself against my breasts, always ending the match with catcalls and the promise of a good fuck. David wasn’t hard on the eye and had a certain sex appeal, but he did nothing for me. He was just another moron, thinking they owned the world.

“Hiya Sal. Max, smoking hot as always.” David said while spanking my ass.

“Oh, bite me,” I growled, slapping his hand away.

I placed my hands over my hips and scolded. David shrank, and I smirked. I knew I was intimidating, but I didn’t think I was that frightening. I cocked my head to the side, looking at his retreating form, and looked over at Sal, whose stare was directed toward my back.

I twisted my head and saw Lukas looming over me. David wasn’t running away from me; he was running away from Lukas.

“Are you alright?” I asked as I placed my hand on Lukas’s chest.

He was boiling hot, and I could see the veins on his neck throbbing each time his heart pumped. I blinked, but Lukas took my hand before I could remove it and pulled me toward the changing room.

I jerked my arm, trying to free myself, but once the door closed behind us, he pushed me over the lockers and trapped me between his arms.

“Friend of yours?” Lukas asked through his teeth. His face was inches from mine.

What the hell was his deal?

“Not really. More like my honorary human punching bag. David’s an ass, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Lukas’s proximity shot bolts of electricity through my body. I felt my nipples harden as his chest brushed against the thin fabric of my sports bra, and I fought a sudden urge to moan.

He dipped his head close to the crook of my neck and inhaled loudly. He returned his amber eyes to me, making the tension between us grow tenfold.

“I don’t like to share,” his baritone voice was gruff, and his breath tingled my skin.

I frowned at his comment, and before I could retort something clever, Lukas crashed his lips to mine, stifling the word that would come out of my mouth.

The surprise of his action caught me off-guard, and as much as my mind was screaming at me to push him back, my body begged for more.

This was crazy. I barely knew Lukas, yet I never wanted a man as much as I did him.

My arms instinctively snaked up to his thick neck and pulled him closer. I hadn’t realized how tense Lukas had been until his body melted against mine.

He dragged his hands the length of my body, stopping mere inches away from my ass, then his grip tightened, and he lifted me up, making me circle my legs around his midsection.

He groaned against my mouth, making my breath hitch.

Lukas pulled his lips away from mine but ground his growing erection between my legs.

“You smell so good. Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop, or else I’ll devour you right here.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but the door to the changing room opened, and I hastily jumped down, pressing myself against the lockers while trying to hide the redness on my face.

A customer walked in and eyed us suspiciously. I turned to leave, placing a hand over my mouth, but Lukas took my arm and stopped me.

“Meet me here at six tomorrow evening.”

Lukas opened the locker with his things in it and kissed my cheek before leaving.

I watched him go, unable to move from the shock of what had just happened. When the other man left the room, I smoothed out my hair and checked myself in the mirror.

I had a hard time recognizing the face staring back at me. My pupils were dilated, my face was red and warm, and my lips were slightly swollen from Lukas’s rough kiss.

I cursed under my breath, left the room, took my stuff, and headed home. After what happened, I’d need to take a cold shower and have a reality check.