Hers(41)

“You. I’m talking about how you are way out of my league, both you and Slater. I usually don’t care what people think, but today though, you looked like a friggin’ GQ model when I saw you. I’ve already had bad experience with cops. Going with you looking the way you do is just asking for trouble.”

If he ever got his hands on Greg again he would kill the bastard. He hoped tonight he would learn something to get Greg’s helpers put away. Brock knew most of the guys from Greg’s division, and he’d been so shocked at first by what they’d let happen. After working with the DEA he wasn’t shocked anymore, just angry.

“Did other cops say stuff like Greg did?” Brock thought he would try once more to ask for information from Sammy.

Sammy shrugged, averted her eyes and moved out of his hands to his side.

“What did they say?”

“Nothing. Well, nothing was said directly to me. It was said snidely and behind my back. Most of it had to do with other things.” Sammy looked anywhere but at him.

He frowned. “Like what?”

Sammy got off his lap and the bed. She stood and walked to the bathroom. “Don’t worry. Forget about it. Let’s get ready and go before we’re even later.”

Snarling at the situation he was in, Brock listened as the bathroom taps turned on, and he wondered if he should let the conversation go to keep the peace for now, or find out what he wanted and know who he should beat the shit out of, if the plan went accurately tonight.

Brock knew Sammy hated his aggressive side. He knew he should leave it. He knew after tonight he would have fences to mend, but he didn’t like going into a situation without all the information.

Getting out of bed he went to the bathroom, opened the shower door, and got in. Sammy got out, and Brock could smell how scared Sammy was as well as the waves of worry and unworthiness. He would find out what was said and who said what and why she was so scared.

Sammy barely said anything as she got dressed into a black and red floral dress. She wore black strappy heels and red lip-gloss and pink eye-shadow. She looked gorgeous with her hair down framing her beautiful face.

Brock could feel Sammy’s nerves, but any time he tried asking about who or what was said she shut down.

They arrived at his captain’s house only twenty minutes late. He got out of the car and opened Sammy’s door. She got out and straightened her outfit.

“You look beautiful.” He reached for her hand and held it. Before they reached the door he brought her hand up and kissed. “You’ll do great.”

He watched fascinated as she narrowed her eyes, took a deep breath, nodded, straightened her back, and plastered a grim smile on her face. “Come on. Let’s get this over with before I chicken out and get a taxi home or beg Slater to throw his kitchen into chaos and come and get me.”

They walked around the back where the music was on and the smell of the barbeque came from. Sammy gripped his hand tight as they went into the barbeque.

Brock took them straight over to his captain, who was at two large barbeques with an apron on that read “I can do it all because I’m the boss”.

“Brock, I see you finally got here. We’ve all been waiting for you as I think this is maybe the second event you’ve ever been to. I think the first I made it compulsory for you to come. Why are you late? Did you get lost or forget the time I said this started?”

Brock rolled his eyes. His captain was a bad actor, very over the top, but he went along with it. It was true Brock didn’t go to the big events, but he’d been around to his captain’s house for dinner every couple of months. “It’s the third. I learned my lesson after the one you made compulsory for me to come to. You’re worse than a bunch of old women, even worse than my mother, and she drives me nuts. I don’t need to be set up. I can find my own woman.”

His captain laughed. “Yes, I can see. Are you going to introduce her or stand there arguing and whining?” His captain winked at Sammy.

Glaring at the older man Brock looked down to see a genuine smile on Sammy’s face. “Captain, this is Sammy, Sammy, captain.”

Sammy held her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Captain…”

“Captain Roth, but you may call me Albert.”

“I didn’t know your name was Albert?” A couple of guys from Brock’s unit yelled behind them.

“It’s not to any of you idiots, but it is to this lovely lady who must be a saint to put up with Brock.”

Sammy let go of his hand and giggled. “Albert, is there anything I can do to help? Is your wife or partner inside? Do they need help?”