Page 1 of Gypsy Angel

ONE

Cheryl Diesel walked into the Human Trafficking Task Force headquarters, towards her desk, stopping long enough to say hi to their head admin and all-around enforcer when he needed to be, Gavin Brody. Brody had decided he wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle, so Diesel had been showing him the ropes and teaching him how to ride. He was a natural.

After exchanging a few laughs, placed her helmet on her desk and set her briefcase down before heading towards the locker room area to get dressed. Like her other teammates, she kept a spare uniform in her locker so she could change when she got here.

Diesel loved spring, summer and fall. To her, they were all damn good riding weather. Winter could suck ass, but then again, she lived in sunny Californ-i-a so she could technically ride in the winter too. Yep, it was a win-win scenario for her. While she had a regular four-wheel vehicle, she was sure it could speak, it would gripe that it never got attention unless it was raining, a long trip, or other non-riding weather. She preferred her custom Harley Davidson Softail. That bike was her baby.

“Morning, Diez. How did Brody’s lesson go yesterday?” Sgt. Helen Brocard asked as Diesel walked into the locker room.

“Fucker is a natural. Don’t know why he thinks he needs beginner lessons. With his long-ass legs, muscle coordination, fucker does better than I did when I started.” Diesel laughed, shaking her head at her sergeant. “He said something about him and Kevin looking for a bike next month or something?”

“Yeah, he and Kev want to go look at some next month. You up for the three of us tagging along? Kevin is determined to get me into riding also.”

Diesel laughed, winking at Brocard. “In my opinion, it’s great when couples ride together. I think it’s even better when the chick has her own ride instead of riding bitch on the back of a man’s bike all the time. But to each their own.” She shrugged as she took her leather jacket off, placing it into her locker.

“Technically, he’s been riding bitch on the back of mine.”

It didn’t take long before the others on the team started arriving to get dressed. As usual when the whole team was together, the room was loud and full of laughter. They were one large, crazy-ass happy family. As much of a family as they could be without being blood related.

“Hey, Diez. How’d your date with the mystery dude go last night?” Tarilyn “Taz” Cortez asked, clicking her duty belt into place.

“It didn’t. He cancelled at the last minute, claiming his mom fell or something. I call bullshit, but we’ll see.”

“I seriously don’t get you and Joker’s game. You’re both fucking each other like rabbits when they aren’t deployed, but yet you’re both dating other people.” Laura “Red” Pratt commented, shutting her locker door.

“It’s this thing called a booty call. I know you’re married and probably forgot what that is since you can get it on the regular whenever Squidward is home and al.” Diesel started to say until Pratt flipped her off.

“Whatever, bitch! I just don’t get it. I mean, you’re both perfect for each other. Just see where it goes.” Pratt sat down, waiting for the rest of the team to finish getting dressed.

“Nah. I’m good. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy, but I just don’t see him as a long-term kinda guy. Besides, he’s kind of sweet on that frog hog he picked up after this last deployment.”

“Ah, you mean the one who’s already messed around on him at least three times since they shipped out last week?” Pratt shook her head. “Saw her several times with three different guys out around town and at the local bar since they left.”

“Eh, he’s a hottie. He’ll find another cum dumpster when he gets home.”

“What about the date you have tonight? Who is that with?” Lindsey “Ice” Raso asked, sitting down next to Pratt.

“Uh, some dude on the dating app that Showalter recommended.” Diesel shrugged, shutting her locker door after putting her vest on.

“Oh, hell no! Please tell me you didn’t download that Tinder app she recommended?” Renee York shook her head as she also shut her locker door.

“Yeah, I think that’s the one. Why?”

“Girl, you might as well just keep fucking Joker if that’s what you’re looking for. Tinder is just for people looking to screw. Nothing serious,” Alexis Rameriez answered as she approached, watching the group, hands on the top of her duty belt.

“Looks like Diesel is gonna need wing chicks tonight. Let me message Dom and see if he can babysit. I think he was talking about hanging out with Jack tonight since Jenn had some training sessions she had to do with a new client or something. If she’s not busy I’ll see if I can’t drag her away for a girls-night and let those two babysquat,” Pratt advised Raso, her sister-in-law and teammate.

“Works for me,” Raso answered, standing up.

“What? No! I don’t need wing chicks tonight!” Diesel groaned, her head falling back, staring up at the ceiling.

“Yep, you do. And as your team leader, I’m making it a mandatory night. We’re gonna check him out, make sure you’re safe, and if you give the sign, we’ll leave. Can’t be too safe or too sorry. If he’s ugly, and it’s one of those tequila bottle dudes, we’re saving your ass.”

“Sarge…” Diesel whined, drawing out the ‘R’ in the name.

“You can thank us later.” York patted Diesel on the shoulder as the team filed out of the locker room, making Diesel grumble at how much of a pain in the ass her team was.

TWO

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