Page 42 of Back the Blue

Not without some resistance, I managed to convince Lorna to let me drive her to her station to start her shift. After I put us to sleep in the best way possible. And so I could be at my best to keep tabs on anything that happens that could put her in danger while she’s doing her job. When we get there, I park and turn off the engine.

“What do you think you’re doing?” She scoffs.

“Letting everyone know who I am,” I say with a smile.

“You don’t think I’d tell anyone?”

“I like to make my presence known…personally.”

“Would you prefer to toss me over your shoulder and carry me inside then?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Then she pops open the door and hops out. I’m quick to follow. When I catch up to her, I slap her ass. She gasps and backhands me in the chest hard enough for me to flinch. But when she smiles, I lace my fingers with hers and let her lead the way. Within ten minutes, I think I’ve met most everyone at her station. And once I explain the situation with Diamond, they seem more than willing to do their part in keeping her safe, too.

I’m not surprised in the least. First responders are families, too. And they will protect each other. After she gets her things settled, she takes my hand again and leads me out to my SUV. When we get to the door, I immediately pull her against me. Surprisingly, she allows it. And with her gorgeous smile.

“So, what exactly do you plan to do while I’m sitting around here waiting for a call?”

“I’m going to keep tabs on any movement with Venom and what remains of Diamond’s crew,” I explain. “I’m going to know their locations so if you’re sent anywhere near them, you’ll have backup.”

“I won’t need backup to do my job,” she says softly.

“I know that,” I say tightly. “I meant that you’ll have eyes on you, in case something else happens.”

“Whose eyes?” she whispers.

“Mine.”

I don’t give her a chance to respond before I bend my head to kiss her again. I kiss her until she rewards me with a sexy moan. But I pull back before my cock gets any harder than it already is. Lorna is panting as she slowly opens her eyes, so I make sure I’m smiling.

“Damn you,” she breathes.

“What’s wrong?” I chuckle.

“You know what’s wrong,” she purrs. “You make me want to not do my job.”

“I feel the same way about you,” I tell her.

She giggles at this. Then I get one more kiss before I finally release her and happily watch her very fine ass walk away from me. So much for my cock not getting harder.

“Stop ogling me, Hughes,” she shouts.

“Not a chance, sweetheart,” I shout back.

I expect her to say more. Or at least look over her shoulder at me. Instead, she disappears into the station to get to work. After a moment, I take a deep breath and do the same. Leaving her isn’t easy. But I’m determined to do what it takes to keep her safe.

When I walk into the FBI building, I head to my small office to read through all the updates on Diamond and his trip to California. After that, I reach out to my team to talk about Venom and his movements. Before I know it, three hours have passed. And the radio has been silent at Lorna’s station. With nothing more to do at the moment, and with plenty of eyes on Venom, I pick up my phone and open my messages. Then I send a text to her.

Is it normal for a Wednesday night to be this quiet?

I hit send and watch the dots do their dance. When she gets back to me, I frown at her words.

No. We were just talking about the same.

“Shit,” I mutter. “I hope it’s not the calm before the storm.”

Just as soon as the words leave me, the shit hits the fan. And for the next five hours, I trail Lorna as she responds to seven calls. None of them were gang related, though. Just your run of the mill accidents and other injuries. At four in the morning, I head up to the station to check on her. She is just tidying up in the back of the ambulance when I walk into the bay. I smile as I watch her work. And she smiles when she steps down and sees me.

---