Page 91 of Black Bird

“Are you the detective?” he asked. Rhaena nodded. “She’s over there eatin’ up my girls’ money. You better get her before I press some charges.”

“You don’t have any charges to press yet, sweetheart. I highly doubt one girl is gonna put you out for the evening. Why don’t you have yourgirlsdo their job, and let me do mine, yeah?”

He pressed his mouth into a tight line and Rhaena could have vomited when he basically undressed her with his eyes. “You sure you’re a detective?”

“Look at me like that again, and you’ll find out.” Rhaena curled her hands into fists. He smirked and jerked his head toward the back corner where she could just see a head of raven black hair tossing around beyond the stage. Blakely stood nearby, talking down a few of the strippers and trying to keep his eyes from dropping to their naked breasts. Indeed, the dancers were fired up about their overly friendly guest. Rhaena marched toward the commotion, careful not to touch anything around her. God only knew what was crawling around this place.

Sarah had her tattooed back turned toward her while she danced on some burly guy’s lap in nothing but her bra and unbuttoned shorts. Another man took her hand and turned her around, and she didn’t notice Rhaena as she stood, bending over and pressing her ass into the awaiting face of yetanothergreasy looking guy. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled at the one still holding her hand. She was absolutely trashed. He handed her a rolled-up dollar bill and sat down in front of her. Rhaena was horrified to see her lean over him, ripping his buttoned shirt open and making a line of white powder on his bare chest. Before Rhaena could stop her, she lowered her face to him, the rolled bill in her nose, and snorted it.

“Sarah!” Rhaena yelled over the blaring music. She grabbed her shoulder, jerking her off the drunk bastard and earning way too much attention from onlookers when Sarah tried pulling away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Chill out,traitor. It’s legal. It’s my leftover prescription from the hospital. Got my name on it and everything. They never specified whatwayto take them … just as needed. And they’reveryneeded tonight,” She slurred, grinning.

“That’s enough. Let’s go,” Rhaena spat, grabbing her arm again. Sarah jerked back. One of the dancers decided it was a good time to grow a pair of balls and the saucy little blonde interjected herself between them.

“Yes.Please.Pack it up coke-whore. Some of us actually have to work.”

“Back it up,” Rhaena warned, taking the dancers bare shoulders. She cringed at the thought of what was probably now on her hands. Sarah inched forward, swaying.

“What’s the matter, bitch? Are we upset thatlittle ol’ mehandled more dick in one night than you see in a week? Take the money. I’m only here to have fun.” She giggled. “It’s like they’re payingyouto take a little breather. You should be thanking me.”

Athan would have a circle of bodies piling up around him had he been here to see this. It was that thought that cost Rhaena the split second that it took for the little blonde to try to shove Sarah back and be met with a fist to her mouth. Money was being thrown at the two half-naked women as chaos ensued and Rhaena found herself part of the fight. Other dancers were scrambling for the discarded bills as fists flew and hair was pulled. The men went crazy for it and the club owner stood by frowning. Blakely and the rookie cop appeared, the rookie taking a swift hit to the jaw. Sarah kicked the dancer in the gut, her slim, malnourished body flipping over a small table and landing with a sound thud on the other side. Rhaena braced Sarah’s shoulders and she fought hard but was tiring out quickly.

“Sarah don’t make me do it!” she warned as Sarah’s knuckles connected with Rhaena’s collar bone. It was weak, but she wasn’t giving up. “I’m sorry …” she said through clenched teeth as she slammed her fist into Sarah’s middle. It knocked the wind out of her, and she slumped into her arms. Rhaena lowered her to the floor, flipping her over and cuffing her. “Come on, get up.” She knew Kane would lose his shit over this, and she hoped to God there weren’t any photographers hiding out in here, although many probably had video now of the whole thing whether it was allowed, or not. “Blakely!” Rhaena called as she helped Sarah to her feet. She coughed and gasped for breath. The lieutenant came to her side. “I’ve got this one. I need you to go around and make sure there’s no coverage of this shit. I don’t care if you have to snatch phones.”

“You got it.”

“You can go home afterwards. I’ll deal with her.”

“Fuck you, Rhaena.” Sarah spat blood on the floor, her busted lip a bright red.

“You brought it on yourself. Move.” Rhaena urged her forward and they pushed through a crowd of bodies toward the door.

Athan was gonna kill her. He would absolutely slay her for laying a hand on his mate. Even if they hadn’t actually determined that was a real thing. She shuddered to think of how this would have gone if he’d been here. And now, she had to figure out what to do with Sarah when they left the precinct. She would no doubt have to book her for assault, but she hoped she would be able to spare her from other charges. This was getting out of hand, and they were wasting too much time figuring out all the working parts to this case from hell. At this point, she supposed she’d rather suffer the wrath of their captain rather than whatever was awaiting her when Athan caught wind of what happened.

“Can I trust you not to puke in my truck?” Rhaena asked, helping her into the back seat. Sarah didn’t say a word, instead staring off in the other direction through half-lidded eyes. Rhaena shut the door and slid into the driver’s seat, and they started toward the precinct. She checked on her every so often in the mirror. Sarah was so quiet; she was surprised to find her still awake whenever she glanced back there. “I never meant to hurt you,” Rhaena started. “It wasn’t my place to tell you. I’ve been telling him for weeks. I understand your anger, and I’ll accept it, Sarah …but you can’t do this to yourself. Contrary to what you think of me right now, I do care for you.”

Sarah snorted. “You wanted him so bad. Well … now he’s yours. I don’t want any part of your little bullshit love triangle.”

“You know better than that.”

“Save it, detective. I’ve seen the nice little package you’ve been missing. I get it.”

Rhaena huffed a laugh. “No … no, you don’t.”

“Take it all. Take my best friend, my ex … the one guy I actually connected with … why stop now?” Sarah drawled, her head swaying drunkenly.

“Sarah … I’m seeing someone,” Rhaena offered. Sarah stilled, her eyes actually focusing on hers in the mirror. “I have been for a while now.”

“Well … isn’t that special.”

Rhaena didn’t answer her. The rest of the ride to the precinct was quiet.

CHAPTER 14

ROCK BOTTOM

Sarah’s head was pounding, and she was freezing when she woke up in a holding cell by herself in a gray sweatshirt that wasn’t quite big enough to keep her warm. She lifted her cheek off of her forearm and raised herself to sit up on the bench. A few minutes of gathering where she was and why she had ended up there, and all the blurry images of what she’d done came flooding back to her. How long had she been here? Where was everyone? She rubbed her palms over her face and raised her knees to her chest, scooping her arms around them. She supposed this was it—rock bottom. Would this little stunt cost her that new job? How many people probably knew about what happened at the strip club? She didn’t wanna think on it. The door buzzed loudly, and Sarah’s head throbbed. She squinted against it, resting her hand on the side of her head as Rhaena opened the door and stood there watching her.

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