Page 33 of Hers

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 to her to make her 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 eyeshadow. 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 Greg had said to her or his friends had done, 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. Sammy flinched, but if he wasn’t so attuned to her, he would never have known.

“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.” He winked dramatically at Sammy.

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?”

“My wife and daughter are in the kitchen and my sons might be there too, they’re always hungry.” His captain’s voice lowered to a whisper. “My wife and daughter are hiding. They’re avoiding the badge bunnies.” Albert chuckled. “My daughter, Lena, doesn’t play nice with them. The girl Bentley brought has already been brought to tears by her, and I stopped just in time a confrontation between Lena and Steven’s girl.”

“I’d love to go meet them and help, if they need any.”

“Sure. Go through the fly screen to the right of us, and the kitchen is to the left.”

Brock relaxed as he watched Sammy walk off without even saying bye to him or dragging him along.

“How’s she doing?”

Brock looked back at his captain and shrugged. “When Slater had two chefs come down with the flu and couldn’t work, he had to fill in instead of coming to this. Sammy tried anything to get out of the barbeque. I’m ashamed of being a cop right now. I don’t want to do this sly attack. I feel like I’m betraying my mate. So, I really hope they are stupid enough to do something tonight. What she went through.” Brock shook his head. “She was scared shitless to come here. The car before we got out of it reeked of terror. I know the badge bunnies are tough and not pleasant. And some women and men are nasty on their own, but what happened to her.” Brock ran his fingers through his hair. “She won’t tell me much, but I know something happened at these events to make her so scared. I really am determined to find out what, I just don’t like how you want to do this.”

His captain frowned. “I remember you and Jake telling me what happened. I have no idea how precinct Breakaway could have ignored everything that went on, a serial killer and an abuser. There’s more involved. I’m glad the bureau is letting us help with the investigation.”

Brock didn’t care that his eyes shone with his bear as he grinned. “I owe you for that at least.”

“I know you think you do, but you don’t. I don’t like my house filled with Internal Affairs, so this is better. But I know how much power you shifters have. I may one day need help, and it’s always good to have allies. Just don’t kill anyone tonight. My wife and children may be shifters, but I still have to stay within the confines of the law.”

“I won’t kill them. They may wish they were dead when I finish with them, but they will live. It’s a pity Jake’s at home with his mate. He would appreciate this.” Jake loved the captain’s barbeques, but he loved giving out justice.

Brock went to leave to talk to some of his colleagues and give Slater a call to see if he could get anyone to fill in, so he could come and help support Sammy, when his captain stopped him grabbing his arm. Brock looked down at his captain’s hand and back up to his face, his bear must be clear on his face as he let him go and darted his gaze around the yard.

“I don’t want to be overrun with shifters. I think Sammy is going to need Slater to come as she’s going to be pissed with you. So, call Slater now and tell him what’s going on.”

Brock nodded and shrugged off his captain’s hold. He told himself not to think of how angry Sammy would be. Sammy would forgive him; he was doing this for her. He wanted her safe. Brock saw his partner Kegon studying him as he walked to him.

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