Page 43 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“Isn’t it like that?” Lachelle snorted. “You always did hate the fact that I wouldn’t look up to you as my example. I lived my own life and made my own choices, and you hated that.”

“Who would hate you being independent, Lachelle? You’re way off base.”

Lachelle was just spewing angry words at that point. She knew better than to think Janessa would want her running behind her, taking cues about life from her big sister. They had always been different, and that was okay. But Lachelle was ticked off that Janessa thought just because she was into Gerard that meant they should follow the leader like good little soldiers.

Not!

An idea popped into Lachelle’s head, and she voiced it just because she was angry. “Gerard works for Patrick, and we’ve been thinking about joining him in his goals as one of his people.”

Both Janessa and Declan’s mouths fell open. Gerard didn’t deny her claim.

“If that puts us on opposite sides to you guys, I’m sorry.”

Tears filled Janessa’s eyes. Tension strained Declan’s expression when he looked at his fiancée. “We’re not at war with Patrick. I don’t like his methods, but as far as I know he’s not planning to overthrow my position. He’s not qualified.”

Declan glanced at Gerard, and her new lover nodded. Lachelle wondered what was meant by not being qualified. Was Declan simply insulting Patrick because he was mad?

“Lachelle.” Her sister’s tone turned back to pleading, the anger seeming to have drained away. “You’re just learning about these guys. There’s so much more you don’t know, especially being human. They’re proud. Some have an entitled attitude. If ever a female shifter comes along who thinks Gerard should be hers, you’ll have a whole new problem to deal with. Their world isn’t ours.”

“All the more reason for me to stay in my city, near our family.”

“With us, Declan can protect you.”

“Gerard will protect me.”

The argument ended with those words. Although Lachelle wanted to walk out of the restaurant in a snit, she forced herself to stay. This might be the last time for a while that she got to see her sister. If Patrick couldn’t fix the situation with the videos of Gerard changing, and if they couldn’t curb the hunters’ activity, life might get a whole lot more complicated.

They ate dinner together, and when it was over, Lachelle hugged and kissed her sister and then held and loved on the baby. Gerard bid his brother goodbye, and the small family was gone.

Lachelle sat beside Gerard at the table her sister and future brother-in-law vacated. Gerard pulled her close to his side and enclosed her in a bear hug. She nuzzled into the strong column of his neck and sighed.

“Well, my friends,” Patrick said when he strolled over a few moments later, “shall we discuss my plan going forward?”

Chapter 17

“Hands on the hood,” Lachelle ordered the suspect. She glanced briefly at her training officer who nodded and proceeded to pat down the man she had pulled over for weaving all over the road.

The dude smelled like a distillery, and his car interior was no better. She felt like gagging but held it together. Her training officer was fair but tough, and since this was her last month in field training, she was going to do everything perfectly if it killed her.

“What’s this?” she asked the perp, holding up a plastic bag with white powder inside.

“That’s nothing.” The man reached for it, but Lachelle held the bag away from him.

“I’m afraid you’re under arrest, Mr. Checkers.” Something told her the man’s ID was fake. People, though. She’d run into some crazy stuff since becoming a police officer. “You have the right to remain silent…”

A car window nearby shattered. Lachelle jumped and then forced herself to remain calm.

Her training officer scanned their surroundings. “Stay there, Officer Waverly. I’m going to check it out.”

He ran off, and she turned her attention back to the man she was arresting. She’d almost gotten the handcuffs around his wrists when he thrust her backward with all his strength. The handcuffs went flying. She lost her balance and fell but caught herself on one hand. Pain shot from her wrist up her arm.

“Freeze!” She sprang at the perp and pulled her baton from its location on her belt. “Don’t make me use this. Settle down.”

He laughed. “You should have gone down and stayed down, dragon lover.”

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.” He lunged at her. This guy had her by at least a hundred pounds. If she was going to get the upper hand, she needed to remember her training and not hesitate. Where in the world was her training officer?

---