Page 5 of His Virgin Vessel

It could have been me who said those words—no way was I taking Brian Dugas's daughter joyriding at night—but, in fact, the voice came from behind me. I spun around, and Corinne started in her seat as we both saw the shadowy figure of Sheriff Brian Dugas standing by the corner of the house. He had a shotgun that was definitely not department issue in his hands, and I didn't like the direction in which it was pointed.

"Who in the hell are you?"

"Dad!"

"I'll deal with you later!" Dugas snapped at Corinne, his eyes never leaving me. "What are you doing out here with my daughter?!"

"He's my boyfriend."

Fortunately, the moon was at my back, keeping my face in shadow, otherwise I'm sure Brian Dugas would have seen the expression of dismay on it. What the hell was the girl talking about?

"You’re what?" The shotgun was shaking in Dugas's hands as he spoke. I almost felt sorry for the old bastard.

"Asa is my boyfriend. That's why Logan left. And probably why he took my money as well. I told Asa to wait for me, but I guess he just couldn't go one night without me."

The expressions that crisscrossed their random paths across the sheriff's face were pitiful to behold: anger, confusion, shock, fear, sadness. His little girl had taken up with a biker, and he didn't know what to do. Frankly, I'd rather have liked to put him out of his misery, as this charade had already gone too far for me. But if I wasn't there to pick up his daughter, then the question of what I was doing was bound to come up. So, for the time being, I had to play along.

"Why are you up a tree?" It probably wasn't the first question in Dugas's mind, but, of all those that were clamoring for attention, it was the one he was least afraid to ask.

Corinne flicked her dad a wicked stare. "Haven't you ever done it in a tree? It's awesome." There was a cruel streak in the girl. Clearly, she took after her father.

I was expecting a big speech from Dugas, or, possibly, a load of buckshot, but instead he looked defeated. "Go on, then. Go. Do what you want. Go ahead and ruin your life if you must. I'm done with you."

It was too dark for me to clearly see Corinne's reaction, but I thought she had been expecting something else as well. She rallied, gripped the branch she was on with both hands, and swung beneath it with impressive athleticism before dropping lightly to the ground.

"Cool. We're off." She grabbed my hand. "Don't wait up."

With Brian Dugas still staring, I had little choice but to go with her as she led me off in the direction of my bike.

"Is he still watching?" whispered Corinne, her voice breathless with excitement.

I glanced back. "Yeah."

"Looks like you're going to be taking me for that ride."

I tried to think of any way of getting out of this without letting Sheriff Dugas know that I had actually come to rob his house. Which was another good point—I hadn't done what I had come here for, and time was running short. Tonight had not gone as planned, and the only thing I could do now, though you could hardly call it a win, was get out of there without the sheriff's daughter riding pillion.

"He is going to freak out tomorrow!" Corinne enthused.

"I don't know," I muttered. "I think you broke him."

"He deserved it."

I shrugged. I wasn't about to defend Brian Dugas, the man who was trying to put me and pretty much everyone I knew behind bars for as long as the law would allow, and a little longer if he could manage it. On the other hand ... I glanced back and was satisfied to see that Dugas had gone.

"Right. He's gone. Time for you to get your sweet little ass back inside."

Corinne wiggled her backside in a way calculated to blow the self-control of any red-blooded man. "But there are so many better things you could do with my sweet little ass."

"If you don't get back home then I'll tan it so you won't be able to sit down for a month," I threatened.

It was an empty threat. I didn't enjoy hurting defenseless girls, and I had a serious problem with those who do, but even so, it backfired. Corinne giggled delightedly, pushed herself up against me, and whispered, "Promise?"

Having her young, taut form tight up against me, the smell of her perfume in my nose, and a mass of red hair before my eyes was not helping me to think straight, but, thankfully, I was yanked out of it by the sound of my phone. I pushed the eager little minx away and got out my phone. It was Joseph. That couldn't be good news. He knew what I had been planning tonight and never would have called me unless it was an emergency.

"What's up?"

"Black Daggers, at Fiona's place."

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