Chapter 7

"To be a diamond, you have to go through a lot of pressure and heat, but in the end, you come out shining.

–Unknown

Jameson

I couldn't believe my luck. Not ten minutes after Rayne's patrol car disappeared from the parking lot of the gym, Ben and Declan showed up. A few minutes later, a few more of the Reapers joined them.

For the next hour, I joked and worked out with the men, trying to act like nothing was wrong. In truth, since the week before, I'd been on edge.

I'd gotten a call from Felix asking me why I hadn't high-tailed it out of the bar when the rest of the gang had. So I told him the truth.

I'd spotted some tail worth following.

When Felix asked for a name, I joked that I hadn't even had time to get one. Thankfully, he'd laughed that off and we'd moved on in the conversation.

Now I was helping five of the other Reapers lift weights and talking about each of their sex lives while desperately wishing I was anywhere else.

How long had I been dealing with jackasses like these? Years. Never before had I felt so over conversations like this. Not like I currently felt.

When anyone from my real life asked me if I liked my job, my normal answer was that I loved it. Then again, I hadn't been in contact with anyone in the real world much in the last few years.

In truth, the past week was the first time I'd missed having a real personal life. And it was all thanks to Rayne.

The moment the Reapers left the gym, I hit the shower and changed into my street clothes. Thankfully, the rain had let up a little. After pulling on my leather jacket and helmet, I hit the road for the cabin.

Besides my apartment, the cabin was the only other safe space I had in or near town. The DEA had rented the property under a pseudonym a year before my arrival. They'd moved in the basics of furniture and supplied it with everything I'd need during my stay.

Since the road to the cabin was a narrow dirt lane, it wasn't hard to tell if I'd been followed anytime that I drove out there. So far, none of the other Reapers knew or cared where I spent my time outside of the gang activities.

I wasn't surprised to see a white Jeep parked under one of the massive oak trees off to the side. I pulled my bike under the carport, turned it off, and pulled off my helmet.

"So, want to tell me whose place this is?" Rayne asked as she stepped under the carport.

"I would have thought you'd have time to research that before heading over here," I joked.

Watching her eyes narrow, I smiled and waited.

"I did. Who is Caleb Morales?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

I shrugged. "Who is Rayne?" I countered.

She rolled her eyes. "Do you have keys?" She motioned over her shoulder to the cabin. I held up the set and shook them. "I brought lunch," she added and held up a bag from one of the fast-food burger joints in town.

We headed down the pathway, and she stood under the front porch while I unlocked the door. I stood back as she walked in, then stepped inside and flipped on the light switch.

The place was decorated with country-style furniture. In the living room, there was a leather sofa and matching chairs. The dining room had an oak table and chairs, and the bedroom had a king-sized bed, nightstands, and a dresser.

The only thing missing was a television and some other basics. Just the essentials.

I had only been out there twice in the time I'd been in town, both times to meet Jasmine and pass information between us. The place smelled dusty and empty. But the view from the large windows in the back was something I could get used to. The river curved around half of the property and a large grove of oak trees stood beyond the river.

"Okay." Rayne turned on me once we stepped inside. "I'm thinking…" She tilted her head. "Homeland Security?" I arched my eyebrows, then shook my head. She sighed as she set the bag of fast food on the table. "FBI?" I shook my head again. "I'm close, right?"

I shrugged. "Why Rayne?" I asked her.

She sat down and, instead of answering, pulled out a burger and started eating it. "Is there anything to drink in that fridge or is it just for looks?" she asked.

I walked over and pulled out two sodas that I'd stocked in there the last time I'd been here. There could come a time when I'd have to hide out here and I wanted to be prepared. Setting two sodas down on the table, I sat across from her.

"You're undercover." It was a statement, not a question this time. I nodded in agreement and she slapped the table. "I knew it."

"I've been authorized to share my details with any of the local police I deem trustworthy," I added.

A look of surprise crossed her face. "Does this have anything to do with?—"

I held up my finger, stopping her. "Why Rayne?"

She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "It was the only word I knew when they found me," she admitted. I frowned and shook my head, not understanding her meaning.

"Whatever agency you're with must not have much access to personal files," she joked as she leaned forward. "I was around five years old when they found me. Not far from here, actually." She glanced towards the windows. "Out there, somewhere." She motioned to the left of the scene, beyond the river.

"Who found you?" I asked.

"What agency?" she countered with a smile. "If you play fair, remember, an answer for an answer." She wiggled her eyebrows at me and I relaxed.

"DEA," I answered.

She laughed, then sobered a little. "Shit, you're serious," she said when I didn't laugh with her.

"Who found you?" I asked again.

"Cops. One of them, Randy Cordova, and his wife, Edith, took me in when no one stepped forward and claimed me," she answered. "Why is the DEA in my town?"

"Why does the DEA go anywhere?" I countered. She frowned and was quiet for a moment, so I asked, "Why become a detective?"

"I don't want anyone to feel the way I felt. Abandoned. Even after death," she added. "Do you think the Reapers are dealing?"

I shook my head. "There are some answers I'm not authorized to give just yet."

"That's fair." She shifted. "Caleb Morales?"

"Another one of my names. I've gone by Jameson Lorenzo for more than five years," I answered with a shrug.

She tilted her head and smiled. "You look like a Jameson."

I laughed. "It's my middle name."

"Three names to my one," she joked and took another bite of her burger. "Why confide in me?"

My eyes ran over her face. When I watched heat flood into her cheeks, I knew she had the answer.

"Okay, so, we both agree on that point." She took a sip of her drink and leaned back, shoving the finished burger away. I took the last bite of mine and did the same. "How does this work? I'm sure the Reapers won't appreciate you hanging out with a cop."

I nodded. "Yeah. For now, no more impromptu visits to my work. I can explain a few bump-ins but nothing more."

She nodded. "Okay, I get that. I have a few missing puzzle pieces."

I chuckled. "I only seemed to have gotten one from you."

She smiled. "Maybe, when I'm not expected somewhere else, we can do this again. Maybe even a sleepover?" she teased.

Damn. Now that was all I was going to think about. Leaning over, I pulled her chair close to mine and watched her eyes heat.

"This may not work," I told her as she climbed over me, her legs pinning me to the chair as she straddled me.

"It may not," she whispered, her mouth a breath away from mine. "Then again…" She dropped off as I leaned up and took her mouth. Her hands slipped into my hair.

She tasted like heaven. Her lips melted against mine as her body vibrated. My hands glided over her hips, avoiding her holster and weapon. I cupped her butt while she pressed tight against my crotch.

My dick jumped in response to her pressing tight against it while she rolled her tongue around mine and sucked softly on it.

I could have exploded right then and there. Would have if not for her cell phone ringing in the pocket of her jacket.

"Shit." She leaned her forehead against mine. "Don't speak," she warned as she pulled the phone out and answered the call.

"Yeah?" she practically barked into the phone. "When?" She waited. "Shit. Okay, yeah, I'll be there in ten." She hung up. "This has been fun," she said, running her eyes over my face. "How do I reach you?"

I smiled and took her phone from her and entered my private cell number. "Leave a message. I'll get it." I handed her the phone back.

She took it and then leaned in and rubbed her lips across mine. I cupped her butt one last time and then watched as she climbed out of my lap, grabbed her jacket, and left without another word.

Shit. I leaned back in the chair and had to take a full five minutes to calm the fuck down after the napalm she'd just set off in my system.

Since I was there, I unlocked the hidden safe in the floorboard, pulled out the duplicate phone, and called Jasmine.

"Updates?" Jasmine answered on the first ring.

"I let a local badge in on the operation," I said.

Jasmine was quiet for a moment. "Your cop?"

"Rayne," I answered.

"She's the one you had me look into. The daughter of the COP," Jasmine said. She was quiet for a moment, no doubt re-reading every detail of Rayne's life, much like I had done several times since meeting her. "Okay, what did you tell her?"

"Nothing about why I'm here. Just that I'm DEA."

Jasmine was quiet. "Fine. I can set up a meet and drop?"

"No need. I'll fill her in, if and when it becomes necessary."

Jasmine was quiet. "Is this going to be a problem?"

"Nope," I said quickly.

"Jameson, I know you've been under a long while. If you need time…"

"I'm good," I said, growing a little agitated. "Really," I added a little softer. "We agree that whatever this is, it can't get in the way of why I'm here."

I heard Jasmine sigh. "Okay, keep me updated. Is there any other reason you're calling me?"

"There's a shipment coming into town later this week. I don't know the details yet, but something big is happening." I looked out the windows as the rain started falling harder. "When I know more, I'll send it to you."

"Good. Jameson?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful." She hung up.

"Yeah," I said, shutting off the phone and putting it back in the safe.

I sat in the chair, watching the rain until it let up some, and then headed back into town.

Since I was off work for the rest of the day, I drove to the bar where I knew some of the Reapers would be. Sure enough, everyone was there except Ben and Declan.

I tried to nurse a beer for the next few hours but was thankful for the burger when Ben finally showed up and bought a couple of rounds for the entire crew.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, which made me very cautious for the rest of the night. Then Declan showed up with Evelyn in tow, and the cheerful attitude changed.

The guy was already drunk, and from the bruises covering Evelyn's face and arms, it appeared that he'd started on her before they'd arrived.

I didn't see the two Taylor brothers arrive, and when the fight started, I initially stood back and watched all their jock friends mesh with a few of the Reapers. Then I took a fist to my left ear and out of the corner of my eye caught Ben watching for my reaction.

Shit. I guess I'm all in at this point. Jumping into the fray, I took down the brother who had punched me.

When the cops showed up, I figured I'd earned Ben's appreciation as I and six of the other Reapers were cuffed and shuffled into a paddy wagon. I smiled knowing the two brothers and a few of their friends were being hauled into a second paddy wagon.

"That was fun," I said and spat some blood onto the van's floor.

"Don't worry, Felix will get us out." Declan laughed. "What a rush. Those pussies deserved a beatdown. They've been sticking their noses around town, asking about us."

For the rest of the ride to the jail, I leaned my head back and pretended not to listen to Declan's rant about the Taylor twins.

Two and a half hours later, I sat in the cell with my mates and waited while we were all processed and released. Ben was first, followed by Declan.

"See you at the swamp this weekend," Declan called out as he half-danced out of the jail, turned, and double-flipped me off as he laughed. "Later."

"Yeah." I laughed back at him. I knew that there'd be an even bigger party at Felix's place this weekend. Everyone was gossiping about some big news Felix wanted to share with everyone.

Being arrested was to the Reapers like a badge of honor. One I'd just earned.

After almost an hour of waiting for Felix to post my bail, I realized the second part of today's stupid game. The get-yourself-out-of-jail badge. No doubt, they expected me to earn that badge today too.

I lay back and decided to get a little shut-eye before finishing the game. I was dog-tired. The fight hadn't been a rough one, not compared to some of the brawls I'd been in. But I was working on four beers—no scratch that, five and two shots—and the burger and fries I'd shared with Rayne earlier.

"This is fun." I woke to Rayne smiling down at me.

"Hi." I smiled.

"Are you drunk?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Coming down from it," I admitted. "Which is why I was sleeping it off before I post bail."

She tilted her head slightly. "Your friends just left you in here?"

"I think it's another initiation." I sat up and ran my hands over my face and then through my hair. "What time is it?"

Rayne glanced down at her watch. "A quarter past seven."

"In the morning?" She nodded and I groaned. "I guess I missed work."

"Guess so," she said, watching me.

"I heard you and the gang had a little fun with the Taylor brothers and their friends last night."

"Yeah," I said, glancing around the room. "Later," I whispered when I saw the dark-haired cop sitting at a desk across the room watching us.

Rayne nodded. "I think he's sobered up," she called out to the other cop. "Come on," she said to me and helped me stand. "You're free to go."

"I am?" I asked softly.

"The brothers decided not to press charges. So you're free to go." She walked with me out of the cell.

"Great." I followed her through the building and realized I couldn't remember much of the previous night. "I guess I did drink a little too much," I admitted under my breath.

"I take it that doesn't happen often?" she asked as they made their way down the hallway.

"Never," I admitted. "You?"

"Only on my fake birthday," she answered as we stepped into a large, empty waiting room. "Need a ride back to the bar?"

I glanced out the window and groaned at the heavy rain falling outside.

"How about to my place? I can walk over and get my bike after this rain stops," I suggested.

She nodded and motioned for me to follow her. We walked back down a different hallway and out a back door.

I was surprised that she led me to her Jeep instead of a patrol unit.

I sat in the passenger seat as she drove me through town. When we pulled into the drive-through at a coffee shop, I was grateful.

After ordering a large coffee and two breakfast sandwiches, we sat in the rain and enjoyed the food and drinks in silence.

"How many of those initiations have they put you through?" she asked.

"Too many," I admitted. "I had to catch three alligators. Three." I groaned. "We grilled them up. I'd never even seen a gator before they tossed me in a swamp with bait and told me not to come back until I had three of them in the boat with me."

"I bet that was scary," Rayne said with a smile.

I shrugged. "I've had worse," I admitted with a chuckle.

"It's interesting. What we do for our jobs." She rested her head back. "Who we have to talk to, be friendly with, when all you want to do is punch them in the face and haul their butts down and lock them up."

"Who's on your shit list?" I asked, curious.

She glanced sideways at me. "Most of the Reapers, for starters."

I nodded. "Agreed."

"Second, I'd like to lock up the mayor's husband and sons." She frowned. "But I can't quite pin her murder on any of them. I'm pretty sure they had something to do with her death. The husband is just…" She visibly shivered. "Sleazy. The boys…" She rolled her eyes and took another sip of her coffee. "They've been bugging me since grade school."

"Then I'm glad to report I kicked one of their asses last night," I said between bites.

"Which one?" Rayne asked.

I shrugged. "I can't tell them apart."

She laughed. "Everyone can tell them apart. They're not identical. Wyatt is shorter and a little bit stockier and Beau is usually described as the better-looking one."

I thought about it. " I guess it was the husky one."

"Good." She smiled. "He's a bigger ass."

I chuckled. "I had thought that the guy was friendly with Felix at one point."

Rayne was quiet for a moment. "You'd tell me if you thought the Reapers had anything to do with the mayor's death?"

I glanced at her, looked into her eyes, and promised. "If I thought there might be a connection, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you."

"Good," she said, finishing her sandwich and starting the Jeep again. "I'll take you home."

When she pulled up to my building, I couldn't help but glance around the empty back lot. The café guests usually parked out front on the main street and the employees used the side parking area.

"Thanks for the lift," I said, starting to get out. Then I said, "Screw it," and took Rayne's face in my hands and kissed her until I felt steadier. When I felt her body vibrating again, I released her and dashed through the rain to the stairs that led up to my place.

I was damned to hell, I thought as I stood under the cold shower, trying to clear my mind and body from the woman. This was hell. For the first time in years, I couldn't have what I wanted more than anything else in life.