Dakota

D akota Ballerini walked into the shitty little bar on the corner that she had always steered clear of. Honestly, the only guys who ever hung out in there were either bad boy bikers, who weren’t her type, or cops running some kind of sting that she wanted no part of. As a police officer, she knew better than to even think about going into a place like this, but she didn’t care tonight, because tonight was different. Tonight, she had lost her best friend and partner, Jenna, to a scumbag drug dealer, who thought that taking her out was going to save his own worthless life. He was wrong—it didn’t save him. In fact, as soon as saw that her partner was down, she shot the asshole between the eyes, leaving no room for error. She wanted to make sure that he was good and dead before she had to say goodbye to her friend. She owed Jenna at least that much for always having her back.

Jenna’s mother had insisted on having the memorial service immediately and declined the police department’s offer of a big funeral with all the honors Jenna deserved. Her mom wanted a quiet, family and close friends-only service, and was happy to attend. Sure, she wished her brothers and sisters on the force could be able to tell Jenna goodbye, but it was her mother’s wishes that mattered most to everyone on the force. She was a very private woman and the last thing she wanted was a bunch of men and women in uniforms showing up and turning Jenna’s final farewell into something akin to a media circus. Because, once the media got hold of the information about Jenna’s funeral, they would be sure to show up. Her mother didn’t want any of that, and was happy that she got what she wanted to say goodbye to her daughter.

Two guys walked over to where she sat alone at the bar and sat on either side of her. “I’m not looking for company guys,” she mumbled. She was on her third shot of whisky and planned on drinking quite a few more before calling an Uber to head back to her townhome and pass out.

“How about you let us buy you a drink then, ?” the guy to her left asked. was thankful that her back was turned to the guy, so he couldn’t see her roll her eyes at his question.

“Do we know each other?” she asked, turning to get a good look at the cute blond. “Zane,” she breathed. Zane was one of her brother’s best friends. She had grown up knowing him, and having him treat her as Ross’s pesky little sister when all she wanted was for him to notice her.

“Yep, it’s good to see you, kid,” he said. She rolled her eyes at him for using the nickname that he always called her.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” she insisted. “I drink alcohol now and everything.” She held up her fourth shot and gave him a little mock salute.

“How many of those have you had?” Zane asked.

“That’s none of your business,” she insisted.

“You’re not going to be driving home in your state, Ballerini, right?” the guy on the other side of her asked.

“Jesus does everyone know who I am in here tonight?” she grumbled.

“We worked together a few times,” the guy said, “I’m Crew Montgomery.”

“Shit,” she said, “you’re Detective Montgomery, aren’t you?” she asked.

“I am,” he admitted, “we met last year at the big Policeman’s Benefit Ball.” She remembered that night. It was the night that she and Jenna danced the night away, having so much fun together. It was the last time that she and her friend had hung out together outside of work and now, was kicking herself for not insisting that they get together more.

“Yeah, that was a good night,” she whispered, tossing back her fourth shot of whiskey.

“I was sorry to hear about your partner, ,” Crew said. “She was a good officer and didn’t deserve what happened to her.” She didn’t, that much they could agree on. Jenna should still be alive, but hesitated when she pulled her gun on the scumbag drug dealer and that’s when he got off a shot that landed right in Jenna’s chest. At first, she thought that Jenna would be okay. But when realized that Jenna wasn’t wearing her bullet proof vest, knew that her friend was gone instantly. That should have brought her some comfort, but it didn’t. Instead, she had spent the past few hours blaming herself and drinking herself half-blind to forget everything about the awful day.

Ross had checked on her just about every hour, but there was nothing that her big brother could do for her. He meant well, but was going to have to work this all out herself. Losing Jenna wasn’t something that Chinese takeout and a visit from Ross could fix.

“She didn’t deserve to die that way, thank you for saying that Detective Montgomery,” she said.

“Please, call me Crew,” he insisted. She wasn’t sure if that was a good idea or not, but found herself nodding and smiling her agreement.

“Okay, Crew,” she breathed.

“Listen, I have to run back to the little boy’s room,” he stood from the stool next to her and Zane stood and pulled Crew against his body, kissing him like he was starving. couldn’t seem to take her eyes off them as they kissed each other. She wondered when the last time was that someone had kissed her that way. It had been way too long and a part of her wondered if she’d ever experience something that hot ever again.

Crew broke their kiss and walked back to the men’s room, Zane watching him the whole time. cleared her throat, trying to decide if she should even speak after witnessing their steamy kiss. “Um, have you two been together long?” she squeaked.

“Yeah, a few months now,” he admitted.

“How did you two meet?” she asked.

“That’s a long story, but we met at The Kink Club,” he admitted.

“Wait—you mean the sex club that my brother inherited from my father? That’s where you both met?” she asked.

“Yep, and I can’t tell you how happy I’ve been with Crew. I never thought that I’d find love since I’m bisexual, but I have,” he said.

“If you’re bi, you don’t find yourself wanting a woman in your life too? Is it easier to choose to just be with a man versus a woman?” she asked.

Zane shrugged, “Maybe,” he said. “I mean, we don’t have to put the toilet seat down with just guys around at home,” he teased. didn’t hide her laughter. Zane was always the funny one in the group out of her brother and Leo. He could always crack her up and now was no exception.

“Well, that does sound like a plus, Zane,” she joked. “But all kidding aside, I’m happy that you found someone.”

“Thank you, ,” he breathed, “I appreciate you saying that.”

She shrugged, “It’s easy because I meant it.”

“You know, Crew is bisexual too,” Zane said. She wondered why he was sharing that kind of information with her. It was honestly none of her business.

“Um, good for him.” She said, suddenly feeling nervous and awkward around him, just as she had when she was a little girl.

Zane sighed and sat back on the barstool. “I don’t think that I’m explaining this correctly. We are both bisexual and while we are in a committed, loving relationship, we both feel as though we’re missing something.”

“Oh,” she breathed, “what’s missing?”

“A woman to put between us,” Zane said as though it was no big deal.

“Listen, Zane,” she mumbled, suddenly feeling the full effects of the four shots of whiskey that she did earlier. “I’m not sure why you’re oversharing, but I wish you guys well. Heck, if I can think of any of my girlfriends who do the whole thrupple thing, I’ll reach out.” She had no intention of fixing one of her friends up with Zane. It would destroy all her childhood fantasies of having him to herself.

“What if I told you that we don’t want another woman?” he asked. “What if I said that Crew and I want you?” Zane asked. Her gasp filled the air between them and for a split second, actually considered his proposition.

“You can’t be serious,” she said.

“I am,” Zane breathed. “Crew and I both saw you sitting here, and we figured out that we both knew you, and that’s when we agreed that we wanted to ask you to come home with us.”

“What happens if I say no?” she asked.

Zane shrugged as if it would be no big deal, but she could see the disappointment in his eyes and instantly regretted her question. “We’ll accept your decision, but I hope that you don’t tell us no,” he admitted.

“And if I say yes?” whispered. Was she actually considering being part of a threesome with one of her brother’s best friends? Being with Zane was something that she wanted since she was just a teenager, but she never imagined that he’d ask her to have sex with him and his boyfriend.

“If you say yes, we take you home and have some fun,” he breathed.

“Fun,” she repeated, “what do you mean by fun?”

Zane leaned in closer to her so that only she’d be able to hear his answer. “Crew and I will make you ours, ,” he whispered into her ear. She couldn’t help her shiver or the way that her traitorous body leaned into his. There was no way that she’d be able to tell him no now.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Stay here,” Zane ordered. He walked back to the men’s bathroom and came back to the bar with Crew. They helped her down from the bar stool and each took one of her hands into their own. No one said a word, and somehow, that made everything feel even hotter. wasn’t sure what she had just agreed to, but she knew one thing—she was going to like becoming Zane and Crew’s tonight.