Defending Serenty Read Free

have her tonight.
     
    Serenity
     
    I feel Trace’s gaze on me, and remember with
a start what drew me to him all those years ago. He has a way of
making a woman his complete focus, and the naïve girl I was hadn’t
stood a chance in hell against him. Good thing I’m all grown up
now.
    But I’m dismayed to learn I’m not immune to
his intense masculinity. It takes all I have not to cross my legs
against the heat pooling in my pussy as his cool dark eyes spear me
with a mixture of lust, anger, and hate. I feel it like a blow to
my stomach. I didn’t know he hates me. And he wants me to
know it. Almost as much as he wants me to know he plans to fuck me
again. I can see it all on his face. In his eyes. This is a major
problem. I’m not sure if I can resist him if he touches me. I’m
pretty sure I don’t want to. I’ll probably melt at the first
stroke.
    Walker clears his throat and I wrench my gaze
from Trace to see him leaning tense and coiled against the counter.
I almost laugh. Who does he expect trouble from? Anxiety stiffens
my muscles. Maybe from where he stands, it’s a toss up.
    “I found your thief,” I say in the hushed
room. Then I take another draw of beer. It’s not my preferred
drink, but the situation and my nerves seem to call for it. I can
feel Trace’s focused gaze, can feel his intent, and struggle not to
respond to it. It’s a losing battle. I need to fill Walker in and
get the hell out while I still can. “You were right. Jimmy
Richards.”
    “I thought so.”
    I roll my eyes.
    “You need to press charges, Walker.” I hold
my hand up when he starts to interrupt. “Not pressing charges is
just going to lead to more trouble for this kid.”
    I know I’m wasting my breath. Walker ain’t
exactly clean. I know he strips cars. I know he’s involved with
underground fighting. And I’m pretty sure he’s got a nice sideline
in illegal loans. I can’t prove any of that and I’ve never tried.
Odd as it sounds, he’s my friend. As long as he’s staying away from
drugs or murder (though I wouldn’t put that past him either) I
won’t actively try to bust him. And he and his buddies are very
careful. They aren’t flashy. They don’t flaunt their money or
power. But I’ve seen Hunter Wallace in River City, the city just a
few miles from us, and in Montgomery and Panama City. He commands
respect without even trying and that says a lot. I know it’s time I
get out of this business. I don’t see in black and white anymore,
and it doesn’t feel right to keep doing police work. I’ve been on
the verge of making this decision for weeks now. But what else can
I do? I’m sure as hell not going dark side.
    Walker shakes his head. “Trust me on this,
Lynn. He’s not a bad kid. He just needs a firm hand. A little
guidance.”
    Fuck. Walker is smoking crack if he believes
that. From the corner of my eye I catch Trace’s incredulous look
and snicker. I don’t know what his objection is, but mine is easy
enough to voice. Jimmy Richards is a juvenile delinquent who is
fast on his way to becoming an adult delinquent. He doesn’t need a
firm hand--he needs to spend a night in my jail. I’ve told Walker
as much, but our conversation was frustrating and got me nowhere.
Just like now. Finishing the beer, I put it down and walk to the
kitchen door.
    “Fine,” I say, hand on the doorknob. “Do it
your way. But the next person will press charges,
Walker.”
    “There won’t be a next time,” he responds
calmly. “I’ll track Jimmy down tomorrow and put him to work. He can
pay off what he took that way.”
    I roll my eyes. I’ll be amazed if that
straightens the kid up. Of all the hard cases I’ve known over the
years, Jimmy is at the bottom of my list of likely reformers. I
have to concede that maybe reformation isn’t what Walker wants. He
might want someone he can control. Who will work for him.
    “You’re dreaming, Walker. Let me know if you
need me,” I add as I open the door, careful