Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(14)

“Hey, Jillian,” Alessandra huffs, sliding into the seat across from me.

“Hey,” I mutter, mulling over the idea of a shake or burger.

“Was your night as crazy as mine?” My eyes slip over the menu, deciding if I should divulge my run-in with the Sin City Outlaws. I wonder if she’s run into them yet.

She looks over the menu, her brown hair pulled into a tight ponytail, her matching brown eyes flicking back and forth over the menu, lips pursed in thought.

“I, um, I ran into the Sin City Outlaws,” I inform her, trying to muster a casual tone.

Her eyes widen and flick to mine in a blink of an eye.

“Shut up,” she whispers, lowering her menu.

“Have you not had a run-in with them?” I tilt my head to the side, lowering my menu, as well.

She shakes her head, her brows furrowing.

“No way. I was advised to let senior officers handle their calls, or to request a deputy on scene.”

“Huh,” I reply, biting in my inner cheek.

“What were they like?”

I twist my lips. “Dangerous. The president was…” I pause looking for the right word, “intense.”

“Hot? Was he hot? I’ve seen his mugshots, and he looks…” She fans herself. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.” My cheeks flush with her brashness.

“Um, yeah, he was okay,” I respond, my voice weak. “I mean, he’s attractive in that dangerous, arrogant kind of way. He wasn’t scared of me, that was for sure, and the way he looked at me…” Images of his dark eyes locked on me flash in my mind. “It was... different.”

“Whoa, maybe I should pull one over.”

I snap from my daze and shake my head.

“No, don’t. When I snapped out of my stupid lust phase, actually tried to do my job and arrest him, his gang was ready to take me down, Alessandra.”

“What’s it going to be, ladies?” Margie, the waitress, asks. She is short, and overweight, with cropped red curly hair. Her voice cracks when she talks, like she smokes three packs of cigarettes a day.

“I’ll take a shake,” I respond.

“Burger and fries,” Alessandra replies.

“You got it.” Margie gives a tight-lipped smile before walking away.

“You off tomorrow?”

“No, last day of field training, though.” I smile, ready to take the reins.

“That’s awesome. Hopefully, you won’t get stuck with a dope-headed partner like I did.” She rolls her eyes.

“I hope not, but if I do, I hope I get Chewie.” Chewie was in the academy with us. We call him that because when he was tazed in class, he fell to the ground and sounded like Chewbacca.

“Tomorrow night, we are totally celebrating!” Alessandra nearly jumps in her seat with excitement.

“Celebrate how?” I question cautiously. Alessandra and I grew up differently. She is more… open with her thoughts and body language than I am. She’s fun and perky, and often forgets she’s a police officer; because of that, others look at her differently. From what she’s told me, she was wild and always in trouble growing up, whereas I would be in my room, studying for tests. Her father was a police officer and died in the line of duty when she was eighteen. Alessandra said when her father died, she wanted to join the police force, make the streets safer in his memory. Everyone knows Alessandra because of who her father was, which I think might have helped her get the job.

“Oh, my stepmom’s cousin Bunky said there was this party at a buddy’s house. He said it was going to be a lot of fun, and invited me.”

I twist my mouth and raise a brow. “Bunky?” Sounds like he’s a good source, if we’re going by his name.

Alessandra giggles. “Yeah, well, he’s not the brightest. I’m not sure if it’s his real name or a nickname for something. He’s just a harmless country boy, though.”

“I don’t know, Alessandra, I don’t really do the party thing.” I scrunch my nose up and shake my head. I try to converse with others, but I get nervous and often stick to the corner of the room, silently wishing I never left the comforts of my home. Sitting at home watching TV, hitting up the gym, that’s where I like to spend my time off work. Come to think of it, I might have been to three parties my whole life. I wasn’t really invited to them over the years. Having a family in law enforcement takes you off the invite list real quick.

“Oh, come on, don’t be such a stick in the mud. Just because you’re a sheriff, it doesn’t mean you sold your soul and can never do anything fun.” Inhaling a large breath, my mouth dangles open to object. “Who knows, maybe we’ll find some hot guys to take us home.” A loud laugh escapes my mouth unexpectedly, stopping my train of thought on plan ‘Escape Alessandra’. She always resorts to the ‘let’s find you a man’ plan. I’m single, big deal. I get a whole bed to myself, and don’t have to worry about anyone eating my popcorn or drinking my wine. I can slingshot my bra across the room and leave my toothbrush all spitty on the counter without grossing anyone out. Sounds like a perfect one-person relationship to me.

“Jillian doesn’t need a man. She has me.” I roll my eyes and look over my shoulder, finding Deputy Orlando Needon. He’s tall, with short black hair and a medium build. Most girls go gaga over him; I’ve seen it at our department alone. He wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t think women should drop to his feet and worship him, and if the rules of our department didn’t state that no two deputies can be involved. He seems to think the rules don’t apply to us, though, ‘cause he’s always hitting on me.