Bulletproof Page 11

  “Not the same,” she said, answering his unspoken question. “I feel like what we’re doing here could really make a difference. There…” She took a second to organize her thoughts. “It was all a stats game. We’d raid a bar for serving minors, and the owner would pay the fine but not get any stricter with their policy.” She thought about dozens of busts she’d done in her first months as a detective right up until the golden overhear. “I get that it served a purpose, but sometimes it felt a little useless, if that makes sense.”

  “I get it.” Trevor nodded. “I had some of the same experiences in Narcotics. We’d collar one street corner dealer, and another would pop up in his place within twenty-four hours. It was disheartening.”

  “George and Benji and Paul have a nice little network going. Nailing them might actually have an impact. At least that’s what I believe.”

  “I’m with you. We need another fucking break, though. We’re getting cold.”

  “I know.”

  He switched into the left lane to pass a slowpoke doddering along. “See, we have enough good observations to arrest Rivas for sure. Benji too, I think. But Paul is careful on the phone. He doesn’t say much. And he’s got to be getting his supply from somewhere. Even if we scoop up the two nimrods, unless one of them talks, Paul will just find new henchmen to get his product on the street.”

  Dylan knew he was just thinking out loud, but she liked to be privy to his process. Hearing his theories helped her build on her own. She was chewing through some ideas when he started talking again.

  “Getting you and Trish inside the Wine Bar is key. I’m still pushing that.”

  “What’s Nieves say?” she asked.

  “He’s not the holdout. It’s Briana.”

  She’d known Briana wasn’t a fan of the aggressive plan from the outset. Dylan didn’t really understand her strong opposition, but she’d hoped time would soften her a bit. “I thought it would be more up to Nieves than her,” she said.

  “With a tactical decision like that, technically Nieves could make the call. But it’s always a good idea to have the blessing of the AUSA. She’ll have to defend it in court at some point. It’s ultimately better for the prosecution if everyone’s in agreement. And at the moment, she’s not.”

  “She’s tough.” Dylan said it mostly just to say something, but she felt Trevor’s gaze on her.

  “How are things with you two?”

  “Fine,” she responded. It wasn’t a lie. In the two weeks since their Starbucks rendezvous, they’d gone back to being pals. They did coffee at the plant, they chatted. Sometimes it bordered on flirty, but they kept their word to each other. No acting on whatever feelings might be simmering beneath the surface. Dylan did feel like her clit might break from the amount of masturbating she was doing to keep the edge off, but Trevor didn’t need to know that.

  “Just fine?” he asked.

  She held her palms up in surrender. “Fine is good, no?”

  “It is.” He drummed the steering wheel. “I guess I was hoping you might have some sway with her. You two seem chummy.”

  “Chummy?”

  “Close. I think she trusts you.”

  “She trusts you too.”

  “It’s different. I can tell.” She wondered how much he was attuned to. “Maybe it’s a chick thing.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief to know he wasn’t picking up on their mutual attraction. “You think because we both have vaginas I can get her to change her mind on the undercover idea.”

  “Oh my God, do you have to use that word?”

  “Vagina?” She laughed.

  Trevor covered one ear as he guided the car into the Holland Tunnel. “Yes.”

  “Vagina. Vagina. Vagina.” She was laughing hysterically as she watched his panic on display. “Your girlfriend has a vagina too. You know that, right?”

  “Can we not talk about my girlfriend’s…vagina?” He stuttered out the word.

  “You’re such a pussy.”

  “See, was that so hard?” he countered with a chuckle.

  Dylan controlled her laughter. “Seriously, what influence do you really think I’ll have on Briana?” she asked, steering the conversation back on track.

  He took a minute to answer like he was considering his words with care. “I don’t know,” he finally said with a shrug. “You think infiltrating the Wine Bar is a good idea?”

  “I don’t think it could hurt.”

  “So convince her of that. Get her to see it through your eyes. Maybe work on her tomorrow night.”

  “What’s tomorrow night?”

  “Trish is organizing a get-together at some new place. The Pounding Gavel.”

  “Sounds lawyer-y.”

  “Exactly.” He squeezed into a parking space in front of the office. “Which means the legal beagles will definitely show.”

  * * *

  Dylan shouldered her way through a row of suits to deliver a round of drinks to her colleagues. For over an hour she’d kept close watch on Briana across the room to see if there might be an opportunity to bend her ear on the undercover operation, but she’d been tied up with the same dude the whole night.

  Finally, she threw in the towel. She told Trevor and her crew she was headed to the bathroom, but she beelined it for the exit and the subway when she thought no one was paying attention. It took forty-five minutes for Trevor to call her out.

  You’re such an Irish good-byer.

  Sorry bro. I need to be around my people.

  I thought we were your people.

  She laughed because it was kind of true. You are. I’m headed to Boca in Brooklyn, she typed, even though she was halfway thinking about going home. It’s down the block from my apartment, she added.

  He answered with the thumbs-up emoji before adding, I hear you. Have fun. Get lucky.

  She texted him back the smirking emoji, even though she wasn’t sure she even wanted any company that wasn’t Briana. With the gorgeous counselor on her mind, she sent a final text to Trevor.

  I’ll try to talk to Briana about the UC thing next week. Promise. I didn’t get the chance tonight.

  No worries, dude.

  Except she was worried. Not about the case, though. All night Briana had been in close conversation with one guy. A handsome guy, even though it annoyed her to admit it. Dylan conducted some mild recon at the bar. His name was Dante Miller, and he was an attorney, but didn’t work at the US Attorney’s Office. Which meant he had a shot with Briana. Dylan was sure he was interested. Who wouldn’t be interested in the prettiest, smartest person in the bar? The one with the best laugh and sweetest smile.

  She clenched her teeth in frustration. When she and Briana made a deal not to act on their shared desire, she wished she’d had the forethought to include a rider clause banning any other hookups as well. Dylan laughed at the ridiculousness of her thought process. She was literally on her way to another bar that would be loaded with prospects. She rolled her shoulders and her neck in an effort to shake off her frustration.

  Her neighbor Talia might be at Boca. Violet too. Social media said she frequented the local hot spot every Friday.

  Filled with the hope of at least some attention, she mustered the energy to socialize. A stop to freshen up and change at her apartment helped rejuvenate her spirit, and half a drink into Boca she was actively blocking Briana from her brain.

  “Hey, sweetheart.”

  It was the strawberry blonde from Starbucks two weeks ago. Dylan had done her homework since then.

  “Skye. Hello again.”

  Skye dropped her mouth open in a teasing manner. “Somebody studied up.” She poked Dylan’s shoulder with two fingers. “I knew you didn’t remember my name last time.”

  “I’m sorry.” Dylan winced in apology. “I could buy you a drink to make up for it.”

  “I’m all set.” Skye fingered the straw in her cocktail. “It’s nice to see you again, though.” She ran her eyes the length of Dylan’s body. Dy
lan saw her eyes widen a little as she registered the slight bulge in her pants. “Fuck, I hope that’s what I think it is.”

  Dylan swallowed her smile. She loved this part. Loved it, loved it. The anticipation. The game. Any other day, she’d be rock hard and ready. But looking in Skye’s baby blues only made her miss Briana’s deep hazel eyes. Skye’s curly hair had her reminiscing over Briana’s light brown waves. What the fuck was she doing?

  “If memory serves, your place is right near here.” Skye leaned in close and ran her tongue over her lips seductively. Dylan felt Skye’s hand graze the front of her jeans. “I say we finish our drinks and get out of here.”

  She felt her phone buzz in her back pocket. Briana. She opened the text on the spot.

  Not her. Please?

  Dylan stood tall and looked around. Near the doorway Briana gave her a small wave coupled with an even tinier pout. Dylan scooched out of Skye’s semi-embrace and excused herself. She was standing next to Briana in no time.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, hearing the elation in her tone.

  “Trevor told me where to find you.”

  “Oh,” she said, trying to piece together how that information transfer might have come to pass.

  “You bailed without even talking to me.”

  “I’m sorry.” She leaned her head all the way back knowing she had to be honest. “I couldn’t stay and watch you talk to that guy. It was just…too hard.”

  Briana pursed her gorgeous lips. “How do you think I feel? I walked in to see that display.” She nodded toward the spot where Skye was still standing.

  It was probably against the rules, but she reached for Briana’s hand. “There’s nothing going on there. I swear to you.”

  “I know I can’t expect you not to have a social life.” Briana’s shrug was positively adorable. “But I kind of wish you didn’t have a social life.”

  “I get that.” She squeezed Briana’s hand. “Do you want a drink, or do you want to walk?”

  “Walk?” she said with a questionable lilt. “I feel bad making you leave, though.”

  “I want to be with you. Pretty much always. Sort of the problem.” She said the last part under her breath as she led them outside, and she wondered if Briana even heard her. It was the truth, and she didn’t really care one way or the other if Briana knew how she felt so long as it didn’t make her balk.

  In the cold, they both put their hands in their respective pockets as they strolled. It was for the best, but it made Dylan sad. At work, she had no problem respecting the boundaries, but on the streets of their shared neighborhood, following the rules was exponentially more difficult.

  “Would you have gone home with her? The Starbucks woman?” Briana asked. “One of the Starbucks women, I should say.”

  “Ba-zing.” Dylan pretended to wrench an arrow from her chest. “I guess I deserve that,” she said with a smile.

  “You don’t. This whole night. My showing up here. It isn’t fair. I know that.”

  “Would you have gone home with Dante Miller?” Dylan asked.

  “I came to Boca looking for you,” Briana countered.

  “I had to pep talk myself to come out here tonight. To try to get my mind off you for five minutes.” Dylan didn’t bother to sugarcoat it. “It didn’t work.” She turned up her block out of habit but paused to lean on a tree near the corner. “I was talking to Skye and thinking, Briana has nicer eyes, a better smile, is a thousand times more interesting. So no. I would not have gone home with her. Or anyone.”

  “Skye.” Briana rolled her eyes. “Fake name.”

  “But Dante isn’t pretentious at all.” She frowned just to lay it on nice and thick. “Nope. Completely regular. Run of the mill.”

  Briana laughed, and it was giggly and silly, just the way Dylan loved. She could listen to it all night.

  “Poor Dante didn’t have a chance.” Briana stepped forward and rested her forehead on Dylan’s chest. “I basically don’t stop thinking about you.”

  Dylan circled her arms around Briana’s back. “What are we doing to each other?”

  “I’m not sure torture is the right word, but I think it’s pretty close.”

  “Why, though? Maybe that’s the real question.” She smoothed her hand along Briana’s hair, just to feel its softness through her fingers.

  Briana looked up and all her defenses seemed to drop. “I honestly don’t know.” She stood on tiptoe to bring her face close to Dylan’s. “Right now, I just want you to kiss me.”

  Without hesitation, Dylan found Briana’s lips and kissed her over and over. In contrast to the last time, she was in no rush, and she took the time to appreciate Briana’s full lips, her warm mouth. It was soft and slow and sweet as they made out in the dark against a giant oak on her quiet street. Dylan held her face and savored every fucking second of Briana pressed up against her.

  Briana made no move to stop it. On the contrary, Dylan heard tiny moans as the kiss intensified. She pulled Briana closer, forgetting for a second that she was packing. Briana realized, though. That much was clear from her sharp gasp and the sexiest whimper she’d ever heard.

  “Jesus Christ, Dylan.” Briana was more than a little breathless. “It’s like you’re trying to kill me.”

  “The way I see it”—she moved Briana’s hair to kiss her neck—“people are going to gossip anyway.” She nibbled an earlobe. “Why don’t we do what feels right?”

  Briana bit her lower lip. “I have a pretty good idea what’s going to feel right in a few minutes.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  As titillating as Briana’s street corner comment might have been, Dylan was committed to making the night that followed positively romantic.

  After walking the very short distance to her brownstone, Dylan didn’t rush into anything. Instead, she took her time showing Briana around her third-floor apartment and answering questions about the transition from growing up on the first two floors to becoming the property manager of the whole house. She basked in Briana’s praise of her kitchen redesign and bragged just a smidge at having done all the renovations herself.

  Dylan hooked them up with glasses of wine and leaned against the kitchen island, listening intently as Briana talked about her own upbringing in central Long Island, her favorite golden retriever who she missed desperately, and her star turn on the high school debate team that made her realize she was going to be a litigator.

  Dylan was as turned-on by just talking to Briana as she was from anything else. Briana seemed to be enjoying herself too. Dylan liked the way Briana watched her mouth when she spoke and probed for additional information with each new tidbit. It was as though learning about one another was part of the seduction.

  When they finally made it to her bedroom, their small touches and heavy kisses seemed so organic she barely stopped to make sure Briana was truly comfortable moving forward.

  It wasn’t until they were shirtless on top of her bedspread that she made her final check-in. She kissed Briana’s breasts but stopped grinding against her center.

  “You sure you’re okay with this?” she asked, looking up to assess Briana’s facial expression.

  “Yes. I promise.” Briana brought her face close for a kiss. “I don’t know what we’re signing up for. Not really.” Briana danced her tongue along Dylan’s neck and wrapped her legs around her body. “But I am sure I want you.” She looked down devilishly at Dylan’s pronounced bulge. “All of you.”

  It was all the encouragement Dylan needed and more. She made quick work of Briana’s skirt and panties, and when she stood to take off her jeans, Briana sat on the edge of the bed and pushed her hands aside.

  “Uh-uh. I’ve been waiting hours for this,” she said, unbuckling Dylan’s belt and leaning forward to kiss along the waistband of her boxer briefs.

  If Dylan wasn’t ready to burst before, watching Briana kiss her stomach and trace the tattoo on her midsection with her lips about did it for her. After under a
minute of delicious torture, Briana leaned forward and found her mouth, kissing her hard and possessively.

  Ushering them under the covers, Dylan sank two fingers inside Briana. Oh my God, she fucking loved how wet she was. She loved knowing it was because Briana wanted her. That in spite of conventional wisdom, they were in her bed. About to have sex. Again.

  Against logic and reason, it seemed, Briana needed her.

  Dylan moved in a steady rhythm before she kissed her way down Briana’s beautiful torso. She paused by her hip bone, licking and biting and sucking as Briana writhed beneath her. Finally, when she couldn’t hold back any longer, she made it to her center and took her time teasing with baby kisses and touches until she buried her face with purpose. When she focused her attention on Briana’s clit, she felt Briana’s muscles tighten around her fingers. Dylan smiled at the reaction she generated and groaned when Briana gushed in her mouth.

  She was hot and hard and dying to be inside Briana. She withdrew her fingers and removed her boxers, leaning her body weight on one hand as she used the other to guide herself inside.

  Briana responded with a moan that sounded both fulfilled and still yearning at the same time. Dylan felt her fingernails scratch her back. Briana’s hands gripped her and pulled her impossibly closer. She felt Briana’s lips on her neck, her throat, her chest, her shoulders. With every thrust, Dylan moved deeper inside and inched closer to her own climax.

  Thankfully she heard the cadence of Briana’s breathing change. She saw her mouth drop open.

  “Fuck, Dylan,” Briana breathed in her ear, “I’m going to come.”

  The distinct knowledge pushed her over the edge. She watched Briana squeeze her eyes shut and bite her lip just as Dylan’s orgasm took over, coursing through her body until she had absolutely nothing left. More than a little short of breath, she collapsed next to Briana and fell sound asleep almost instantaneously.

  Dylan finally regained consciousness as she registered the smooth touch of Briana’s fingertips caressing her forearm.

  “Hey,” she whispered into Briana’s hair as she opened her eyes. Her room was still pitch black and she rolled onto her back to check the time.