Page 16 of Chief's Addiction

“I’ll swing by,” I found myself saying. “Make sure she’s safe.”

“Appreciate it.” I could hear the relief in his voice. “She’s stubborn as hell and will probably tell you she doesn’t need checking in on. But with these fuckers still out there...”

It was better safe than sorry. He wasn’t wrong.

“I’ll handle it,” I don’t know why the fuck I was offering to do it myself.

“I’ll text you her address,” Sparrow said. “And Chief? She doesn’t need to know about what went down tonight.”

“Understood,” I replied.

After ending the call, I stood outside for a few more minutes, gathering my thoughts.

I had six traumatized women inside who needed medical attention and safe passage home. Somewhere in the city, three Talon members were licking their wounds and regrouping.

And now, I had to check to track down a woman who hated my fucking guts.

Chapter 4

Cora

“For the last time, Burt, I’m not going out with you. There’s no reason we need to discuss the lease terms over dinner.” Balancing three plates along my left arm, I grabbed the carafe from the warmer with my right hand and refilled Mr. Peterson’s coffee. “I’m interested in the space for my business, not whatever you think might happen afterward.”

Burt Parker’s oily smile didn’t falter. He’d been camped out in my section for the last forty minutes nursing his coffee, which just so happened to be the cheapest thing on the menu while trying to leverage his position as property manager of the building I was interested in, into a date.

That shit wasnevergoing to happen. EVER.

“I’m just saying, Cora, we could discuss the paperwork somewhere more comfortable. I know a great little Italian place.”

“Order up!” Joey shouted through the pickup window, saving me from having to respond.

Thank the Gods.

“Excuse me,” I said, forcing myself to remain polite. “Duty calls.”

I delivered the three plates to the corner booth, two double cheeseburgers and a chicken sandwich, before swinging by the window to grab my next order.

The lunch rush was in full swing, and The Burger Shack was popping. Not that I was complaining. I desperately needed the money.

“Earl, where’s table seven’s tuna melt?” I called through the window.

“Coming up,” he tossed back, his freshly shaved bald head shining under the kitchen lights.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t keep the smile from my face.

Working at the Burger Shack wasn’t glamorous, but Earl treated his staff like family, and the tips were always good.

“How’s it going with Creepy McGee?” Bethany asked as she sidled up next to me at the drink station, nodding toward Burt.

“Same song, different verse.” I shook my head as I loaded the chocolate shake and Diet Coke onto my tray. “He won’t lease me the space unless I go out with him, but he keeps pretending it’d only be a friendly business dinner.”

“Gross,” she huffed with the weary wisdom of someone twice her twenty-one years. “Want me to spill something on him?”

I laughed. “Tempting, but I need that storefront. It’s perfect. Right on the water, great foot traffic, and just the right size.”

“Your loss.” She shrugged, then froze, staring at the entrance. “Holy crap. Who is that?”

I turned to look, ready to tease her about getting all googly-eyed over the customers when my eyes landed on the one man I had hoped I would never see again.

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