Page 31 of Link (Dragon Riders MC 1)
I made my way to the police department and sat in a room, waiting on another client of mine. Our talk lasted over two hours, and by the time we were done I was light-headed from a lack of food. The day passed by in a blur of hunger, needy clients, and last-minute court cases. I didn’t even get home until well past eight, only to sit down at my kitchen table and pull out more fucking work.
“At least I’m making money,” I sighed.
The only good thing about all of this was that Link fell away from my mind. The second I stepped into that police department to speak with my other client, I didn’t give one more thought to that sexy hunk of man meat. But sitting at my kitchen table was a different story.
Especially since he had bent me over it the last time he was here.
“Nope. No, no, no, bed. Working from bed. Okay.”
I scooped up all my paperwork and sprinted upstairs. I tossed it down onto my mattress and shed my clothes in order to get into my nightgown. The silken fabric fell against my skin, cooling me off as I climbed into bed. Then, I gathered up all the papers and started filling them out.
Until 9:15 rolled around.
I abandoned work for my phone at the same time, every night. I scrolled through my contacts until I found that burner phone number, then I dialed it and held the phone to my ear. One ring. Two rings. Three rings.
I braced myself for that fourth ring before Hope finally picked up.
“Pineapple. Pineapple. I’m fine. Sorry.”
I sighed with relief. “I was halfway to my car, you know.”
She giggled. “You’re in your bed and you know it.”
I slid further beneath my covers. “Well, I would have been had that fourth ring come and gone.”
“Just like we agreed to.”
“Thanks for the safe word, by the way.”
“I figured you might need it after the phone rang for so long.”
“What were you doing anyway?”
She snickered. “Trying to swallow a mouthful of peanut butter.”
I barked with laughter. “You’ve always loved that stuff.”
“I don’t know why you hate it.”
“Because it’s slimy and oily and too sweet.”
“So, all the best parts. Got it.”
I grimaced. “More for you, since I don’t want to be anywhere near it.”
“To answer the question you haven't asked yet, though, I’m fine. Today was good. Quiet. Silent.”
“That’s good to hear. You’ve got enough food?”
“Yep. Your haul you brought over is going to last me for a while. I don’t eat much when I’m worried.”
“Well, try to eat at least two meals a day for me, okay? The last thing I need is you passing out from malnutrition because you aren’t keeping up with yourself.”
She snickered. “Okay, Mom.”
I shrugged. “Hey. Whatever it takes.”
“So, how was work?”
I sighed. “It was work.”
“Going that badly, huh?”
“It’s not bad or anything. It’s just…”
“Not quite what you expected?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just expecting things to happen too quickly. But I thought I’d be more established than this.”
“I mean, you’ve only been there—what?—four months?”
“I’ve had my own place for business for four months. I’ve been working in this area for well over a year now.”
“Still. Having your own business is different than working from home. Or whatever it was you were doing up until this point. Give it time. Network. Have lunch dates with the other lawyers in town, or the police officers, or whoever it is that hits you up all the time. Those connections will start to talk, and then other people will talk. And soon, you’ve got a full schedule without spending a dime on advertisement.”
I grinned. “Since when did you become such a business-minded person?”
“Hey. I have my talents. Plus, I read a lot in California. Those men were boring as fuck.”
We giggled, but my giggling quickly turned into laughter. And pretty soon, my sister and I were laughing as if we hadn’t just been separated for the past however many years because of our different lifestyles.
“Oh! My God! My stomach. I can’t. Holy shit, ow, ow, ow, ow.”
Hope snickered. “That felt so good. I can’t even remember the last time I laughed like that.”
My heart ached for her. “I’ll come see you soon, okay?”
“No, no, no. Don’t come unless it’s absolutely necessary. I don’t expect to see you again until you’ve got those two guys in tow.”
“But Hope—”
“Please, just listen to me. Okay? I know you’re independent and strong-willed. But you have to listen to me. Just this once. All right?”
I sighed. “Well, since I have you on the phone, that meeting should be happening soon. The crew’s agreed to help, so expect us sooner rather than later. Once I have the details, I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you, Jo. I really appreciate this.”
“You’re my sister, Hope. Of course, I’m going to help.”
