Lucky Strike (3 page)

“Good. Now it’s time we go find your girl.”

I sit back up on the bench my sadness turning to curiosity by her statement. “Brooke, I’ve used every last resource I have to try and find Lucky and nothing has come up. She’s completely disappeared.”

“That’s because you didn’t have the FBI helping you out before. My dad can find anybody, and I know he can track Lucky down. If you really want her back, we
will
find her,” she says confidently. I hope she’s right because I would give my left arm to find Lucky and bring her home.

“I’m sorry for being so cold to you Ryder. You’ve been going through hell, and I was being such a bitch to you. Can you ever forgive me?” She slides her hand over mine and gives me a warm smile.

“As long as you can forgive me for being a jackass, and for putting you in my spank bank after seeing you naked earlier this week.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ryder.” Brooke rears her fist back and nails me hard in the arm.

“Sorry, but for someone who’s had a kid and is pregnant with another, your body is smoking hot,” I say rubbing my arm
. Damn, she can pack a punch.

Brooke gives me a sideways glance and a small smirk tugs at her lips. “Thank you. All right smart ass, let’s get you out of this pissed soaked hell hole.”

I burst out the cantina doors, my knuckles throbbing in pain as I run down the dark street toward my apartment building. It’s one thing to know that Jackson is cheating on me, it’s a whole other story to catch him in the act, especially tonight of all nights.

Jackson promised me a night out that would make me forget it was my birthday.

Since I was thirteen, I’ve hated my birthday. That was the age I realized my birthday was just another excuse for my parents to throw a lavish party to impress their wealthy pretentious friends. I would be forced to dress up in some prissy frilly dress and pretend to be having a good time with their asshole kids. The only thing that got me through those awful parties was knowing that the second the party was over I could sneak over to Ryder’s house. We would spend the night watching movies cuddled up on his bed, and eating the birthday waffles that his mom would make just for me. It was pure bliss.

I wish I could hit the rewind button and go back to the simpler times. When all I had to do was climb the ladder up to Ryder’s room and curl up in bed with him, just letting the bad shit fade away and be happy again.

I make it back to my apartment. Closing and locking the deadbolt and sliding the chain in place. Knowing Jackson will be busting through the door at any moment, I run to the bathroom to clean my bloodied knuckles. The warm water and soap stinging the cuts from punching Jackson in the face after I found him in the ladies room balls deep in some random young tourist. He couldn’t even keep it in his pants even on my fucking birthday.

Happy fucking birthday to me
.

After wrapping my hand in a bandage, I run over to my closet and grab the duffel bag I keep hidden in one of the ceiling panels. I started hiding money, my passport, and spare clothes in this bag the night Jackson first came home smelling like hooker pussy and tequila. Knowing one day, he would get bored with me again and leave. I sure as hell wasn’t going to be left penniless by that asshole again. I quickly change out of my bloody clothes then stuff a few more articles of clothing into my bag before grabbing my car keys.

I start to reach for the doorknob when the door jerks open, coming to a halt by the chain.

Fuck, it’s Jackson.

“God damn, Nadine. Open this fucking door.” He’s seething mad and trying to grab at me through the small opening in the door.

“Fuck you, Jackson,” I sneer back. He thinks me breaking his nose was bad just wait until he sees the rain of hurt I will put on him if he so much as lays a hand on me.

He looks down at my bag then back up to me. “You think you’re leaving me, huh? No fucking chance. I fucking own your ass, Nadine.”

“I’m not your fucking property, Jackson.”

“The fuck you aren’t. You’re not going anywhere, you fucking bitch.” He jerks the door again trying to break the chain. Just as he reaches his arm through the gap, I slam the door on his arm as hard as I can. He screams out in pain then slumps down to the floor, cradling his arm against his chest.

I hope it’s fucking broken.

I run over to the slider door. Just as I open it, I can hear Jackson yelling out how I will never survive without him, and that I’ll be crawling back to him within a week. I made it on my own the first time he left me, and I sure as hell can do it again.

I throw my bag over the balcony then carefully climb down to the neighbor’s railing and jump down to the ground. I sprint for the parking lot to my car. I look around making sure Jackson isn’t coming after me. I unlock the door and throw my bag inside then climb in behind the wheel. Turning the key, the engine roars to life. I put it into drive and skid out of the parking lot leaving Jackson and Mexico in my dust.

I can hear my phone ringing inside my bag and I know it’s Jackson. I press the gas pedal to the floor needing to get as much distance between him and me as I can before I change my mind and go back. I just need to get home. I need to go back to Seattle and make things right again.

The smell of fresh coffee wafts through the guest room from the kitchen, stirring me awake. I grab my phone from the nightstand checking the time, it’s after ten. Brooke and I didn’t get back to her house until almost dawn.

It was a long night, to say the least, and the voicemail from the captain staring back at me is a harsh reminder that I’m in deep shit. I know this isn’t going to be good, but I was the dumbass that decided to go off the deep end and steal a police car so I’m fully prepared to face whatever disciplinary actions that the captain has in store for me. Even if it means losing my job. The only job I’ve ever really cared about.

I throw the blankets back and rest my feet on the floor, running my hands through my hair. The night’s events running through my head when I realize I’d completely forgotten about Courtney.

Fuck! Poor Courtney.

I managed to convince Street not to charge her, but I never apologized for what happened. I’m sure hates me now.

My attention shifts to the soft cry of Ella coming through my wall. Brooke must still be asleep. I get up from the bed and slip on a T-shirt. Stepping out into the hallway I walk over to Ella’s room. Opening the door, I see her standing up in her crib, and as soon as she sees me she starts jumping up and down excitedly. At least one person in the world is happy to see me.

“Ry-Ry,” she babbles. I’ve been trying to get her to say Ryder but Ry-Ry is about as close as she gets. But I’ll take
it
because she’s cute as hell. Ella lifts her arms up for me to pick her up so I scoop her up in my arms and place a kiss on her cheek.

“Good morning, kiddo.”

Before Ella came along, I never gave babies or kids a second glance. To me, they were a mini reminder for me to always use a condom. But the moment I laid eyes on Ella when Brooke and Brian brought her home, she reminded me that at one time I wanted to have a family—a family with Lucky. Even though Ella brought back a painful reminder of how I was never going to achieve what I desired most in this world, I still love the hell out of this kid. And I don’t even mind that she has me completely wrapped around her tiny little finger. I would take a bullet for this kid.

We make our way downstairs to the kitchen, where we find Brian preparing a snack for Ella. Ella calls out to him. Her little face all lit up like a Christmas tree.

“I’m sorry man, did she wake you up?” Brian sets his knife down then wipes the banana off his hands and walks around the kitchen island.

“It’s all right, I was already awake.”

I put Ella in her high chair then go searching for a coffee cup. Brian sets a plate of bananas and pancakes on her tray then turns his attention to me.

“Ryder, Brooke told me about what happened last night. And I just want to say I’m sorry for not being here for you the past few months. I feel bad, brother. Especially for bailing on you yesterday. I completely forgot it was Lucky’s birthday.” I could hear the regret and the remorse in his voice.

“I haven’t exactly been easy to be around since Lucky left. I’ve been trying to fill the void of her being gone, and it’s just making everything worse. I feel so hollow without her.” I slump down into one of the bar stools. Resting my face in my hands. I’m spinning out of control without her.

“I understand what you’re feeling right now, Ryder. You saw what I went through after I left Jillian. I hit rock bottom and I think this is your bottom. Now it’s time for you to decide if you’re going to let yourself drown, or pick yourself up and put the pieces of your life back together.”

I know he’s right. If I continue down this road, I’m going to completely lose myself.

“Brooke and I are here for you. You’re going to get through this.” He gives me a reassuring pat on the back and hear Ella say,
“Ry-Ry,”
again. “Even Ella is here for you, Uncle Ryder.” He chuckles.

“Thanks, Brian. I guess I owe you some bail money.”

“Don’t even worry about it. That’s what family is for.”

“Speaking of family, that wife of yours doesn’t know how to take a no.”

Brian throws his head back, letting out a deep hardy laugh. “No, she absolutely does not. Once she has her mind set on something, in this case helping you, she won’t stop until you and Lucky are married off with a bunch of kids.”

“I think we should just focus on getting her home first.” I laugh. The idea of being with me made Lucky run, I’d hate to see what me asking her crazy ass to marry me would do.

“I better get going. I have to go meet with the captain.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

It was nice of Brian to offer, but I needed to deal with this on my own. “Thanks, but I got this. You stay here and spend time with Brooke and Ella.”

“I’m sure it’s not going to be as bad as you think. You’re a good cop, Ryder, and the captain knows that.”

“True, but I stole a fellow officer’s patrol car. Doesn’t matter if he’s an ass-kissing douche, I’m still in deep shit.”

“But I’m sure seeing the look on Street’s face had to have made it slightly worth it,” he says with a chuckle.

“Fuck yeah, it did. You should’ve seen his dumbass trying to run after me as I drove away. I wish would have recorded it.”

Sitting in the captain’s office, I nervously await his decision on my future at the Second. My palms are sweating and my gut is twisted into a knot the size of a car. I’ve pulled my fair share of stunts since joining the force, but I don’t think a slap on the wrist and a few shifts on DUI duty is going to cut it this time.

“Officer Callahan, I’ve had a chance to read over Officer Street’s report and a very interesting letter that I received from Brooke Gamble.”

Wait, what?
Brooke wrote him a letter. When did she have time to do that?

“She basically filled in what’s been going on with you recently… that led to the events of last night. I don’t give two shits what Street has to say on the matter. You’re a great cop, who’s had his world ripped out from under him.” He sits back in his chair, folding his arms in front of him. “Which is why I’m not going to fire you.”

“Are you serious? I can stay on the force?” My eyes widen in shock. I wonder what Brooke wrote in that letter to change the captain’s mind.

“I can’t completely let you off the hook. I’m pulling you from active duty for the next six months, and putting you on gun cage duty until you can get your head on straight. You have a lot of potential to succeed here, Callahan. I don’t want to see you throw it all away.” I can see the sincerity in his eyes.

“I promise I won’t ever do something this stupid again, sir. I’ve made a huge mistake and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to fix it.” It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I know my punishment should’ve been more severe, but God I’m grateful for whatever Brooke said to the captain. Being a cop is the only career that makes me happy. If I’d have lost that, I don’t know what I would have done.

“Don’t make me regret this. I want you to take the rest of the week off to clear your head, then first thing Monday you can check in for cage duty.”

“I promise I won’t let you down, sir.” I get up from my chair and shake his hand.

Leaving the precinct I feel relieved, but quickly remember there’s still one other person I need to apologize to, Courtney.

After I left the precinct, I stopped by my apartment to grab some extra clothes and my phone charger before heading back to Brian’s. The house was empty when I arrived back, so I took the opportunity to call Courtney to see if she would meet with me so I could apologize in person. I felt horrible that she got wrapped up in my shit. She’s such a sweet girl, she didn’t deserve the way I treated her.

Courtney agreed to meet me at the dog park two blocks from Brian’s house. I put Lola on her leash and we walked down to the park. She’s sitting on one of the wooden benches when I arrive, so I walk over and tie Lola’s leash to the bench then take a seat next to her.

“Thanks for meeting me,” I nervously start off. Half expecting her to slap me in the face, which I would completely deserve. When that doesn’t happen I continue, “Courtney, I’m really sorry for everything that happened last night. I’ve been going through some pretty tough shit lately, and sadly you got caught in the middle of my downward spiral, and for that I’m truly sorry.”

“I know, Ryder. Your friend Brooke met with me while they were processing you for release. She told me that you pulled some strings to keep me from being arrested. And she told me what you’ve been going through. You have a really good friend in her.”

Jesus, Brian was right. Brooke wasn’t going to stop until she helped me. “I’m realizing that more and more as this day goes on. I’m really sorry for what happened.”

“Apology accepted. And thank you for keeping what happened last night off my record. I don’t know what would’ve happened if my family found out I was arrested for having sex in public.”

“It’s the least I could’ve done. I owe you more than that.”

“Don’t worry about, it’s water under the bridge now. At least, I can say I survived Hurricane Ryder,” she says. Softly giggling.

“Hurricane Ryder?” I ask. Lifting a curious eyebrow up at her. I’ve been called a lot of things in my time but hurricane is a new one.

“I’ve heard a couple of girls call you that at the bar. They say it’s because you come in fast and hard and leave women completely ruined in your wake.”

We both laugh. “Damn, I like that one. I might keep it. Maybe even make up some T-shirts,” I chuckle.