Nothing Special 03 - Here Comes Trouble (3 page)

“Sounds good guys. Stay on him. Keep it safe and don’t blow it. If you think you can get this guy to talk, great but we don’t want him to get spooked and we sure as fuck don’t want his crew to find out,” Day said and clicked off the projector.

After God and Day had finished going over information regarding new cases, they’d pulled up all the information on the guy that gave them the slight “invite in” on Cleveland. James Carter, aka JJ. He was considered a lieutenant in Chainz’s organization. He’d definitely have a lot of intel. But they didn’t know if he would possibly talk just to eliminate Chainz so he could take over the business. The drug business was dog-eat-dog. Or JJ could genuinely be concerned about Chainz bringing the heat down on them. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched that a few of Chainz’s boys might have felt in over their heads with getting into foreign drug smuggling. That kind of bust would land you in a Federal prison for twenty-five to life. 

“I’ll get with my FBI contacts and let them know what’s going on,” God added.

Everyone groaned and sat back in their chairs looking disgusted. If it’s one thing police didn’t like, it was the feds coming in and taking over their bust after they’d done all the fucking work. It happened all the time.

God looked up from his file. Glaring at them. “Are my men fuckin’ whining? What the fuck is this? You want to rewrite the laws? Federal crimes shouldn’t be policed by Federal law enforcement?”

No one said anything. They knew the law, but it still left a bad taste in their mouth. Syn was standing off to the side and pushed off the wall when he saw God revving up. He put a firm hand on God’s shoulder and stepped in front of him. “We know it’s a bitch. But  there’s one thing your lieutenants and your captain have done for this task force, and that was make sure you guys got your fuckin’ credit when credit was due. This op will be no different. Everyone’s gonna know who brought these bastards down.”

Day added in a “fuck yeah” giving Syn a fist bump. It only took a second for the rest of them to join in. Sarge always knew how to smooth things over, and that was not easy when you had a room full of twenty plus men with too much testosterone.

Most of the men had left right after the meeting. Ruxs and Green were given another stern lecture on tact and not costing the department so much money every time they went out into the field. But this time, Syn threatened to chain them to their desks for a few months. Ruxs looked like he wanted to throw up, but Green told himself that he wouldn’t need another lecture. They’d tone it down. Syn didn’t issue idle threats. There was no way they could be stuck in the office all day, they’d lose their minds.

Green was just finishing the Greek pasta salad he’d made for dinner. The French roll he’d swung by and picked up from the bakery was the perfect compliment. The game was in the eighth inning and he’d lost interest when the Braves fell behind by three runs. He reclined on his couch, one hand draped over his head and the other down his pants, mindlessly massaging his balls.  It was unusually quiet in his two-story loft tonight. The renovated space sat above a distribution warehouse that operated primarily during the day. The owner of the building charged him a cheap rent, since he said Green kept the riffraff way. Although Ruxs had a small apartment twenty minutes away, he was always at Green’s loft.

It was a large open space on the bottom floor, the seating areas sectioned off. A dining area, although the table was used to hold a desktop computer and two laptops, in addition to a slew of files. There was a pool table in the far right end, with a bar and stools. A foosball table and a pinball machine. The low-back sectional was in front of sixty-inch television that was primarily used for video games. Ruxs called it the entertainment section. The large living room had a plush, over-sized couch with an ottoman and several recliners in front of a massive entertainment center, but the space was so big nothing looked over-crowded.

He huffed a weary breath and shut everything off. He checked the windows, looking down on the street to see if any activity was going on before he went upstairs. There were only three rooms on the top level. One had weightlifting equipment and a treadmill. The master bedroom was his and Ruxs would often crash in the other. Green had told him to just move in. The guy never fuckin’ left. He probably had more clothes there than at his own place.

He walked through the small sitting area in his room, not bothering to turn on any lights. His electric bill could be a bitch if he wasn’t conscious about not putting on all the lights in his place. Just as he was getting ready to peel out of his sweats his phone buzzed on his dresser. He looked at the display screen and couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across his face. He hit the speaker and took the phone to his nightstand.

“Date over already?” Green said instead of hello.

“Nah, man. What are you doing?” Ruxs’ deep voice filled his room.

Green barked a laugh. “What does it matter? You’re on a date. Shouldn’t you be trying to round third base by now?”

“Oh, yeah. Bases. Who won the game?”

Green really laughed loud. “That was not the bases I was talking about, dude. What the fuck, man?”

“Who won, Green?”

Green huffed. He clicked on his television, turning back to the game. “Braves are still down by three.”

“Goddamnit! What inning is it?”

“Bottom of the ninth!” he yelled. “Where’s your date?”

“She’s inside waiting on a table.”

“By herself? Mark, what the hell.”

Silence.

“Mark.”

Ruxs voice was barely a whisper, “You hardly ever say my first name.”

Green sat there a couple seconds. What was that sound in Ruxs’ voice? He’d said his name plenty of times. Or had he? He was about to speak again when Ruxs spoke first.

“She’s getting on my nerves. We don’t have anything in common. She keeps asking questions about God and what he’s like. And she kept grabbing my arm during the scary parts of the movie.”

Green listened to his partner, shaking his head at the absurdity. “You’re both in law enforcement, so you have something pretty big in common. Everyone asks questions about God, he’s fuckin’ weirdly scary interesting. And if you take a chick to a scary movie, that’s what she’s going to do.”

“She’s boring and we still have to get through dinner and drinks.”

“You’ll be fine. Talk about work. About a happy case, not a fucked up case. Talk about that big one vice just solved and all those girls were returned to their families. You’re funny too, tell her some crazy shit you do at work. Next thing you know she’ll be pulling her panties down for you. Just talk.”

“I don’t wanna talk to her. I wanna talk to you.” Ruxs voice was low and deep again… almost sexy.

Green tried to ignore it. “You sound like a kid. I’m going to bed. See ya in the morning.”

“Wait! Wait!”

Green let his exasperation be heard. “What Mark?”

Ruxs let loose a soft chuckle. “You said it again.”

Green just sat there listening. Was he for real right now?

“Come up here.”

“What!” Green sat up straight.

“We’re at The Brick Bookhouse. Come on. It’s only fifteen minutes away,” Ruxs pleaded.

“I don’t give a fuck if it’s downstairs, Ruxs. I’m not gonna crash your date. How pathetic do you think that would make me look?”

“No it won’t.”

“Yes. It would. Besides how do you expect to get laid, dude, if I’m there? She’ll think you’re trying to do some kinky shit if you ask me to join you.” Green laughed.

“She ain’t gonna sleep with me. She’s one of those ‘gotta at least be date number five’ chicks. Just come on Green. I’ll buy your drinks and your food.”

“I already ate,” he said, bored.

“Come on, man.”

“No!”

“Please, Chris,” Ruxs said softly. “Please.”

Fuck
. Why did their first names sound so good coming from one another? Green was already rising up out of bed. He opened his dresser and pulled out a simple white cotton tee.

“I can hear you getting dressed. Thank you. I’ll wait outside for you.”

“No, Ruxs. Go back inside and be with your date. I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Say my name again.” Ruxs teased him.

“Shut up, Armin.” Green smiled.

“Hey! You know I hate that name. Anyone else calls me that and I’ll punch them in their throat.”

Green could tell Ruxs was smiling. He hung up on him. Fuckin’ Armin Mark Ruxsberg. He couldn’t believe he was actually going. He pulled on some comfortable jeans and slipped his feet in his Jordans. He had no clue why he splashed his face with his brand new Azur aftershave, but he did. After running his fingers through his hair with a little product, leaving the long strands standing up and some falling in different directions, he flicked off everything and jogged down the metal stairs.

What the fuck am I doing? He’s on a date for Christ’s sake.
He waited in the dim walkway at his front door. Hesitating. He’d told Ruxs,
Mark
, he was coming. Next thing he knew he was in his truck, roaring down the busy street, headed downtown.

“Uhn huh.” Ruxs said again for the hundredth time, tipping back his draft beer. It was the only sound he’d been able to get in edgewise. He looked at his watch and back towards the door again.
Where is he? He’s better not have lied to me.
Ruxs knew that wasn’t the case. They didn’t lie to each other… ever.

“So. Yeah. I was so excited to get transferred to records ya know. Because everyone has to come down there. I get to talk to everyone and get the scoop on everything going on. I consider my department the hub or the communications center.” She giggled and it sounded like nails on a chalk board. “And it’s so easy. I get to leave pretty much anytime I feel like it. Someone puts in their request and I just get to it the next day, sometimes. But I try to be there most of the time. It’s not just me in there. It’s me, and Fowler, and Christianson, and Veracruz, and —.”

“Yeah. I know. I’ve been down there.” Ruxs cut her off,
just
refraining from rolling his eyes.
Why does she feel the need to fill every moment of silence?
Ruxs picked up the menu and she followed suit.
Maybe she’ll be quiet for a minute
.

“I know. I’ve seen you down there.”

So much for wishful thinking.

“I love to see you coming down the hall. You’re so big and have so many muscles.” She practically bounced in the booth across from him. “I was wondering when you were going to get around to asking me out. I mean, geez. A girl can only flirt so hard.”

Really? Did I ask you out, or did you bamboozle me?

She was pretty enough. Sure. But she was a motor mouth and she seemed to be trying too hard. Ruxs was a real laid back kind of guy. He didn’t need someone to work double-time to impress him. He liked easy and smooth.

“Good Evening, Mark.”

Jesus. Just like that. Smooth like butter
. Ruxs looked up from his menu at the deep mellow voice that rolled over his body and settled deep inside him. His smile was so large, his partner ended up mimicking him. Green’s smile was wide. His perfect white teeth shone bright in the dim restaurant.

Ruxs jumped up and before he knew it he’d hugged his partner like he hadn’t seen him in weeks. Like he wasn’t with him all damn day. But what was even crazier. Green hugged him back, chuckling softly in his ear. “Hey, bud. You okay?”

Ruxs pulled back, slightly embarrassed. “Yeah. Of course.” He looked around and changed places, letting Green slide into the large booth. He bumped Green’s hip silently telling him to move over. His partner looked curiously at him before sliding over further.

“You could’ve sat by me, Mark.” His date tried to purr but it fell flat with him.

“I’m good.” Ruxs smiled.
Now
.

Green looked back and forth between them before extending his hand across the table. “Hi, I’m Chris Green.”

She took Green’s hand, but held it like it had shit on it. “I know who you are. You’re his partner.”

“On the force.” Ruxs butted in.

Both of them looked at him like he was an idiot. Which of course he was. Why the fuck did he need to clarify that?

Green grinned that lopsided smirk at him, the one that meant his partner was about to have some fun. Ruxs had fucked up. Green leaned back and propped his arm up on the back of the booth. His fingertips just reaching the back of his neck. Ruxs felt the slightest tug on his very short hair. The slight wink Green gave him with his left eye was only for him to see. “I think that’s what she meant… Mark.”

“It’s nice to meet you officially. I’m Sarah. I didn’t know you’d be joining us tonight, Christopher.”

“Chris,” Ruxs and Green both corrected her in unison.

“He prefers Chris,” Ruxs clarified.

“Oh. Sorry.” She looked extremely uncomfortable, but Ruxs wasn’t all that concerned. Maybe she’d insist that they didn’t need to go out again.

He looked over at his partner. Green looked casual, as always. A simple white T-shirt, a gold cross hanging from a gold link chain rested on his chest. The half carat diamond stud earring was secretly Ruxs’ favorite. His hair was just barely tamed tonight. Loose denim jeans. Green always said his nads didn’t fit in tight jeans. Ruxs didn’t realize that he was just staring and smiling at Green until his partner cleared his throat and pulled his hair again.

“Actually. I came in to get a drink and saw you guys over here.” Green lied, breaking Ruxs out of his thoughts. “Thought I’d be polite and say hi.”

Sarah gave Green a fake smile with a roll of her eyes and went back to looking at the menu. Ruxs wouldn’t condone her being a snob to his partner. It was definitely a deal-breaker.

“Sorry about the wait you guys, it really picked up all of a sudden. What ya gonna have tonight?” The bubbly waitress asked flipping open a small notepad.

“Ah. About time. Well as you can see, we have a plus one. So he needs a couple minutes.”

Green had to have felt Ruxs tense at her remark because he felt another tug on his hair. Surprisingly it made him bite his tongue on his comeback and settle back into the seat.
Oh yeah. This witch is vapor.

“I’ll have another Bud Light on draft and please bring a Yuengling in the bottle with a frosted mug and a water with no lemon. Please.” Ruxs smiled at the waitress.

“I don’t drink beer, Mark.” Sarah smiled shyly at him.

“It wasn’t for you,” Ruxs said back with not even a hint of a smile.

The waitress looked uneasy. “And for you ma’am?”

Sarah’s frustration was more than evident now. “I’ll have another Appletini.”

Ruxs wanted to remind her to say “please, ” but he let it go. He wouldn’t be seeing Sarah again. So her bad manners were for the next schmuck to concern himself with.

“Be right back.” The waitress spun on her heels.

The table was silent for a moment while they continued looking at the menus.

“Are you gonna eat, Green?”

“I ate earlier.”

“Ate what.”

Green looked up at him and grinned. “Pasta salad.”

“Fuck you. The Greek pasta with that good cheese?” Ruxs turned to face him, his mouth curling up in a sneer. Green knew that was his favorite. He’d made it when he wasn’t there, the little fucker.

“Yeah.” Green chuckled softly. “Just order it here. You’ll like it.”

“But I want a steak.” Ruxs leaned over, his chin practically on Green’s shoulder, looking down at his menu.

“Order it as a salad, with your meal.” Green shouldered him back over after stealing a quick look at his fuming date.

The waitress sat down their drinks. Smiling broadly. “Okay. I know you guys are ready to eat. What’s it going to be?”

Sarah looked smugly at Ruxs before ordering her food. “I’ll have the prime rib with a Maine lobster tail. And a glass of your most expensive wine.”

Oh, Ruxs was pissed now. Now she was trying to break his wallet. Seriously. He puffed his chest out, ready to tell the waitress they were going Dutch. Another pull on his hair. He turned and frowned at Green. Fuck that. This little witch was doing this on purpose, knowing she wouldn’t be seeing him again.

Green shook his head slightly and turned his attention back to the server. “I’ll just have an order of mozzarella sticks with ranch dressing.”

Ruxs’ eyes narrowed as he glared at his partner. How the hell had he gotten into this mess? He guessed it was sort of his fault. He never should’ve invited Green, but then there was no way he wouldn’t have shoved a saltshaker in Sarah’s mouth before their date was over.

“Order your food,” Green hissed.

Ruxs turned back and saw the waitress was waiting on him. “I’ll have a sirloin, medium rare with the Greek pasta salad.”

“Sure thing.” She scribbled in her pad and tucked it in her smock so she could collect their menus.

“What cheese do you use in your Greek salad?” Green asked the waitress.

“We use provolone.” She answered quickly.

“Can you use feta cheese please? He doesn’t like provolone,” Green said and handed over his menu.

“Aww. You two know exactly what the other likes. I wish my man could order for me like that,” the waitress cooed, giving them a sparkling look before shuffling off. Green closed his eyes and shook his head like he possibly just screwed things up for him, but he had no clue. Shit was fucked before he even got there.