Wyatt is not happy about our plan. I am pretty sure that if we don’t get things moving, he’ll back out of it. Decker feels the same way, so as I was leaving the station he told me he’d get started on all the paperwork right away. I leave Wyatt and head back to the house. Not long after, Bree and Jana come over. While Bree goes into the bathroom to change, I ask Jana how the afternoon went.

“I don’t know who that woman in there is but it’s not your sister,” Jana replies.

“She’s a little more…laid-back huh?” I tease.

“‘Laid-back’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. She was flirting with any and everything moving. She stuck her tongue out at a cop like she wanted to lick him, she cornered a mall security guy and told him she was in possession of something valuable and she invited him to come find it. And I can’t even describe what she tried to do to the male mannequin. All you need to know is we are no longer welcome at Macy’s.”

“Aw, no. My poor sister is losing it.” I moan.

“Yeah, she’s going through it hard.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t take her out,” I reply.

“Truth is, if we don’t go out, she’ll go out on her own. She is feeling unwanted since her husband cheated and now she wants a guy who will tell her that she’s smoking hot and that her hubby is an idiot.”

“Okay so we take her out for a few, she’ll get hit on, and then her sense of self will be back to normal?” I venture.

“Oh, if only we lived in a sitcom where everything got fixed in a half hour. The truth is, this is just the start of her downward spiral.”

“Great, Jana. Any more good news?

“Actually yes, she has you to watch her and for tonight she has me. It’s all good. We can handle this.”

“And what about you, are you okay going out tonight?” I ask as I put my hand on her upper arm.

“Yeah, I’m not looking for anyone tonight. I’m just here to help Bree and have a drink.”

“Thank you so much for this, Jana.”

“Anytime, chick,” she says with a smile. Bree bursts out of the bathroom in a short, tight, gold tube dress.

“Wow, where is the rest of it?” I ask.

“Are you kidding, it was all I could do to stop her from hiking it up more. If she had her way, that dress would be the length of a headband,” Jana replies.

“Do you like it or not?” Bree begs.

“You look great, sis.”

“Thank you,” she says as she takes out her purse to apply makeup. Jana changes into black leather cutout leggings and a sequence crop top. She adds heels and dangling earrings. I wear a lace romper with a plunging V-neck and strappy heels.

Thank God we’re going in a cab; otherwise, I would freeze my ass off in this thing. That’s the thing about living in New York City—it’s easy to fall into an “all-sweater mode” and stay there until spring. But tonight, I thought I’d put some effort in and make it not just about Bree but about us girls getting together, looking good and feeling good. I wasn’t looking forward to tonight to be perfectly honest but after pushing Wyatt to let me be bait, I kind of need something to take my mind off what I agreed to do.

Back in the police station, I focused on getting Wyatt to say yes to the plan. But now that he has, I am a little nervous. When I say a little, I mean a lot. So, maybe a few drinks, some music, and girl talk will ease my mind.

I’m in the bathroom, putting on the last finishing touches to my makeup when I hear Wyatt put his key in the door. “So…girls’ night?” he ventures as he greets the ladies in his living room.

“Yeah, we can’t let all you men suck up our time,” Jana says.

“It’s more than girls’ night. It’s ‘revenge sex’ night,” Bree says.

Did she just say that out loud?

“She doesn’t mean it like that,” Jana says quickly.

“Yeah, I think I know what she means,” Wyatt replies.

“So, what do you think, Wyatt?” Bree asks.

“You look amazing. If you want to get some attention, mission accomplished. And Jana, you look great too,” he replies.

I give myself the once-over in the mirror: my hair is up in a sleek, high ponytail that works well with my matte bright red lipstick. And the small stone pendent I’m wearing brings out the grey in my eyes. I’m all set. I enter the living room and he turns to see me.

“Wow,” he gasps softly. Okay, just standing there having him look at me like that makes my heart flutter. I’m the only thing he sees right now. He has somehow removed everyone from the world except him and me. I love him for that.

I love him.

Okay, okay, everyone stay calm. Let’s just enjoy this moment and not go crazy, okay? I smile and greet him with a quick kiss. He takes my hand and practically drags me into the bedroom. “Excuse us, ladies. Be right back,” he says as he closes the bedroom door behind us.

“What is it?” I ask him.

“You…”

“What about me?” I tease.

“You look…” He bites his lower lip and rakes his eyes over my body like he’s seconds away from ripping my clothes off. He extends his arms and places them on the door on either side of my head, basically trapping me between him and the door. Having him so close to me, looking at me like he is, makes it impossible to focus. He nibbles on my neck as he slides his hand under my bra and kneads my breast.

“What are you doing?” I sigh as I try to manage the desire surging through me.

“Giving you a reason to stay home,” he says as he slides his tongue into my mouth and pries my lips apart. I place the palm of my hands against his chest and feel the solid mass of muscles beneath my fingers. He squeezes my already taut nipple between his fingers, and I cry out in ecstasy, but he steals the air form my lungs, so I can’t make a sound.

“Ah, baby, you have to stop,” I plead as my eyes roll to the back of my head. He moans but continues to fondle me. It takes everything in me, but I manage to break away from his hold and put some much-needed space between us.

“Don’t go,” he says.

“I have to, I’ll be back,” I promise. He grumbles but resists the urge to come after me. Thank God, because a few more minutes of his lips on my skin and I would never leave the damn house.

“Are you supposed to be working tonight through the night?” I ask.

“Yeah, I just stopped by to check you. But I do have to take off.”

“A case?”

“Yeah but it’s not ours. We’re just there for backup. It’s no big deal,” he says.

“If you’re late, Decker is gonna kill you.”

“He won’t be there. He’s messed up in the head about the upcoming custody hearing, so I told him he could go home,” he says. Wyatt previously told me about Decker’s divorce and the battle with his soon-to-be ex-wife.

“We should have him over to dinner,” I suggest.

“Really? Are you cooking?”

“No but I think the chef likes me. And I think he’d whip up something if I asked nicely,” I tease.

“How nicely?” he says as he tries to pull me to him. I step back, knowing I won’t be able to pull away if I get caught up again.

“You don’t have to wear an outfit that sexy, you know,” he accuses.

“What am I supposed to wear to a nightclub?”

“Sweats,” he replies.

“Oh really?” I laugh.

“Yeah, it’s a new trend,” he says, getting dangerously close to me again.

“Who made up that trend?” I ask.

“Guys who didn’t want their girls being eye fucked at clubs, especially when he’s not around.”

“Wyatt, you have nothing to worry about. I’m not looking for anyone; anymore.”

“Tell your outfit that,” he says like a kid.

“You are hopeless. I gotta go,” I reply as I quickly kiss him on the cheek and head out the door.

He calls after me. “Babe.”

“Yeah?”

“Be safe.”

***

We enter Output, a warehouse turned club in Brooklyn. The space is vast, dark, and crowded. The music is blaring, the drinks are overflowing, and just about everyone in Brooklyn is in here. I thought it would take a little time for Bree to warm up to the scene but within ten minutes of entering the club, she’s had two drinks and was dancing with some stranger.

Jana looks over at me and I shrug and signal that we should let her have some fun. I was going to get us some drinks but a few guys over at the bar sent some our way. We thank them, and to my surprise, Jana doesn’t go over to them. Instead she hangs with me and we dance together.

This DJ is known for his crazy mixes and tonight he’s really keeping the crowd going. Jana has had more than her share of guys coming to her and she has politely sent them all away. She’s just having fun on her own, and I’m so damn proud of her. I had a few guys ask me to dance and offer to buy me drinks. I declined the drinks but danced with them as long as it was a fast song. I also kept Jana nearby so it was like a group thing and not one-on-one. The whole time we are dancing, I keep my eyes on Bree.

She was only a few feet away but in all the craziness of the crowd, she has drifted to the middle of the dance floor. Worried that she may have drifted too far, I stop dancing and seek her out. Jana points over to the woman grinding up on some guy in the middle of the dance floor. She’s moving her hips and waving her hands wildly in the air. She’s in the zone and as of right now, genuinely doesn’t give a fuck about anything.

“Is she okay?” I shout at Jana, trying to be heard above the music.

“Yeah, but she should stop drinking right about now,” Jana says. I cut through the crowd and head over to her. I try to get her attention but she’s too busy sucking down two drinks in a row. The guy she’s dancing with offers her a third one, and I push his ass away from my sister.

“What are you doing?” Bree shouts.

“No more drinking,” I tell her firmly.

“What? No way is this my last drink,” she says as she makes her way to the bar. I follow her and try to stop her from ordering. But she doesn’t need to order it—a new guy, who just walked in, is more than happy to supply her with a gin and tonic.

“Bree, don’t drink that. You’ve had enough,” I shout. She looks at me and downs her drink without the slightest hesitation.

Seriously?

In need of backup, I look for Jana out in the sea of people and find her surrounded by three guys who have no sense of personal space. Goddamn it!

“Bree, stay here. I’ll be right back,” I shout as I head over to rescue Jana. I get between the guys and at first they are happy because they think I want to be a part of their circle. They signal for me to come in closer and I do. I come close enough to nab Jana and get the fuck away from them.

“You okay?” I ask her.

“Yeah, I didn’t even realize they had gotten so close. I was just dancing and they snuck up on me,” she says.

“It’s okay. That’s why we go in groups. This was fun but I’m ready to go and Bree needs some damn coffee in her system,” I reply.

“Sounds good. Where is she?” Jana asks.

“She’s right over—fuck! Where did she go?!” I ask. We scour the dance floor and there’s no sign of her. We split up and try to look for her again. We find nothing. Jana checks the bathroom and I check the coatroom. There’s nothing. Jana grabs our coats in case we have to go outside to find her.

“Damn, where did she go?” Jana asks as she checks the crowd again.

“You looking for the girl you came with, the gold tube top chick?” one of the bartenders shouts.

“Yeah, do you know where she is?” I ask.

“Saw her go out back a while ago. Cute chick. Was gonna give her my number but she was…busy. Or at least her mouth was,” he says crudely. I roll my eyes and head for the back entrance of the club. Jana is right behind me. She hands me my coat and we burst through the heavy metal door that leads to the back alley. I find my sister leaning against the wall of the club, making out with some stranger.

“Ohmygod” Jana says as she puts her hand over her mouth.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough.” I shout as I try not to look. I pull my sister away from the guy and drape her coat over her. The guy begs me to let her stay.

“Aw, sorry baby, I gotta go.” Bree says with a smirk. The guy groans as if in agony, as I drag my sister away. And yes, she is still smiling.

“Please tell me you were planning to use a condom.” I demand.

“Yeah, yeah, Mom. I brought one with me. I came prepared.” She gloats.

“Bree, who the hell was that guy?” Jana says as we make our way down the alley.

“Who knows? I didn’t ask his name.” She replies.

“Did you ask him anything at all before you made out with him?” I accuse.

“Yes, I did.” She says proudly. “ I asked for a number and he gave it to me. He said

“Ten” ”

“Ten what?” Jana asks.

“Inches.”

Jana nods with approval, “Nice…”

“Were you really going to sleep with him, Bree?” I ask.

“I was, but I decided not to—even before you came out to get me. I could see it in his eyes. That guy wanted me. And that meant that I wasn’t ugly, or unattractive to men. I am not the reason my husband cheated. He ripped a hole in our marriage, not me. And while I know I’ll be sad for a long time, I’m not going to add to that shit by doing dumb, crazy shit just to feel wanted. I’m a hot piece of ass, I’m hardworking, and I happen to have given birth to best little girl in the world. That’s not a bad place to be in.”

“No, it’s not bad at all,” Jana agrees.

“And there’s the matter of my sister, the chic who let me hijack her plans and go crazy without judgment. Thanks, Winnie.”

“Anytime, honey,” I reply as I lean in and place my head on her shoulders. Then I smile to myself. “So, ten inches, huh…?”

The two of them laugh like crazy. I know it’s wrong, but hell, I joined in too. I take my cell out of my purse to call for a Lyft.

“Shit,” I hiss as the laughter dies in my throat.

“What is it?” Jana asks.

“I missed seven calls,” I reply.

“From Wyatt?” Bree asks.

“No, Decker,” I say as I press the voicemail symbol on the screen. Decker’s voice fills my ear and sends dread down my spine.

“Winter, what is it? You’re shaking, honey,” Jana says as she takes my hand.

“Decker said something went wrong with the operation Wyatt was helping out on…it’s a hostage situation now. There’s shots fired; Wyatt’s inside.”