Chapter 8

Dani

"Dani." Margie's voice made me jump the next morning as I sat at my desk, studying a new file.

"Sorry." I smiled and stood. "I must have zoned out there for a second."

"I have no clue how." She smirked and glanced around. "It's loud as shit in here right now."

I glanced around, noticing all the busyness for the first time that day. I had a way of diving into my own world when I was working.

"What's up?" I turned back to her and started to point out that her thick blue eyeshadow was smeared, but maybe she meant to do it in that fashion? You never could tell with Margie.

"Someone is here to pick up the kid you brought in last night."

"Oh good." I grabbed my wallet off the desk and slipped it into my back pocket as I followed her to the front. My pulse spiked at the idea of seeing Johnny again, though it was so far beyond wrong.

The walk to the front took a little while due to them wrestling a toked up asshole in the main lobby. I stepped back and crossed my arms over my chest and scanned the room for Johnny.

My dream the night before left me breathing a little off kilter. We had been back at the auto shop, but it was just him and me.

"What are you thinking about Danielle?" He moved around the old refurbished Mustang in front of me, the game of cat and mouse we were playing leaving me more than excited. I love the way he whispered my name. Seductively. Reverently.

"You," I mumbled and slid my hands up the hood of the car. "And all the things I want you to do to me."

"List them out." He moved closer, and I stiffened, my skin covered in goose bumps at the mere anticipation of him touching me. I wanted him to grip my hips, to lick my neck, to spread my legs and see how badly he turned me on.

It was his power. His edge of danger.

"I want you to taste me." I arched my back and pressed my breasts to the hood. The white cotton dress I had on wasn't me at all, and yet, it left me feeling pretty, girlie, beautiful.

"Dani? You fade out again?" Margie stood in front of me, a concerned look on her face. "You're a little pale, and you're panting. Let's get you to sit down for a minute sweetheart."

"No. I'm good." I pulled out of her hold and walked toward the receptionist desk. "Who checked in to pick up Jason Moretti?"

"I did." A big guy that had to be almost seven feet moved toward me.

I lifted my eyebrow and took his file from one of the ladies at the desk. "And you are?"

"A good friend of his. I'm Cade." He extended his hand and offered me a smile.

"Right, and he's a minor." I closed the file. "You're not his guardian, so try again."

"I have a note from Ryder. He's dealing with some other shit right now. He's not going to be able to come up here." The guy handed me a note.

"Who's Ryder?" I glanced down at it. Oddly enough, it was made out to me, but he used my full name. Why not just call?

"That's Jason's Uncle Johnny." He smiled. "I'm taking Jason right back to his house. Seriously."

I read through the note and shook my head. "Alright. Fine." I glanced back. "Bring Jason up."

"Sure, Markum. No problem." One of the girls got up and walked over to talk to a group of cops eating something near the back of the room together.

"Who are you again?" I turned to the guy, not sure I felt comfortable with the exchange we were about to make, but Jason was almost eighteen. He wasn't a child.

"A family friend. I have been for years." He slipped his hands in his pocket. "Here, you wanna call Ryder. Give him a buzz and talk to him."

"Yeah. I do." I reached out and took the guy’s phone. It was already ringing by the time I held it up to my ear.

"Ryder." The voice was gruff, and I realized I didn't know Johnny's voice nearly as well as I'd thought I did. Hell, I had only met the guy once.

"It's Dani Markum, NYPD."

"Danielle. You letting Jason go with Cade?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I can do that. Everything okay?"

"Yep. Thanks so much." The phone clicked, surprising me a little.

"All good?" Cade asked as they brought Jason around to the front.

"I guess so." I turned to face the kid. He looked a little like Johnny, which was enough to have me worried for him. "Don't fuck up again. You understand me? You're running out of options, and I know you don't want to live behind bars for the entirety of your twenties, right? Or do you?"

"I don't." He rolled his eyes and walked to the door. "Thanks, Danielle."

"Dani, and it's Officer Markum to you, Jason," I yelled after him, but it was no use. He was already half way out the door and headed back to his bad choices. Some part of me wanted to care, but it was hard to give a shit about kids that were making horrible choices. There were plenty of young girls being sold into sex slavery that weren't give any choices, and here I was trying to help kids that were. It was fucked up on far too many levels to let myself think about it.

So, I didn't.