Luca: An older alpha male and younger curvy woman romance (Alpha Cops Book 5) Read online

  She laughs, and I’m once again blown away by the way her whole face lights up. “I live here,” she says.

  She must see my confusion. “I live above the bar.”

  Shit. How did I miss that intel? “I didn’t know there were apartments upstairs.”

  “I wouldn’t say apartments. There’s one tiny room. I think it’s meant to be a store cupboard, actually.”

  That will explain why we didn’t know about it. Sounds like an illegal living space, which doesn’t surprise me at all. “You like living here?”

  She screws up her face. “Not really. It’s small and noisy, and most Saturday and Sunday mornings there’s vomit on the doorstep.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “But it’s cheap,” she says. “And conveniently close to work. How about you? What are you doing here?”

  “I’m going to the gym,” I lie, indicating my bag. I feel shitty saying it, but it’s what you have to do when you’re undercover: lie to people.

  She takes a bunch of keys from her pocket and is about to unlock the door when I realize I don’t want her to leave.

  “You wanna go for a walk?” I say suddenly.

  She looks at me, uncertain, and I give her my best smile.

  “Sure,” she says.

  My smile widens, and we set off away from the town center towards a large park.

  “So what made you want to study law?” I ask.

  “I’m not sure. Probably watching too much Judge Judy as a kid.”

  We both laugh. “No seriously,” she continues. “My mom had it on all the time. She used to get really mad and yell at the TV. I think it did inspire me in some weird way. I used to pretend I was in that courtroom arguing my case.”

  “So you’re following your passion.”

  She thinks for a moment. “Most other students in my class come from families of lawyers, or they’ve got ambitious parents who pushed them into it. My parents never pushed me into anything. No one in my family has ever been to college. I didn’t really see it as a thing for me. But I used to love all those law firm shows: Law and Order, The Practice, Boston Legal.”

  “Yeah, I use to watch that one.”

  “So I started wondering if maybe I could do that one day. It took me a long time to work up the courage to tell my parents. They didn’t know why I wanted to spend so much time studying and get into so much debt, which is why I’m doing it part-time. I’m terrified of having these massive student loans by the end of it that I’ll never pay off. It’s a scary amount of money, and I don’t want to be in that much debt.”

  We reach a secluded copse of trees with a park bench in the center. She takes a seat on the bench, and I sit next to her.

  “How about you?” she asks. “Have you always wanted to be a bartender?”

  I give her the standard response. “It’s a good way to meet people.” It’s vague and not really a lie, but I feel shitty saying it anyway. I quickly change the subject.

  “What do you like doing when you’re not working?”

  She sighs. “When I’m not working, I’m usually studying. I don’t have time for much else at the moment.”

  “Come on. There must be something you do for fun.”

  “I like movies. I’m a big Marvel fan.”

  “Me too!”

  “I know it’s a bit geeky, but I love superhero movies.”

  “Nothing geeky about grown men in tights saving the world.”

  She tilts her head back and laughs, and she looks so damn hot that I just can’t help myself. I lean toward her and run my hand up the delicate skin of her neck and into her hair.

  She gasps in surprise and I pull her toward me, searching her face for a hint that she feels this same connection that I do.

  Her look turns from surprise to longing, and it’s all the encouragement I need. I press my lips against hers, and she kisses me back, slow and sweet and tasting of coconut lip gloss. For a moment, there’s nothing in the world but the two of us as our tongues explore each other.

  Then I remember why I’m here. I’m an undercover cop on a case. I can’t get involved with anyone.

  I pull away abruptly, breaking off the kiss. She looks at me searchingly, but I can’t meet her eyes.

  “We’d better get back,” I say, standing abruptly.

  “Okay,” she says, and I hear the question in her voice, but I can’t explain myself to her. I can’t compromise her or the case.

  We walk back in silence. I say a curt goodbye at the bar and watch her go through the door. Damn this shitty timing that puts my dream woman in front of me while I’m on what could be the biggest arms bust of the decade. Feeling like a prize asshole, I slink back to my car.

  5

  Bailey

  I sing along to the music as I pour whiskey into a glass. I hand it over to the customer, and he slips me a $5 tip.

  “Thanks!” I beam at him. This kind of happiness must be infectious, because I’m making twice as much in tips tonight as I usually do.

  I can’t stop thinking about Luca. His warm lips on mine, the way my body responded to his kiss, going all tingly and warm between my legs. A frown crosses my face as I remember the way he pulled away after the kiss.

  I know there was real chemistry between us, and I’m sure he felt it. Maybe he doesn’t want to get involved with someone at work.

  As if on cue he comes through the door, ready to start his shift. I give him a wide smile, and he nods a curt hello as he goes through to the staff room.

  The smile falters on my face as I watch him go. There was no warmth in his expression.

  “Excuse me.” My attention snaps back to the woman at the bar. “Can I get a drink here?”

  I plaster a smile on my face. “Sure, what would you like?”

  As I make her drink, Luca joins me behind the bar.

  “How was the gym?” I ask.

  He looks confused and then nods. “Yeah, it was good. Thanks.”

  He grabs a tray and heads off to clear tables. I watch him with a sinking feeling in my stomach. What kind of man kisses you and then practically ignores you when he sees you again?

  It’s a few hours later, and I’ve finished my shift. I drag myself up the stairs to my tiny room. The happy feeling I had at the start of shift has disappeared, replaced by a tight knot in my stomach.

  Luca was distant with me all shift. There was no easy banter like we’ve had since he joined. Instead he barely spoke to me. Whenever I tried to engage him in conversation, he did barely more than grunt.

  I feel stupid for thinking he could be interested in a girl like me. I’m chunky and clumsy, and the kiss was probably a pity kiss.

  I push open the door to my room and find a letter on the floor. The mark says it’s from the university, and my stomach clenches even more.

  I flop down on my bed and open it. It’s a letter from my tutor, and my heart sinks as I read it. I’m failing. My last assignment was not up to the standard he expects from me. If I continue like this, I won’t pass the course.

  It’s a warning. I need to up my game, or I’m not going to make it.

  I crumple the letter up and throw it across the room. How can I compete with the other students who have families to support them, who don’t have to work, who don’t have to live in tiny rooms above a bar that smells like beer and blasts music so loud the floor shakes?

  I lie down on the bed, and I can’t stop the tears. I’ve worked so hard for this, but it’s not enough. Tears streak my face as I pull the duvet around me, too exhausted to even get changed. Eventually I fall into a restless sleep.

  The next morning is my day off. I drag myself out of bed, and after a quick shower pull out my textbooks.

  That letter was a warning shot from a concerned tutor. If I can concentrate on this assignment, I can still get the grades I need to pass. I spread my books out on the table, open my laptop, and get to work.

  It’s an hour later, and my phone rings. My heart skips a beat as Luca's n
ame flashes on the screen. Then I remember how cold he was yesterday, and I flip the phone over without answering.

  I scan the paragraph I’ve just written, but I can’t concentrate. I’m wondering why he was calling. Maybe he wanted to apologize for his behavior. I frown. It’s more likely he just wanted to swap a shift; I tell myself.

  My phone buzzes as a message comes in, and I almost knock my coffee over in my haste to grab it.

  It’s a text message from him.

  Hey girl, sorry I was distant yesterday. A lot on my mind. You wanna catch a movie tonight?

  I can’t help the warm feeling that washes over me, and I almost jump out of my chair with excitement. He’s asking me out on a date!

  I take a few deep breaths as I think about how to reply. It’s nice he apologized, but it still hurts that he was so cold, especially after we just kissed. And what is it that’s on his mind?

  A thought enters my head and makes my stomach feel cold. What if he’s got a girlfriend already? Or worse, he’s married?

  I wish I’d picked up the phone now. There are too many questions to ask over a text. Probably safer to say no and wait ‘til I see him in person. And besides, I’ve really got to get this assignment written.

  Sorry, got to study

  I hit send and wait. It doesn’t take long for his response to appear.

  Everyone needs a study break. It’s the new Marvel film...

  Damn. I told him I was a big Marvel fan. And it is a movie I’m dying to see. I guess it can’t hurt. If I work hard all day today, I’ll need a break this evening.

  You really know how to twist a girl’s arm.

  Is that a yes?

  Sure.

  :) I’ll meet you at the cinema at 8.

  See you then.

  :)

  I put my phone on the table, a massive smile on my face, and do a little happy dance around my room, finishing up at my clothes rail. I’ll need to find the perfect outfit to wear. Nothing too fancy, casual but smart. Something that says first date at the movies. Light makeup, casual hair.

  But first, I need to study. I force myself back to the desk and force my mind back into the intricacies of criminal law. Outfit choice will be my reward after I finish this part of the assignment.

  With that happy thought in my head, I get back to work.

  6

  Luca

  It’s later that night and I’m huddled in the car watching the back entrance to The Running Stag. Twenty minutes ago, I watched Bailey leave. She looked hot in tight jeans that showed off her curvy ass and a casual blouse, her hair brushed out behind her.

  I hate myself for what I’m doing to her, but it was the only way to get her out of the building and keep her safe. I hope she’ll forgive me when I tell her the truth, and I hope she’ll let me take her on a real date.

  There’s a movement from down the street, and I pull my mind back to the task. Tom walks quickly down the pavement and unlocks the door to the bar.

  “That our guy?” asks the detective in the passenger seat.

  “Yeah, that’s him.”

  “Target is in the building,” I say into the walkie talkie.

  “Roger that,” comes the crackly response.

  We’ve had intel about an arms deal going down tonight, and it’s been confirmed through the tapped phone lines. Tom has been doing business with some Ukrainian arms smugglers and using the bar to store the weapons.

  We knew there was some activity in the area, and a few weeks ago his name came up from a source. I was sent in undercover to see if there was any truth in it. I’ve been amassing evidence, and today we got wind of a deal that’s going down.

  I tap my fingers on the steering wheel and wait. There’s a van of heavily armed police parked down the road waiting for my signal, and teams stationed discreetly around the nearby streets waiting for the drop.

  I check my watch. Five minutes to eight. Bailey will be wondering where I am and why my phone’s switched off. I make myself put her out of my mind and focus on the present.

  A few minutes later, a truck pulls into the street and stops outside the bar.

  “Here we go,” I mutter under my breath. The adrenaline surges through my body. The men in the truck will be heavily armed. It’s a dangerous operation.

  “Wait for my signal,” I say into the walkie talkie.

  As we watch, Tom comes out of the bar. He looks around furtively but doesn’t notice our car parked in the shadows halfway down the road. Two men get out of the front of the truck. I notice the driver stays put with the engine running. It’s what we expected, and there are police cars waiting to create a roadblock at each end of the street.

  “Get ready,” I say into the radio.

  “We’re ready, sir,” comes the reply from the van.

  I wait until the men are far enough away from the truck so that they won’t be able to get back in. Then I give the signal.

  “All units go.”

  Several things happen at once. Armed police wearing full body protection stream out of the van as Tom and the Ukrainian men look around in surprise. The driver of the truck hits reverse, but two police cars with lights flashing screech into the end of the street, blocking the way.

  One of the Ukrainian men pulls out a gun, but three of my officers are on him, and he drops the weapon before they shoot.

  The truck driver dives out of the driver’s seat and tries to run, and two of my officers tackle him to the ground.

  By the time I get on the scene, all four men have been apprehended including Tom.

  “Check the back of the truck,” I say, and two of the officers pull the door open. One of them gives a low whistle.

  “You’ve got to see this, sir.”

  I look in the back of the truck, and my eyes go wide. It’s a big haul. Assault rifles, sawed off shotguns, what look like military grade grenade launchers. The truck is full of racks of weapons.

  “Get some pictures and get them tagged up,” I say. “I’ll take a look inside.”

  When I pass Tom, he spits at me. “I knew there was something funny about you,” he says. “Worst bartender I’ve ever hired.”

  “You’re right,” I say. “I’m a shitty bartender, but I’m a damn good cop.”

  I take two of the armed men inside with me and take a look around. We find a hidden storage space under the booths around the bar. It must be where he stored the guns before selling them out.

  When I come out, the arrested men are being taken away in cars, and the area has been cordoned off with yellow tape. A team will be along to go over the place thoroughly, to see if there’s anything we missed.

  My attention is drawn to a disturbance at the end of the road where an officer is holding someone back from crossing the police line. My heart sinks as I realize it’s Bailey, and she doesn’t look happy. I jog over to her.

  “But I live here,” she’s saying to the officer.

  “I’m sorry, miss, but this is a police scene, and we can’t let anyone through.”

  She sees me, and her frown turns to a scowl. “What happened to you, Luca? I waited for almost an hour.”

  I hold my hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry, Bailey. It was the only way to get you out safely.”

  She takes in my police jacket and the gun on my hip. “What the hell’s going on?”

  “I’m a police officer. I’ve been working undercover.”

  “So you’re not actually a bartender?”

  “No. I’m not. I’m a special detective, and I was investigating a person of interest.”

  “What the hell? You lied to me?”

  “I’ve been undercover,” I repeat.

  She looks at me furiously. “You’ve been lying about who you are?”

  “Only about my occupation. Everything else I’ve said to you was true.”

  “Apart from wanting to go to the movies with me tonight.”

  “I had to get you out of the building. It wasn’t safe for you to be here. I
’d like to take you out tomorrow night instead.”

  “I don’t think so. You’ve had your chance.”

  “I know you’re angry, but I couldn’t have you here and at risk, and I couldn’t tell you the truth. I hope you see that.”

  She puts her hands on her hips and takes a big sigh. “Yes, I can see that, but that doesn’t make it right. And where the hell am I supposed to sleep tonight if I can’t get into my apartment?”

  “The team will need a few hours to go over the scene. You could crash at mine tonight.”

  “No thank you,” she says curtly, folding her arms.

  “I’ve got a spare room you could stay in.”

  “I’d rather sleep in the park,”

  “Fine,” I say sighing. “I’ll have one of the officers organize you a hotel for the night.”

  “Thank you.”

  I look at her searchingly, but she’s angry and hurt, and I have a sinking feeling I’ve blown it. “I’m really sorry, Bailey. I hope you can forgive me one day.”

  “I’m sorry too,” she says.

  I turn away. I’ve just made the biggest bust of my career, yet I’ve never felt so shitty. As I walk back to the bar, one of the officers slaps me on the back, a big grin on his face. “Good work, sir.”

  “Go to hell,” I snarl and stalk off, leaving him staring after me with his mouth open.

  7

  Bailey

  I pull the last item out of the wardrobe and stuff it into my duffel bag. It’s full to bursting, and I strain to hold the zippers together, but it’s stretched too far apart to close.

  In frustration I give up and plunk the open bag by the door with the rest of my stuff.

  The only thing that’s left is the pile of course books stacked by my bed. I’m overcome by a sudden anger, and I kick the books in frustration. Pain shoots through my big toe.