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Two Tampa PD patrol cars pulled up, lights flashing but sirens off. Four officers got out and strode toward them. They didn’t hurry, as it was apparent that things were somewhat under control.

“Look, I can prove it to you,” Jenkins said when Spade released him and pushed him against the club’s exterior wall.

“Shut up, you idiot! You can’t prove shit!” Lainey yelled at him.

Jenkins reached into his back pocket, but Doug grabbed his arm, earning him a glare. “What? It’s just my phone.”

“Pull it out slowly,” Doug ordered, letting him go. It was probably a phone, but he was ready for a weapon just in case.

When Jenkins showed him the latest iPhone, Doug relaxed a bit. The guy entered his password, then opened his text app. “See?”

Lainey screeched and lunged for the phone, but one of the security guards caught her around the waist and held her back. Doug took the phone and scrolled through the messages. The contact’s name was Lainey, and the phone number matched hers.

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered before stepping forward and getting in her face. “You made this whole fucking thing up for social media views? It was all a hoax? What the hell? You’re nothing but an egotistical fake!”

“I’m not a fake!” she screamed and tried to slap him across the face, but the guard yanked her backward and dropped her on her ass, clearly without remorse.

With her hair and makeup now a mess, Lainey continued her drunken rant and tried and failed to get to her feet several times, much to the amusement of the bystanders.

Doug turned to the police officers and recognized one of them, Lynette Johnson.

He’d gone on a few dates with her last year while trying to avoid Jenn.

Lynette had been with him when Jenn was accosted by the gang members in the parking lot of Donovan’s Pub.

Thankfully, the two women became friendly with each other after the incident and Doug was no longer dating the pretty officer.

“Hey, Lynette. I’m pressing assault charges.

She hit me inside the club—twice. Not that she did any damage, but she still assaulted me.

And she also filed several false police reports about a stalker and hired us to protect her.

It was all a ploy to get social media views.

” He handed her Jenkins’ phone. “Here’s the proof. ”

The female officer smirked. “She’s also drunk and disorderly. We’ll add that.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, Jenn.”

Jenn and Yardley stepped forward. It was then Doug noticed the latter was filming everything on her phone, although she kept it pointed at the train wreck named Lainey.

Jenn smiled. “Hi, Lynette. We have the entire incident recorded. You can add sexual assault to the charges too. Yardley has her on video trying to grope Doug without his consent.”

The female officer arched her eyebrows at him. “Did she now?”

He rolled his eyes and sighed. While he was a little embarrassed about it, he knew Jenn would feel better if the charge was filed. “Yeah, you can add that too.”

Lainey screamed her head off as two of the other officers helped her stand, then placed her in handcuffs.

She racked up more charges when she tried to kick them and spit on one’s shirt.

They ended up using a hobble restraint, a device that wrapped around her ankles and was connected to the handcuffs behind her back, limiting her movements even more, before placing her into the rear of a patrol car.

Since Yardley’s video was live, she emailed the link to a Tampa PD address that Lynette had given her for evidence.

The club’s security guards dispersed the crowd, and two officers took statements from Jenkins and several witnesses.

As they did that, Doug walked with Lynette and her male partner to their vehicle, providing them with a few more details about what had led up to the night’s events.

“I’m not sure if there’s anything you can charge Jenkins with.

I mean, it’s not a crime to send texts to someone who asked for them and paid you. ”

Lynette agreed with him. “She’s an idiot, but at least she knew that if she made the profiles and sent the DMs to herself, you guys would’ve figured that out right away.”

“I wish she did. I’ll have Colleen charge her credit card first thing in the morning for the remaining hours we logged this week, before she gets bailed out. If she tries to back-charge it, we’ll sic the lawyers on her.”

“Good idea. So,” she said with a grin when they stopped beside the passenger side.

The closed doors and windows muffled Lainey’s screeching and cursing, and both officers ignored her for the moment.

“I heard from Dakota that you and Jenn are now an item.” Dakota Swift was also on Tampa PD, the girlfriend of Logan Reese from the TS Omega Team, and a member of The Covenant.

“About damn time you got your head out of your ass.”

He opened his mouth to give a snarky retort, but then changed his mind. Despite their failed attempt at dating, he and Lynette were friends, and what she said was the truth. “Yeah, you’re right. It was about time.”

“She’s good for you. Every time you look at her, there’s love in your eyes. I’m glad it’s working out for the two of you.”

“Thanks. What about you? Anyone special in your life?”

“Maybe. I met someone a couple of weeks ago, and the first two dates went well.” She shrugged. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Her partner handed Doug a card. “Here’s the case number.

Stop by tomorrow to give your statement and bring her file and any other evidence you’ve got.

” Many TPD officers had worked or trained with Trident Security employees before, so they were familiar with the company's practice of keeping detailed notes on every case.

“You’ve got it.” Doug shook the man’s hand and then Lynette’s. “Sorry you got stuck with that nutcase.”

She chuckled. “No worries. She seems like she’ll be entertaining. It was a boring night before this. Take it easy, Doug.”

“You too. Stay safe.”

“Right back at ya.”

As they got into the vehicle, Lainey’s vitriolic rant grew louder before they shut the doors again.

Doug returned to where Jenn and her friends stood, laughing as their gazes were glued to Yardley’s phone.

Jenn looked up and smiled at him. “Yardley’s video is already viral.

Lainey’s going to lose a lot of followers after they see it. ”

Doug couldn’t care less, but then again, he was kind of glad that karma was a bitch. He and his men had wasted almost two weeks protecting someone who didn’t need it, all so she could post lies for views.

Spade approached. “So, does this mean we’re officially off duty?”

“Yup. Although we have to go give our statements tomorrow.”

“No problem.” The man grinned and cocked his head toward the four women but directed his words to Doug. “Wanna stay for a drink?”

He was tempted to ask which one of Jenn’s friends Spade was interested in, but decided not to interfere.

Instead, he eyed his woman, finally noticing how hot she looked in a denim mini skirt, a blue tank top with a sheer white blouse over it, and cute navy-blue wedge sandals.

She had a little bit of makeup on, and her hair was up in a ponytail.

While he had complete faith she would never cheat on him, he sure as hell didn’t trust any of the men in the club not to hit on her. “Oh, yeah. We’re definitely staying.”