Page 38 of Warrant (The Berserker’s Rage MC: Wyoming Chapter #1)

Ainsley

S ucking in a deep breath, I walked into the café and went back to the table that was now becoming our ‘usual’ spot. Everyone was already sitting there, waiting for me.

I’d called Harlow yesterday and asked if we could all get together today for lunch. I’d come to enjoy the company of these women and there were three of the women I needed to speak to specifically.

It’d shocked me almost as much to realize I considered these women close friends as it had to figure out I loved Warrant.

I wasn’t a standoffish person, but I didn’t exactly make friends with everyone I met either.

Seemed that was changing. Maybe it was Sentinel, or maybe it was the stupid sexy biker.

Smiles lit up the faces of the women sitting around the table as they spotted me.

“Hey, Ainsley,” Melody said as I sat down.

“It’s been too long since we’ve done this,” Rae commented in her soft voice.

“It’s only been a couple weeks,” I replied with a laugh.

“Usually I’m the one dragging you all down here,” Harlow said, eyeing me speculatively.

“Yeah, what did you want to talk to us about?” Mona asked.

“Let the girl order first at least, before you start peppering her with questions,” Kaisa said with a laugh.

“Sorry,” Mona said with a grimace. “Occupational hazard.”

“It’s alright,” I told her. “I’m the same way.”

“Yeah, I’m actually not sure who would be worse with the questions,” Maya mused, “a cop or a reporter.”

“Reporter,” everyone, including Mona, said together.

We all laughed at that.

There were only two of the three county commissioners sitting here, the third had left town before I got here and was helping out her sick sister in Chicago.

I hoped to meet her one of these days, but two out of three would have to do.

Plus, having Harlow here was a bonus as well. It meant I only had to do this once.

I waited until the waiter took my order, then I pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Kaisa.

“What’s this?” she asked, unfolding and scanning it. She looked up at me in shock as she handed it over to Maya. “But…why?”

“What?” Harlow asked, her eyes narrowing.

“She’s resigning as sheriff,” Maya murmured.

Everyone stared at me, silent. Though I could tell it was taking all of Harlow’s willpower to remain quiet. Looking around to make sure no one was listening, I told them, “I’m in love with Warrant.”

The squeals and happy sounds were loud in the restaurant and completely took over the previous somber mood.

“We’re so happy for you,” Rae said once everyone settled down.

“We are,” Harlow agreed. “But I don’t get why that means you have to resign? You’ve been the best sheriff we’ve had in over a decade.”

“I can’t be involved with Warrant, and inadvertently with the Berserker’s Rage, and do my job.

” I was purposely leaving out everything to do with Linstrom.

I couldn’t admit to that right now. I planned to tell Warrant.

He’d find out anyway. But somewhere between some kids getting kidnapped and then all of us being attacked in my home, I started believing in vigilante justice.

That the ends justified the means. I couldn’t continue being in law enforcement if I felt that way.

That was my number one reason for leaving.

Warrant was just the cherry on top. That sense of justice my mother had spoken about was warped now.

And I wasn’t even upset about it because it saved the lives of two kids.

How could I feel remorse for the deaths of men who were going to hurt, or kill, kids?

I couldn’t bring myself to. So it was time to leave.

On my own terms. In my own time. It was best that way.

“Why not?” Harlow demanded. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It is,” Melody said, cutting off what was sure to be a long tirade from Harlow. “I get it.” She smiled at me. “We’re expected to be impartial. Neutral. We can’t give that up and still do our jobs.”

“Exactly,” I said, so glad that someone else finally understood how I was feeling. “I’d be compromising my morals every time they… Well, I’d be compromising my morals for him. This way, I won’t have to.”

“You’re choosing love over duty,” Rae said with a soft sigh. “That’s so romantic.”

Kaisa snorted. “Look, I get it. I’d probably do the same, but it’s a damn shame you’re going to lose the job you worked so hard for.”

“Will you leave law enforcement completely?” Maya asked.

“I’ll have to,” I told her with a wry grin. “But I’ll find something else that fulfills me.”

“Is he worth it?” Mona asked after a couple of beats of silence.

“I really think he is,” I admitted. “And, on the bright side, if he’s not, I’ll dump his ass and get hired back on as a deputy.”

I grinned at them all. It’d taken me almost another week to come to this decision. And it probably wasn’t right that I was telling my friends before I’d even let Warrant know.

But I needed to cut ties before I let him in on my secret.

Otherwise he might try to talk me out of it.

He wasn’t going to be happy that I was doing this.

I knew it. He’d want me to keep being the sheriff.

Not because it helped him out, but because it was what I wanted.

And if he really loved me like he claimed, he’d want me to be happy.

But that was the thing. He was what I wanted. I’d decided that taking a chance on him was something I couldn’t pass up. I was mostly okay with my decision. I’d need to mope a little now that I’d done the actual deed and quit. But I’d get over it.

Digging into my pocket, I pulled out my badge and handed it over to Maya. She stared down at the gold shield and shook her head. “If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” I didn’t know what I was going to do with my time, but I’d figure something out. I was making the right decision. I was doing this for myself.

“I’m not sure whether to be happy for you, or depressed,” Harlow announced, but she smiled at me. “I think I’ll have to be sad for us for a while for losing you.”

“You’re not leaving Sentinel, right?” Rae asked suddenly.

“No. I wouldn’t make him leave his family, his MC, his ranch. I’ll be staying here.” There was no doubt in my mind that Warrant wanted me. He’d told me as much, more than once, so I was secure in the fact that when I told him I wanted a relationship with him, he’d be all in.

“Good,” Kaisa replied, “otherwise I’d be giving your badge back and shredding that resignation letter.”

“What are we going to do for a sheriff?” Harlow asked.

“Actually,” I said, looking around at them, “I have an idea about that.” I quickly told them who I thought they should promote as interim sheriff, to take my place until the next election, and they were all grinning by the time I explained why.

“That’s a great idea. Do you think he’ll do it?” Harlow asked.

“You can be quite persuasive,” Mona told her. The commissioners nodded.

“Wait. Why me? That’s your job,” Harlow said to Kaisa and Maya.

“Because you’ve known him longer,” Kaisa said with a shrug.

“You have our full backing. Unless he wants a raise,” she said with a frown. “We’d have to discuss that.”

“Great,” Harlow said with a sigh. Then her eyes brightened and she perked up in her seat. “Woof.” She growled, baring her teeth in a feral grin.

Turning in my seat, I looked out the window and my mouth dropped open.

The others were already laughing. It didn’t take much to figure out that Harlow was looking at Demolition, Pyre, and Rotor as they walked down the sidewalk.

“Did you- Did you just bark at them?” I asked with a laugh of disbelief.

“Oh, they didn’t hear me,” she said, waving a hand in a dismissive motion.

“I wish I hadn’t heard you,” I replied, shaking my head. “You want me to see if Warrant would set you up with one?” I arched a brow when she blushed.

“No, I’m good.”

“Do you already have your eye on one?” Mona asked, exchanging an amused glance with me. We’d both picked up on that almost immediately.

“No,” she said too quickly.

Kaisa honed in on her. “Sure sounds like you do, Harlow.”

“Enough about me,” she insisted. “We were talking about Ains and her biker.”

“No,” I said, drawing the word out. “We’ve switched to you. Is it Cypher? I could see you liking the guy in charge.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not Cypher. Though he is gorgeous.”

“Ha!” Maya said, smacking the table and making Rae jump. “So you are interested in one of them.”

Harlow huffed out an irritated breath. “I don’t think that’s what I said.”

“Didn’t need to,” Mona said with a smug smile.

“Now all we need to do is find out which one,” I added.

“Pyre’s incredibly handsome,” Rae offered.

We all zeroed in on her.

“W-what?” she stammered.

“I didn’t think you even noticed men,” Kaisa mused. “At least not living men.”

She laughed. “I’ve told you before that those guys are handsome.”

“Yeah…but that’s like saying a pack of dogs is cute as they walk by,” Mona said. “It’s never been any one of them singled out before…”

“He seems a bit…odd,” Melody pointed out. We all looked back at Rae again. “You know what?” Melody continued. “Never mind. That tracks.”

Rae gasped out a laugh. “Are you calling me odd?”

“You play with dead bodies all day,” Maya pointed out gently.

“I’m not playing with them like dolls,” Rae said with a shake of her head. “I’m finding out how they died, or making them look presentable for the grieving families.”

“You’re right,” I told her. “What you do is incredibly important for both law enforcement and for helping families move on.”

“It is,” Maya said with a nod. “Sorry. I was mostly kidding.”

“It’s okay,” Rae told her and reached over to pat her hands. “I know most people don’t understand.”

“Please tell me you washed those.” She eyed Rae’s hands on her own.

“All we care about is you, Rae,” Harlow told her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“And you,” Mona added, looking at me. “Whatever you need to do, we support you.”

The others echoed the sentiment and all I could do was smile. How had I gotten so lucky to find such amazing women to call my friends? The puzzle pieces of my life were starting to click into place.