Badge of Honor (The Town of Pearl 9)

“Want to save the whole world, do ya?”

She held his gaze and looked him over. He felt those blue eyes of hers as if they had the power to penetrate through his skin. He felt the tingle.

“How about you? Why the SEALs? I mean out of all the branches of the armed forces.” She took a bite of her burger. There she went again, avoiding questions, manipulating the conversation to go into her control.

“You first. Why a cop?” he pushed.

She lifted the napkin to her mouth and dabbed the corners.

“I guess it was my calling, my vocation in life. I like people. I also have strong feelings about the law and upholding it. Becoming a cop just fit, I guess.”

She ran her finger along the rim of her drink as she spoke.

Galvin had respect for that, for her choice in a predominantly male profession.

She was tough. That was certain. She had to be to sustain three bullet wounds and survive. Mace was texting more stuff. He even mentioned previous injuries. Stitches from a knife wound and even a head injury. But she was so damn beautiful. He didn’t like thinking of her getting injured.

“Well it is the same for me with the SEALs. I knew I wanted to join the service. Went through basic and heard about this elite group, and decided to go for it. I never looked back,” he shared with her.

“And you guys? What made you choose the SEALs?” she asked Gus and Harper, and Galvin listened as Harper told her about his brother Gerry who was killed while serving pre-Desert Storm and how much of an influence his brother had been in his life. Galvin watched Lauren as she listened and genuinely appeared interested and saddened by his loss.

“It’s never easy to lose a loved one,” she said and then went back to eating.

They ate in silence until Harper asked her some more questions. They found out that she had lived in upstate New York and went to a community college for criminal justice and had two sisters.

“So right now your sisters have protection from Dmitri?” Gus asked.

“Dmitri? That’s the guy’s name who’s friends with Mary?”

Galvin didn’t realize that Lauren didn’t even know who was protecting her and her sisters.

“Yes. That’s his name. I’m sure they’re safe and sound,” Harper tried to reassure her.

“Does this Dmitri have a last name?” she inquired in a way that put Galvin on edge and made him immediately get her tone. She would ask more questions and push for answers. How much should they tell her? After all, she was a cop, and Dmitri was a made man with the Russian mob, and they worked for him from time to time. Nothing illegal. Just standard guns for hire, intimidation, and security to enforce protection on new businesses and old.

Would she think of them differently than a few minutes ago when she praised their commitment to the country by their service as Navy SEALs?

“Wait, you’re not going to tell me who this guy is, and you expect me to tell you everything about me?” she challenged.

“You’re on a need-to-know basis when it comes to Dmitri,” Gus warned her as he held her gaze with an intense one.

“And I don’t need to know?” she replied.

“What made you become a cop in the city instead of in the suburbs?” Harper asked her in an attempt to change the subject. Thank goodness the waitress came over to collect their empty plates. He wouldn’t put it past Lauren to make a scene here.

“I was living in the city, and saw how busy and I guess kind of wild New York was. You always have to be aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye on things around you so no one can get the jump on you. You walk quickly, keeping up with the traffic and the other people heading to work. There’s a very different feel to walking in New York City than other cities.”

“But why become a cop? Out of all the other professions out there and available in a city like New York, why not corporate, business, or fashion industry?” Galvin asked, and she shook her head as if annoyed.

“I’ve always been a go-getter. Give me a challenge and I face it head-on. New York City was a constant adrenaline rush. The people, the activities, you know, the city that never sleeps. That appealed to me. You know, just like the movies with all the criminals running amuck and the typical New York beat cops going in and kicking butt,” she told them and Galvin stared at her. He admired her beauty, her ability to act so tough and capable yet appear feminine and sexy. He didn’t like imagining her rolling around on the ground with a bunch of thugs, or having to scale fences and tackle thieves. It was a bit concerning. He never saw himself as a chauvinist, not with all the females he had worked alongside in the military. But Galvin had this sensation and concern about Lauren. It was strange.

“I can understand that. To have a calling for a specific profession and duty. But without coming off as some chauvinist dick, you’re a gorgeous woman. Why would you want to roll around on the ground with thugs and thieves?” Galvin asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Lauren gave him such an annoyed, yet almost defeated expression. It was quick. Like a glimpse of her guard down, but she quickly recovered.

“Well, Galvin, some women are good for more than just looking pretty on a man’s arm or a roll in bed.”