“I only did what you guys were going to do anyway,” I say, using a cool tone in an attempt to diffuse the anger. It’s a bad choice because it only fuels the escalating situation.
“After we finished her background check and knew what we were dealing with!” Casey roars then flings words at me like “danger” and “putting your life on the line.”
My own rage builds. That report is a gift. It’s supposed to help and a little appreciation won’t go astray. Maybe even a little admiration at my expertise and aptitude for completing such a daring mission. “And what if Morgan destroyed it while you were all dithering around with background checks?”
“Then it would have been too damn bad!” Casey yells back, going nose to nose with me, his fury far exceeding mine. “What you did was stupid and dangerous and not worth risking your life!”
My expression softens, and I throw his words back in his face. “I happen to think you’re worth it, Casey.”
He sags like a whipped puppy.
I know then that I have him and that I’ll live to see another day, at least until Jared and Travis start in. Before I can defend myself, Travis has my bicep in a painful grip and starts marching me out the door, saying, “We’re going to have a conversation, Mackenzie ‘Lone Wolf’ Valentine, and by conversation I mean I’m going to talk and you are going to keep your piehole shut and listen.”
Jake is walking up the corridor when we emerge, takeout coffee cup in hand. I jerk free of my brother. “Enough, Trav.”
“Enough?” His brows shoot up. “I haven’t even started with you yet.”
“And you’re not going to,” Jake says mildly, reaching my side.
“Jake—” he begins.
“Mac did what any of you would have done yourself had you known about it, so let her be, okay?”
Travis flares his nostrils. “But she’s—”
“What? Your sister? Yeah, she is. And you should be proud she has the courage and loyalty to stand up for her friends and family the way she does. Would you rather she turn her back on them when they’re in need?”
“I would rather she didn’t break the law,” Travis growls.
“So would I, but like she told me this morning, sometimes you have to do something bad in order to achieve something good, and I happen to agree with her.” I stand watching their exchange. My heart warms from Jake’s defence. He hands me the coffee and folds his arms. “Are you done now?” he asks my brother with narrowed eyes, appearing ready to take Travis out at the slightest provocation.
“This is not Command Central,” barks a voice from our left.
We all turn. Houlihan is moving in on our huddle.
“Yeah we’re done,” Travis mutters quickly, already preparing to flee.
“Good,” Jake mutters back just as quickly. “Then we should go.”
“Now,” I hiss, leaving them behind in my rush. Houlihan is a shark. Those who get left behind in deeper waters will get eaten first. I’ve already enacted a break and enter early this morning and survived two attempts on my life today, the first with Jake and then with Casey and my brothers. I’m not planning on a third.
MAC
Weeks after Casey and Grace’s accident, I find myself back at the Florence Bar, this time inside their private function room. I’m hosting a surprise retirement celebration for my father. It’s due to kick off in fifteen minutes, but my mind is still on my two friends.
We received the news weeks ago that Grace has cancer. She was supposed to be undergoing treatment but instead she chose to be here with us, and with Henry, spending time with family. The news was a huge blow to all of us, a reminder that there are some things we can’t protect those we love from, and that life can be utterly, sadistically cruel.
Henry is suffering. Their mother died from breast cancer, and now Grace has the same disease. She didn’t want him to know. Her plan was to battle through on her own, but that’s not how we work.
The news came at the same time Casey’s brother, Kelly, came to light. Kelly is a member of the Sentinels biker gang, and the brother that Casey had feared dead for many, many years. It turns out Morgan is a member too, the very detective that had been giving Casey such a hard time. They ended up arresting her for attempted murder. She was the one causing trouble for the both of them all along. When Kelly found out her plan to remove Grace, he kept Grace safe, though he could have gone about it in a better way.
At least there were no casualties in his plan, apart from Grace giving Morgan a bloodied nose. Thoroughly justified. But now Casey has another battle on his hands, and it’s one he can’t fight with fists or guns. There’s no weapon in the war against cancer.
My heart heavy, I walk to the bar to arrange a congratulatory scotch whiskey for Eli, having spied him making an early entrance to the party. My dad, Chief Inspector Valentine, stepped down a week ago leaving the safety of Sydney’s population in the hands of Elijah Rossiter. Eli will be the youngest Chief Inspector our city has ever seen.
It makes him a big hairy deal in the policing world, and he smiles warmly as I take the drink and stride toward him in my gold Jimmy Choo’s and a strapless dress that clings to every inch of skin.
“Inspector Rossiter,” I say teasingly when I reach his side, holding out my right hand. His hair is slicked back, his tuxedo sleek, and his confident presence fills the room. “Congratulations.”
“Ms. Mackenzie Valentine,” Eli replies, his light blue eyes crinkling at the corners. He takes my hand and leans in, kissing my cheek. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” I say, handing him the glass. It’s Glengoyne, aged seventy-five years apparently. It cost me my left tit, so I’m hoping he appreciates it. “You’re practically family, Eli. And you know how Dad loves to talk business at these parties. You’re the best at deflecting him.”
“True,” he replies ruefully and scans the party, noting the slow-filling room. “Am I early?”
“Of course not. Everyone else is simply late. As usual.”
“Rude of them.” His chuckle is slow, eyes lifting to mine as he takes a sip. Eli sighs deep with appreciation after swallowing and gives me a wink. “But then I wouldn’t get you to myself if they weren’t.”
I dismiss his comment, used to Eli’s teasing. “As host of the party, I’m afraid you won’t have me for long.”
“Well, I’m afraid I can’t stay long either, but …” he reaches inside the pocket of his perfectly cut jacket and pulls out a business card, offering it toward me between two fingers “…here’s my new business card. I have a new private number. If you ever need anything, anything at all,” he stresses, “use it. Okay?”
There’s the brotherly attitude I know. I laugh as I look at the white card and turn it over in my fingers. It’s thick and matte, the font in perfect, simple lettering. It suits him. “Sure. Next time I find myself in lockup and need bailing out, I’ll call you.”
His brow furrows in an expression of severity. “I don’t want to hear about you doing anything that requires being arrested. If you do, I’ll leave you in there until you learn your lesson.”