Page 173 of White Raven
“Jesus Howard Christ,” Nick whispered, covering his mouth. Evie looked over her shoulder, and her brows furrowed at his stunned expression.
“What’s the matter?” He closed the laptop softly, smiling to himself, and went back to the kitchen to refill their glasses. Evie didn’t wait for him, instead padding her concerned slender body into the kitchen as he turned and handed her the wine. “Nick? What happened?”
“I just got fired,” he smiled, clinking her glass with his own.
CHAPTER 35
A TIME AND PLACE
It had been three weeks since they’d laid Foley to rest. Life went on, and Rhaena tried her best to reel in her shock that not only had she passed her captain’s exam with flying colors, but the board hastily put her to work, and the precinct had thrown one hell of a party to welcome her back with her new title. Not only was that shocking, but so was the fact that she and Brandon had just become homeowners two days ago, and at a price that was downright unfair to everyone else living in this swanky building. Sykes had informed her on the day they signed their names on the dotted lines, that Rhaena’s mother was rotting happily in the stomachs of wolves that had accepted Ryan’s new position as ‘sort-of-alpha’, and the vampires left in the Black Bird coven had accepted Nick Specter’s remaining stash of Sarah’s blood—all but a single bag, under the condition that the name was dropped, and they all agreed that it would never exist again.
To think that it all started with a single girl, and her blood. To dwell on the notion, that so many lives—Rhaena’s included—were tied to theweb…that was that girl…it was so strange. And instead of a spider waiting to suck the life out of any who were trapped in that web, she gave it all back tenfold. Who in a millennia would have ever thought that meeting a broken stranger in a hospital bed would have led to the lives they were now living?
“I swear he has more shit than I ever thought I did,” Wren huffed, carrying yet another box down Brent’s—no…Rhaena’sstairs. They had been packing for the past week, andwhile most of Wren’s things were already on their way to their new place in Denver, Brent’s were…not.
“You’re not making him toss half the suits in that closet?” Rhaena asked, pouring coffee at the kitchen island. She pulled another mug down and poured one for Wren too. Wren plopped the box down on the floor and took deep breaths as she leaned over the counter, grinning.
“Eh…not all of them. I’ll deny it to my grave if you ever repeat this, but…he looks pretty in just the jackets, and nothing else,” she winked, accepting the coffee.
“Gross…please go away.”
Wren snickered as she swallowed down her caffeine. “Says the woman who wears jerseys to bed of a team she absolutely hates.”
Rhaena flushed and turned to walk into the living room. “I dunno what you’re talking about,” she smiled to herself.
“Uh-huh. Hey, are we all still on for tonight? The movie starts at seven, and Sarah’s been waiting for this shit all month.”
Rhaena plopped down onto the couch, and shooed Denver off the far end. “I can still go, but Brandon’s got a shift.”
Wren whined at the counter and cocked her red head. “Dude…are you not his boss?”
“Wren, just because I’m his boss doesn’t mean I give him special treatment. That’s a great way to make enemies out of my men. I’ve only been captain for a little over a week.”
She paced into the living room and stood between Rhaena and the morning news. “It’s not special treatment. How many shifts has he covered for what’s his face? Time to call in a chip. You guys can’t miss this movie.”
Rhaena shifted. “It’s just a movie.”
Wren pointed from the lip of her mug with her forefinger. “I know what you’re doing, Rhae-Rhae.” Rhaena sighed heavily and met eyes with her. “Skipping the night outwith all of us isn’t gonna keep anybody in Boston. Or are you staying in ‘cause you’re trying not to show your pussy to everybody?”
“Psh,” Rhaena scoffed, rolling her eyes. “This isn’t an ankle tattoo, Wren. This is bigger than that. In another week, you and Brent will be across the country. Athan and Sarah will be across thepond. Forgive me if I don’t find the idea of us all splitting up a little less than easy.”
Wren walked around the coffee table, setting the mug down and scooching close to Rhaena on the couch. “It’s not easy for any of us either, Rhae. You know we’ll always be together, right? All of us are only a plane ride away. And we’ve already promised each other a holiday a year. Plus…that gets me out of at least one with my nagging-ass mother.”
“I know,” Rhaena choked up, biting her lip. “I’ve just never been much for change.”
Wren grabbed her hand on her lap and squeezed. “Sometimes change is good, girl.” Rhaena stared down at Wren’s chipped black nail polish and smiled sadly.
“Apparently not for this monstrosity.”
“See…that there? That’s where you’re wrong, friend. Some things willneverchange.” Wren leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Call in the favor. You’re both going. No excuses.”
“We’ll be there.”
Brent cursed under his breath as he lost another round on the game he was busy playing on his phone. His bare knee peeked through the rip in his jeans as he propped one foot on the coffee table in the waiting area.
“Oh, my God…” a familiar voice called from the front elevators. C.J. stood poised, with a hand on her hip, and heels that went sky-high. “If I hadn’t seen your name on that piece of paper, I’d have never known that was you, Stratford.”
Brent shoved his phone in his pocket, and tossed his hair back as he raised from his chair and smiled at her. “C.J.,” he nodded, “I’ll take that as a compliment, I guess.” He didn’t miss her name on the wall in between the elevators, and he inclined his head. “Looks good up there.”
