Page 61 of The Way We Are

You can hear nerves in my voice. I’m not nervous about her question; it's spotting the Ravenshoe Private Hospital sign over the horizon causing my jittery response. Savannah is the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, but seeing her lying lifeless tainted the image I have of her. I’m sure once I see her smiling face again, the image will return to its original, but I’m still panicked.

I yelled at her. I called her horrible names. Then I saved her life. Ireallyhope the latter will help her forgive me for the earlier. I didn’t mean anything I said. I was angry believing she chose Axel over me. How foolish was I? When forced between saving herself or me, Savannah chose me, just like I will always choose her. That has to mean something, doesn’t it?

Regina shifts her eyes from the roadside to me. “Becoming an officer?”

I huff out a chuckle. “No.”

I want to say, "No fucking chance in hell," but considering I'm sitting in the car of an officer who has saved my hide more than once, I keep my reply respectful.

“You should consider it. We have an excellent academy only thirty miles from here. The recruitment process is quick. The training is even faster. You could be walking the beat in a few short months.”

“You’re serious?” I stammer, shocked by the determination in her voice. “Why would you want someone like me in your department? Haven’t you seen the qualities Carter men bring to the field? That isn’t something you encourage.”

Regina shrugs her shoulders before pulling her vehicle into an emergency bay at the front of the hospital. My pulse quickens, my body advising it’s close to Savannah.

“Do you like Axel, Ryan?” she asks, her tone relaying she already knows my answer.

My eyes rocket to her, certain she's mental. “Like isn’t a word I’d ever use to describe a man like Axel.” My words are strained through clenched teeth.

Regina’s lips purse. “What about his uncle? Do you like him?”

The growl purring through my stern lips answers her question on my behalf.

“So why aren’t you doing everything in your power to take them down?” Regina questions as she switches off her ignition, then swivels in her seat to face me. “I’m giving you the perfect opportunity to take down the men you hate—in a legal way—but for some reason unbeknownst to me, you’re not tempted by my offer.”

“I’m not tempted to become my father,” I correct, my tone as high as her arched brow.

“What if I guaranteed you won’t become him?”

I chuckle; it isn’t a joyful laugh.

“You won’t be laughing when I’m riding your ass to keep you in line.”

Her comment makes quick work of my laughter. The bright gleam in her eyes makes me suspicious she doesn't mean her comment in a symbolic way. When Regina winks at my whitening face while puckering her lips, the color in my cheeks drains even more.

“Jesus Christ, Ryan,” she whistles in laughter a short time later. “I’m not only double your age, I’m double your age and then some.” She ribs me with her elbow, revealing her playful tease was a way of easing the tension hanging thickly in the air. “But I’m glad to see I still have it in the flirting department.” She tugs on the collar of her crisp white blouse as she winks for the second time.

I force a smile onto my face, once again choosing the respectful route. Regina is a nice lady, but she needs to brush up on her comic routine if she wants to give Wanda Sykes a run for her money. Actually, come to think of it, their looks are remarkably similar. Same smooth, chocolate skin, same nose, same wild, crazy ringlet hair. If I hadn't seen photos of Regina in our high school trophy cabinet from years ago, I'd be more suspicious.

"I saw it months ago, Ryan. And I saw it tonight," Regina says, her voice reverting from playful to professional so fast it gives me whiplash. "You're an officer in the making. You just have to pull your head out of your ass to see it. You're a protector and a nurturer. When you are not getting dirty in underground fight rings, you're a law-abiding citizen. You areperfectfor this role.”

She throws down the glove compartment, sending dozens of police records falling into my lap. After finding a scrunched up business card and a pen, she slams it shut, not bothering to stuff the color-coded files back inside. While she jots down a cell phone number on the card, I gather the files to return them to their rightful spot, only sneaking the occasional peek at the names listed on top. Most are foreign to me, but there are three that stand out: Col Petretti, Axel Monroe, and Isaac Holt.

After a quick swallow to clear my nerves, I flick open Isaac’s file. Only a handful of impressive bank deposit slips reflects back at me.

“He’s clean,” Regina mutters, lifting her eyes to me. “For now.”

She dumps her pen in the middle console before handing the business card to me. “If you consider my proposal, you might help keep him that way.”

The irregular rhythm my heart has been pumping the past hour gains an extra beat when my eyes drop to the card. It doesn't belong to Regina. It's for a recruitment officer at Ravenshoe PD.

Spotting my uneasy expression, Regina pleads, "Just think about it. There's no harm in keeping your options open."

After a final stare that says more than her words ever could, she exits her car. I stuff the card into the pocket of my wet pants before following her. The seriousness of our visit smashes into me hard and fast when we enter the disinfectant-smelling space. It smells like death and virtue at the same time.

I hang to the side of the nurses' station while Regina uses her impressive pull to get us past the first security check. She does the same thing another two times before we are directed to the room where a sleeping Savannah is resting. The large hospital bed engulfs her, making her look tinier than she is, but the natural rosy hue of her cheeks has returned stronger than ever. She looks peaceful and surprisingly well-rested.

“Because you’re not related, I could only get you five minutes,” Regina advises, sounding ticked off.

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