Chapter 30
Brett
The public apology from Adelaide Thompson wasn’t something they had expected, but it was welcomed.
She hadn’t lost her job, but the apology was a requirement for her to keep it.
The noise around the accusations didn’t die quickly, but by the time their investigation and the police’s version had begun to close, there were only embers left.
The past seven days had been a whirlwind of tying up loose ends, officially ending the agreement with Malcolm, and interviewing potential new recruits.
As much as Brett would’ve liked things to get back to normal—normal being him and Felix protecting Christian and Oscar—his shoulder was still in a sling, and he already knew he wouldn’t be a guard any longer, though he had yet to announce it.
One thing he had decided to do was throw a party. Yes. Brett Cage was throwing a party. Well, Nick was organising it because Brett didn’t have a fucking clue, but the idea was his, and he was sticking with that. He’d sent a meeting request to all the guards for that afternoon.
“Everything is set,” Nick said from beside him as they strode for the receiving room.
The rest of them should arrive within the hour, and for the first time in a long time, Brett felt a wave of nervousness.
He hadn’t even told Felix about the event, so it would come as a surprise to him as well.
He’d left a note on the door of Sec HQ, directing everyone to what he was beginning to call the ‘party room.’ If it had been summer, they would’ve enjoyed the outdoors, but as it was pouring with rain, he was glad they’d decided to keep it indoors, even if a barbecue sounded great about then.
Entering the room, he paused, studying the details Nick had incorporated into the design.
“As much as I would hate to see you go, are you sure you’re not going to leave and become an event planner?” Brett said.
Nick laughed. “As much as I enjoy it, it’s too much pressure when it needs to be perfect. When it’s just me doing things I enjoy, like this, it’s easier. I’m much happier putting myself in front of a bullet.”
Brett snorted, his demeanour having softened a little since the end of the previous month. If he’d been a poetic man, he would’ve said something about the events that culminated and ended on the day of Halloween, but he wasn’t, so he hadn’t.
The door opening behind him made him look over his shoulder, and Felix entered with wide eyes.
“What’s all this?” he asked, sliding his arms around Brett’s waist on his good side. His shoulder was healing, but it still ached something fierce.
“A thank you to everyone,” he said simply.
Felix smiled and kissed him. “Then let’s get some music on. I know the exact thing.”
Brett’s smile faltered. “Nick, get him away from the music, or all we’ll be listening to is The Ports!”
Nick gaped at him. “He likes that stuff?”
“I’m not certain, but he sees it as supporting his friend.”
“Oh, crap!” Nick jogged across the room, putting a hand on Felix’s shoulder to stop him. They had a heated discussion with hand gestures, but eventually, Felix backed down and headed to where the drinks were.
More guards entered, and he welcomed them, assuring them that it was just a time to let themselves relax and enjoy some much-needed company and time off. About an hour into the party, a chant started, “Speech! Speech! Speech!” all looking at Brett.
He shook his head but smiled and stepped forward.
“I’m glad you could all make it,” he started.
“You made it mandatory!” someone called from the back.
Brett grinned. “That I did. And for good reason.” He paused, looking around at each of the men under his supervision.
“It has certainly been a tumultuous time for all of us. People we thought were friends or family weren’t.
People we thought were enemies weren’t. People we trusted with our lives shouldn’t have been.
It’s hard to know what’s up and what’s down.
What’s right and what’s wrong. Lives have changed irrevocably.
” His thoughts went to Carl, who refused to attend the gathering despite the phone call Brett had made asking him to reconsider.
“But to the people in this room, you are priceless. You are the heart of this small section of the world. You are what makes our lives better.” Cheers sounded, glasses clinked, but Brett waved them down.
Owen shouted up at him. “It sounds like you’re leaving.”
Brett smirked. “It is with that in mind that I make my next announcement. I am stepping down from full-time guarding and will become Head of Security only.”
Gasps went up all around. Felix stared at him, and Brett met his gaze, hoping his apology showed in his eyes, but he mouthed, I love you, and Felix gave a smile.
He inhaled. “But with that being said, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Except in a bar!” Landon called from the side.
“Who needs a bar when we have this?” Felix waved towards the tons of drinks and food the Sutcliffes had insisted on providing them with.
“One final thing before you descend. On the table in the corner, you will find an envelope with your name on it. And on that note, get relaxing!” Brett shouted.
Cheers rose, and everyone mingled. Brett, however, headed over to a chair in the corner, needing to sit down.
He watched as some went straight for the envelopes he’d mentioned and others went for food and drink.
As he’d expected, it was the newest guards who went for the envelopes, curiosity getting the better of them, whereas the older guards knew what he was like and that they’d be pissed off at him for getting them something, so they waited.
It wasn’t something huge, but he hoped it got the point across about how much he respected them.
He lifted the beer bottle to his lips, his gaze finding Felix, who was talking animatedly with Locke.
Felix had nothing physical to show the ordeal he had been through, but he had decided to talk to Timothy’s therapist, Derek, to sort through where his head was at.
With everything that he’d found out about his uncle, dad and mum, as well as everything he’d been through, Brett wasn’t surprised, but he wholeheartedly supported him.
He had been considering it himself. He still had a small emptiness inside him that he didn’t realise his sister had occupied, and it made him a little mad at times.
After everything she had done, he still missed what she represented.
“You really shouldn’t have, you know?” Colt said, settling in the chair beside him.
Brett smiled. “Yes, I should. You all deserve so much more.”
Colt stared at him. “No one blames you.”
Brett’s stomach somersaulted, and he said nothing. He couldn’t deny the guilt he felt from being Venus’s brother. Mentally, he understood he wouldn’t have been able to stop her, but emotionally… He sent a small smile Colt’s way.
“I’ll believe it, eventually.”
Colt nodded and held up the envelope. “Thank you. I shouldn’t be surprised that you knew, but I am.”
Brett chuckled. “I’m the big, bad Head of Security. I know everything about everyone.”
He had made sure that each of the small gifts he’d bought for his team had been unique to them and their interests.
Someone had a skydiving experience. Another a race car driving experience.
Another still a spa day. The only person who didn’t have one was Felix, and that was because his gift was waiting at Brett’s house.
He noticed Darius and waved him over.
“Yes, boss?”
“I have a question for you. Do you like the job you have, or do you want something higher level?” Brett met his gaze and held it, watching the confusion and dawning excitement in his eyes.
“I’m happy to be wherever I’m needed, including high-level guarding should it be needed.”
“Nicely worded. Welcome aboard. You’ll be taking over guarding duties for me for Prince Christian.”
Darius’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Brett nodded. “You’ve always shown promise. Now it’s time to reach higher.”
“Thank you. I need to go and tell Jason.”
“Will that be a problem?”
Darius grinned. “Not at all. We’d already talked about what would happen if I ever did get promoted.”
“Good. Enjoy yourself.”
As the time wore down and guards started to leave, King Andrew entered the room, speaking with the guards he passed until he reached Brett at the same time Felix did.
“It went well?” he asked, settling into the chair Colt had vacated some time earlier.
“It did. They seem happy, so I can’t complain,” Brett said.
“Good. Brady called me. It’s finished. Completely finished.
The police have closed their investigation after going through all the evidence you gathered, the information from Alastair Moore and Maddox, and even Malcolm.
They located all the bomb sites and found that they had been prepped but not set.
The detectives have officially arrested Maddox and Moore, and a total of fifteen others, but we’re leaving Malcolm alone. ”
“Better the devil you know,” Brett breathed.
Andrew nodded. “Exactly.”
“I can’t believe it’s done,” Felix said. “It seems like it’s been one thing after another for years, and now…”
“Don’t even say it,” Andrew said. “Let’s not tempt fate.”
Brett cleared his throat. “Thank you for everything…Andrew.” He bowed his head slightly.
The king’s eyes widened, and then, as tears gathered, he gently pulled Brett into his arms and whispered, “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
When they let go, everyone’s eyes were wet.
“We have a gift for you,” Andrew said, sniffing a little. “Come on.”
He stood, gesturing for Brett to follow. With a bemused smile, he did. They went to Sec HQ, and when they gestured for him to sit in his chair, it confused him even more. He settled in and almost jumped out of the thing again. He froze, and then tentatively moved around in it.
“Did you buy me a new one?” he asked when no creaks sounded.