Chapter 10 #3
“The DV one late last year. Dude killed his wife, and Chief Mayet provided her professional testimony. She stood up for the deceased, Detective. She did well, but once we stepped out of the courtroom, I asked if she was planning to stick around for the verdict. She said she wouldn’t, ‘cos there was nothing left for her to do. She expected the judicial system to carry its weight and do the right thing by that dead woman.”
Isn’t that the crux of everything we are? Chief Mayet expects the judicial system to command justice. And sometimes… too often… it doesn’t.
“I suppose it surprised me she could walk away, is all. Her ability to disconnect didn’t really gel with the viper on the stand. With the woman who…” He pauses, not saying the thing we’re both thinking. “Ya know. With Agosti.”
“Chief Mayet cares deeply for the innocent. She risks her life in search of justice for people she’s literally never met until, too often, they’re already dead. She hurts for them, which means being able to disconnect sometimes is probably the only way she maintains her sanity in an unjust world.”
And when she can’t disconnect…? That’s when she hunts men down and doles out justice with her own two hands.
I’m just the prick who gets in the way, demanding she trade her sanity for my own.
Makes me husband of the fuckin’ year.
Not.
“I know you don’t approve of everything she does.” Harrison comes to a stop by our apartment door, placing his hand on the handle, but without opening it. “I know you worry about her.”
“What would you suggest I do?” She’s not heavy, and I’m not ready to put her down yet.
The second we step into that apartment, and I lay her in bed, I’ll officially be out of excuses for touching her.
So I settle onto my heels and draw her closer.
I curl my arms and cradle her against my heart.
“You know what it’s like to watch your family walk toward danger, and I’m certain you’d stand between him and risk if you could. ”
“Y-you know?” he stammers.
“About your brother flying back to New York with Felix?” I stare down at Minka’s pouty lips.
Her long, beautiful lashes and dimples, visible even without her smile.
“I like to know who is in my life, Mr. Harrison. In my wife’s life.
You didn’t have to stay here while Stovic flew back.
But you did. How do you disconnect so easily? ”
“I don’t know that I consider it disconnecting.
” He glances down at his feet, his arm dangling by his side, and Minka’s purse almost touching the floor.
“I worry about my brother, Boss. He worries about me. But I trust him to be careful, just as he trusts me to do the same, and at the end of the day, when our schedules align and we’re off duty at the same time, we grab a beer, hang out, and remind ourselves that the other is okay.
Most often, we hang out at our mom’s house, eat her lasagna, and love on the woman who made us the men we are today. ”
“Do your schedules align often? Have you told Felix his favorite shield is your brother?”
“Ah… no.” His eyes dance with soft humor. “I’m certain you understand our preference for privacy. If Felix or Micah knows of our connection, they’ve never mentioned it.”
“They don’t know,” I decide. “They can’t. Because if they did, they’d make damn sure your schedules coordinated better. Family matters to us, so despite your preference for privacy, I’m gonna tell Felix what we’ve discussed tonight.”
His eyes harden, fiery and fearful in one. Anxious and worried. “Boss, don’t—”
“I’d normally keep my nose out of other people’s business, but you know all of mine anyway, so…” I shrug, careful not to disturb Minka. “Your mother deserves both of her sons at her dining table at the same time. You didn’t answer my question about what you would have me do, though.”
“Boss?”
“With my wife.” I lower my gaze once more.
“She’s a warrior for the innocent. Braver than I’ve ever been in my entire life.
Her obsession with fixing the things wrong with society scares the piss out of me, because someday, eventually, she’s gonna step wrong.
Once that time comes, I’m gonna wish I’d stuffed her in a tower somewhere far, far away from the people she insists on hunting.
But…” I exhale a noisy sigh. “Putting her in that tower will destroy my marriage. That leaves me stuck between bad shit and worse shit.”
“Well…” He puffs his cheeks wide, his eyes flickering to Minka.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Detective.
I can’t stow my brother in a tower; he’d shoot his way out.
I can’t drag him away from his dangerous job; we kinda like the family we work for.
And since we’re on the topic, liking your family is why we don’t mind misaligned schedules.
When we’re off at the same time, we’re stressing the fuck out, ‘cos what if something happens to Felix or Micah, or the wives, or God forbid, Zora, while we’re packing our mouths with lasagna? ”
“If you’re off shift, I’d suggest whatever is happening with my family is not your responsibility.”
He snorts. “Right. So we turn it off, like how you turn your worry off when Chief Mayet isn’t right beside you? She talks to herself a lot, by the way. Did you notice?”
“Yeah,” I chuckle. “I noticed. Especially when she’s cranky.”
“Or sad,” he adds seriously. “Whatever’s happening between you and her is…
” He shrugs. “It’s hurting her. But Felix and Micah and the wives…
Aubree and Tim… everyone remaining at the house while she’s here?
” He coughs out an unhappy grunt. “Makes her feel like she’s been abandoned. Like they chose you over her.”
“But that’s not—” My heart thumps and stops.
It thunders and aches. “They didn’t—” Groaning, I pull her higher, closer.
If I could tuck her inside me, I would. “They’re furious at me and ready to go to war for her.
If anyone’s gonna get their ass thrown out of this family, it’s me, because loyalty amongst brothers isn’t shit compared to the loyalty they have for Minka. ”
“I’m not saying I agree with her, or that I think anyone is picking sides.
But that’s what she’s feeling. Even if she never says the words to anyone else, these are the thoughts she speaks out loud when she’s alone.
They’re the hurtful things she’s telling herself.
” He pauses for a beat, lifting just one shoulder.
“I’m not sure an enemy exists who could damage her more than she damages herself. ”
The door opens behind him, startling Harrison around as he tosses Minka’s purse and whips his gun out. Then Aubree pokes her face between the gap, smiling and, with a smooth touch of her fingertips, pushes the barrel of his Glock to the right. “Relax. It’s just me.”
Horrified, Harrison tucks his weapon away, his face draining dangerously pale. “I’m sorry, Doctor Emeri. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
To point a gun at Timothy Malone’s wife?
Yeah, that’s gonna cost ya.
“It’s alright, Mr. Harrison.” She pats his arm, sweetly comforting him, before she steps out and sweeps up Minka’s bag and the pen that spilled from its depths.
“Your actions are always, and have always been, in the pursuit of protecting the people I love.” She sets the bag just inside the door, then she brings her eyes across to mine, her smile dropping away and her shoulders hunching in to reveal the pain she carries.
Even as Tim comes up behind her, she stumbles through the door and stops when her chest sandwiches the woman between us.
She takes Minka’s hand and does that thing she does, holding her palm between both of hers and bringing the bundle up to her chin.
“She’s such a stubborn mule. Breaking her own heart and convincing herself that I chose you over her.
” She presses her lips to her own knuckles, but somehow, I know she transfers love to her best friend.
Healing. Strength, maybe. “There’s no choice to make, silly girl. ”
“I’m gonna put her to bed.” My voice crackles and aches, the pain amplifying as glittering moisture fills Aubree’s eyes. The whites turn pink, and her knuckles grow white because of how tightly she holds Minka. “I don’t want her to wake while we’re out here.”
“Okay.” Sniffling, Aubree releases their hands and inches to the left, making room for me to pass.
“If I’d gone to work today, I could’ve prevented several of the grievances hurting our esteemed chief tonight.
Starting with her feelings of abandonment, managing her gross dietary neglect, and ending with her medical needs. You said she took her stuff, Archer.”
“I thought she had.” I move through the apartment door, twisting and taking care not to bang her head on the frame, then I emerge into my kitchen and stop on a skid as I run out of space.
Because Cato holds his position, furious and fiery-eyed.
He stands in the middle of the space, his feet shoulder-width apart, his arms folded across his chest.
His enraged expression, no less potent than it was last night.
“When did you get here?” I peek back at Aubree. “Why are you here?”
“‘Cos if we’re splitting assets in the divorce, I choose her.” Cato’s snarling tone draws me back around. “You can go, Detective.” He extends his hands, expectation clear on his face. “I’ll carry her to bed.”
I bark out an incredulous laugh. “You’re dreaming, kid. Get the fuck out of my way.”
“You don’t want her.” He slides his arm beneath her legs, like he actually thinks I’m gonna give her up. “You made your choice. Hand her over, then you can be on your way.”
“Stand down.” I twist her out of his reach and circle the athlete that will, someday, outgrow me in every way. Including his ability to put me on my ass if we go toe-to-toe.
My days are limited.
He knows it.
I know it.