Chapter 20 #2
But those three men made the decision to hunt down Taco and Brenna and break their bones, even if they didn’t succeed in Bren’s case. That edges them out of the cotton cloud I tend to wrap civilians in and into the realm of combatants.
“I’m on board with that, but I’d like to keep those three out of it.” I nod to Logan, Manny, and Max who are still huddled around one of the computers on Logan’s desk. “I’m concerned about Logan’s PI license.”
Cinder nods. “This is Oidhri business now. Better kept between brothers.”
“I’d considered using the camera they planted at the shop to lure Mad Bob and his buddies into an ambush,” I tell him. “There’s no way for them to know we’re on to it.”
Cinder nods again and I can see plans forming behind his eyes.
“I think it’s time for a nightcap and then I’m going to put my little slugger to bed. Do you and Napa need a place to stay tonight?”
Cinder waves me off. “We’re good.”
Of course, before I can get my girl to bed, we have to deal with Theo, because both the law and its representative are an ass.
He shows up as we’re all sitting in the great room with whisky for me and Bren, a sippy cup of Baileys for Emily, and beers for everyone else. When the doorbell rings, Logan checks the security feed on his phone and groans.
“He could have called first.” Logan looks at Napa and Cinder. “This guy’s a NYPD detective. If you need to make yourselves scarce, Emmy will let you into the playrooms downstairs and we’ll give you a shout when the coast is clear.”
Napa and Cinder both shake their heads. Surprisingly, it’s Max who stands up and says, “I’ll take you up on that, Lo.”
Emily scrambles off the floor cushion she’s curled up on and takes Max down into the playroom. I shoot Manny a glance. “Anything I should know about there?”
Manny shakes his head. “We’re just trying to keep Max off the NYPD’s radar. Logan may like this guy, but I think he’s an asshole. The less he knows about LMM, the better.”
Beside me, Brenna sighs.
I wait to see if she’ll defend Theo. When she doesn’t, I wrap my arm a little more tightly around her shoulders.
I swear that’s the first thing Theo’s eyes fix on when he follows Logan back into the room.
“You look good for someone who put a guy in the hospital today,” Theo says to Bren.
“If you’re going down that road,” I say, trying to keep my voice level. “You’d better Mirandize her. Otherwise, Bren’s not answering a single one of your questions.”
Theo shoots me a look that contains a disconcerting level of loathing. “I’m here as a friend.”
Despite that, he sits down on the far end of the sectional and takes out his phone and notepad.
Bren’s eyes flick to the notepad then back up to meet Theo’s. “This doesn’t feel all that friendly, Master Theo.”
“It is for now. If you want to make this official, we can go down to the station. For now, let’s call it follow up on your theft report. Tell me what happened.”
“I’m not sure it has anything to do with the theft,” Bren says.
Her tone is cool. So much cooler than I feel. I’m trying to separate my lingering jealousy at the man from the rankling of him exerting authority in this situation. But it’s all getting lost in a growing, red haze.
“The man you made the report against, Robert Iggleston? He’s at Mount Sinai recovering from surgery on a ruptured testicle.
He and a friend of his, Damon Waites.” Theo checks the name on his notepad and nods.
“Presented together saying they’d been attacked.
Waites had outpatient surgery to repair his ear.
He was released with instructions on treating his concussion. ”
I glance at Cinder, since I’m not at all happy about having Mad Bob at the same hospital as Taco, even though it’s a big place and I expect the bikers left a guard or two with their prospect. Cinder meets my eyes and tips his chin. He’s already on top of it somehow.
I glance back at Bren, who is grinning an absolutely demented grin at Theo.
In that grin, I see the girl who carried a Brooklyn Smasher, survived street fights and an ambush by a rival gang.
I bet that’s the same grin she gave Mad Bob and his pack of assholes when she was kicking the shit out of them.
“Have they made any report against Brenna?” Logan asks. He’s got his own notepad out and is scribbling away.
“Not yet,” Theo says. “Bren, are they going to?”
“Don’t answer that,” Logan and I chorus.
Theo blows out a frustrated breath. “I’m trying to get ahead of this. I really am here as a friend.”
Bren crosses her arms and legs, closing herself off from him. That’s some body language.
“Same way you were my friend when you gave my juvie record to the management committee?” she asks.
Theo rubs a hand over his face. To hide, I think, any spots of color rising on his cheeks. “Whatever I did during your application, I don’t see how it’s relevant now.”
“It’s relevant to whether you’re really here as my friend or as Detective D’Andrea, Detective D’Andrea,” Bren responds.
“I’m here as your friend. As someone you’ve trusted with your body and well-being many, many times.” His eyes flick to mine and I know he’s trying to get a rise out of me, the ass. “If you distrusted me so much, why d’you scene with me for the last six months?”
“I only realized where the committee must have gotten my record when you pulled your badge at Rick’s party in August,” Brenna says.
“It seemed a little late to get pissy about it. But I don’t think we are friends outside of a scene, and I don’t think you’re here as a friend now since you haven’t even asked how I am. ”
Theo flips his notepad closed. “How are you?”
“Don’t answer that,” Logan growls.
“Are you her fucking attorney?”
Theo rises to his feet, towering over everyone who remains seated.
“I’m the friend she came to,” Logan responds, unperturbed. “Whose house she feels safe in. She didn’t call you and neither did I. You’re not part of this equation anymore, Theo.”
“Thought you had a healthy respect for police powers, Logan,” Theo snarls. “You want to ride back with me on an obstruction charge?”
“No more than you want me making a complaint about abuse of power.” Logan taps his pen on his notepad.
“Stop throwing your badge at me every time I do something you don’t like.
I shared LMM’s investigation regarding recovering the Missing Ink designs with you, but if, and I’m saying if, this has escalated to physical violence then you being here as Brenna’s friend is counterproductive.
Anything she says will be used not in a theft investigation but an assault and battery investigation against her.
Mac’s right. She’s not answering your questions unless you Mirandize her, in which case I’ll be calling Franco to represent her, and she won’t be answering your questions until she’s had a chance to speak to her attorney. ”
I restrain myself from giving him a round of applause. Logan’s learned some things since we were in the Navy together, and I’m going to have to play catch up if I want to protect my girl half as well as he just did.
“You’re throwing away my help,” Theo snaps, picking his notebook and phone off the table and stuffing them back in his pockets.
“I didn’t ask for your help. Neither did Bren,” Logan responds, rising and starting toward the door.
Theo casts an angry glare at Bren, and at me, before he follows Logan out.
I wait until I heard the front door open and close before I rub my hand over Bren’s shoulder. “Ruptured his testicle, huh? That’s the last time I’m sparring naked with you.”
Chuckles all around the room diffuse the lingering tension.
Behind us, Logan returns to the room, opens the basement door, and calls down to Emily and Max.
Emily patters up the stairs and into the room in a flurry of dark curls and throws herself into her daddy’s arms. He picks her up and carries her over to where Theo was sitting.
Sinking down onto the sectional, he arranges his babygirl on his lap and buries his face in her hair.
“I think I burned a bridge there,” he murmurs.
“No, sir,” Bren says, reaching out and putting her bruised hand on his arm. “You did the right thing. You’re a hundred percent right about an a-and-b case. With my record? There’s only one way it would go.”
“Given your kickboxing training, you could even be charged with assault with a deadly,” Napa says. Both he and Cinder were absolutely silent during the exchange with Theo and I realize it’s not because they lacked opinions. “If he tries to question you again, lawyer up.”
Brenna nods and lays her head on my shoulder.
“Ready for bed?” I ask her gently.
“Yes, Sir.”
It’s fairly early and we haven’t had a real dinner, but we ate lunch very late and I suspect Bren’s so drained by the day she just wants to put it behind her.
“I think we’re going to say goodnight,” I tell the assembled group. There are nods all around.
“Mac, any chance you’d come with us to the hospital tomorrow to see Taco?” Cinder asks, catching my eye as I help Bren up off the couch. There’s much more in his gaze than a “get well soon” visit to the kid.
“Sure. You want to come by for breakfast around nine?” I resist the impulse to look at Logan before I extend the invitation. I’m trying to treat this as my house, even though it’s still a little unsettling.
The bikers nod and that breaks up the gathering. Manny and Max both clap me on the shoulder before they leave.
Once we’re upstairs, Bren sags onto the edge of the guest bed, letting Logan’s bathrobe fall off her shoulders but not undressing. I kneel by her feet and draw off the cute, fuzzy socks she borrowed from Emily. When she doesn’t move, I rub her toes gently.
“Run out of steam, sweetheart?” I ask.
“I have, Sir. I felt like I’d chugged a dozen energy drinks while I was standing up to Theo but now I feel like he rang my bell.”
“Do you need the bathroom before bed?”
She nods and shakes herself a little. “I’m okay, Sir.”