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“Pretty doctor’s got everybody whipped,” Felix snorts.
“Well, Tim and I were engaged that one time.”
When Felix’s mouth drops open, I bring my gaze back to Aubree. “What’s going on with everything? Keep me awake, fill me in.”
“Marina Georgiana is still waiting for justice.” She turns her voice clinical the way I love. Provides the cold, hard facts we both excel in working with. “I haven’t been back to the George Stanley today to see her, but Doctor Raquel sent through labs.”
Finally, she allows a sly grin to replace her ire. “She sends her well wishes, and once again respectfully requests an extra lab tech be brought on staff.”
A soft snicker rolls along my throat. “Doctor Raquel can kiss my ass until next financial year.” Then I cast a curious glance to Archer. “Have you found Victor Georgiana yet?”
His eyes widen in surprise. Then rage. “No! I’ve been distracted with my wife almost fuckingdying. Jesus, Mayet. Take a day off once in a while, why don’t you?”
There he is. Cranky. Too serious. Too concerned with me to even think to take care of himself.
“Work soothes me,” I mumble on another yawn. “It keeps my brain going. What’s up with Slade’s case?”
“They haven’t found him,” Aubree murmurs. “But so far, no one is dead. Just a few hurt. Which means when theydocatch him, his charges won’t be upgraded to murder.”
“Hopefully they sweep him up before he makes this worse. He deserves prison for the things he’s done,” I admit, “but not a life sentence.”
Speaking of people who should be in prison…I peek toward Felix when he moves in my peripherals, but I’m acutely aware Eli Emeri is here too. Witness to everything we say and do.
“Did you come alone?” I ask the middle Malone brother.
Felix’s lips curl into a smirk that tempts me to throw a bedpan at his face, just to hear the clang it would make upon contact. “Cato’s here too.”
I look around the room, like I could’ve somehow missed the man-sized teen. “Where is he?”
“At your apartment. Feeding your pussy and sniffing your panties.”
When my eyes narrow to slits, he sniggers. “What? It’s what I’d do if I was there alone.”
“Minka, would you like me to fix that for you?” Ignoring the idiot in the room, Eli’s eyes drop to my fidgeting fingers; the wedding band I cling to, still dangling from the chain with the broken clasp.
Stepping closer and reaching around his sister, he extends his hand in wait. “I could do it this afternoon and bring it to you tomorrow.”
I glance down at the jewelry with an odd lump in my throat. Then I look to Archer, as though needing his permission.
My attachment to it is silly, really. It’s just a necklace.
Butthisnecklace symbolizes my heart. My soul. My rockhopper penguin love.
It symbolizes us.
When Arch’s head tilts in an almost imperceptible nod, I lick my dry lips and look back to Eli.
He watches with compassion in his eyes while I slowly slide my wedding band off the damaged chain, and onto my left ring finger.
“Tomorrow?” I lower the glittering strand onto his palm, and swallow down the unexpected grief I feel at its loss. “You promise?”
He curls his fingers around it protectively and stands tall. “I promise.”
Taking a step back, he shifts his gaze to Aubree, his sweet baby sister, sitting among criminals.
But she’s not bleeding, or crying, or begging to run away. She’s adjusted to these people in her life without even trying.
She’s one of us… but with colorful hair.
