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“I see that,” Oscar mutters, upset because he finally mended the rift with his brother and he hasn’t wanted to create another one.
The door opens. In walks Farrow and Thatcher, only Thatch has a sleeping Baby Maeve cradled in his arms. Says something about how it’s Jane’s turn to nap, so he’s clocking in father time.
“Sorry, we’re late,” Akara tells us, coming in last and pushing back his black hair. “Banks lost his wedding ring.”
“Fuckin’ found it in the garbage disposal,” Banks mutters, shutting the door behind him.
“The string ring?” Oscar questions.
“Yep, it’s destroyed,” Akara says likethat’s the story of our lives.Banks isn’t happy, but Akara assures him they’ll figure out a solution.
Oscar tries not to laugh. “Who would’ve thought braided twine wouldn’t last forever? Did you, Donnelly?”
“Thought that shit was like titanium,” I banter. “Should’ve used spit to seal the knot instead of glue.”
Banks grumbles something about the “fucking Yale boys” and maybe this is the wrong time, wrong place to crack a joke, but no one is a bigger Kitsulletti supporter than me, myself, andI.
Except maybe Beckett.
Trying to figure out a bridge between me and him. Maybe one day we can have a longer conversation about everything. It feels like we’ve only reached the surface with the one talk about cocaine and me being transferred off his detail. And I dunno if I want to sweep it under the rug and act like him doing drugs never existed.
In the penthouse library, Akara gestures for everyone to congregate. “Let’s get down to business.” Thankfully everyone pushes in closer to the bookshelves, so I stay seated on the ladder. Farrow is at my left, resting a foot on the bottom rung below me.
My pulse picks up speed, thinking I’m about to make a speech or plea or something of the like.
Then Akara says, “I’ll open the floor to Donnelly at the end.”
Fuck. I gotta wait until theendof the meeting? Yeah, my patience has been sledgehammered.
I just nod.
Akara snaps his fingers to his palm. “Okay, so we’ve all been through a lot recently, and I’m stilltryingto be on an even playing field with Price and Triple Shield. This means, what he does for his firm, we need to do the same, and I want to preface that I agree withmostof his decisions. Like psych evals.”
I try not to react, but my stomach tosses.
“For the whole team?” Oscar asks.
“For everyone,” Akara confirms. “Even me. I know it’s not fun, but we need to make sure we’re all mentally prepared to protect these families, and your health is a priority, not an afterthought.”
What if we don’t pass the test?I will. I have to, so I’m not even asking about the worst-case scenario.
Quinn is. “What if we fail it?”
Frog shifts her weight, then asks him, “Are you looking at me?”
“I wasn’t looking at you,” Quinn says more softly.
Akara answers, “Then you’ll be suspended until you’re cleared to be on-duty. I’ll be setting up appointments that work into your schedules. I would also appreciate if everyone completed their daily logs. I’ve slacked on making you fill those out since I started Kitsuwon Securities—especiallysince you’ve all had your hands full training temp guards.”
“Most of us,” Oscar corrects.
My hands have been mainly free of that task. Oscar has taken on the brunt of teaching temporary newbies the ropes.
“Most of you,” Akara agrees. “Thanks to Michael Moretti taking over temp training, you all should have time to fill out your daily logs.”
Farrow looks unenthused.
I don’t mind them as much.
