Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
He restrained himself from reminding him it wasn’t his office anymore. Not yet. “I hear a But.”
“But there are life decisions, personal donations and interviews that could be twisted and made to look unflattering. And our sources on the inside that aren’t named Finn have given us a head’s up that Miller knows.”
“What does he know?”
“Everything.” Brady’s lips curled into an angry snarl. “Someone told him about the meeting. He knows the names of his potential replacements, is pissed that you’re the one making the recommendations, and he’s about to leak any bit of dirt he can on all four of them to muddy the waters.”
Ken nodded his agreement. “His plan is to make it look like a witch hunt. He likes that phrase, and so does the media. Someone needs to remind him that it was men like him that started those witch hunts as an excuse to go after women who made their tiny little egos nervous.”
If someone told Miller about that meeting, then he’d also know about Solomon’s relationship status. Damn it, he needed Hugo to talk to him, so he could give him a head’s up. “That’s fucking great, but it’s also pushing our timeline. We can’t give him weeks to hold briefings and spread his bullshit. We need to choose and get the mayor announcing that choice ASAP.”
Ken reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small flash drive. “Agreed. But based on their psychological profiles—and don’t ask me how I got access—at least three of them have career ambitions that will make them instantly back down as soon as Miller attacks. Future political ambitions, so, you know—”
“Yeah.” Cowards. He lifted his hair off his hot neck and leaned heavily on the bar. “So which one is most likely to do this voluntarily, come out intact and still be effective and acceptable to the department as well as the community they’re serving?”
Ken set the flash drive on the bar and pushed it in his direction. “Only one, my friend, and he’s not on the list. I think you knew that before you asked.”
“Shit.”
“Shit?” Brady looked at him, confusion stamped on his handsome features. “Look, I know I wasn’t fit for that uniform, neither is James and we all know it. Only you, Younger. You were made for that job. I understood taking time off, but—”
“Don’t, okay?” Solomon pierced him with a look. “I don’t need every member of my family second-guessing my decisions. Not when I’ve stood by all of yours. I’m also a little tired of everyone telling me what I’m supposed to be when I grow up. What if Noah told Zachary he had to be a fireman? That he didn’t have a choice? We’d take our brother out back and show him what we thought about not giving our nephew the chance to decide for himself who and what he wanted to be, right?”
“Of course, man.” Brady placed his hand on Solomon’s shoulder, his expression softer now. Pity? He didn’t need that either.
He needed Hugo, goddammit.
“What’s on the drive, Tanaka?”
“Insurance, but that can wait.” Ken crossed his arms, studying Solomon as if he could read his mind. “What did you do?”
“What are you talking about?”
Rory slid onto the stool on his other side and patted his back with more force than strictly necessary. “Couldn’t help but overhear. A little bird that lives in a phone tree mentioned something about trouble in paradise. As in, Hugo is acting the same way he did when he first left the police force, and you’re growling like a wounded, longhaired bear. So what did you do to mess things up?”
Solomon turned his head slowly, watching as Rory’s eyes flickered in momentary anxiety before forcing himself to rein in his irritation. Rory didn’t deserve his anger, he knew. He was only trying to help.
Fuck you, Elder. For making him wonder, even for a second...
“Where’s your entourage?” he teased gruffly, forcing himself to relax. “Still trying to figure out that complicated dart board?”
Rory snorted, nudging him with his shoulder. That quickly, his confident, cocky expression was back in place. “Until your thumbs are nimble enough to survive five minutes of Halo without getting your head blown off, smack talk is off the table.”
Brady leaned around Solomon with a smile. “You know he’s too old for games, kid. Aren’t you, Younger?”
“Games? He would never.” Rory agreed, waving at Fiona as she brought him his usual.
Smartasses. Both of them. He had no idea who they’d gotten it from.
“I don’t know what I did to mess things up with Hugo, okay? Everything was great between us. I thought everything was great. We didn’t fight. I didn’t forget to call. He’s… Now he’s not talking to me. He’s too busy to see me, which is bullshit and we both know it, but he won’t tell me what’s really going on.”