Rock Chick 08 Revolution (45 page)

This, I knew, was true.

However.

“But you’re offering me ride along on one of his cases,” I pointed out.

“Yeah. And after he trained me or if we’re not workin’ a team
operation, he does not send me out, micromanaging how I deal with a case. And
he’s fuckin’ smart. Definitely smart enough to know it would not go down good
if he started doin’ that shit.”

Before I could reply, the inside door opened again and I watched Ike
move out.

He gave a chin lift to Vance, a mini-smile to me and walked by us to
the door.

But at the door, he stopped, turned and said to me, “You need backup
with that Smithie gig, you got my number.”

I had no chance to say anything before he was gone.

“I’m outta here,” Vance murmured, and I looked back at him. “Text you
tomorrow when to meet me. We’ll meet here and move out.”

“I… uh, okay,” I agreed.

“Don’t be late,” he returned, then he, too, was gone.

I stared at the door.

I did this for a good long while.

Then I smiled.

I was still smiling when I tested the door to command central and found
it unlocked, which was unusual, but likely left open for me.

I made my way to Lee’s office and entered it, yep…
still
smiling.

In it were the expected. Dad, Hank and Lee with the not expected but
not surprising addition of Tom Savage, Indy’s father, my second dad and my
dad’s best friend.

What was surprising was that Monty, another of Lee’s guys was there.

Monty took one look at me then looked to Lee and declared, “Vance
offered the ride along.”

I looked to Lee and saw he was studying his boots, jaw hard.

I decided not to confirm this. If Lee’s boys were offering help, I’d
take it. What I wouldn’t do was cause friction between Lee and his men. If they
made their decisions and carried them out, that was one thing and they had to
deal with that and any ramifications. If I stuck my nose in, say to gloat (or
the like), that was another.

So I kept my mouth shut.

“Ally,” Monty called, and I looked back at him. “The men in this room
are here because we know your plans and we’re askin’ you, with respect, to
think long and hard about carrying them through.”

I held his eyes.

I’d known Monty a long time. He was the oldest member of the team, an
ex-Navy SEAL who didn’t work in the field often for Lee due to an injury he
sustained during his time in the military.

I liked him. He was solid guy; nice, funny, a family man. I also
respected him.

But this pissed me off.

My father, second father and brothers, I’d show them respect and listen
to what they had to say.

But Monty?

What the hell?

It must be said, I failed at not getting pissed-off, but I succeeded in
keeping my shit together and therefore pointed out (somewhat) calmly, “I’ve
been thinking on this for two years.”

“We’d like you to think on it longer,” Monty replied.

I drew in a deep breath.

“Monty’s here because he gives a shit, Ally,” Lee put in.

“I get that,” I said to my brother, then looked at Monty, “And due
respect to you, what I do with my life is none of your business.”

“I’ve been doin’ this awhile, longer than your brother, and I’ve seen
women chewed up and spit out in this business,” Monty returned.

“Yeah? So every man you know who tried his hand did spectacularly?” I
shot back.

“Honey,” he started, and I fought back being even
more
pissed-off; not at the endearment, but at his patronizing
tone. “Your first case has you stripping.”

“Yes. I’m working for Smithie. And to get the job done, it requires me
doing something that’s uncomfortable. But you do what you have to do to get the
job done, and I shouldn’t need to tell you that. Marcus Sloan has you on
retainer, and don’t try to bullshit me that the things he pulls you boys in to
do are the like of acting as crossing guards at the local school.”

Monty shut his mouth and looked at Lee.

In silent badass speak, that meant
That
was a good point. I said my piece. It’s now up to you.

It was then I got it. Monty was there as the objective voice of reason.

And this definitely pissed me off more, because it inferred they
thought I was being unreasonable.

I slid my gaze through everyone in the room and stated, “Due respect to
all of you, and I’ll note, that’s a lot of respect and it’s not just out of
love. I know you all are skilled and experienced and exceptionally good at what
you do.” I pinpointed Dad. “But you did not have a chat with Hank before he
entered the Academy. You did not have a chat with Lee before he went into the
Army
or
when he got out and built his
team. You let them do what they had to do and you did that proud. The only
reason I can think that I’m standing here is because I’m a woman. And that does
not fly with me.”

“Ally,” Tom cut in, and I looked his way. “If Indy was doing this, I’d
be worried.”

“Indy’s about coffee, books, family, friends, Lee and rock ‘n’ roll. In
other words, Indy is not me,” I retorted and kept at it. “We’ve also sat down
and she knows that she will not ever be involved in my business. She’s down
with that.” I moved my gaze to Hank. “All of the Rock Chicks understand this
and are down with it. So if that’s a concern, I assure you, that’s covered.”

“What Tom’s saying,” Dad put in, “is that, as fathers and brothers,” he
tipped his head Lee and Hank’s way, “we’re worried.”

“As they go about their business, are you worried about Hank and Lee?”
I asked.

“Every day,” Dad replied quietly, and my body locked. “It’s what
fathers do, sweetheart.”

There was no retort to that.

So I didn’t give him one.

Instead, I said, just as quietly. “I get you and I love you for it. But
this is what I want to do and I want to do it because I’m good at it and I
like
it. You know I’ve struggled to find
my calling. I’m not struggling anymore. I’ve found it, Dad.”

And Dad had no retort for that. I knew because he didn’t give me one.

“Hector, Vance, Ike and Bobby, as well as Darius and Brody are backin’
your play, Ally,” Lee said, and I turned my attention to him, surprised and
pleased at the unknown addition of Bobby. “And I’m not gettin’ in their shit
about that. But they’re not your brothers and—”

I interrupted him. “Darius is.”

“You know what I mean,” Lee replied.

“And you know what I mean,” I returned softly.

His jaw clenched.

I held his eyes and kept speaking softly. “You can try to stop me. But
you won’t. I know you have the means to do it. But I’ll keep going. Ren’s
behind me. Daisy’s behind me and that means Marcus has my back, and you know
Daisy’s support means I have Marcus’s support. You won’t sway him your way if
Daisy is standing in between.”

His jaw clenched harder.

He knew.

“The Rock Chicks are backing this too, so if you think the rest of the
men won’t fall, or at least won’t stand in my way, you’re wrong about that,
too,” I went on.

A muscle jumped in his cheek.

He knew that, too.

“And I’ll finish with this,” I told him, still soft but firm, and my
eyes went to Hank, Dad, Tom and even Monty but they ended back on Lee. “If you
make moves to shut me down,” I looked to Hank, “Or you,” I looked through Dad,
Tom and Monty again, “Any of you.” My eyes went back to Lee. “That hurt will
dig deep. So deep I may get over it, eventually. What I won’t do is forgive you.”

Lee held my eyes.

I returned the gesture.

Since I had preparations to do and a date to make, I couldn’t do it for
what it seemed it would take to win it.

Eternity.

So I broke the staredown and I moved to the
door, but turned at it and swept a glance through them all again, my eyes
ending on Hank and Lee.

“One last thing. There’s something wrong with Darius, and if you two
haven’t clocked that, color me stunned. But I figure you have, and since you’re
dudes and dudes don’t get up in the business of other dudes, you’re steering
clear. A heads up: I’m done steering clear. I’m gonna sort that, and if I had
your help, I’d be obliged.”

On that, I left.

And by the time I got in my car, I felt my throat burning. My eyes were
hot and my hands were shaking.

Not from nerves or fear.

From emotion.

Because I honestly didn’t know which way any of them would swing.

I just knew I did not lie.

If they moved to shut me down, these people I loved I’d never forgive.

* * * * *

I opened the door to Ren’s place and smelled garlic.

What the hell?

I dumped my purse on an armchair and walked into the kitchen.

Ren was wearing jeans, a loose pale yellow shirt, sleeves rolled up,
feet bare, and he was at the stove, a stove that held steaming pots and pans.

“What’s going on?” I asked and he turned to me.

“Kiss, Ally,” he ordered instead of telling me what was going on.

I walked to him, noting, “I thought we were going out.”

He again didn’t respond until I got close, put a hand to his abs and
rolled up on my toes to touch my mouth to his.

When I rolled back but stayed close, he answered, “You didn’t wanna
miss your show. I’m makin’ stuffed shells.”

Jeez.

I couldn’t take it.

Just when I thought my man couldn’t get any better, he did.

“We’ll go out tomorrow night,” he muttered.

I focused on him and saw his eyes were probing.

That was when, again, he got even better.

He did this by saying in his sweet voice, “The meet didn’t go well.”

He read me.

“Not really.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

“Nothing to say. They don’t want me in the business. That’s not a
surprise. Now they have a decision to make because I already made mine.”

He nodded, read me again and did what I needed.

He let it go.

“You want me to turn on the sauna?” he asked.

That sounded awesome, but if I was in there, I wanted to be in there
with him. Not up there alone and him downstairs cooking.

“No, baby,” I murmured. “But thanks.”

“Then sit your ass on the counter. I’ll get you a glass of wine and you
can keep me company while I put the shells together.”

That sounded better so I complied and Ren got me a glass of wine.

I sipped.

Ren worked.

When he was nearly done, I got off the counter and got on cleaning the
pots, pans and utensils so later clean up would be a snap.

I heard the oven door close then I felt arms wrap around me from behind
at the same time I felt Ren’s hard heat at my back and his mouth at my ear.

“They’ll come around,” he whispered there.

I closed my eyes, opened them and rinsed a pot.

I put it in the drainer, saying, “I hope so.”

He gave me a squeeze. “I know so.”

I turned off the faucet and twisted my neck to look at him. “How do you
know?”

“Because they love you.”

I pressed my lips together and my eyes got hot again.

Then he again gave me what I needed. He bent, kissed my neck and lifted
to catch my eyes.

“We’ll eat in front of the TV. I’ll go turn it on.”

I nodded.

He grinned and gave me a squeeze.

He went to turn on the TV, came back and refilled our wine glasses.

I put the last pot in the drainer and followed my man to the TV to veg
out and await stuffed shells.

* * * * *

“Jesus,” Ren muttered, and I tore my eyes off
Castle
to lift my head from where it was resting on his chest
seeing as we were both stretched out on the couch, Ren on his back, me tucked
to his side between him and the couch.

“What?”

“Jesus,” he repeated, eyes glued to the TV.

He was making me miss it!

“
What?
” I snapped.

He lifted a hand that held the remote and paused the show.

Then he turned his head to me. “Do you watch this show because of that
woman?”

I felt my brows draw together. “What woman?”

“The brunette who’s the spittin’ image of you.”

What was he talking about?

“Do you mean Stana Katic?” I asked.