Page 106 of White Raven (Nevermore Duet #2)
A TIME AND PLACE
It had been three weeks since they’d laid Foley to rest. Life went on, and Rhaena tried her best to reel in her shock that not only had she passed her captain’s exam with flying colors, but the board hastily put her to work, and the precinct had thrown one hell of a party to welcome her back with her new title.
Not only was that shocking, but so was the fact that she and Brandon had just become homeowners two days ago, and at a price that was downright unfair to everyone else living in this swanky building.
Sykes had informed her on the day they signed their names on the dotted lines, that Rhaena’s mother was rotting happily in the stomachs of wolves that had accepted Ryan’s new position as ‘sort-of-alpha’, and the vampires left in the Black Bird coven had accepted Nick Specter’s remaining stash of Sarah’s blood—all but a single bag, under the condition that the name was dropped, and they all agreed that it would never exist again.
To think that it all started with a single girl, and her blood.
To dwell on the notion, that so many lives—Rhaena’s included—were tied to the web …
that was that girl…it was so strange. And instead of a spider waiting to suck the life out of any who were trapped in that web, she gave it all back tenfold.
Who in a millennia would have ever thought that meeting a broken stranger in a hospital bed would have led to the lives they were now living?
“I swear he has more shit than I ever thought I did,” Wren huffed, carrying yet another box down Brent’s—no… Rhaena’s stairs. They had been packing for the past week, and while most of Wren’s things were already on their way to their new place in Denver, Brent’s were…not.
“You’re not making him toss half the suits in that closet?” Rhaena asked, pouring coffee at the kitchen island. She pulled another mug down and poured one for Wren too. Wren plopped the box down on the floor and took deep breaths as she leaned over the counter, grinning.
“Eh…not all of them. I’ll deny it to my grave if you ever repeat this, but…he looks pretty in just the jackets, and nothing else,” she winked, accepting the coffee.
“Gross…please go away.”
Wren snickered as she swallowed down her caffeine. “Says the woman who wears jerseys to bed of a team she absolutely hates.”
Rhaena flushed and turned to walk into the living room. “I dunno what you’re talking about,” she smiled to herself.
“Uh-huh. Hey, are we all still on for tonight? The movie starts at seven, and Sarah’s been waiting for this shit all month.”
Rhaena plopped down onto the couch, and shooed Denver off the far end. “I can still go, but Brandon’s got a shift.”
Wren whined at the counter and cocked her red head. “Dude…are you not his boss?”
“Wren, just because I’m his boss doesn’t mean I give him special treatment. That’s a great way to make enemies out of my men. I’ve only been captain for a little over a week.”
She paced into the living room and stood between Rhaena and the morning news. “It’s not special treatment. How many shifts has he covered for what’s his face? Time to call in a chip. You guys can’t miss this movie.”
Rhaena shifted. “It’s just a movie.”
Wren pointed from the lip of her mug with her forefinger. “I know what you’re doing, Rhae-Rhae.” Rhaena sighed heavily and met eyes with her. “Skipping the night out with all of us isn’t gonna keep anybody in Boston. Or are you staying in ‘cause you’re trying not to show your pussy to everybody?”
“Psh,” Rhaena scoffed, rolling her eyes. “This isn’t an ankle tattoo, Wren. This is bigger than that. In another week, you and Brent will be across the country. Athan and Sarah will be across the pond . Forgive me if I don’t find the idea of us all splitting up a little less than easy.”
Wren walked around the coffee table, setting the mug down and scooching close to Rhaena on the couch.
“It’s not easy for any of us either, Rhae.
You know we’ll always be together, right?
All of us are only a plane ride away. And we’ve already promised each other a holiday a year.
Plus…that gets me out of at least one with my nagging-ass mother. ”
“I know,” Rhaena choked up, biting her lip. “I’ve just never been much for change.”
Wren grabbed her hand on her lap and squeezed. “Sometimes change is good, girl.” Rhaena stared down at Wren’s chipped black nail polish and smiled sadly.
“Apparently not for this monstrosity.”
“See…that there? That’s where you’re wrong, friend. Some things will never change.” Wren leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Call in the favor. You’re both going. No excuses.”
“We’ll be there.”
Brent cursed under his breath as he lost another round on the game he was busy playing on his phone. His bare knee peeked through the rip in his jeans as he propped one foot on the coffee table in the waiting area.
“Oh, my God…” a familiar voice called from the front elevators. C.J. stood poised, with a hand on her hip, and heels that went sky-high. “If I hadn’t seen your name on that piece of paper, I’d have never known that was you, Stratford.”
Brent shoved his phone in his pocket, and tossed his hair back as he raised from his chair and smiled at her. “C.J.,” he nodded, “I’ll take that as a compliment, I guess.” He didn’t miss her name on the wall in between the elevators, and he inclined his head. “Looks good up there.”
Her face implied that she wasn’t sure if she should take that as a compliment or worry that he was going to try and argue her place at this firm, and go back on their agreement. “Thanks.” They stared at each other for a second, and then he laughed through his nose. “What can I do for you?
A lone manila folder was tucked beneath his arm, and he glanced down at his watch, and then at the elevators. “Is the other party here yet?”
“They’re not. What’s this all about?”
“I’ll be happy to explain everything in the conference room,” he smirked, walking past her and down the hallway where his old office used to be.
It seemed like just a short time ago that there was a banner over the door, welcoming him back.
There was another poor sod in there now, with a suit two sizes too small, and a plant on his desk that desperately needed water.
The glass door closed in the conference room, and he took a seat while C.
J. continued to stare him down in astonishment.
“Is it that crazy to see me in a pair of jeans, and a t-shirt?”
C.J. rested a thigh on the edge of the long table and crossed her arms with a slight smile. “It’s like you’re a completely different person, Brent.”
“I am.”
She narrowed her eyes, apparently trying to search him for the man she used to know, but it was obvious she couldn’t find him.
“Clearly,” she smiled softly. “You know…Arya Brenwick’s no walk in the park.
You must have really made an impression on her.
She came at us like a lioness after that stunt you pulled. ”
“You know better than that, Cece. I never sicked her on you. For whatever reason, she found me worthy of her representation. I can’t speak for whatever else she did. And you seem like you made out just fine.”
“Better than fine, thanks to you.” The change in her voice suggested gratitude, and not condemnation. They shared a shallow smile. Finally, Brent’s limbs relaxed as Annie and her parents were escorted into the conference room. C.J.’s brows knitted together, but she welcomed them inside.
“Hey!” Annie grinned, rushing towards him.
He stood, catching her and picking her up off the floor briefly.
She wasn’t wearing her beanie anymore, and her hair was a few inches long now and cut in a cute pixie with purple strands peeking out, here and there.
She looked so grown up. So healthy and happy.
Her starry eyes looked him over, and she grimaced at his outfit.
“You start shopping in the dumpsters on Finley Ave.?”
C.J. tried to contain her snort as she sat Annie’s parents down.
“Solid dig, kid.” Brent ruffled her hair, and she took her seat, criss-crossing her legs, and looking around the room in awe.
“This is so cool,” she smiled. “This is where you work?”
His old colleague peered over at him from the other side of the table, and carefully studied the little girl. Brent pretended not to notice. “Not anymore. But you can, one day. That’s why I called you out here.” Annie looked at him, surprised.
“What do you mean? You quit?” When he didn’t respond, her eyes softened in disappointment, and he’d be lying if he said it didn’t sting. “Brent…why?”
It didn’t seem appropriate, even with Annie’s intelligence, to tell her the real reason he’d left the firm. Instead, he told her a different truth. “I’m…I’m moving.” Vanessa frowned at his admission, but it didn’t hold a candle to Annie’s sudden intrusion of heartbreak.
“Where?” she asked, her small voice shuddering.
Brent steeled himself. “To Denver. With my…um…girlfriend.”
Annie smiled through her welling tears. “The ginger one from the papers?” He smiled, nodding proudly. “Well…can’t say I blame her for not being able to resist your tight bod.” C.J. chuckled under her breath. “So? You brought me all the way up here to tell me that? Why not just call?”
Brent slid the manila folder across the table towards her, and she stared at him for a moment before she reached down and flipped it open. “This is my promise to always have your back, Annie. The way you’ve got mine.”
Annie read over the paper, sliding a white envelope out of the folder. She glanced up at him in shock. “This saves me a spot at this firm.”
“What?!” C.J. yelped, reaching for the document.