Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
I’m silent as I page through it carefully. When it came to Ella, I let my emotions get the better of me. I acted recklessly, but I’m not going to do it now.
I read the cover sheet, the second page, the third and so forth. Then I flip back to the beginning and read it again. All the while the men watch silently. The clock ticks incessantly.
Then I look into Cade’s eyes. “This report leaves out a few things.”
It’s an intense statement to make. At The Firm, we pride ourselves on our integrity. Clients can trust us not to misrepresent the situation. This report Cade handed me might not contain outright lies about her progress, but it does tell a different story from the full truth of the last few weeks.
“I didn’t think some details were necessary to include.” Cade’s talking about the night they caught me with Ella. My expulsion is also not included in the update.
It doesn’t say that I’ve been disciplined in any way.
The report doesn’t capture my brother’s disappointment in me or how shaken Damon was when he realized what I’d been doing. There’s nothing about the two of us other than that there is now a personal relationship that is deemed appropriate by The Firm. Appropriate.
“What does this mean?” I question.
My brother takes in a steadying breath, his thumb tapping lightly. There’s a seriousness about him but something else is there in his gaze. “You are no longer removed. That was a temporary status. You are back as a member of The Firm.”
Once again, shock hits me. He pulls something out from under the table. It’s my gun in its holster.
I look at him, then stare at the gun. It’s only now that I’m able to admit to myself how much I wanted this. I didn’t want to be kicked out of The Firm. I was willing to live the rest of my life with the loss of it if that’s what I had to do to keep Ella. But I never wanted to be separated from my brother this way. From all my brothers. I never wanted to be on the outside like this.
I’m afraid it’s too good to be true. I’m afraid to even reach for the gun.
“Are you sure?”
He nods, but then I look at the other guys one by one. “I don’t want this to be a split decision,” I tell them all. It’s possible there was a vote and some people didn’t agree.
“It was unanimous,” Damon says, cracking a smile. “We had a long-ass meeting about it.” His smile widens and he adds, “We all want you back.”
I haven’t been this relieved since I brought Ella back from the brink after her breakdown. I feel like I’m taking a real breath for the first time in days.
“Go ahead,” Cade says.
This moment feels as important as the first day I signed on with The Firm.
I lift the gun carefully from the table, stand up, and put my holster back in its place. When I sit down, Cade is pushing something else across the table to me.
My ID.
Those are the only two things I needed.
“How’s it feel?” Cade asks and for the first time all day, he grins at me, everything feeling lighter.
“It feels damn good,” I answer him and the guys laugh. Each of them stands and claps me on my shoulder in turn.
“It’s good to have you back,” Silas says and then adds, “Not that we could have got rid of your ass anyway.” That gets the room filled with laughter again.
The shock still hasn’t left me as I sit there, the reality sinking in. I never dared to hope that it would turn out this way. In fact, I planned on the opposite happening. I was ready to spend the rest of my life missing this job and all that comes with it.
I slip my wallet into my back pocket, and I can’t help feeling like this is a sign. Like this was meant to be. Ella’s meant to be with me, and I’m meant to be with her. I’m also meant to work at The Firm. If the universe had a problem with that, there’s no way I’d be back in.
Thank God I’m back in.
“Now, let’s get down to business,” Cade says and the atmosphere turns more serious. The guys retake their seats and I already know where this is going.
Cade drums his fingertips on the table, returning to his usual brisk personality. “We’ve seen some things with these … elite circles.” He looks around at all of us. “Any disagreement with my read on that?”
Damon shakes his head. “No.” Silas leans back, his arms crossed and shakes his head too.
Cade returns his gaze to mine. “Ella was into some of it. Somebody is blackmailing her.”
My blood turns cold. “Does Kamden know?”