Detective Garza ~ “The waiters have just brought out dinner and it’s Grilled Pork and Apples served over Sautéed Kale. It’s so good, the entire table has gone silent. Even Cain, who’s a real chatterbox, is too busy eating to talk. Another waiter pours the wine, and we listen to the music coming in from the bar.
When Rafe clinks a glass, all gazes shift to him while he gives the last birthday toast of the night. It’s not a cliche to say that the group saved the best toast for last. Even though I have little family left, I’m surrounded by friends and realize for the first time since I left Trenton that I’m no longer alone.
Once we’re done with dinner, none of us are hungry for dessert but we’re also not ready to leave yet. So we turn to Zack’s bottle of 40-year old scotch and start the toasting all over again. Calum has the private room booked through to the next morning and while I doubt we’ll be here that long, you never know. The men who work in Iron Rack’s gym, all ex-Green Berets, know how to hold their liquor. And . . . Kells has texted them and told them they don’t need to show up for work until noon the next day.
So we break out the glasses, pour the whiskey, and listen to music, savoring the respite before Remiel Marigny’s next move. We have no idea when it will come or what it will look like, but we all know it will be more dangerous than we can imagine. But, until then, we eat, drink, and are merry. This birthday party is the best gift I’ve ever had, and I’m so grateful to Calum for putting it all together.”
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