I think I dealt with it the best I could.
I think I put Ella’s needs first.
I hope I did right by her.
As we drive to meet Ranger Luxe, my thoughts are filled with my little girl. Her first steps, first words, first graduation, first heartbreak, first story she ever let me read, first publishing contract. Becoming a dad was both the best and most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me, and you never get used to it. There are always new obstacles thrown your way, and you have to adapt.
Which is why doing this isn’t a difficult thing for me.
There is nothing in this world more important than her. Nothing I wouldn’t do to keep Ella safe and happy, because she may be twenty-five, but to me she’ll always be that little girl who ran to me with scraped knees and broken hearts.
I’ll do anything and everything for her.
The hours pass in a blur. When we arrive at the hotel, the charity event is in full swing. People in tuxedos come and go; women in floor-length dresses exit limousines.
I always hated these things. They cost more to organize than they likely raise, so every invite I got was tossed in the trash. They represent everything I hate about this world—how performative it’s become, where appearing to be charitable matters more than the charity itself. These people are salivating over the tax breaks, not the causes they’re supposed to be helping.
I get out of the car and X comes to my side. “They’re gonna search us. Take our weapons.”
I nod, gazing up at the building. “Then you’d better be as quick on your feet as I am.”
He smirks and signals to his brother, and we start up the steps.
Outside the building, smoking a cigarette, as if waiting for this exact moment, is Ranger Luxe.
He’s a big guy. As tall as me, broad, a man who is happy to get his hands dirty. Rumor has it he was an underground fighter in New York before coming to San Francisco, and I can see that in him. But despite his reputation, he’s managed to convince the world that he’s nothing but a businessman. He was voted Most Eligible Bachelor three years in a row, and a string of women have lined the station carpark on the rare occasions we’ve had enough evidence to arrest him, not that anything sticks. So many of my guys have tried to take this fucker down, but he’s clever. His drug business is in no way connected to him and he’s never served any time.
Now, I know why. He’s bought huge numbers of my cops, and they’ve been helping him from the inside.
And I’m about to become one of them.
A slow smirk creeps across his face as I approach. I purposefully didn’t wear my uniform, not wanting to draw attention to myself, and now I wish I had. It feels like a shield sometimes, a reminder of who I am and how hard I’ve worked.
“Chief.” Ranger takes the cigarette from between his lips. “Good to see you.”
I grit my teeth. “Let’s just get this over with.”
His eyes move to the men with me, and he jerks his chin in the direction of the door before flicking his cigarette. We enter, side by side, and the presence he has is almost like a mist of death, as if flowers would curl up and diein his path. Eyes dart to him, and people whisper, seeming to hold their breath and watch in awe as Ranger Luxe passes them.
“Chief!” someone calls across the lobby, and I pause. Ranger does, too. Senator McNulty approaches with a wide smile and shakes my hand. “You never come to these things!”
I force a laugh. “I figured I’d give it a go.” He glances at my T-shirt and jeans in comparison to his and Ranger’s tux but doesn’t comment on it.
“Mr. Luxe,” he says, his voice edged with suspicion.
“Senator.” The smugness in Ranger’s tone has me wanting to punch the guy. “Guy and I were just about to have a conversation about the upcoming mayoral election.”
My heart slams into my rib cage, and I gape at Ranger.
“You’re running?” the senator asks. “That’s great, Guy.”
“He has my vote,” Ranger says. “And my funding.”
The senator frowns, glancing between us, and I know he’s trying to figure out the connection. An uncorruptible chief of police and the head of San Francisco’s underground.
“Excuse us,” I say, gripping Ranger’s arm and moving us away from the conversation. “So that’s your plan?”
He pulls himself free from my grip. “You’re worth more to me in office.” He strides away, clearly expecting me to follow, and I almost don’t until I realize there’s no choice for me. Ella’s life is on the line.
