Heather’s dad had tried to convince me to reconsider my decision. It was nice to hear that he thought I did a great job in my year as a cop, but I felt like I had no other choice.
The fallout from me participating in the races already has the potential to destroy my life and my father’s political career. I didn’t want to add to it by bringing disrepute to the sheriff too.
I’m grateful to Kirk Pullin for his mentoring, and I hate that I couldn’t explain the real reason why I needed to quit.
I justified my decision with the harsh twelve-hour shifts the deputies’ schedule required, and he didn’t argue with me after that.
He looked very disappointed. I bet he now agrees with my colleagues that I’m an entitled, spoiled brat. It’s ironic that I had just managed to change my former colleagues’ opinion of me after a year of hard work.
The biggest issue after quitting the police force was what to do with my time.
My brothers and I grew up wanting for nothing; our father gave us everything we could have ever wanted. But Dad had to earn his spot in the NHL through years of hard work and dedication, and he was always clear with us that the life we lived was a privilege we had to earn the same way. In other words, we were always expected to study or work to receive his financial support.
The fact that I’m going to get full control of my trust fund any day now doesn’t change the set of values I was raised with.
If I’m not a cop, and I have to wait until at least the next semester to go back to college, I need something productive to do with my days. I know that what I’m doing to earn my keep will be Dad’s first question once he learns about my resignation. I asked the sheriff not to say anything, wanting to be the one to break the news to my father.
Lev’s parents came to the rescue and offered me a job at their firm.
I owe a lot to the Reillys for helping me with this and for coming through with a solution that gets us out from under Mason Morelli’s blackmailing.
“Ready, guys?” I turn around to look at Zara and Chance in the backseat of my Jeep after parking one block away from Star Cove City Hall.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Zara looks as nervous as I feel.
Chance pulls at his tie, his own nerves turning into fidgeting. “Are we sure that this is gonna work? If we do this, there’s no going back.”
I know what he means. “There’s only one way to find out.” I open my car door and step outside.
“You look beautiful.” I murmur, brushing my lips over Zara’s temple.
Much like Chance, she plays with the top button of her shirt. “Thanks, so do you.”
“What I don’t understand,” my brother objects. “Is why we have to look like we’re going to a fucking funeral to go to a town hall meeting.”
Lev responds before I can. “Technically, we don’t have to. But if we want to petition the mayor and the city council, looking the part isn’t going to hurt. Think of it like the way lawyers dress when they go to court. They could argue their cases just as efficiently in jeans and a t-shirt, but they want to look professional in front of the judge and the jury.”
“Yeah. That’s why law school is not an option for me. I’m more than ok wearing a suit at a wedding or a fancy party, but not when I’m nervous. I’m sweating so fucking much.”
I clasp his shoulder. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to say anything unless you want to. Lev and I can do all the talking. And the petition is backed by thousands of signatures, so this request doesn’t come just from us.”
“Yeah. But you know who Dad is gonna be mad at.” Chance scowls.
I don’t have the heart to tell him that he might be right. But we’re too deep into this to change course now. And I’d rather face our father’s anger than staying under Morelli’s thumb.
“Let’s do this.” Zara accepts the hand Lev offers her.
I wish I could enter the City Hall building with her on my arm. To be able do that, I’m going to need to sit down with Dad and tell him that we can be a family but not in the way he envisioned. I’m never going to have brotherly feelings for Zara.
That, however, is a conversation for another day.
Zara
Star Cove City Hall is an old building dating to the early 1800s. Despite our being in California, the style of the building, with its white columns at the entrance, reminds me of the colonial style buildings that are typical of the southeast of our country.
The town of Star Cove holds monthly meetings where matters of interest for the whole town are publicly discussed and citizens can petition the mayor and the council. Petitions can aim to change or abrogate legislation, or remove elected officials.
I’ve never been inside this building before, even though both Mom and Scott work here.
