The large Doberman lifts her head from where she lays in her dog bed next to Malcolm’s desk. Her ears perk with interest, shiny black eyes zeroing in on Simone in recognition.
“Hello, Duchess,” she coos, pausing to stroke the large dog. “Have you been a good girl?”
She gives a soft whine of compliance then settles back down once she’s determined there’s no threat.
Malcolm rises from behind his desk, holding out his arms in welcome. At my side, Simone stiffens, clearly still trying to piece together why we’re here.
“Callahan,” he says, coming around the desk with his hand extended. “I was hoping you two would come by. Thank you for bringing my little girl for a visit.”
Simone’s head swivels toward me, her eyes wide. She had no idea her father and I have been in touch, the shock on her face borderline comical.
The truth is, the frosty relations between the Callahans and Langstons have thawed considerably since we worked together to take out Dren, Eddie, and the rest of the Albanian assholes.
Malcolm reached out a few days ago and requested we come by for a visit. Given everything that’s happened, it seemed like the right thing to do.
I shake his hand firmly. “Appreciate the invitation.”
He nods and gestures for us to sit, though he remains standing with the usual air of civilized authority he carries. “I wanted to deliver the good news in person considering recent months. I’ve been able to secure an extra weapons shipment for the Callahans. All the weaponry that was never delivered up to standard. It’ll be coming in two weeks. To make up for some of the misunderstandings before.”
I nod in gratitude, waving off the implication with a shrug. “That was Eddie’s sabotage. Not your doing.”
“Still,” he says, “I was wrong about you, Calla—Ronan. I’ll admit that. When this arrangement was first proposed, I had my doubts about entrusting my daughter to a Callahan. But you protected her. You put your life on the line for her. For that, I trust you with her.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I just nod again. It’s not exactly a glowing endorsement, but coming from Malcolm Langston, it might as well be a goddamn love letter.
Simone is watching the exchange in stunned silence, wide eyes darting between me and her father like she’s witnessing some kind of miracle.
I guess in a way she is.
Only a couple weeks ago, our families were at each other’s throats. Now her father is shaking my hand and thanking me for protecting his daughter.
Funny how things work out.
Malcolm turns to her, his expression softening with fatherly affection. He opens his arms, raising an expectant eyebrow.
“Do I get my hug and kiss? Or have you forgotten your old man entirely now that you’re a married woman?”
Simone’s face breaks into a slow smile as she crosses over and wraps her arms around him. Malcolm holds her tight, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head the way fathers do with their daughters.
“Your old office at LDS is waiting for you,” he says over her head. “Whenever you’re ready to return, of course.”
Simone pulls back, stunned once again as she glances from her father to me and back again. “What?”
I shrug, shoving my hands in my pockets. “I might’ve been too big of a controlling asshole trying to dictate your schedule and keep you from your role at LDS. I was acting out of Callahan interests, back when we were still enemies and suspicious of your family. No offense.”
Malcolm chuckles. “None taken. We were equally as distrustful of you.”
“Of course I want my job back!” Simone exclaims, her face lighting up. “I didn’t study public relations for four years at NYU to do nothing with the degree!”
“Then it’s settled.” Malcolm strokes Simone’s silky dark tresses one last time before he seems to remember I’m also in the room. “Now go. Enjoy your newlywed time together. I’ll see you both soon.”
She hugs him one more time, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and then we’re walking out of the office hand in hand. Duchess lifts her head to watch us go, tail thumping once against her bed.
As we step back into the foyer, Simone squeezes my fingers and looks up at me with warmth lighting up her hazel eyes.
“Let me find out you, my dad, and your dad are about to become best buds.”
The left side of my mouth tilts up in a crooked grin. “Jokes on you. We’ve already got cigars at Gossier’s on our calendar.”
