Page 126 of Floodgates

“And tonight he called it in.”

“Yes.”

“Poor guy.”

“Yes and no,” Cord reasoned. “I mean, baby, come on.”

“What?”

“No matter what someone does for you, you don’t let them put a gun in your hand and agree to kidnap someone. This is not The Godfather, yeah? This is real life.”

There was that.

“He had other choices besides doing exactly what Lucien Ritter asked of him.”

“Yes.”

“Running, going to the police,” he said, listing them for me. “I mean, really, there are lots of alternatives to perpetrating a federal crime if you’re a rational human being.”

“Maybe he felt like he had no choice.”

“I promise you, there is always a choice.”

I was too tired to be logical. “Okay.”

“Okay, Cord, you’re right? Or okay, Cord, I’ll do anything if you just shut the fuck up?”

“Both?” I smiled at him. “Somewhere between the two?”

“I’ll take it,” he soothed me.

“So,” I began, “when can we leave?”

“Tomorrow morning. I already have the tickets.”

I got up and tackle-hugged him, falling down into his lap.

“God,” he groaned, and I felt a tremble run through his long, muscular frame. “Please don’t let this change. Please like me this much when we get home.”

But he didn’t have to worry.

Chapter 14

CORD MOVED in with me, and his name went on the deed of my little house in Noe Valley. My bungalow that fit in with the other eclectic homes in the area, was, Cord promised, just what he’d always been looking for. So he happily took on the responsibility of the remaining twenty-six-year mortgage with me. I’d been paying on the loan for the house for four years on my own; it was nice to have help. At the same time he left the San Francisco Police Department and became the lead investigator for Stone Markham Wainwright. He had his own office and staff, and even Alex had to agree that life looked pretty good from the 26th floor. He told my father all about it at Sunday dinner. My dad loved having Cord there, I loved having Beth there, and Alex worked really hard at warming up to her. When Evan flew out the following weekend, I had to explain everything to him, which almost made me homicidal.

“Who’s Lucien again?” he asked for the fifth time.

I rolled my head on the back of the couch and looked at Cord for help as he proceeded to choke on his beer.

“You should make flash cards,” Alex singsonged under his breath. “He’s a visual learner.”

I took a breath and started again.

“So, are you guys gonna get married?” Evan asked my dad and Beth out of the blue.

Then it was her turn to choke.

Alex gently patted her back.