Page 51 of Reclaiming Chaos
Chapter 26
Ridge
The thumb drive was useless. Not that it didn’t contain the list of blackmail victims that Carlee claimed. It did, but the list didn’t matter much without their secrets. When Russell died, his plans of blackmail died with him.
I’d been a last-minute walk-in to the wedding, just as my sister Clara had said. I plastered on a smile and offered sincere wishes to my new sister-in-law, embracing their joy and knowing at least for now they were all safe. My brother Dexter was on the dance floor with my sister-in-law, Milly. My other brothers were scattered around with their fiancées and girlfriends. My single brothers were hitting on bridesmaids.
This was exactly what I’d been fighting to keep, my family. I only wished Carlee had stayed alive long enough to be part of it.
“You okay?” Clara asked as she appeared by my side.
“Yep. I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” She stood in front of me and blocked my view.
“You already know the answer,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, I do, and I’m sorry,” she offered.
“Me too. You would have liked her,” I said.
“How about a dance?” she asked.
“I’d rather finish getting my drunk on,” I said, wiggling the empty glass, jiggling the ice. “Your husband looks like he’s ready to dance.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Porter, my brother-in-law, and grinned. “He’s got two left feet.”
“Maybe later. Quit worrying about me,” I said, kissing her temple in passing on my way to the bar.
The bar was quieter than the reception. The bartender was drying glasses. A couple had their heads together at one of the back tables. A man in a business suit sat at the bar watching the news on the television in the corner.
I slid onto a stool and had ordered a beer when my phone rang.
The caller ID made me smile. “Hey, Melony.”
“Hey, Ridge. How are you? Are you surviving the wedding?”
“Yeah, I am. The family is more focused on the happy couple than worrying about why I was late. How are you? You doing better?”
“Yeah. I’m much better. A bit stir-crazy, but I’ll survive.”
“Excellent,” I said as my beer was delivered. “Once you’re a hundred percent, we’ll find another chase.”
The line went quiet.
She cleared her throat. “Listen. I never got to thank Carlee for saving my life.”
“I thanked her for saving yours and saving mine. You work on recuperating, and I’ll see you soon,” I said, lowering my head as the memories assaulted me. Rocks settled in my gut. I’d never know if she’d been right about us.
“Thanks, boss,” Melony said before she hung up.
I peeled at the label of my beer. Being home was never easy. When I’d been growing up, my family meant well, even though I didn’t have abilities as they did. They still thought I was special, and had it not been for them, then I might not have listened to my heightened intuition all those years ago and joined the FBI. I might be stuck behind a counter like this, serving beers to pitiful men like me pining away for a future that wouldn’t ever happen.
Gwen sidled up to the bar beside me and ordered a beer.
“I thought you didn’t do family events,” I said, glancing in her direction.
“I don’t. Most of the time.” She smiled and nudged my arm and gestured to the TV.
