Randall sat down, crossed his legs, ankle on knee, cracked open his beverage, and studied Ashford. Hopefully, you kept your promise, Jessica.
∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞
.
Chapter 34
Family First
7:59 P.M.
Having spent the last thirty minutes arguing, bringing up the past, apologizing for bringing up the past, and repeating this process twice more, Devlin and Faith were physically and emotionally drained.
“Faith,” Devlin sighed, “I love you. You know that. But believe me when I tell you...your track record with men,” she grimaced, it sucks, “it’s not good. Odds are this thing with Noah is eventually going to fizzle out. And, when that happens, you’ll be forcing me to pick a side...you or him.”
Faith lifted her head to gaze into her sister’s pleading eyes.
“Please don’t make me have to choose between the two of you.” Devlin approached and laid a gentle hand on each of her sibling’s shoulders. “Because you know I’ll always choose my family...every time...over anyone else...regardless of the consequences.”
A halfhearted smile came and went from Faith’s face. “I know.” A beat. “I know you would. And I don’t want to screw things up with you and Noah. So,” she filled her lungs, looked away, and exhaled, “I’ll back off.”
Devlin shut her eyes. “Thank you.”
“I don’t know.” Faith turned around and ran fingers through her hair. “Maybe this whole thing centers around the classic hero/savior complex. I mean I was only moments away from being assaulted. And most little girls dream of a handsome man swooping in to save the day.” She huffed. “All that was missing was the white horse I guess.”
Devlin smiled.
Faith shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe I was primed for falling for him.” She regarded her sister for a long moment before lifting arms and going in for a hug.
Devlin embraced her. “I love you, baby sis.”
“Love you, too, Jess.”
They separated.
Devlin rubbed Faith’s upper arm. “Family first?”
Faith repeated their mantra. “Family first.”
Devlin put an arm around Faith’s shoulders, Faith slipped an arm around Devlin’s lower back, and the two strolled toward the door.
The older woman cast a sideways glance at the younger female. “I’ve been meaning to tell you...it’s been fun working with you.”
“I’ve enjoyed it, too.”
“Listen, I’m not trying to pick up where Dad left off, but...have you ever thought about moving back to Virginia? You’d have a job already waiting for you, you know?”
Faith glanced at Devlin. “You mean working with you? And Noah? Are you sure that’s wise considering what we just discussed?”
The U.S. Marshal pursed her lips. “I suppose you could be right. Well, I’ll leave that up to you. But it sure would be nice to have you by my side.”
Barely shaking her head, Faith opened the door. “I like being a detective, Jess. And I like living in Seattle. It would,” seeing Randall through the patio door, “take something special to,” she half closed an eye at him, or someONE special, “to get me to move.”
Devlin nodded. “I understand.”
The women left the den.
“Well, the job is yours if you ever decide you want a change of scenery.”
*******
For the past several minutes, Ashford had talked about loyalty and sacrifice as well as his former partner when he worked for the FBI, Special Agent Raychel DelaCruz. He took a pull from his beer and held the bottle in both hands on his thigh. “If it had come to it, Mr. Randall, I would have done anything to protect Cruz, including taking a bullet for her.”
“She sounds top-notch.” Randall eyed his male counterpart. Where’s this all heading, Curt, old buddy, old pal?
“As you’re aware, Jessica’s partner did just that for her.”
Randall’s stomach tightened. He made a face and quickly took a drink to wash down the guilt flaring up. Guess I’m not quite over that yet.
“Blake was a great guy.”
Randall nodded. “That’s what I’ve heard.”
“Jess liked him. I liked him. Everyone liked him.”
A bird chirped in a nearby tree.
On the other side of the house, a car zoomed by the street, a thumping bass beat and foul lyrics blasting out its windows.
Ashford leaned forward, put his beer on the deck near his foot, and rested elbows on knees. “So tell me something, Mr. Randall.” He confronted his guest.
Randall locked eyes with him.
“Are you a great guy, too? Would you do anything to keep my wi—Jessica—safe?”
Randall lowered his gaze, focusing his attention on his beer bottle’s small opening. Fair question. He rolled the query around in his brain. I haven’t known her all that long. And we did start out on rocky ground.
Shadows moved inside the house.
He pivoted his head a couple degrees.
Devlin and Faith approached the closed patio door.
The feeling of imminent death cascaded over him as he saw himself falling through the air right before Devlin caught him on the mountain. I’d be dead right now.
He saw her removing his handcuffs and giving him a gun when they were holed up in a shack in Mexico. She took a big chance on me that day.
Randall replayed the question in his mind, Would YOU do anything to keep Jessica safe? before looking Ashford square in the eye. “Yes. I would.”
Ashford let a sliver of a smile play out over his features. “When asked that question, a lot of people would have responded immediately in the affirmative...without contemplating the implications of their reply.” A beat. “I appreciate you taking the time to consider your answer. And I think...”
The sliding glass door opened.
“...that says a lot about your character, Noah.”
Randall hiked an eyebrow a fraction of an inch. Noah? Must be a good sign.
Devlin stepped onto the deck. “Sorry we left you guys with the dirty dishes.”
Ashford cocked his head at his wife. “Are you? Are you really?”
A twinkle in her eye, she sent him a coy grin.
“Yeah. I didn’t think so. That’s all right.” He motioned toward Randall. “Noah and I cranked them out in record time.”
Devlin spied her work partner. “I hope he didn’t crack the whip too hard.”
Randall shook his head. “Not at all. I was happy to help.”
She glanced down at
