“I think we can safely say the accusations towards you are false, and we have more to pin on Maddox now. I’m sure we have plenty we can use to round up some other people, too.”
They said their goodbyes at the entrance, and Felix exhaled. “Why do I think that’s not the last I’ve heard from them?”
“Because you’re smart,” Brett said, sliding his arm around his waist and kissing his temple.
****
Chapter 30
Brett
The public apology from Adelaide Thompson wasn’t something they had expected, but it was welcomed. She hadn’t lost her job, but the apology was a requirement for her to keep it. The noise around the accusations didn’t die quickly, but by the time their investigation and the police’s version had begun to close, there were only embers left.
The past seven days had been a whirlwind of tying up loose ends, officially ending the agreement with Malcolm, and interviewing potential new recruits. As much as Brett would’ve liked things to get back to normal—normal being him and Felix protecting Christian and Oscar—his shoulder was still in a sling, and he already knew he wouldn’t be a guard any longer, though he had yet to announce it.
One thing he had decided to do was throw a party. Yes. Brett Cage was throwing a party. Well, Nick was organising it because Brett didn’t have a fucking clue, but the idea was his, and he was sticking with that. He’d sent a meeting request to all the guards for that afternoon.
“Everything is set,” Nick said from beside him as they strode for the receiving room.
The rest of them should arrive within the hour, and for the first time in a long time, Brett felt a wave of nervousness. He hadn’t even told Felix about the event, so it would come as a surprise to him as well. He’d left a note on the door of SecHQ, directing everyone to what he was beginning to call the ‘party room.’ If it had been summer, they would’ve enjoyed the outdoors, but as it was pouring with rain, he was glad they’d decided to keep it indoors, even if a barbecue sounded great about then.
Entering the room, he paused, studying the details Nick had incorporated into the design.
“As much as I would hate to see you go, are you sure you’re not going to leave and become an event planner?” Brett said.
Nick laughed. “As much as I enjoy it, it’s too much pressure when it needs to be perfect. When it’s just me doing things I enjoy, like this, it’s easier. I’m much happier putting myself in front of a bullet.”
Brett snorted, his demeanour having softened a little since the end of the previous month. If he’d been a poetic man, he would’ve said something about the events that culminated and ended on the day of Halloween, but he wasn’t, so he hadn’t.
The door opening behind him made him look over his shoulder, and Felix entered with wide eyes.
“What’s all this?” he asked, sliding his arms around Brett’s waist on his good side. His shoulder was healing, but it still ached something fierce.
“A thank you to everyone,” he said simply.
Felix smiled and kissed him. “Then let’s get some music on. I know the exact thing.”
Brett’s smile faltered. “Nick, get him away from the music, or all we’ll be listening to is The Ports!”
Nick gaped at him. “He likes that stuff?”
“I’m not certain, but he sees it as supporting his friend.”
“Oh, crap!” Nick jogged across the room, putting a hand on Felix’s shoulder to stop him. They had a heated discussion with hand gestures, but eventually, Felix backed down and headed to where the drinks were.
More guards entered, and he welcomed them, assuring them that it was just a time to let themselves relax and enjoy some much-needed company and time off. About an hour into the party, a chant started, “Speech! Speech! Speech!” all looking at Brett.
He shook his head but smiled and stepped forward.
“I’m glad you could all make it,” he started.
“You made it mandatory!” someone called from the back.
Brett grinned. “That I did. And for good reason.” He paused, looking around at each of the men under his supervision. “It has certainly been a tumultuous time for all of us. People we thought were friends or family weren’t. People we thought were enemies weren’t. People we trusted with our lives shouldn’t have been. It’s hard to know what’s up and what’s down. What’s right and what’s wrong. Lives have changed irrevocably.” His thoughts went to Carl, who refused to attend the gathering despite the phone call Brett had made asking him to reconsider. “But to the people in this room, you are priceless. You are the heart of this small section of the world. You are what makes our lives better.” Cheers sounded, glasses clinked, but Brett waved them down.
Owen shouted up at him. “It sounds like you’re leaving.”
Brett smirked. “It is with that in mind that I make my next announcement. I am stepping down from full-time guarding and will become Head of Security only.”