Gasps went up all around. Felix stared at him, and Brett met his gaze, hoping his apology showed in his eyes, but he mouthed,I love you,and Felix gave a smile.
He inhaled. “But with that being said, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Except in a bar!” Landon called from the side.
“Who needs a bar when we have this?” Felix waved towards the tons of drinks and food the Sutcliffes had insisted on providing them with.
“One final thing before you descend. On the table in the corner, you will find an envelope with your name on it. And on that note, get relaxing!” Brett shouted.
Cheers rose, and everyone mingled. Brett, however, headed over to a chair in the corner, needing to sit down. He watched as some went straight for the envelopes he’d mentioned and others went for food and drink. As he’d expected, it was the newest guards who went for the envelopes, curiosity getting the better of them, whereas the older guards knew what he was like and that they’d be pissed off at him for getting them something, so they waited. It wasn’t something huge, but he hoped it got the point across about how much he respected them.
He lifted the beer bottle to his lips, his gaze finding Felix, who was talking animatedly with Locke. Felix had nothing physical to show the ordeal he had been through, but he had decided to talk to Timothy’s therapist, Derek, to sort through where his head was at. With everything that he’d found out about his uncle, dad and mum, as well as everything he’d been through, Brett wasn’t surprised, but he wholeheartedly supported him. He had been considering it himself. He still had a small emptiness inside him that he didn’t realise his sister had occupied, and it made him a little mad at times. After everything she had done, he still missed what she represented.
“You really shouldn’t have, you know?” Colt said, settling in the chair beside him.
Brett smiled. “Yes, I should. You all deserve so much more.”
Colt stared at him. “No one blames you.”
Brett’s stomach somersaulted, and he said nothing. He couldn’t deny the guilt he felt from being Venus’s brother.Mentally, he understood he wouldn’t have been able to stop her, but emotionally… He sent a small smile Colt’s way.
“I’ll believe it, eventually.”
Colt nodded and held up the envelope. “Thank you. I shouldn’t be surprised that you knew, but I am.”
Brett chuckled. “I’m the big, bad Head of Security. I know everything about everyone.”
He had made sure that each of the small gifts he’d bought for his team had been unique to them and their interests. Someone had a skydiving experience. Another a race car driving experience. Another still a spa day. The only person who didn’t have one was Felix, and that was because his gift was waiting at Brett’s house.
He noticed Darius and waved him over.
“Yes, boss?”
“I have a question for you. Do you like the job you have, or do you want something higher level?” Brett met his gaze and held it, watching the confusion and dawning excitement in his eyes.
“I’m happy to be wherever I’m needed, including high-level guarding should it be needed.”
“Nicely worded. Welcome aboard. You’ll be taking over guarding duties for me for Prince Christian.”
Darius’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Brett nodded. “You’ve always shown promise. Now it’s time to reach higher.”
“Thank you. I need to go and tell Jason.”
“Will that be a problem?”
Darius grinned. “Not at all. We’d already talked about what would happen if I ever did get promoted.”
“Good. Enjoy yourself.”
As the time wore down and guards started to leave, King Andrew entered the room, speaking with the guards he passed until he reached Brett at the same time Felix did.
“It went well?” he asked, settling into the chair Colt had vacated some time earlier.
“It did. They seem happy, so I can’t complain,” Brett said.
“Good. Brady called me. It’s finished. Completely finished. The police have closed their investigation after going through all the evidence you gathered, the information from Alastair Moore and Maddox, and even Malcolm. They located all the bomb sites and found that they had been prepped but not set. The detectives have officially arrested Maddox and Moore, and a total of fifteen others, but we’re leaving Malcolm alone.”