Angel Rising Book 1(The Brethren Series book 4)
Excerpt:
“You have two follow up emails to send before you do
anything today, and three appointments running consecutively after lunch, so
make sure you’re back here by one o’clock.” Hannah’s stiletto heels
click-clacked against the tile floor in rapid-fire succession on her way to
Gabriel’s office. “Oh, and Marty’s called in sick, again. You know that’s the
fifth time in two weeks. Laney will be in late for the rest of the week. She
has to take the kids to her mother’s since their day care facility is getting
fumigated for termites. Barbara and Stanley are already out on surveillance for
the Robinson case, so it looks like it’s just you and me holding down the fort.
Any questions?”
“Yes. When do you stop to breathe?”
Hannah spun around and rolled her eyes as she waited
for her boss to catch up. “Seriously, Gabriel, you walk way too slow. If I can
walk fast in these torture devices with five inch heels, you can at least have
the decency to keep up in your comfy Italian designer shoes. Now, come on. Time
is freedom.” She grabbed the crook of his arm and urged him onward to his
office. “And as for breathing? It’s overrated.”
“Is it now? I find it comes in quite handy on many
an occasion. You need to slow down! What do you always tell me? Take a breath.
Smell the flowers. I have an account with the florist now, as you know. We have
pretty-smelling flowers everywhere in the building. Try taking a sniff or two
yourself.”
She dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. “I
don’t know what’s gotten into you today, Mister Sunshine. You’re confusing me.
A confused Hannah is not good for my health. Where’s the Doom and Gloom
Gabriel, the ultra-serious Brethren, I’ve learned to appreciate and expect over
the years? Did you wake up on the right
side of the bed this morning?”
He shrugged, but said nothing.
“I’ll tell you exactly what’s going to happen if I
follow that lovely directive of yours and take a breath. You’re gonna go crazy,
as if you weren’t already, which in turn will drive me crazy. You like this
pace. It gets quick results. That’s what you want, isn’t it? The quicker you
get into a case and solve it, the quicker you can start a new one. Am I right
or am I right? Be honest now.”
She nudged his arm and swore she could hear him
chuckle under his breath. Score!
“Okay! You’re right. I’m an impatient bastard when
it comes to these cases.”
“So, in this
instance, my exuberance, fast pace, and high tolerance for no air in my body
gets you desired results.”
Gabriel shook his head and opened his office door,
ushering her inside first. “I give up. You’re right. I don’t know what I’d do
without you as my assistant. I don’t think we’d have gotten as many cases
closed over the years without your taskmaster spirit.”
“You’re welcome. Now, about these tasks to be done
for this morning’s mission—the Evans case….”
“Yes, well, there is no mission without Marty.” He
shut the door behind him. “He’s lead on that one, so any morning field work is
scrubbed. We have a couple of other open cases that need some research before
we can move forward with them.”
“I could do it with you.”
“Well, the research is pretty cut and dry….”
“No, I mean Marty’s case. I can do the mission
today. I know the case and what his plans are since I handle all the mission
files.”
“It’s too dangerous for you out there. No.” Gabriel
sat down in front of his network of computers and wouldn’t look at her.
“Are you kidding me right now? We have a case that
can’t wait for Marty to get well. We’re talking, what? Ten kids? More? He’s
already behind schedule. Every day you wait for him to get better is another
day that those kids are exploited. I don’t think you want that resting on your
shoulders.”
He grumbled and muttered something unintelligible
under his breath. Fuming, she slammed a hand on his desk and leaned in. A
raised eyebrow gave her pause. Had she gone too far? She backed down into a
chair and lowered her voice.
“Don’t insulate me. I’m not a museum piece to be
stowed away in one of your art galleries. I think I’ve earned my stripes here a
long time ago.” Her hands had found the long bow of her flouncy, silk blouse
and worried the ends into disarray. She glanced down, smoothed them out, and
flattened her hands on her jeans. “You know I have.”
“Damn it! I know all too well, Hannah. It’s
something I’ve never forgotten. Protecting is what I do. I can’t just turn it
off because of who you are, or what you’re going to be. I’m a
Protector, and you will be protected
by me."
Thanks so much, Mary, for being a part of today's ANGEL RISING BLITZ! <3
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