Rock Chick Reckoning (Rock Chick #6)(122)

“I have a right to protect my home and my boys,” Shirleen retorted.

“I’m sorry but I’m not sure it’s policy to al ow firearms in the homes of foster carers,” pinch-faced lady shot back with saccharine sweetness.

“He shot three times into the livin’ room. The night before, Roam had fal en asleep on the couch watchin’

movies. He could have been hit!” Shirleen clipped.

“You can explain that while we take your report,” pinch-faced lady said. “But those boys are going to need to be moved today.”

“Those boys aren’t goin’ anywhere,” Shirleen fired back.

I looked across the room and Preston Mason was grinning.

Erm.

No.

Someone had to do something and that someone was going to be me.

“Are you saying Shirleen has to give up her constitutional rights to be a foster carer?” I asked pinch-faced lady.

Pinch-faced lady swung her pinched-face to me. “Who are you?”

“I’m Shirleen Jackson’s friend,” I answered.

Pinch-faced lady’s eyes went to Jerky George and she asked, “Does she deal drugs too?”

Shirleen growled. Preston Mason laughed. I felt both Mace and Vance go stil . My head prepared to explode.

“What did you say?” I hissed, taking a step forward but Mace moved, his arm came around my waist and he halted my progress by hauling me against his body.

“Everyone knows what she is.” Pinch-faced lady pointed at Shirleen.

I leaned toward her, straining at Mace’s arm. “I want you to say it. Out loud. So everyone in this room can bear witness to your slander.”

“Stel a,” Mace spoke low behind me.

“No,” I twisted to look at Mace. “They wanna dig their hole deeper? We should let them. Hel , we should encourage it!” I ended up yel ing.

“Be quiet,” Mace ordered.

I was not going to be quiet.

My mother was just mean to me and Mace heard it and it made him destroy a phone.

My father had been mean to me al my life.

In fact, al my life I’d been rol ing over and letting people deliver gut kick after gut kick.

I was done rol ing over.

I turned around and glared at George. “How stupid are you?” I asked.

His eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry?”

“Have you not been reading the paper? Don’t you know that everyone who works in this office is famous? We’re the darlings of Denver. So, if you don’t get your, and her,” I pointed to both of them, “asses outta here, I’m cal ing The Denver Post and I’m tel ing them all about you. You won’t have to wait for Lee to wipe the floor with you. I’ll do it.” George’s eyes moved to Mace and he demanded,

“Mason, control your woman.”

“Oh no. Not gonna happen,” I cut in shaking my head.

“Lee said you wanted the Governor’s mansion. So when folks go to vote do you want people to remember you as the guy who brought low a good woman, a woman who not only opens her home to runaways but puts herself in the path of bul ets to keep them safe? Oh, I bet the people of Colorado wil just love that. Coloradans, by the way, don’t care about their Second Amendment rights. Don’t let that worry you one bit!” I snapped sarcastical y and then went on. “And Jules, a social worker who’s pregnant for God’s sake. She spends her days doing good deeds and you’re making her life miserable. And let’s not forget the rest of the Rock Chicks, living behind alarms and not able to go anywhere without bodyguards. We were just going about our business and then we al got shot at! Shot at! I got hit!” I was now yel ing. “Two of those Rock Chicks are fiancées of cops. Cops who keep the streets safe. I’m sure that’l make you real popular. And you could stop it but you didn’t. Al of this as retribution because you didn’t get your way not because you were fighting for right, for justice but because you were standing in the way of it while people’s asses were on the line. How’s that gonna sound? That’s gonna make juicy headlines, George. I’m sure I’l find a reporter who’l eat this up. You’re gonna be f**ked. People wil hate you.”

I’d run out of steam so I stopped and watched as George’s eyes were working. He didn’t get a chance to say anything because that’s when Preston Mason stood and he did so while clapping.

“Bravo, Stel a,” he said to me when he stopped his one man ovation. “You’re good. I liked the touch with the Second Amendment. I guess you didn’t skip that class while you were in school.”

“Go to hel ,” I hissed.

“You have your daughter kidnapped and murdered then you’l know the meaning of hel ,” he shot back and I felt the air grow thick as Mace went tight behind me and I felt waves of hostility coming from Vance and Shirleen.

As for me, wel , what could I say?

I was on a rol .

“You sure that hel has to do with Caitlin being kidnapped and murdered? Or is it something else, Preston?” I asked.

“Maybe that hel is knowing you had a beautiful daughter and an accomplished son and you spent your time making money and screwing people over and not getting to know your own f**king children.”

I scored a point. I knew this because his face twisted.