Craving (Steel Brothers Saga #1)(45)

I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, you guys, but there’s an Officer Dugan here to see Talon. He wants to talk to the two of you.”

Jonah arched his eyebrows. “Steve? What’s going on?”

“I haven’t a clue,” I said, “but he’s waiting in the foyer.”

Jonah rose and walked past me, Ryan and Marj following. I strode quickly on their heels. I might not be family, but I needed to know what was going on. My nerves were a wreck.

“Steve”—Jonah held out his hand—“what’s going on, buddy?”

“Hey, Joe.” Dugan shook Jonah’s hand and then Ryan’s and Marjorie’s. “I’m sorry to barge in like this.”

“I guess you’ve already met Marj’s friend Jade?” Ryan said.

Dugan smiled…sort of. “Nice to meet you.” He shook my hand.

His hand was big and meaty. And clammy with perspiration. This cop was nervous. Or hesitant.

“Come on into the living room,” Jonah said. “You want a drink?”

Dugan shook his head. “I’m here to see your brother.”

“You putting together another poker game?” Ryan smiled. “Why don’t you ever ask me to play?”

“Because you suck, Ry,” Dugan said, “but that’s not why I’m here.” He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid this isn’t a social call.”

Apprehension clogged the air. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“I need to take Talon in. I have a warrant for his arrest.”

I was helping Marion in the winery office the next morning, trying desperately to get Talon out of my mind.

He hadn’t come home last night. I’d made several pilgrimages to the kitchen, hoping to find him staring at that damned glass of water, but to no avail. I hadn’t slept, and from the looks of Ryan when I came in this morning, neither had he.

I nearly dropped the file I was working on when Marjorie burst in like a tornado, her cheeks flushed pink and her eyes rimmed with darkness, carrying a legal-size envelope. Clearly, she hadn’t slept either.

“Jade”—she forced a smile—“your bar results came.”

My stomach rose in my throat. The last thing I wanted to do was open that envelope in front of Marj and Marion.

“Morning, ladies.” Ryan strode in, his signature smile missing from his face. “How’s everything going this morning?”

And now in front of Ryan. Why couldn’t he have stayed over at the warehouse with the barrels?

Goosebumps froze on my arms. “Marj…”

“Oh, what are you afraid of? You know you passed with flying colors. My brilliant BFF could do no less.” She sighed. “Besides, we could all use some good news this morning.”

I couldn’t argue there. Marjorie, who usually slept like a baby, had clearly tossed and turned last night. Her eyes told the tale.

Ever since college, Marj had labored under the delusion that I was brilliant. The truth was I was no more brilliant than anyone else. I studied. I had to, to get scholarships. Marj, coming from the Steel Empire, hadn’t needed to worry about money. I had worked hard in school my whole life, my father driving into my head that I needed to go to college and I needed to get scholarships to be able to do it.

I’d always had scholarships, and I’d taken loans to cover the rest that my dad couldn’t and then worked to cover my living expenses.

And here Marj was building me up in front of Marion and Ryan and waving my bar results in my face. What was I supposed to do? I had to open them. And if I didn’t pass… Nothing much. I’d be mortified, that was all.

But as I had done for all tests in my entire testing career, I had studied for the bar exam. And when I studied for tests, I usually got As. So I had to go with the odds here. Why worry yet?

“I’m on pins and needles here, Jade.” Marj thrust the envelope at me.

I reluctantly took it. Telling her I didn’t want to open it in front of everyone would do no good.

They already knew it was here anyway, and whatever the result was, they would know that eventually as well.

“Yes, please don’t keep us in suspense.” Marion smiled.

I took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope. Inside were two pieces of paper. My vision blurred as I tried to read the first piece. Name, address, scan scan scan, scan scan scan…

Status.

I drew in a deep breath.

Pass.

I widened my eyes to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong.

Pass.

“I passed!” I squealed.

Marj launched herself at me, giving me a hug. She nearly stumbled, but Ryan steadied both of us.

“Easy there, squirt,” he said. “Her first lawsuit will be against you.”

Marj let me go, and I was shaking as I looked at the second sheet of paper.

“What’s that?” Marj asked.

I scanned it quickly. “It’s about the swearing in ceremony next month in Denver.”

“That’s great.” Marj clapped her hands. “We’ll all go to support you.”

“That’s not necessary. I may not even go myself. It’s not like it’s a requirement.”

“Nonsense,” Ryan said. “You should definitely be there. We’ll make sure we all get it on our calendars.”