She was also one of the reasons I had horrendous nightmares.
Okay, that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t her fault her husband was a piece of shit. She’d even been the reason I got out of there in one piece. Well, Hunter was the reason. Hunter, my other best friend…
Jesus, it was complicated.
What wasn’t in my life?
Rubbing my temple, I muttered, “Okay, pain in the ass, what’s going on? Why are you resigning?”
“There’s been a development.”
Suspiciously, I asked, “What kind of development? I wasn’t notified about any changes in Currau’s case.”
Rory grunted. “Not where he’s concerned. I’m talking on a different front. The Famiglia has made an arrangement with the Irish Mob—”
“I don’t need to know this,” I grated out. “Can’t you keep me in the loop without telling me stuff that’ll get my head blown up?”
She snorted. “Since when are you in danger of that?”
“I’m not Wonder Woman. I’m pretty sure even her damn skull would cave in from a bullet to the temple.”
“The way you’re spread thin among Manhattan’s criminal elite tells me you have your security locked up nice and tight.”
“Dear God, did you just laugh?” I asked, horrified.
“I’m happy.”
“You are?”
If I sounded disbelieving, that wasn’t because I was a bitch. Although, undoubtedly, most of the people who knew me thought I was one…
“Yes. We’re close, Rach. So damn close.”
I let that assimilate then asked, “I haven’t heard anything.”
“The Irish agreed to meet with the Italians… It's time to finally get out." Her voice turned softer as she whispered, “It’s happening, Rach. It’s happening.”
I swallowed. “That’s… Well, I don’t know what that is, Rory. But if it makes you happy then I’m glad.”
Another soft laugh echoed down the line. “There’s a sweet irony to the fact that you’re a good girl surrounded by bad people, Rachel.”
“I’m good at getting bad people out of dicey situations,” I grumbled, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“There’s no denying that.” She sighed. “I didn’t speak with you over Christmas. I tried to call but there was no answer.”
“It was crazy.”
“Why? We haven’t caught up in ages.”
“No,” I said sadly. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Are you coming to the city soon?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Feel like meeting up? I found a delicious Zinfandel—”
“Rory? I have to tell you something.”
“What?” It was her turn to sound suspicious. “Is it why I haven’t spoken to you in ages?”
“No." Awkwardly, I muttered, "You know I prefer rosé."
She paused. "What?"
I grimaced. "I mean... Never mind. I-I only found this out on Christmas Eve. Well, I had it confirmed.”
“Are you sick?” She gasped. “Oh, God, you are, aren’t you?”
“No, no, nothing like that.” I braced myself for the fallout. “I’m pregnant.”
Silence fell at that, and I got it.
I really did.
“You still there?” I asked after a couple minutes of quiet. I mean, I knew she was there. I could hear her breathing. But I figured it was time to wake her up from whatever was making her sound like I had a heavy breather down the line. “Rory?” I prompted impatiently.
“I thought you weren’t going to do that again?”
I felt the sting of tears at the betrayal in her voice. “Why do you think I didn’t want to tell you, Rory?”
“Parting with Wynter was one of the hardest things you ever had to do. I watched you mourn her for months, Rachel. You were like the walking dead back then. Why are you putting yourself through that again?”
“I’m not going to give this one up.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I-I can’t do that again.”
“King’s the father, of course,” she said flatly. Not a single lilt in the words to make it a question.
“Of course.”
“I bet he’s over the moon, isn’t he?”
Her bitterness took me aback. “No. He doesn’t know yet.”
“He doesn’t?”
“No. You’re the first person I’ve told.” That wasn’t a lie. Giulia had found out on her own, and she’d told the council. Not me.
“If you think that gives you brownie points, you’d be right.”
My lips twitched.
“Does Hunter know?”
“I just told you you’re the first person I’ve clued in, Rory.”
“Was just trying to see if you’d perjure yourself.”
“I don’t need you keeping me on my toes.”
“No. You’re the only defense attorney I don’t whoop in court.” She huffed disgustedly. “Are you going to tell Hunter?”
“I will, yes,” I said, carefully. “You’ve spoken to him recently?”
“No.”
The short answer had me rolling my eyes. I was pretty sure Rory needed a good fuck.
And I said that with all the love in my heart.
If Hunter would just get on with it, and stop acting like Rory walked on water, they’d both get over this… this… whatever the hell this was.
I grumbled, “I refuse to be caught in the middle.”
“Oh, I know,” she grumbled back. “You’re like Switzerland.”
“No, I’m a safe place for both of you to land.”
“Like Switzerland,” she retorted.
“If you’re going to be a dick, I’m hanging up on you.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t hang up. We can meet tomorrow night?”
“Yes. No Zinfandel though.”
“Ice cream?”
I shuddered. “Yes. Plenty of it.”
She paused. “Things are that bad?”
“Things are crazy. I wasn’t lying earlier.”
“Are you okay?”
“Not really.” The urge to tell her that Rex had gone missing was a strong one, but if I did… I knew Rory too well. She’d involve the cops and Nyx and the rest had made it quite clear that wasn’t an option. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“Fine.”
“Rory?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad things are working out for you. I-I know this has been the end goal.”
“It has. Thanks, Rach,” she said softly. “See you tomorrow.”
I hummed as we cut the call then reached for my bottle of water when the little light on it flashed, reminding me that I needed to drink.
As I sipped, I thought about those end goals of hers.
It was funny, really. We’d been bitter rivals at the start of college, until later that first year when we’d been paired together for an assignment and we’d realized how alike we actually were.