The Epilogues: Part I: Badge of Honor (The Potentate of Atlanta Book 6), Hailey Edwards [year 2 reading books TXT] 📗

“Let me braid this out of the way.” I touched my bedhead hair. “We’ll meet you in the lobby.”

Midas hung back, and I wanted to bury my face in his chest and stay that way forever, but I didn’t.

“I feel like a piece of Laffy Taffy.” I plaited like the wind. “Stretched thin and pulled in all directions.”

“I’m guessing that was Jefferies’s plan. Divide your focus and conquer.”

Hand on the doorknob, I gave the apartment one last glance before slipping into the hall with Midas.

“Sue can’t take our home,” he reminded me. “It’s ours, free and clear. Not an POA perk.”

“I love your mom.” I wiped my eyes dry. “It’s just a place, but…”

“It’s not just a place.” He led me into the elevator. “It’s our home.”

And I hadn’t realized how badly I needed one until the deed arrived in our mailbox.

The ride down gave me precious seconds to dry my face and gather my armor around me, the way Linus had taught me. After the doors slid open, I fumbled my first step when I caught sight of the huge crowd.

Bishop, Remy, Ford, Lisbeth, Tisdale, Abbott, Grier, Linus, Addie, Boaz.

And so many more.

“You guys.” I sniffled at the sight of my brother and his fiancée. “You came.”

“Where else would we be?” Boaz’s smile stretched his cheeks. “We’ve got front-row seats.”

Addie rushed over, hugging me to give Boaz cover to do the same, and we stood in a tight clump.

Arms around us both, he leaned in and whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”

The praise warmed me but not enough to fight off the chill of what awaited me.

There were so many ways what I was about to do could go wrong.

“Thanks,” I said thickly. “I wouldn’t be here without you.”

“I’m proud of you, little sis.” Addie squished me until I squeaked. “You got this.”

A hole opened in my chest where all their well-wishes tumbled into the darkness of the unknown.

This was not the night I had trained for, but the past two years had primed me to deal with this threat.

“Thanks.” I seemed to be stuck on repeat tonight. “I couldn’t have done this without you either.”

The two of them had given me Hadley, gifted me the foundation upon which to build my second chance.

Then Linus showed up with a hammer and a boxful of nails.

This new life expanded from there, every friendship a plank under my feet, a wall at my back, a roof over my head. I was blessed, so blessed, and I wanted to hug every single person. But there was no time.

The story of my life.

“I apologize for stealing her away before you each get a chance to visit with her.” Linus cast his voice through the lobby as he extracted me. “Hadley must take her place. She will visit with you all after.”

After.

After was, quite frankly, terrifying me at this point.

Only the knowledge I was gambling with my future, and with people’s lives, kept me from being swept away with the others on the high of the moment. Remembering that, none of the rest felt real anymore.

Only Midas, his warm hand in mine, kept me anchored to reality.

On the edge of the crowd, Bishop tipped his chin to let me know he was leaving. “What?”

“What do you mean what?” I cleared a path to him, hooked my arm through his, and leashed him to my side. “Bish, you’re my best friend. My number one. I want you here with me.”

Emotion twisting his expression, he swallowed hard. “Okay, kid.”

“Move aside,” Remys yelled in tandem. “You were leaving without us?”

Five of them worked the gathering, shoving people out of their way to reach me, then shrank into one.

Throat tight, I had trouble playing it cool. “No?”

“Liar.” Remy bumped Midas out of her way then looped her arm through my other one. “I saw you being all buddy-buddy with Grier.” She made gagging noises, which didn’t endear her to Linus, who stood close enough to overhear. “I’m willing to let you delude yourself into believing Bishop is your bestie. He’s a loser loner boy who needs all the friends he can get. But I’m seven friends in one, and your business partner, and I’m all-around awesome. I demand the respect I’ve earned.”

“I thought you might have been too busy.” I wasn’t the only one spread thin across the city. “I’m sorry.”

“I am too busy, because of the aforementioned awesomeness, but I’m always here for you.”

Tugging her closer, I leaned into her side. “Thanks.”

Tisdale stepped up to Midas’s side and wrapped her arm around his waist.

I’m not going to lie. I was jealous. I hoped I had time for a hug before the gunshot or flag or whatever.

Our mass exodus onto the sidewalk left me heading up a procession that reminded me of the march with my allies after we took down the witchborn fae coven. Together. As a city.

Here we were again, multiple factions, united in their support of…me.

And here I was, about to risk their futures for my friend.

“It’s okay to cry.” Bishop kept his voice low. “It’s good to let them see what they mean to you.”

The tears seeping down my cheeks were three parts love and one part regret.

“Or they’ll think you’re a huge sap.” Remy snickered, busy pretending everything was okay for the sharp ears around us. “That could play in your favor in the trial. Let the crowd see your big girly eyes full of girly feelings and girly tears rolling down your cheeks. Sympathy ploy, all the way. Then gut the losers in the gauntlet. Seriously. You have swords. Use them.”

The only weapons allowed in the gauntlet were the ones I had used nightly for the past two years. That gave me Ambrose, aka my wraith, my modified pen, and my swords. That was it. I had planned to wear my usual getup for this part—jeans, sneakers, and a tee—but now I was fancy. It would be much harder to punch holes in me while I was wearing Kevlar-lined everything.

A sneaking