Say Yes, Senator: A Best Friend's Little Sister Political Romance

by Nicole Elliot

  Time to call this in.

  I jogged back up to the ground floor and checked to ensure all three bindings on the perps were secure. Cathal had passed out, and the other two were motionless.

  Satisfied, I ran back to my car, eyes sweeping for movement. I didn’t see anything.

  I grabbed my cell, and my breath caught in my throat.

  Five missed calls from Lucas. Shit.

  It started ringing again. Lucas was calling me, desperate to get hold of me. A tight coldness entered my stomach, and I feared for the worst.

  “Lucas, talk to me!” I said after swiping at the phone.

  “Jack, fuck. Glad you answered. I’m hurt, man. Real bad.” Coughing sounded on the other end of the line as Lucas spoke, his voice cracking with pain.

  “Conall! Conall O’Rourke came here, man. Beat me up. I can’t move, Maria's holding the phone…” He coughed again.

  “He came in, took me by surprise. I wasn’t quick enough, Jack. He threatened to kill my wife and kids if I didn’t tell him where Eden was. I’m sorry Jack. So sorry…” His voice trailed off and I heard sobbing coming from Lucas and his wife.

  “Lucas! Listen to me, don’t apologise. You done great, alright. You did everything you could. If it weren’t for you, he’d be at her house now, smashing in the door. Tell me where she is, and then get Maria to call you an ambulance!” I said quickly. I memorised the location he gave me, visualising the long straight road out of town that would take me to Eden. It was about ten minutes from where I was.

  Lucas told me through gritted teeth and waves of pain that Conall had just left a little while ago. He had a headstart on me. I shouted for Maria and told her to call an ambulance for Lucas. I promised I’d get a cop to them in as soon as possible.

  I called my Lieutenant, and he answered in a second.

  “Jack, what’s ha…”

  “Sir, I’ve busted the lab. Didn’t have a choice, they were packing up. Conall must have panicked. I need you to come here with backup and arrest the guys I’ve tied up. One is hurt bad, you better call an ambulance for him or he’s gonna bleed out.”

  I gave him the location of the lab and told him about Lucas. He cursed, and said he’d get a cop over to look after them immediately.

  “Sir, I’ve gotta go. Conall’s on his way to Eden now. He beat the location out of Lucas and threatened Maria and the kids. I gotta go.”

  “Ok Jack. Go!” he said and hung up the phone.

  I sped off, heading towards the motel Lucas had given me directions to.

  Time for a showdown with Conall. I just hope I get there in time.

  I cursed at myself, having not saved Eden’s number into my cell yet. I flicked through recent calls, trying to find the number she’d called me on. Then my phone rang. It was Eden. Conall was there already.

  I put my foot hard on the gas, jaw clenched with concentration as I drove wildly for the motel.

  TWENTY

  Eden

  Conall strode into the room, looking bored, a half smile on his face as he studied the faded surroundings.

  “Come on, Eden. You can do better than this dump. If you had decided to come crawling back to me, you’d be living it up in a five-star hotel.” He shook his head.

  “Oh, your cop friend ain't looking too good. Leaking all over the place. Don’t think he’s gonna make it. In fact, he’s dead already. Sorry about that. He shot first though, honest!” He laughed cruelly, and one of the unscathed goons behind him chuckled in approval.

  “Ain’t as if he can say otherwise now, is it boys?” He sat on the bed, elbows on his knees.

  “Shark. Check if there’s anything to drink, would ya?” He frowned at his wounded comrade.

  “And Sunny, what the fuck, man? You look like shit.” He turned to face the fourth guy.

  “Delroy. Go and patch him up. Keep an eye out for our friend. The one Eden loves so much. We’re gonna have it out, me and him. Thinks he can steal my girl, take me down? Well, we’ll see about that, won’t we! I’m king of this fucking jungle!” His voice rose with anger and he swung his arm wildly, smashing the bedside lamp with a spade-like hand.

  The guy Conall had called Shark pushed past me, shoving me out the way. I stumbled into the wall, my mind racing.

  Shit. He’s pissed and out of control. Hope he doesn’t hurt me before Jack gets here. But when he does get here, Conall, you’re going down.

  Shark grabbed three beers from the six pack, and I was surprised when he handed me one. He winked at me. I shuddered at the cold gaze from his black, soulless eyes.

  “Here you go, boss,” he said in a deep, emotionless monotone. His sharp teeth showed yellow through a horrid smirk.

  The ugly bastard does look just like a shark. A huge, fat, ugly shark, that is.

  Conall opened the beer and drained half the contents. He took out a pipe and lighter and started smoking meth, casually dragging at the pipe and breathing out plumes of thick, acrid smoke. He passed the pipe to Shark, who took it with a curt nod. Conall turned to face me.

  “Well now, Eden. You thought you could snitch on me and run?” He tutted, wagging a finger at me.

  “I got contacts, you know. A… friend… of mine, told me he’d seen you leaving with your old pal Lucas. Well, Lucas and I had a little chat. He wasn’t so tough when he was lying bleeding on the floor. Told me everything to save his sorry ass. His wife though… wow. Wouldn’t guess she’s squeezed four kids out. If I’d had more time…” He trailed off, eyes wide from the meth.

  “Anyway, I’m getting distracted. I knew what you and your boyfriend were up to the instant I heard about you leaving the house earlier with Lucas. Fucking Lucas!” His voice shook with rage.

  “I should have known! Him and Jack and you, all best buddies! Sneaking around behind my back, thinking you’re clever! Well who’s clever now?”

  Shark spoke up.

  “You are boss, got ‘em good. Our boys should be clearing out the… uh, the warehouse. Ain’t gonna be no evidence against you. Cathal’s sorting it out. If Jack shows up, the yardie will get him. He’s mean and quick.” Conall was nodding at him.

  “Let’s hope so. Or he’s in trouble, I swear. I don’t pay him for nothing.” He turned to face me, sighing and leaning back.

  “So what are we gonna do with you, sweetheart?” He eyed me up and down. I crossed my arms and opened the can of beer, trying to remain calm as I sipped at the contents.

  “Shark. I think she’s shy. What do you think we should do?” He addressed his thug, shrugging his shoulders in feigned boredom.

  God I hate you, Conall.

  “You should kill her. Now. Before she gets a chance to talk. Simple. I’ll do it, if you want,” he said, coldly.

  Conall was laughing, shaking his head.

  “Everything’s simple when you’ve got a small shark brain, moron. And what do you think Jack is gonna do if he shows up and we’ve shot her? He’s gonna call his clean little cop buddies and they’re gonna swarm all over us.” He paused, leaning forward to poke Shark in the chest.

  “Even the guys we’ve made a deal with won’t be able to do anything if we murder a witness in cold blood. They’ll be forced to make a show of dissociating themselves from us. Probably suddenly become best buddies with Jack and come down here for the shootout with him.”

  He looked out of the dirty window, expression closed. His jaw bunched as he thought.

  “No, what we’re gonna do is have a little chat with Jack boy when he gets here. ‘Cause I think he’s working alone. If the other cops knew, I’d know about it too. He’s gonna rush over here and try and be a hero, single handedly saving this bitch. That’s if he’s still alive. Cathal’s probably got him by now.” He smiled cruelly.

  He got a phone out and dialed a number. He turned to me, shrugging. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

  His face dropped after a while. I guessed there was no answer. He dialed again. Nothing. Tried another number, I guessed. Still nothing.


  He threw the phone against the wall in a rage.

  “Fuck!” He rose and started pacing, striding back and forth.

  Light flashed in my eyes as he slapped me across the face. A hard, backhand that sent me tumbling.

  “It’s your fault! Couldn’t keep your mouth shut. Or your legs closed!” he spat, finger in my face.

  I feared he’d start beating me, but he merely gritted his teeth and stood up.

  I heard a car approaching in the distance, engine revving wildly.

  Conall smiled.

  “Here he comes to save the day. This’ll be fun!” He drew out a massive revolver, a hand spinning the chamber. He was laughing.

  “This is my favorite part! The part where I win!”

  His blood-drenched henchman stumbled to the door, leaning on the frame, panting.

  “He’s here, boss!”

  He had a silver gun in his hand. Shark drew out a pistol from the back of his pants, cold eyes narrowing as he turned to face the parking lot.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Jack

  I made good time, flaunting the speed limit as I tore towards the motel.

  This is it, Jack. Focus.

  I allowed myself a moment to dwell on Eden, her face appearing in my mind. Her words echoed in my head.

  I think I love you too, babe. Damn. I’m coming to get you. Hang in there.

  I spotted the motel in the distance and considered my options, my mind cold and calculating. Discretion was not an option. The motel was on the right side of the road, and the rooms were lined up facing away from my approach. I saw a figure poke his head out from behind the edge of the row of buildings.

  He disappeared after spotting me. I sped to the motel, opening the driver’s window as I approached. A mad plan formed in my mind. I took my glock from my holster and swiftly replaced the clip, setting the half-empty clip on the passenger seat beside me.

  I took a deep breath as I reached the motel and focused my mind. Time seemed to slow perceptibly, and my vision was clear, crisp. I broke sharply and turned to the right, slamming on the handbrake. I pointed my gun out the window as the car screamed into the parking lot.

  I could see two thugs, one cowering behind a car and one half out of an open motel room door. The guy behind the car was in my line of sight briefly as I passed.

  I squeezed the trigger wildly, sending a hail of 9mm bullets at him in quick succession. I saw him flinch as the first few bullets hit him, then his head snapped back violently, blood spraying in a brutal cloud.

  The car came to a stop, dust swirling around me and obscuring my vision. I surveyed the scene down the sights of my glock. I could make out three large, male figures. Two inside the room. One at the door. The guy at the door was hurt, badly. A gut wound was leaking blood through a poorly applied makeshift bandage.

  Where is Eden? Did she get away? If so, why are you still here, Conall? No, she’s gotta be in there. If he’s hurt her…

  Violent images of retribution flashed across my mind. It would take all of my restraint to stay calm if anything had happened to her, to make the arrest rather than put him down. I steeled myself, opening the car door with my left hand as I stepped out.

  I jumped over the bonnet and took cover behind the car.

  “Police! Come out with your hands up! No one else has to die today!” I shouted, knowing what the response would be. A couple gunshots rang out, pinging off the car. I ducked my head instinctively.

  Well, I tried.

  I edged towards the back of the car, guessing the guy’s aim was trained at the front, where I’d been moments earlier. The guy looked like he could barely stand, let alone shoot straight. I chose my moment. Popping up, I held a gun in a two-handed grip.

  The guy was aiming his gun at the front of the car, as I’d guessed. I shot him coolly in the head and chest, the sound of two bullets cracking loudly off of the buildings in front of me.

  I jumped over the trunk and was spotted as a large figure stepped from the door, gun aimed at me. I recognized Sharky instantly.

  He was edging towards me, sharp eyes looking over the top of the gun.

  He had me beat.

  Shit. Jumped too early.

  I landed on my feet, and as I looked up he was grinning at me.

  “Jack. Raise that gun and you’re dead. I know you got a jacket on, right? Well, I’m aiming for your head.” He was smiling in triumph, eyes cold.

  “You’ve caused a massive headache for us, me and Conall. He wants a word with you. Got an offer for you.” He glanced at my gun.

  “Oh, and drop the gun any others you got if you wanna see Eden again.” His small, black eyes fixed on mine.

  “OK. You got me. I’m gonna put my gun on the ground. Nice and slow, then I’m gonna kick it away. It’s the only one I got.” I lied and stretched slowly, placing my gun on the floor. I kicked it towards him and metal scraped across the concrete surface of the parking lot.

  “You better not be lying, pig,” he said in a flat voice, edging closer to me.

  “I ain’t lying. You can search me if you want.” I shrugged, casually.

  “Police budget, you know! It was the jacket or the spare gun!” I laughed loudly, and his eyebrows raised. His gun lowered a fraction as he approached, taken aback by my casual demeanor.

  I spotted my chance. The image in front of me seemed to freeze in my mind. I lowered my hands to just above my hips, palms facing outwards. His gaze followed my hands, eyes narrowing.

  We stood there, facing off against each other. My legs were spread wide, knees bent slightly.

  Now.

  My hand flashed like lightning into my pocket, pulling the gun from the inside left of my trench coat. I clicked the safety off as my hand drew it out in a well-rehearsed move.

  My gun was aimed at him before he had time to react. I unloaded the full clip at his chest in a matter of seconds, walking forward as I shot fifteen bullets into his torso. He flinched with every shot, falling back as he died. He managed to get two shots off at me as he fell. One went harmlessly wide. The other grazed my chest. I grunted as I felt a rib crack.

  I slipped the clip out and slammed a new one into the gun as he hit the concrete. Blood poured from fifteen wounds in his chest. He was dead before he hit the floor.

  Conall was in the doorway in front of me, his eyes wide with amazement at the scene he’d just witnessed. I aimed my gun at him, eyes glaring.

  “Conall! Drop the gun. It’s over. All your men are dead or arrested. Come on, now.” I edged forward.

  “Jack. It ain't over until I say it's over! You hear! I got an offer for you. Let's talk, me and you. Make a deal.”

  I laughed at him and his pitiful, pleading expression. I looked into his eyes. I saw nothing but an evil man, cornered and begging.

  “I’ve got an offer for you, Conall. Drop the gun. Get on the floor. Or, I’ll shoot you. See what I did to your friend here? That could be you too, if you want. Your choice. Ain’t no third option.” I stopped edging forward, clearing my mind as I waited for his response.

  “There’s always a third option, Jack! You ain’t taking me down! You don’t get away with screwing with the O’Rourkes!” His arm raised slowly, and I waited with baited breath for him to move.

  Then something bizarre happened. A full beer can came flying from the corner of the room, hitting him in the side of the head with a loud, tinny thud. He looked to his right.

  “You fu…”

  I took my moment and shot him in the right shoulder twice, and the left shoulder once. He staggered back, gun dropping to the floor.

  Eden ran into my eyesight and picked Conall’s gun up, eyes blazing as she stared down the sights of the pistol at him.

  Good girl. Please don’t shoot him, though. We’ve got him. We can take him down. Make him live out the rest of his miserable life behind bars. I didn’t want to give him the easy way out. I’d see him pay for what he’d done. Justice would be served.

  I walked in
to the room, my gun still trained on Conall as he sat on the bed, gasping in pain, swearing at me softly through gritted teeth.

  “Go on then, finish it! Kill me, you fucks! Damn cowards!” He raged at us, mouth foaming as he spat obscenities.

  “No, Conall. You ain’t getting off that easy. I’ll see you pay for what you’ve done. Scumbag.” I risked a glance over to Eden. Her hands were shaking with anger. I could tell she wanted to shoot him.

  I stepped over and placed a hand onto hers. I gently pushed the gun down.

  “It’s over, Eden. We shoot him now, we’re just as bad as he is. Let’s put him behind bars.” She looked up into my eyes, anger lifting as she stared at me. She smiled softly, eyes wide with adoration.

  Then she turned to face Conall and suddenly cracked him in the temple with butt of his own pistol, smiling grimly at the sound it made. Conall collapsed, unconscious.

  “Damn, I’ve been wanting to do that for a while. That felt good.” She let a breath out slowly.

  I smiled at her then went to tie Conall up. I read him his rights with satisfaction, even though he was out cold. Just meant I’d have the pleasure of reading them to him again when he came round.

  I put my arm around Eden’s waist and drew her into me, kissing her deeply on the lips.

  “Let’s get you out of here, babe,” I said, bringing her into a tight embrace and kissing her on the head.

  “I’m glad you’re safe… I… I love you, Eden.”

  ***

  I’d called in the arrest, and Conall had been taken into police custody, albeit at the hospital while he recovered from his wounds. Two grim faced, uniformed cops stood guard at his door. I knew they wanted to kill Conall for murdering Al, but they resisted the urge. They were good guys.

  One of the corrupt cops had been caught trying to hide his tracks, disturbing the crime scene at the meth lab and messing with evidence. He’d been caught red-handed and taken in. He said he didn’t know Cathal, who’d recovered from his wounds quicker than I’d expected. Said he’d never seen him before.