On Edge

  I introduced myself. “Jetta, but please, just call me Jet.” She smiled larger and it transformed her whole face. She was absolutely girl-next-door beautiful. She nodded to Luc, who stood beside me.

  “Are you staying for the gossip?” she said it in a teasing tone.

  He shook his head with a small smile. “I’ll be at the bar.” And walked off.

  The redhead next to Addie sighed heavily. “If I didn’t work with that boy….”

  She was so stunning that Miranda Kerr would be envious. I was envious.

  “I’m Kel.” She introduced herself with a wink.

  Addie rolled her eyes. “That’s a shitty greeting. Here.” She waved a hand at Evie. “That’s Evie. She’s a hacker. She works for Pax, obviously. But gets to spend all her time catering to sexpot Luc, lucky thing. Evie is our go-to. She can do pretty much anything with computers. You need IT support? This girl it is! She’s responsible for background checking all my boyfriends.”

  Evie blushed and looked down, giving a soft giggle but not denying anything.

  “This,” Addie swept a hand toward the redhead, “is Kel. Kel is our kickarse sistah. She’s basically gold. Pax hired her for her looks, but also her badarseness. She’s the one who often goes undercover as a secretary or whatnot to gather dirt on people. Complete badarse.”

  Kel laughed throatily. “I just like the pay. It keeps me in designer cars.”

  I laughed along with the table and Addie gestured to the lone guy in our group. “And this, my darling, is Jarrett Shannon McKinnon the third. He’s half Maori, half Scottish.” The man was built solid. A tattoo peeked out from under his shirt on his right bicep. His hair was black and slightly wavy. His gorgeous eyes were a dark, almost black brown. He had phenomenal smooth mocha skin and giant hands, one of which reached over and clasped mine before drawing it to his lips and pressing a kiss against my knuckles. He kept up eye contact the whole way. “Absolutely charmed.”

  My mouth dropped open and the words spit out. “Oh, my God, you’re gay.”

  The table was silent for one brief moment before they all roared with laughter.

  Jarrett dropped my hand and leaned back, chuckling. “Darling, on a scale of one to Elton John? I’m Neil Patrick Harris in drag.”

  We all laughed again as the waitress came over to take our drink orders.

  Once she’d left, Addie turned her bright brown eyes to me. “And of course, I’m Addie. Man wrangler, receptionist, personal assistant, sex bomb extraordinaire.” She swept her hands up and tilted her head back as if expecting applause. So I applauded while she primped, looking incredibly pleased to have her due.

  “I have heard there’s a story as to how you came to work with Pax.”

  She laughed. “Ah… I do love that story. Please tell me he didn’t ruin it by telling you.”

  I smiled and winked at Evie. “He told me you tell it better.”

  “But of course.” She shook her hair, causing it to tumble over her shoulders and down her back, then leaned forward as if to impart state secrets.

  “I was temping for an agency. The secretary mentioned that a position had come up at Elliot Securities and this bitch I used to work with wanted it. Everyone knows that Elliot Securities is the place to be. They pay you a shitload, give you good perks and the guys are hot as all hell.

  “So in I walk on the Monday at six in the morning. I figure, it’s a twenty-four hour security firm. Someone is bound to let me in. Sure enough, they do. I’m dressed to kill. I’m in this dark blue wiggle dress, black heels and Audrey Hepburn coat. I look amazing. I stroll in like I own the joint. I flirt with the guardsman, explain that I’m there to take the job and he lets me in. I stroll in, find my desk and settle in. About seven Paxton rolls in. He takes one look at me and lifts an eyebrow. Just one. Then says ‘and you are?’ I say, ‘your new receptionist, if you pass the test.’ He grins and waits. I ignore him and get on with my day. A few minutes later, he goes into his office and doesn’t come back out.

  “About nine my arch-nemesis arrives, and I have her escorted from the building. Pax comes out, watches, says nothing. About lunchtime, I saunter into his office and pop two buttons open.”

  I blinked, stuck imagining Pax with this sexpot. I wanted to curl up and lick my wounds by downing cookie-dough ice cream. I was nowhere near her league. I’d never measure up to Addie.

  Addie leaned forward, grinning. “I walk in, lean on the desk and give him a direct shot of the girls.”

  I decided that I really didn’t want to hear this.

  She continued, “He looks up, sees them, barely pauses before looking up into my eyes and says, ‘I don’t do workplace relationships.’”

  Everyone at the table was smiling except me. I wanted this to end. Addie laughed.

  “I said, ‘You passed. I expect a seventy thousand salary, a raise every six months, and five weeks holiday a year with Christmas and New Year’s off.’ He says, ‘Why should I even hire you?’ I say, ‘Because I’ve already fielded eighteen phone calls, sorted your filing system, organised to have a coffee machine set up in the break room, and fired your front desk guard.’”

  I started laughing with relief as once again, the table exploded with laughter. “You mean…?”

  She laughed, nodding. “Yeah. He hired me on the spot. He knows quality when he sees it, and anyone who can talk their way past a guard then fire them for the same reason… He knew I was perfect for the job.” She grinned at me and our drinks arrived.

  “Granted,” she continued as the waitress left, “in the three hours I’d been there, he’d run a background check and called my references, and by the time I walked into his office had already decided to take me on.”

  We all laughed again. I twiddled my straw and glanced over at her. “So you two never…?”

  “Never.” She shook her head. “I’m attractive–I mean, look at me–but I am not a piece of meat. I don’t do workplace relationships. They just end with men talking about your performance with your co-workers.”

  Kel lifted a glass. “Amen to that, sister.”

  It was later, after entrees and some more drinks. After Kel and Jarrett had told me a bit more about their roles at the agency. After Evie interjected ‘that’s what she said’ quotes and innuendos that were surprising and hilarious. After all that, I decided to share my history with Pax.

  I explained that we were high school sweethearts. I told them about my parents. They all were surprised to hear I was “rock royalty,” as Jarrett called me. I told them about my v-card remaining intact due to numerous reasons, to which Jarrett replied, “Well, one word to Pax and that won’t be an issue any more.”

  It was after we were interrupted by dinner arriving that I finally finished my story.

  “Where was I?” We’d helped ourselves to the shared plates and were sipping drinks as the conversation turned back to me.

  “You wrote him letters which the bastard never replied to,” Jarrett supplied helpfully.

  I nodded.

  “Right. So then I had to stop writing to him.”

  “Why?” Evie asked. I fiddled with my drink straw, eyes unfocused, feeling that familiar ache in my chest.

  “I realised I was waiting for the boy who kissed me senseless on a beach one summer rather than the man he had become. I knew that I had changed. I had grown up, I’d had to, and being responsible for your younger sibling when you’re barely out of high school yourself… it changes you.” I took a deep breath, looking Evie in the eye.

  “Pax has been to war. I wrote to him about Courtney being a diva. Our lives were—are—poles apart.” I stopped, feeling that pain inside me.

  “And that’s stopping you from going after him? Seeing if what’s between you is still there?” Kel asked the question softly. I shook my head.

  “He never wrote back. Even when he was in hospital, he never called or saw me.” The ache was there, the questions…. Why didn’t he write back? Why did he never call? We were all silent
for a long moment.

  “He keeps photos of you in his desk and his wallet.” Our eyes all flew to Addie. I blinked at her, feeling her words burn.

  “What?” The word emerged from around the sudden lump in my throat, a hoarse whisper full of pain and hope. Addie nodded at me emphatically.

  “Yep. I’ve seen them myself. Had to borrow his wallet to get him and the guys’ lunch. I clean his desk regularly. The guy hasn’t cut you out or forgotten. You’re still in there, Jet.” Her eyes were warm and I had to look away to process this. We all took a moment to chase some drinks down.

  Kel broke the silence. “I say go for it. Life is too fucking short to regret not doing something about your feelings.” She held her glass aloft. “Here’s to being deflowered by one of the most attractive mofos this side of the equator.”

  We all laughed and raised our glasses.

  “To Jet’s deflowering.”

  “To Jet!”

  “Bang his brains out, honey!”

  “Excuse me?” We all turned to see a waitress juggling drinks.

  “You ordered another round?”

  “To the waitress!” Jarrett declared, thrusting his glass toward her, causing her to blush. The rest of us followed, laughing. “To the waitress!”

  It was after dinner, but before dessert. I was laughing at Jarrett’s tale of romantic failure.

  The first gunshot shattered the front window of the restaurant and whizzed through the air, drilling a hole into the wall at the far back of the restaurant. For one brief moment the restaurant continued to operate as if nothing had happened. In the next breath, another bullet drilled through the glass, causing it to shatter further and break away. By the time it hit the floor, I’d been tackled by Evie and slammed to the ground.

  My chest compressed with an ‘Oof’ as she covered me with her body. People were screaming and shouting. Time seemed to slow down as I tried to comprehend what was happening.

  From under Evie’s arm I could see Luc crouched at the bar, gun out, dragging people down as he tried to get to us. The bullets kept coming, the noise escalating.

  I turned my head and saw Kel, Addie, and Jarrett crouched behind an upturned table. Kel and Jarrett had guns and were firing off shots as Addie slowly pushed the table toward us. We were right in the middle, sitting ducks.

  I looked up and saw Evie had her hands over her head, but most of her body was twisted so it shielded me.

  “Evie,” I whispered her name as her body suddenly jerked and her eyes flew open and met mine. Hers were wide and filled with shock and pain.

  “Oh, booger.” She didn’t say anything else, didn’t move, just lay there, holding me down as her body protected mine.

  The shots seemed to go on forever. In reality, the whole thing was over in less than forty-five seconds. Silence filled the restaurant as the shots stopped. Wheels screeched and the vehicle from which they’d been firing was gone. We heard the comforting sound of sirens in the aftermath.

  There was a heartbeat of shaky silence before a woman to our left started to scream. Movement began as diners started racing for the doors, desperate to leave. Evie was repeatedly stomped on, but didn’t say a word. Luc arrived, shoving people out of the way.

  “Get the fuck away from her!” He bent down as people scrambled past. Addie crouched down beside him as Kel and Jarrett formed a protective watch around us.

  “Evie?” Addie’s hand reached out shakily toward her. I watched as they slowly pushed her off me. “Honey?”

  Evie groaned as she rolled, her eyes coming to meet mine. “Jet?”

  “I’m okay. I’m-I’m fine. You protected me.” I was shaky. I sat up and ran a hand down my body, noting a few bruises but nothing serious. I reached out a hand and clasped her fingers in mine.

  “I’m fine.”

  Evie’s face was pale, her green eyes glassy with pain.

  “Good.” Her eyelids fluttered and closed. “I’m gonna pass out now.”

  Luc gripped her hand and started checking her over. “Don’t you fucking dare! Evie, you open your eyes and look at me right now!”

  Her eyes opened and she met his gaze with a slight frown. “When did you get here?”

  “Luc!” Addie started pulling at Evie’s shirt and held a hand up. It was covered in blood.

  “Fuck. Put pressure on that, Addie.” He glanced over at the kitchen, where the staff stood around in shock. “Someone call triple zero and tell them we got a female with a gut bullet wound.” A waiter started off toward the bar.

  Luc eyed the rest. “Someone get me a first-aid kit. A clean towel. Anything that we can use.” They paused a second too long.

  “FUCKING NOW!” he roared, and they scattered to do his bidding. I watched, crouched on my knees, my hand gently combing Evie’s hair. Her eyes were unfocused and her skin looked fragile. Luc shifted to her left side and relieved Addie. Evie grimaced but didn’t comment.

  “Like a fucking rock.” Luc looked down at her with a small smile.

  She sighed. “You’re a pain in my side right now.”

  He huffed out a laugh. “This isn’t a time for puns, Evie.”

  She sighed a little more. “Guess I should tell you that’s not the only bullet wound then, right?” Everyone’s eyes went to her.

  “Da FUCK?” Jarrett looked down at her. “You have got to be shitting me.”

  Evie closed her eyes. Her voice was a little slurred. “My leg got hit too. I think it’s my thigh.”

  Addie ran a hand over and swore softly. “Bloody hell, Evie girl!” She pressed against it as the kitchen staff appeared with the first-aid kit and towels.

  Police arrived and began securing the area. I watched as finally, finally an ambulance pulled up. There were people everywhere converging on them, screaming, crying. Some had wounds from glass, one lady looked like she had a broken arm. The ambulance officers started triage outside.

  “Kel,” Luc said, the warning evident.

  “On it.” She took off and a moment later the paramedics were inside, taking over. One started a drip while the other cut off Evie’s clothes, moving the fabric away from the wounds.

  “I can sleep now, right?” Evie’s voice was hoarse from the pain.

  “No, baby. You stay awake for me for a bit longer and I promise, I’ll watch any of those cartoon things you like.” Luc gently but surely shuffled me out of the way as one of the paramedics left to grab the gurney. He moved so Evie’s head was cradled in his lap, and started gently stroking her hair and cheek.

  “Liar,” she said it with zero heat.

  His eyes came up and he looked at Jarrett, who was on his mobile. “Where’s Pax?”

  “Five away.”

  His eyes swung to me and then back to Kel and Jarrett. “Get Jet out back. Secure her until Pax comes. We’ll meet you at the hospital.”

  “On it.”

  Kel helped me up. My whole body shook. Addie latched on to my arm as we were whisked into the back room.

  “Don’t worry. Luc’s got her,” Addie whispered to me as we were shoved into the cool room, Kel and Jarrett standing guard outside.

  “She jumped on top of me,” I said. Immediately tears sprung to my eyes. “She saved me, Addie. She got hurt because of me.”

  Addie whirled around and shook me roughly. “Stop it! Blame isn’t going to help anything. You didn’t shoot her. She got hurt because bad people did something stupid. You can’t know that this is because of you, so shut up and let’s deal with this like adults. You being here does indicate it could, could, have something to do with you. But then there could have been someone else in that restaurant who is just as likely to have a target on them. So woman up. It’s time to put on our big-girl panties and deal!” She yelled this at me and crossed her arms over her chest. Her breath was steaming.

  “You’re right. I feel awful because she dove to protect me.”

  Addie’s gaze softened. “Evie’s like that. She’ll do anything to protect others. Means she cares abou
t you. You’re blood sisters now.”

  I grimaced. “Not funny.”

  The door slid open. We both jumped and shied away from the bright light in panic before registering that it was Pax. Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms. He caught me and crushed me to his chest. We didn’t speak for several heartbeats.

  “You okay?”

  I nodded against his chest.

  “Addie?”

  “I’m good. Evie?”

  “On her way to the hospital. Luc is with her.”

  “Do I need to call anyone?”

  “Jack’s at HQ. Says she has you and Luc listed as her next of kin.”

  No one spoke for a moment. I pulled back and looked between them. “Doesn’t she have family?”

  Again, no one spoke.

  “Addie?”

  I watched her take a deep breath and straighten her shoulders. “I need a change of clothes and to get to the hospital.”

  Pax nodded, took my hand and led me out. “Let’s go.”

  The waiting room was cold, with uncomfortable seats, a coffee machine that spat out disgustingly bitter crap, and a TV that was stuck on a channel playing infomercials. We had the place to ourselves, mostly because there were so many of us. We’d gone straight to the hospital after Addie handed her keys to Jarrett and Kel. Pax, it seemed, wasn’t taking any chances with any of us.

  We got to the hospital and were informed by Luc, who had told the hospital he was Evie’s boyfriend, that she was in surgery. At that stage it was touch and go. She’d lost so much blood and the bullet may have hit something vital. They were confident the bullet to the thigh was only a flesh wound, but was still serious enough to cause them concern.

  Kel and Jarrett turned up wearing warm, sturdy clothes. I took Addie, who had finally lapsed into shock, to the bathroom to change. It was while we were washing Evie’s blood off ourselves that we both started to cry. By the time we emerged from the bathroom, we were solid. A sisterhood built on shared shock and comfort.