Long Shot: A Brewed Moon Novella

by J. Margot Critch

  Peter nodded, but said nothing, letting Mitch speak.

  “I just don’t want to turn into him.”

  “You’re not dad,” Peter said.

  “But I could be. I’m starting to see the similarities. My focus is on the job, and nothing else, we just got back from making a deal with a mob boss, and I left Juliana in my bed without even telling her where I was going. Because that’s how I always operated. I didn’t have to answer to or disclose my actions to anybody.” He took a drink, and pointed to his glass. “And look at me. We get into a fight, and I run to a bar? Dad did those same things. I’m thirty-eight-years-old, for Christ’s sake. I didn’t imagine that this was going to happen for me. I was always so careful. I planned for the unexpected. I didn’t plan for this.”

  “That’s too bad,” Peter said. “And I know that you’re not great a this, but you’re just going to have to roll with it. Take everything as it comes. Because there’s no planning for a baby. And as for Dad? You’re better than him. You’re a better cop than he was, and you’re a better man. And you’re sure as hell going to be a better father.” When Mitch rolled his eyes, Peter continued. “Mitch, you’ve never given anything less than your all. I don’t know if you know this, but you’ve spent your whole life looking after people. You’re going to be a great father.”

  “I’m afraid. What if I screw up this child? What if I do something that ruins its life, or Juliana’s? I can’t take that chance.”

  “You have better instincts than anyone I know. You can handle anything that comes your way, including this.”

  “Do you think I can do this?”

  “I think it’s going to be hard. But I think you’re up for the job. And you aren’t alone. You and Juliana have each other, you’ve got me and Erica, Azura, the guys.”

  Mitch blew out a breath. “I don’t want to lose her.”

  “You won’t. You guys had a fight. Me and Erica fight all the time. It’s the making up that’s fun.” Peter winked and took a drink from his glass.

  Mitch chuckled. “And that’s another thing. She says I use sex to distract her whenever we have something important to discuss.”

  “Do you?”

  “Probably, but that’s just a better alternative to fighting, don’t you think?”

  Peter laughed. “You aren’t wrong. But if being with Erica has taught me anything it’s the importance in being upfront and honest. We had a lot of work to do to when we decided that we wanted to be together.” He sobered. “It wasn’t easy, it still isn’t, but it’s worth it.”

  “I love her,” Mitch said into his pint glass.

  “I know. But you’re both too alike. Stubborn, persistent. Neither of you wants to admit when you’re wrong. You both need to be in control all the time.”

  Mitch put down his glass. He knew that he’d screwed up. He should have told Juliana that he was leaving. He needed to learn how to fit her and the job in his life. He needed to compromise, and apologize. “I should go see her.”

  “Yeah, you should. But probably not tonight. Go home and sleep it off first.” Peter stood as Mitch threw some cash on bar. “I’ll drive you home.”

  Chapter 13

  Juliana sipped from her decaf espresso, and sighed at her lack of enthusiasm for the drink. Even though she kept the finest beans in stock, and the espresso was delicious, she knew the difference. Without caffeine, she was in for a long seven months. She was standing behind the counter of Brewed Moon and exhausted. She hadn’t slept much the night before, and was contemplating going home early, where she would try her hardest not to call Mitch. She was still angry with Mitch, and she wanted nothing more than to see him, but she stood firm. They both needed time to sort out their feelings.

  When the bell above the door chimed, she looked up and saw Mitch walk into the café. He looked like hell, and she realized that he’d had just as bad a night as her. He walked up to the counter. “Can we talk?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I think we should. My office?

  “Yeah. That’d be good.”

  “You want a coffee.”

  “No,” he grimaced. “I’m good.”

  Juliana made sure that Azura was fine on her own, before she left the counter and led Mitch back to her office. She sat behind her desk, and Mitch took the chair opposite her. It felt strange being so formal with him. She was carrying his child, for God’s sake. But she needed to put some distance between them, get some objectivity, if they were going to figure out the problems between them.

  “How are you?” she asked, taking in his bloodshot eyes and rumpled appearance. “Are you hungover?”

  “A little. I’ve felt better,” he said. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Jules,” he took a deep breath. “I’m really sorry about last night.”

  “Me too.”

  “No, don’t be sorry. You were right. I shouldn’t have left without telling you. But it’s not just that. In my life, it’s only ever been me; me and Peter; me and the team. I never had to explain my actions or think about how the consequences affect other people. But now, with you and the baby suddenly in my life, I need to make changes.”

  “It’s not just you,” Juliana assured. “I’m like you. You know that I’m used to doing things my own way. I think that working together is something we need to learn together.”

  He lowered his eyes, and took a deep breath. “My father was a mean son of a bitch.”

  That got her attention. She didn’t know much about his past or his family. She turned to him, a frown on her lips. “You haven’t told me much about him.”

  “I know. For good reason.” Mitch paused. “I told you that he was a cop. Peter and I were young when our mother died. She was amazing. But when she died, that’s when it got really bad. Dad started drinking everyday, after his shift, before, during. He wouldn’t come home for days. He turned dirty, made bad deals before he got himself killed. Peter and I were only kids, but we were cooking our own meals, looking after the house. Then when dad would come home, he would take out all of his pain, and anger and frustration on us.” Mitch shut his eyes. “Peter was younger, so I tried to shield him as much as I could.” He stopped. “But I always said that I would never become him. No matter what.”

  Juliana stood and met him on the other side of the desk, and lowered herself onto his lap. She reached for him, placing a hand on each of his cheeks. “Mitch, you aren’t him. You are a good man. And you’re going to be an amazing father to our child.” Then she realized it. His childhood and his relationship with his father had left him to be independent, self-sufficient, pushing away anyone who got close. “I finally get it.”

  “What do you get?”

  “I finally get why you’re so messed up,” she smiled affectionately. “I wonder if, whether you realize it or not, you’re trying to push me away. Maybe I’m guilty of that, as well. But you have to know that I’m not going anywhere.”

  He laughed, and tightened his arm around her. “Let’s agree to stop pushing each other away, then. We can agree that I’m both messed up and overbearing,” he said, placing a hand low on her abdomen. “But I also need to tell you that I’m absolutely terrified. I don’t want to mess up this child.”

  “I know you won’t.” Her hand covered his. “Mitch, I’m scared too. But we have to stick together here, okay? We’re in this together.”

  “I see so much ugliness in the world. I always said that I never wanted to bring someone into it.” Mitch told her. “But, now I can’t imagine not having you, or our baby. You’re my bright spot in the darkness.”

  “I’m sorry I left you last night. I should have stayed and worked it out. I ran too. Maybe you weren’t the only one trying to put distance between us.”

  “No, you were right to go. I was an ass. I should have told you I was leaving for work, and I’m sorry I didn’t. But you have to understand that’s going to happen sometimes. Sometimes the job is going to interfere with our lives at inopportune t
imes.”

  “I know. But just be straight with me. Tell me what’s going on, and promise me you’ll be safe, and I can live with that.”

  She couldn’t place the look that came over Mitch’s face, but he wrapped his arms around her tightly and pulled her closer, burying his face in the crook where her shoulder met her neck. “I’ll always come home to you.”

  She melted against him, and pulled briefly away to take his face in her hands. “You promise?”

  “Always.”

  Chapter 14

  Juliana cried out lustfully, and curled her fingers over Mitch’s chest, fisting in the hair. He grimaced when she pulled hard, caught up in her own pleasure, but the sharp pain clashed pleasantly with the warmth of his pending orgasm, heightening the sensation as it shuddered throughout him. He kept his eyes open so he could watch Juliana sway over him, as she rode him, chasing her own pleasure. He dug his fingers into her hips, holding her in place as he thrust his hips upwards, both of them chasing and drawing out their own ecstasy. Mitch finally came, throwing his head back against the pillow with a loud groan. Juliana collapsed over him, and while he was still buried inside of her, he wrapped his arms around her, putting his face in her hair, he tried to catch his breath. He could have stayed, wrapped up in her forever, but she shifted above him and looked over at the bedside clock.

  “Dammit, we’ve got to go,” she gasped, pushing herself off the bed, somehow she had the energy to move, meanwhile Mitch could barely think.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to this party,” Mitch muttered from the bed, regrettably standing. He watched her walk around the room naked, and he was still hard. He wanted her again.

  “You said you would,” she reminded him.

  “I only agreed so that I could keep an eye on you. I still think that Declan is bad news and you shouldn’t be working with him. Nor should we be going to a Regatta Roulette party at his pub.”

  She stuck her head around the door frame to the bathroom. “Mitch,” she reprimanded.

  “He’s a mob boss.”

  “He’s also a business owner, and my friend,” she told him. “You’re a cop. But there’s a lot more to you than that,” she winked and disappeared into the bathroom. “He’s been nothing but great to me, and he loves the café. He’s my friend and you have to accept that.”

  He heard the shower run and when he heard her step under the spray, he wished to join her. But he checked his watch. They had to be at Declan’s pub in under twenty minutes. He sighed. Not one part of Mitch wanted to go, but Juliana had set her mind on it. She’d told Mitch that she wanted them to get to know each other. But what Mitch didn’t tell her was that he was already very well-acquainted with the Irishman.

  He went into the bathroom, and could see her silhouette in the frosted glass of the shower stall. He watched her form with interest as he reached for his cologne.

  “You know, I’m kind of sad that I can’t play Roulette with the girls this year,” she called.

  Regatta Roulette was the name of the unofficial party that took place in St. John’s the first Tuesday of August every year. The annual Royal St. John’s Regatta was a municipal holiday that shut down many businesses and services in the city. However, the races were weather dependant, and given the unpredictable weather of St. John’s, the mid-week holiday wasn’t always a given. But that didn’t stop people from partying on Tuesday, and either showing up for Regatta or work the next day.

  “What are they doing tonight? Why not hang out with them?”

  “They’re hitting George Street Fest,” she said from the bathroom. “Azura hopes to catch the eye of the lead singer of the headlining band. And in my delicate condition, George Street probably wouldn’t be much fun.”

  “You know, if the races don’t go ahead she won’t be in great shape for work tomorrow,” he laughed.

  “That’s what happens when you play Roulette,” she said, emerging from the bathroom. Hair pulled back in a ponytail, a small amount of make-up on her face. “You bet it all and sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”

  Mitch laughed, he didn’t intend to play that night either, he needed to keep his instincts sharp, and watch out for Juliana. He didn’t want her to spend any amount of time in the company of known mobsters. But when she set her mind to something, there was no persuading her otherwise.

  Thirty minutes later, Mitch parked his truck just up the street from the club and taking Juliana’s hand, they walked into the Irish pub. The party looked like it was in full swing, as revellers yelled and laughed, drinking and dancing.

  “Juliana!” Declan called out, as he walked toward her. “You look beautiful!”

  “Thank you,” she hugged him, and Mitch bristled. “Mitch, you remember Declan, right?”

  Mitch nodded. He remembered. “Declan.”

  “Hello Mitch, how are ya?”

  “Good,” he responded with little enthusiasm.

  “Can I get you a drink? You look like a whiskey drinker,” he said, alluding to the times they’d met in the basement to speak privately.

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Mitch, relax. Have a drink,” Juliana implored.

  One of Declan’s men brought over glasses of whiskey for Mitch and Declan, and a glass of sparkling water for Juliana. “Why don’t we go outside?” Declan suggested. “I’ve got a table out on the deck.”

  “Sure, that sounds great.”

  Declan led them through the crowd and gestured to a table in the corner. They sat. Mitch sipped his whiskey. It was the same brand he’d had with Declan before. He mellowed a little as he felt the alcohol go through his system while Juliana and Declan talked about the café.

  He was instantly alerted, however, when a scream rang out through the crowd of revellers. Mitch looked up in time to see a dark car roll past the pub, it’s window lowered and the barrel of an automatic weapon extended through it. The shooter opened fire on the front of the bar, and without thinking to be careful, Mitch lunged across the table, pushing Juliana to the ground and covered her with his body. He withdrew his gun from his ankle holster, but he wasn’t the only one. He looked around and saw that many of the men around them were armed and had their weapons drawn. The gunman’s car took off, but he noticed that several sped down the street after it.

  “What the fuck?” Mitch called to Declan, still covering Juliana.

  “Are you two okay?” Declan asked.

  “Yeah. You have an enemy?”

  “Looks that way.” He looked at Mitch. “You should get out of here.”

  Mitch nodded. He knew that as soon as the police showed up, they would have some questions about why Mitch was attending the party. “Yeah.” He quickly helped Juliana to her feet. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Alright, let’s go,” he said, before turning to Declan. “Keep me updated.”

  “My men are on his tail. I’ll call you when they catch them.”

  Mitch looked around, and despite the chaos and the splintered bar exterior, through some miracle, nobody seemed to be hurt. He ushered Juliana away from the chaos of the club. He heard sirens approach and they got into his truck, and they drove away.

  Juliana was quiet, as Mitch watched the scene of the club get smaller in his rear-view mirror. “How many more times am I going to be shot at?” she asked. “I think I’ve hit my quota.”

  Mitch looked over at her and saw how her hands shook in her lap. She was no doubt vividly recalling the other recent incidents of life-threatening danger. Too many. He reached over and took both of her hands in his. “Jules, I’m sorry. I’m going to make sure you’re never in danger again.” He thought of telling her that was what happened when one associated with known mob bosses. But he figured it was best to hold the I told you so for later.

  They got his condo, parked in the underground garage, and they took the elevator to his place. No sooner had he closed the door behind them, but his cell phone rang in his pocket. The caller ID told h
im it was Declan. “Yeah?” he answered.

  “We’ve got them.” Mitch heard a pained cry in the background, and he knew that the scene wasn’t pretty.

  “Where are you?”

  Declan gave him directions to a warehouse in an industrial park just outside the city.

  “I’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone and turned to Juliana. He opened his mouth to speak, but Juliana beat him to it.

  “Just go,” she told him. “But be careful.”

  “I will. I love you,” he said, kissing her and walking out the door.

  Chapter 15

  Mitch pulled up to the warehouse and cut the engine. One of Declan’s men met him outside. Without exchanging any words, the two walked inside. Mitch saw that they’d had two men shacked to chairs in the center of the room.

  He came up next to Declan, who watched stoically as two of his goons worked over the men. “Who are they?”

  Declan turned to him and Mitch could see the rage burning in his eyes. His jaw ticked. “They’re my own men.”

  That got Mitch’s attention. “What?”

  Declan nodded. “I was greenlit,” he explained. “My own men put a hit on me.”

  “Why?”

  “They were sending a message. The family is displeased that I’ve been cooperating with the police.”

  “Part of the resistance you mentioned?” Mitch asked. When Declan nodded, he asked, “what are you going to do with them?”

  “They won’t see the outside of this building.”

  “Why don’t you let me bring them in to the station?” Mitch asked. “We can prosecute them.”

  Declan shook his head. “I can’t let this go. It’s the only way that I can send a message to the rest of the ranks. There will be no hostile takeovers as long as I’m in charge.”

  “Declan, I can’t let you murder these men.”

  “Why do you think they deserve mercy?” Declan responded, sweeping a hand at the violent scene before them. “Remember, they could have hurt or killed Juliana. She was there too.”