Drained (Edgars Family #6) - Suzanne Ferrell Page 0,124
at him.
“It was a good thing they were able to reassure the recipients that Art’s blood, while obtained illegally was tested and found free of HIV and Hepatitis like blood they’d receive from anyone else,” Katie said.
“Yeah, but it’s still got the ick factor attached to it,” Paula said, slipping Stanley a piece of pizza crust and Kirk F high-fived her.
The pair were like sister and brother these days, with Nana giving Paula cooking lessons. They’d decided she could do a weekly cooking class for the women as part of living in the home, while Brianna would come to teach them basic life math, like balancing a budget, writing checks and paying bills—skills women in abusive relationships never had a chance to learn.
“When you consider that in the U.S. alone thirty-six thousand units of just red blood cells are needed, that means thirteen-million, one hundred and forty thousand in a year; seven thousand units of platelets daily or two million, five-hundred fifty-five thousand a year; and ten thousand units of plasma a day or three-hundred sixty thousand units per annuum; we should actually consider ourselves lucky that only two of Armbruster’s ill-gotten blood bags were used, that we know of,” Brianna said.
Everyone stared at her.
Aaron grinned. “It’s her math thing.”
Brianna grinned back.
“Well, y’all need to change the subject from blood or I’m taking my pies and going home,” Nana announced from her spot in the bit leather chair.
Everyone laughed and the men all protested that she couldn’t take the two cherry pies home.
“So, how are things with your captain?” Jake asked, turning the topic to something less gruesome, but more serious for Aaron.
“I’ll know on Monday if I’m off desk duty or not,” he said, toying with the beer bottle on the table beside him.
“Nothing like giving him the whole weekend to stew over it,” Brianna muttered beside him, and he squeezed her shoulder. He learned one thing in the months they’d been living together, she might fuss at him for the occasional sock in the bathroom floor or the empty toilet paper roll, but she’d always have his back against the rest of the world, especially his boss.
“How about we give you something else to consider,” Castello said, one leg crossed over his knee and his wife, Sydney sitting beside him beamed like she knew what was under every present beneath a Christmas tree.
Aaron narrowed his eyes the older man’s direction. “Okay, what?”
“You know we’ve opened up our private investigation and security business,” Jake said. “We could use a man like you to do investigations for us, capable of seeing the whole picture, work to solve a problem, not to just meet protocols. You’d have to work within the law, of course, but otherwise you could run a team of people you choose and with skill sets you’d need, depending on the case.”
“You’d be perfect for that,” Brianna said, staring intently at him.
“I’d have to think on it,” he said, even though his pulse had picked up a little steam at the possibility of a new venture.
Jake nodded. “Of course you do. I’d expect nothing less from you. Just remember, you’d also have the computer skills of Luke and Abby at your fingertips, the manpower of all the Edgars team at your beck and call, and access to my FBI contacts like Carson Smith.”
“In other words, you won’t be out there with your ass naked in the wind,” Castello said, then turned to Nana, “Sorry, for the language, ma’am.”
She simply smiled. “I’ve heard worse in my time, Frank.” Then she turned to her left and focused on Kirk F, “That don’t mean I want to hear it out of you.”
As everyone laughed, including Kirk F, Aaron relaxed and pulled Brianna just a little closer. Life was all about change. When he’d met Brianna for lunch that Wednesday last year, who knew he’d be getting married to the woman he loved and consider leaving his career as a cop? Or that he’d be offered a job to use the skills and experience he’d developed over a lifetime to really make a difference with people who would always have his back?
Who knew what the future would hold for them?
Brianna laid her hand on his thigh, the hand with his ring on it. No matter what he decided, with her by his side, he could face any problem.
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DRAINED
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