Ryker (Hope City #6) - Kris Michaels Page 0,29

be your immediate supervisor, Deputy Commissioner Farrington will be your next level. That removes me from direct supervision.”

“Sir, Major Hughes did everything he could––”

An elevated hand stopped his words, mid-stream. “Hughes is a good man. Thank you for the confirmation.” Chauncey slid his gaze and pegged him with a level stare. “How long have you and my daughter been involved?”

“Three months. We met when I was removed from JDET.”

“And when were the two of you going to announce this relationship?”

“Sunday at dinner.” He swallowed hard. “I love her, sir. With everything I am.”

Brie's father nodded again. That nod could mean anything from I hear you to Fuck off and die.

“Save me the effort of looking it up in your personnel files. How old are you?”

“I'll be forty-seven this year.” He drew a deep breath and waited, knowing what was coming next.

“Then you are damn well old enough to understand my next comment, and this comes from her father, not your commissioner. You hurt my daughter and this drive-by will pale compared to what I'll do to you.”

He blinked. Not. What. He. Expected. “I'd never intentionally hurt her. You have my word.”

Chauncey stared at him for a moment. “Dinner is at six on Sunday. I'd advise you not to be late.” The Commissioner turned but glanced back at him. “Get yourself healed up. Your position on JDET is secure. Lieutenant Theron will man the ship until you get back.”

“Yes, sir.” He closed his eyes as the curtains filled in the big hole left by the one hell of a big man. Damn it, it had been a long, long day.

Chapter 8

Brianna gripped Ryker’s phone and lifted it. “Thank you for this.” It was the first time she’d talked to Brody since her rant against Fenton. Most of the team was still in the waiting room, all wanting to pay their respects to their captain. Brody nodded down the hall and they strolled until they were out of earshot. Brody stopped and leaned against the wall.

“So, you and the Captain, huh?” He shoved his hands into his pockets and did everything he could to avoid looking at her.

“Yeah.”

He scraped the toe of his boot against the tile floor. “How long has this... thing been going on?”

“Thing?”

“You know what I mean.” He crossed his arms and leveled a pissed off stare at her.

“Wait, why do you care?”

“He’s my boss, Brie! You could’ve cuddled up with a half-million other men in this city, but you put the moves on my boss! Do you realize what kind of position that puts me in? What type of mess this puts Dad in?”

She lifted a hand. “Whoa, right there. First and foremost, I had no idea he was your boss. We met when he’d been removed from command of your team. I didn’t ask what he did, and he never asked if I was the commissioner’s daughter. I love that man, so I’m sorry my relationship with Ryker puts you in an awkward position, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to walk away from the best thing that has ever happened to me to please my little brother.” She hissed the words at him. Even trying to be quiet, a few heads from the waiting area turned their direction.

Brody tightened his fists and started pacing. “Do you realize how old that man is?”

“I know exactly how old he is. Why?”

“Brie, think about it. If you had children today, he’d be like seventy by the time they were twenty!”

She jerked up and snapped her mouth shut. The words she wanted to say slammed against her brain, demanding to be let loose. “What did you just say?”

Brody didn’t catch the warning in her voice. He just continued pacing. “He’s in his late forties now, you’ll be a widow by the time you're fifty, with kids and bills. Hell, you got to look at this rationally.”

Her palm found his face and connected with a resounding smack. All conversation on the floor stopped. He lifted his hand to his cheek and narrowed his eyes at her. She pointed a finger at him. “You have no right. None. I don’t know where this relationship is going, but I know one thing—whatever happens between us is our business, not yours. Never yours. You judgmental asshole! You don’t want me to bring up your relationship with Amber, do you? No, I didn’t think so. You don’t get to dictate my life. Hell, you don’t get any input into my life! So take your