Page 46 of Daddy's Pursuit
Hell,Jack thought,some of them probably think we’re filming a movie.That’s pretty common around here.
On the street, the car’s driver was clearly frantic and driving more erratically. Thankfully, the cops had directed traffic to the curb, leaving the center of the road nice and open for the fleeing perps.
Smarter people might have figured it was too easy and that this was a trap, Jack thought. But if the criminals thought that, it was too late for them to do anything about it.
They came to a wall of black-and-white cruisers, their red-and-blue lights swirling atop them as dozens of police officers leveled their guns in the car’s direction.
The chase was over without anyone being hurt.
And now it’s official, Jack thought with a grin.Little Iris indeed has been given the ride of her life.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“You used to work cattle?”
The question came from Uncle Ace. He was sitting in a chair on the patio, nursing a cold bottle of beer, clearly more relaxed than he had been during the day’s helicopter pursuit.
Sitting near him, on Daddy’s lap, Iris giggled. “Cowboy Jack!”
All the Daddies laughed.
They were at Matteo Batista’s house for dinner. Iris was enthralled by those who’d gathered.
Besides Uncle Ace and the evening’s host—whom she was instructed to call Uncle Matteo—there was Isaiah Colton, Kendrick Vaughn, Ryan Cross, and Jordan Whitaker.
Isaiah was a strong Black man with close cropped hair and a military look. The tight gray polo shirt he wore—the one that strained to contain his bulging shoulders and arms—didn’t quite cover a tattoo that looked like part of the Navy anchor. But Iris couldn’t see the whole thing. Still, she was willing to bet he was former military all the way.
Kendrick Vaughn appeared to be of mixed ancestry and had mocha-colored skin, green eyes, and muscles to spare. He wasgorgeous and would have looked at home on a magazine cover or a billboard, Iris thought.
Next to him sat Ryan. He had dark blond hair, blue eyes, and a tall, lean frame. It was obvious he had a close relationship to Jordan, because the two men had arrived together and seemed inseparable throughout the night. They even sat close, only inches apart. Iris wondered what their relationship was exactly, but it wasn’t her place to pry. She’d probably learn soon enough. After all, they were her Uncles now, too.
Jordan wasn’t quite as tall as Ryan and had jet-black hair with dark eyes. He was maybe five to eight years younger than his friend, so Iris guessed he was around thirty or so.
“I hated working cattle,” Jack told them. “I guess I’m too much of a city boy.”
“And you’re too good at being a cop to ever do anything else,” Isaiah noted. “Man, that was some idea you had today. Now there are less of Frank’s guns on the streets thanks to you.” He raised his bottle of beer. “To Jack and Ace. Two of Los Angeles’ finest!”
“And to Precinct 17,” Ryan added. “We keep this city safe!”
The other men cheered as they raised their drinks in salute. Iris did the same, raising her juice and then taking a sip.
A moment of silence passed before Jack posed a serious question that caught Iris off guard. “Do you all ever wish we could do more?”
The quietness that followed seemed heavy. Iris felt a change in the atmosphere.
“Are you asking if we’re tired of the bullshit?” Isaiah asked. “Tired of a department that refuses to reform? Tired of busting our ass for ungrateful higher-ups who have their heads so far up their asses that they?—”
Kendrick cleared his throat. Iris watched as he jerked his head toward her, clearly imploring his fellow officer to remember they had a Little in their presence.
Isaiah nodded, a look of understanding in his eyes. After taking a sip of beer, he said, “Yeah. I get tired of it. We all do.”
The others nodded.
“But what else could we do?” Ace questioned.
No one seemed to have an answer for that, and the silence once again seemed heavy. Maybe even stifling, Iris thought.
“Hey, did you like that helicopter ride?” Ace asked her.
