Page 79 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

“Hey, Pops. I’m not going to give you the talk about the birds and bees. You know how babies are made, even if you are ancient and have probably forgotten most of it,” Daisy snarks.

“Did you know? Did you know all the time you’ve been with us?”

“Yeah, I tried to tell you when you picked me up at the police station, but it just didn’t feel right. ‘Oh, my mum has been arrested, but you’re my dad. Can I come and live with you?’ I don’t think you would have believed me, but that’s why Mum said we would someday move into a big house. She was supposed to tell you about me, but she obviously never did. I’ve known all my life who you were. She never kept it from me.”

“How did I not see this? Why did no one tell me? Did you all know?”

“I had my suspicions early on, but I wasn’t sure. I was hoping you would work it out yourself. So, thanks, Zed. You don’t say much, but what you do say certainly makes an impact.” North shakes his head.

East, Kara, and Sutton appear, and the office is now cramped and uncomfortable.

“Look, I think there are conversations that need to be had but now is not the time. Sutton? Kara? Could you take Daisy somewhere till after the debrief? Then, you can have your family reunion,” West says politely.

Sutton nods. “Come on, Dais, let’s go and see the girls. They’ll be awake from their nap now.”

The girls leave, and East starts to follow.

“Hey, where are you going?” I touch her shoulder.

“With the girls? I’m not normally wanted at these things.”

“Erm, you’re part of this team, East. You need to be here. You saw everything from every angle. Your information and opinions are crucial.”

Her self-respect has just skyrocketed before our very eyes.

“Absolutely. Thank you. I’ll go and make some drinks while we wait for the others to arrive.”

As soon as East is through the door, South yells, “What the fuck do you think you are doing?”

“South, I am going to give you one warning. Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me.” I growl through gritted teeth.

“Why? What are you gonna do?”

“Don’t push me, South. I’m still fucking livid with how you treated your sister. She’s a grown adult and a vital part of this team which I’m actually surprised you’re being part of for a change.”

“I’m always involved. I just don’t get my rocks off smashing people’s skulls in.”

“No, you get your rocks off shooting people’s dicks off,” North interrupts, laughing, trying to lighten the argument brewing.

“Fuck off, North. You were sitting out on the side lines like a pussy,” South snipes.

“Oh, we were being pussies, were we? Let’s see how you’d do jumping out of a plane doing five hundred miles an hour. Oh, that’s right. You couldn’t because you are scared of fucking heights!” North bellows back at South.

Just when I think it’s going to blow, a loud whistle fills the room, and East appears at the door.

“Shut the fuck up, all of you! You’re acting like children. Jeez. This stops today. No more bickering. It’s not us. Right? Can one of you idiots go and get the tray of drinks?”

All of us nod. She’s fierce when she’s mad, and I love it.

What the fuck?

Chapter 33

East

It’sliketestosteroneonspeed in that room. I really felt like taking in a tape measure and telling them to just get their dicks measured and having it done with. Grown men behaving like kids. I know they were arguing over me, but South didn’t need to bring North into it.

He is such a twat sometimes, but he’s my brother, and although there are times when I want to murder him, I think he is going to need us all now that the bomb of him having a teenage daughter has been dropped.

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