Page 16 of Evading the Enforcer

“Sure thing.”

“Calista bought this Redbreast 12 for me. She said it’s a good whiskey for Christmastime. It’s spicy and fruity or some such shit. As a chef, she knows all those details.”

“You can’t go wrong with anything Irish,” I say, smirking.

Murphy sets five of the small glasses down. “Fill ’em up, bro.”

Ryder pours a generous amount into each one. He caps the bottle, placing it on the island, while Murphy passes shots to each of us.

“Thank you,” I say, taking mine in hand. There was a time last year when I was drowning my sorrows in a sea of whiskeyjust to get by. While I may not have recovered from everything that happened with Destiny, I’m glad I’m no longer using alcohol as a coping mechanism. Joining the Coyotes breathed new life into me. I’m not letting anything or anyone derail my second chance.

Ryder clears his throat before beginning. “I’m glad each of you plays on the team and are in my close circle of friends. I look forward to going to work each day, and that’s a testament to all of you. The commitment and consistent work ethic you display is inspiring. Here’s to the remainder of our season. May it be even better than the last one. To winning it all.” He raises his glass high, and we follow his lead, repeating his words before we quickly down the shots.

“Want another?” Ryder asks, a mischievous grin arching one side of his mouth upward.

Dismissing his offer with a shake of my head, I set my empty glass down. The rest of my friends follow suit.

“That’s some great whiskey,” Murphy says.

“That’s because it’s Irish.” I reiterate my earlier comment.

Murphy’s head bobs in agreement. “As am I. And as you mentioned, everything Irish is better. Just ask Wendy.” He winks.

“No, thanks,” Darius jumps in. “I’m going to have to disagree with you both.” He flexes one bicep. “Greek genes are superior, hence the phrase ‘built like a Greek god.’”

Murphy turns to me, his brow thoughtfully furrowed. “Is Greece famous for whiskey?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” I say.

“What is Greece famous for besides ancient history?” Murphy asks.

“Gyros,” Ryder offers.

“Olive oil,” Kaiden adds.

“Tourism,” Darius says. “Are you forgetting Evie and I went there on our honeymoon?”

Murphy laughs. “I absolutely forgot that.”

“Greece is on my bucket list,” I interject.

“I’d like to visit there too,” Kaiden says.

Murphy’s hands come together in a thunderous clap. “We should take a guys’ trip there.” His grin is impossibly wide.

Calista enters the kitchen, flanked by Wendy and Evie, and asks, “Where do you want to go?”

“Greece,” Murphy says.

“With the guys only?” Wendy asks, raising one of her dark-red eyebrows.

Murphy looks alarmed. “Uh… I mean, only if you don’t want to go.”

I laugh at his bumbling reply, and his head snaps toward me. “What’s so funny?”

“Pucks flying at you at eighty-plus miles an hour don’t scare you, but a little red-headed woman does,” I say.

“In his defense, Wendy can be scary as fuck,” Evie says. “Consider me well-informed. She’s been my best friend since my first year of high school.”

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