Cross Roads (2010) by Michaels Fern

Author:Michaels, Fern [Fern, Michaels,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2011-01-14T19:11:23.593000+00:00

Chapter 15

“What do you mean, ladies only?” Jack demanded irritably. “I’m your husband, Nikki. Harry is Yoko’s husband. We should be able to sit in on the conference. And what about Bert, Ted, and Espinosa? What are we, chopped liver? For years you all said we were members of this elite group. What’s wrong with this picture?”

“Well, dear, that was back in the day when we were an elite little group before you guys screwed it up, and now you have to take responsibility for your actions. Furthermore, we are no longer the vigilantes. That ended with our pardons and your screwup. Need I say more?” Nikki asked.

“Hell, yes, you need to say more. What about us?” Jack demanded, waving his arm about to indicate the scowling faces of Bert, Harry, Ted, and Espinosa.

“We voted, and it was seven to one to exclude you from this meeting,” Kathryn said coldly.

Ted swallowed hard and voiced an opinion with a nudge from Bert. “Yeah, well, what about Maggie? She isn’t a bona fide vigilante. She’s the EIC of the paper. How come she gets to sit in?”

Maggie waved her hand, the left hand with her engagement ring. “Do not go there, Ted.”

Another nudge, this one harder by Jack, caused Ted to sputter, his face turning red. He started to wave his hands around like a maniac. “Yeah, yeah, but who do you call when you need something taken care of? Us, that’s who. If we aren’t good enough to sit in, then we aren’t good enough to follow your orders! Right, guys?”

A lot of mumbling started to take place.

“Like I said, we voted, and for now you are excluded from this meeting. Now toddle off so we can get down to business,” Kathryn ordered.

It was a dismissal, pure and simple. Blustering and growling, the men slammed their way through the kitchen door to an elevated terrace, where cool drinks, compliments of Charles, waited for them.

Charles offered up a pitying look, shrugging before he turned on his heel to follow the women to the underground war room. His parting shot caused all four men to cringe. “They’re right, you know. This is all your fault. Personally, I’m surprised that all of you haven’t been dismembered and found floating in the Potomac.”

“Well, that damn well sucks,” Jack said.

Harry kicked out at one of the iron chairs resting under a huge umbrella. The heavy chair flew across the terrace. “Charles is right. It is your fault, Jack. Yours, too, Bert. You convinced the three of us to…how shall I put it…sign on for a dream of a lifetime. My ass, Jack. This has been a nightmare. And those women down below are going to make us pay and pay, then pay some more for those eighteen months. When they’re done making us pay is when they’re going to kill us. You listening to me, Jack?”

“Of course I’m listening. So is half the world. Let’s be clear on something. Neither Bert nor I twisted your arm. We did not conk you on the head to follow us.

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