Page 168 of Smoke Screen
His mother. Always a hard-ass. He snorted. “Thanks, Mom.”
As confident as Mom sounded, they’d have to see how transferable Phin’s schmoozing skills were to shaping policy.
The challenge of it, the potential of doing something new and meaningful, filled him. Left him … excited.
Hopeful.
He drew a long breath, held it, and let it fly again. Finally, he’d done something for himself.
“Your contacts alone,” Maddy added, “would help her. Together, you’d get a lot done. Real change, Phin, and that’s amazing.”
“She said the same thing. I’m meeting with her on Friday to work out details.”
Zeke leaned in, offered a smile that stretched wide. “Even if, down deep, I hate it, I’m glad this is falling into place. I want you happy. Are you happy?”
That word again. Was he?
He glanced at Maddy, thought about their picnic earlier that day, the time they’d spent together over the last week talking and making love and … laughing.
Happy.
“Yeah,” he said. “I am.”
“Good,” Zeke said. “Then I think we need to do the family toast. Everyone, glasses up.”
They all lifted their glasses and Phin met Maddy’s gaze. “You heard the man. We’re doing the family toast. Lift your glass. You’ll love this. After Cruz does his bit, you say ‘no exceptions.’”
Beaming up at him, she did as instructed and lifted her glass.
“Family first.” Zeke said, holding up his beer.
“Through blood,” Phin said.
“Through hate,” Rohan said.
“Through fear,” Cruz said.
“No exceptions,” they all said in unison.
* * *
