by Mac Flynn
A hard stomping noise awoke me. My eyes creaked open at the same time the door to the room swung open. I sat up and glared at Orion who stood in the doorway. The light from behind the curtains told me it was past noon.
Orion raised his hands above his head. "I bring news, oh studious reporter!"
I winced and clapped my hands over my ears. "I should shoot the messenger."
He grinned and stepped over to the bed. "You won't after I tell you the verdict of the Council."
I paused in rubbing my eyeball and arched an eyebrow. "Come again?"
He plopped down beside me. "Things work fast around here. Everyone's trial happened in front of the Council."
I frowned. "And? What happened?"
He shrugged. "The chief is on unpaid leave and is up for reelection soon, so the voters will decide his fate. As for the deputies who helped Darnell, they're out of jobs."
"And Darnell?" I asked him.
"She'll get time off for rescuing Jazz and you from Jerry, but we won't have to worry about her for a while," he assured me. "Her brother decided he wanted to increase the population count."
I slammed my fists on the bed and snarled. "Damn it. I really would have liked to have seen her in an orange jumpsuit." My narrowed eyes flickered to him. "Why the hell didn't you tell me it was happening?"
He held up his hands. "You needed your beauty sleep, and besides, it was closed for you. Citizens only."
I snorted. "I thought I was made an honorary citizen when the mayor made me bite into that apple."
Orion dropped his hands and pursed his lips. His eyes studied me. "Not exactly. I put in a good word for you with the Council, and for all your help they've decided to give you a choice."
I arched an eyebrow. "What choice?"
He sighed. "You can either remain here, or you can leave."
I straightened and blinked at him. "Leave? As in get into my car and race out of here?"
He gazed into my eyes as he nodded. "Yes."
My smile nearly cracked my face in two. I pumped a fist into the air. "Yes! Freedom of the press is alive and-" I stopped when I noticed Orion's downcast face.
He noticed my noticing and slapped a smile on his face. "You'd have to be careful, of course. No Hulking out when you got angry or anything like that, or its back to Apple Hollow detention for you."
I tucked my arms behind my head and fell back so I bounced atop the mattress. The white ceiling stared back at me as I recalled the last couple of harrowing days. A sigh escaped my lips. "I think I'll stay."
Orion sat up and blinked at me. "Come again?"
I snorted. "Isn't that my line?"
He shook his head. "Not when you say something stupid like I do."
I returned my attention to the plain ceiling and shrugged. "Maybe I kind of like it here. It's like a reporter's paradise. Lots of trouble and little competition."
Orion set his arms on either side of me and leaned over so our faces nearly touched. His eyes searched my face. "You're serious? You'll stay?"
I leaned up and pecked a kiss on his lips. "What do you think?"
A grin slid onto his lips. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
I tilted my head to one side and smiled. "You think so?"
He winked at me. "We make a pretty good team. Like a sweet-and-sour dish."
I snorted. "Does that mean I can start calling you Sour?"
He grinned and shook his head. "Nope."
I shrugged. "Had to give it a chance."
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on my lips. His whispered words floated over me. "Stick around a while. You'll have plenty more chances."
And oh boy, was he right. On both counts.
For all books by Mac Flynn visit her author's page or visit Mac Flynn's website.
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