Mac (the Brothers Book 5) Read online

  MAC

  by

  Mia Malone

  Copyright © 2019 by Mia Malone

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  SHARING OR DOWNLOADING AN EBOOK WITHOUT PERMISSION IS EQUAL TO STEALING. SO PLEASE DON’T.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Books by Mia

  The Brothers series

  Gibson

  Padraig

  Joke

  Day

  Mac

  Waterfront series

  Waterfront Café

  Thor series

  Black

  Dear reader –

  I hope you enjoy Mac’s story. If you do, then I could use a little bit of help.

  For infrequent news about my books and whatever else I accidentally blurt out, please follow me on Goodreads:

  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17906472.Mia_Malone?from_search=true

  I’m letting the reader community deal with my books as they see fit, so ads etc. won’t fill your social media flow. If you like – please consider putting a review where you bought the book and tell your friends. My thanks will be to keep my prices low, and any book I submit for pre-order will be $0.99 until release day.

  Please don’t steal my words, or those of any author.

  You probably don’t want someone to cut off the flowers in your garden or walk into your kitchen to grab a couple of cookies you just baked.

  When you download /illegally, I might add/ something I’ve spent hours on, it really hurts.

  So please don’t.

  And if you’re one of the readers who has written a review anywhere – from the bottom of my heart; Thank you! It means a lot to me, more than you probably realize.

  XOXO/ Mia

  Twelve months earlier

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  My apologies

  Dear Elizabeth,

  I got this address from your assistant, who told me I might reach you this way.

  My name is Mac, and we met outside our mutual friends Gibson and Lee’s home yesterday. There was a minor misunderstanding which I would like to explain.

  I work as Chief of Police in Wilhelmine, and in this capacity, I often read various articles related to criminal law, but often venture into other areas that might interest me. I have enjoyed quite a few of the pieces you have written and learned from them too. There is usually a photo next to your name, which was how I recognized you, and when I approached you, I meant only to express my admiration for your expertise.

  Unfortunately, I did not make the connection to what happened to your late husband, but Lee told me immediately after your departure.

  Please accept my condolences. I am a widower myself and aware of how hollow these words might sound, but having been through a similar experience to yours, I mean them.

  Regards / Mac

  Mac stared at the mail he’d just typed up and decided it was ridiculously formal and made him sound like a stuffy, old moron.

  Then he hit send.

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: My apologies

  Dear Mac,

  Wow. Now I feel like a fool.

  Of course, I accept your condolences, as long as you accept my apologies for being rude.

  My only excuse, and explanation, is that I’m still struggling with what happened, and how to move on.

  I expect you understand.

  We are currently in Australia, and I hope a change of scenery will improve both my outlook on life and disposition.

  Regards / Beth

  “God,” Beth murmured to herself and sighed.

  She had been such an idiot, and her excuses in reply to his nice explanation seemed silly. She couldn’t come up with anything better to say, so she tapped the arrow and watched the email disappear into cyberspace.

  Now what? Dinner with Bebe. Try to smile. Sleep.

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Re: My apologies

  Dear Beth,

  I understand.

  It isn’t easy, and I wish I could tell you that your grief will suddenly be gone, but all I can offer is an assurance that it gets better. If there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask.

  I visited the eastern parts of Australia a few years ago and loved it. I hope you do too.

  Regards / Mac

  For fuck’s sake, Mac thought as the email disappeared from his screen. All I can offer is an assurance? Who the hell said things like that? Except him apparently.

  Ten months earlier

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  A question

  Dear Mac,

  I’m sorry to bother you but I don’t know who else to ask, and you kindly offered to help.

  Am I supposed to be this angry?

  Will was shot because he admired Gibson Ward so much and wanted to find out why someone was targeting him. I know the fault lies with the man who fired the gun, but I’m so incredibly angry with Will, and his captain who let him investigate, and even with Gibson, who absolutely can’t help what happened.

  Sometimes I can’t sleep because I stew on it, and my friend Bebe has started to notice. I don’t want her to worry, and I wonder if perhaps I should go back to Chicago to seek professional help, in case I am going just a little insane. I don’t need to go crazy on top of everything else.

  Anyway, you don’t have to answer, I just thought... you know. In case you knew what to do.

  We’re in Thailand, and when I don’t want to hit someone, I do enjoy the food, and the simple life here, so I’d rather stay for a while.

  Regards / Beth

  “Don’t send, don’t send, don’t send,” Beth mumbled and tried unsuccessfully to make her finger not hit the damned send button.

  She didn’t even know the man but had been honest.

  She didn’t know who else to ask.

  Ten minutes later, a soft ping announced an incoming email.

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: A question - that I will try to answer

  Dear Beth,

  It’s not a bother. I’ll do my best, but I don’t have all the answers. Does anyone?

  When I lost Corinne and Robbie, I was angry too. I wanted to get even, and with the help of my friends, I mostly did. The story is too long for an email, but I think Lee knows most of it so you could ask her if you’re curious.

  One thing I learned from that experience is that revenge feels good, damned good, in the moment, but in the long run, it does nothing to ease the hurt. It’s not a route I’d advise you to take.

  Can you find a boxing bag? It’s what’s helped me the most.

  I hung a bag in the basement, and when I couldn’t handle things, I worked off my frustration on that. That’s what worked for me, though, and it might not be the right thing for yo
u. Paddy would do yoga. Joke and Gib would hit each other, and Day would either get on a horse or simply pretend everything was fine. We all deal with things differently, so try things out and find what works for you.

  One more thing. Don’t try to hide how you feel from your friend. That’s another road I’ve walked, and one that doesn’t help. Let her hold you up. That’s what she wants to do, so let her.

  Thailand sounds nice. I’ve never been, but Day says the food is terrific. Perhaps you could learn how to make some? Having something to do to make the days pass while the wounds heal is just about the only thing that really helps.

  Take care of yourself / Mac

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Re: A question - that I will try to answer – and you did

  Dear Mac,

  How did you know? I used to box in college.

  Not very girly, I know, but I grew up with two brothers, and they are both assholes (pardon the language, but they are).

  They don’t box here in Thailand, or at least not the way I did, but I found an old guy who’s training with me. I kicked him in the gut the other day. It helps a lot, and I’m gaining muscles.

  His wife shows me how to cook.

  Bebe mostly sits on the beach and laughs at me, which is very much like her. Smart, focused, stubborn and full of humor. We talked, and yes, she helps me a lot too.

  It’s still difficult, but I don’t think I’ll hurt anyone anytime soon.

  We’ll stay here another month, and then I want to go to India. Bebe wants to go to South Africa, so I guess you know where we’ll be :)

  I can’t thank you enough, Mac.

  /Beth

  Mac smiled and closed the email when his friends called out to him that he should stop texting his lady-friends and join them for a game of pool.

  He hadn’t told them about the emails he exchanged with Beth, mostly because he suspected they’d rib him about it. It’s what he would have done in their place, anyway.

  He was grinning when he stopped by Joke at the bar for a refill of his beer.

  She was learning Thai-boxing on the beach? No wonder her friend was laughing at her.

  Eight months earlier

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Checking in

  Hello Beth,

  How are you doing?

  Christmas will get easier, I promise.

  The first years, Day put me on a plane, and we went somewhere and got drunk. Not an approach I’d recommend, at least not the drunk part. Then a wise woman sat me down and told me to only drink when I was happy, not to get happier.

  I spent a long time sober, but those days are over. They will be for you too.

  Anyway, I just thought I’d check in and see how you are, in case the holidays were tough.

  Are you enjoying South Africa?

  /Mac

  He sent the email and wondered if he should have left her alone. His first Christmas without Corinne and Robbie had been godawful, though, and he’d wondered how she was doing. She didn’t have to answer, he told himself.

  Then his phone buzzed, and he saw that she’d replied immediately.

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Checking in

  Hey Mac,

  You read my mind. I’m sitting on the beach, feeling mostly depressed.

  The holidays were awful.

  My kids joined us in Cape Town and spent the first week fighting around the clock. Then Bebe’s oldest and youngest sons arrived, and the fights stopped more or less instantly. Brendan, Bebe’s oldest, is quite formidable, and my son isn’t. Crap. That sounded harsh, and I didn’t mean it that way. I love him, but he’s... I don’t know. He was always closer to his dad.

  Anyway, we had an okay second week, I guess, but then they left, and now I’m feeling mostly empty. I’ve started running and hate it. The bed in the house we’re renting is too hard, so I don’t sleep very well.

  God. I’m a whiny idiot.

  We’ll spend spring in Europe, but I don’t know why. Maybe we should just go back home and get on with life.

  Not a very happy email today, but I don’t drink, at least. I tried, but I either puked and passed out, or spent the evening crying my eyes out. Neither were options I liked, so I stopped.

  ---

  Oh, wow. I took a break from typing and stared at the ocean for a while. A pod of dolphins just jumped right in front of me. They were gorgeous.

  Maybe that’s what life is all about? Sitting on a beach, watching dolphins until the years have passed and I’m old.

  Depressing.

  /Beth

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Re: Checking in – and I’m glad I did

  Beth, no.

  It’s not about waiting until life is over.

  Keep breathing, keep busy. It will get better.

  Maybe moving on to Europe will be good? Day often goes to this small village in Italy, and he brought me there the first Christmas without my wife and son. It’s beautiful (link at the end, check it out).

  Ski season is in full swing here in the Rockies, and we make the best of it. Joke owns the local watering hole, and he talks about hiring another bartender so he might have some time to hit the slopes with me.

  Do you ski? If so, the alps are amazing. Val d’Isére in France or Livigno in Italy are favorites of mine, but you could go anywhere.

  Anyway, they’re yelling for me to come and sort some shit out (and I won’t excuse my language...), so I have to go.

  Take care,

  /Mac

  “What the hell?” Mac growled. “Could you let me have a moment to answer a fucking email?”

  “No,” Gibson said calmly. “Work can wait. We’re leaving now.”

  Mac sighed but decided to let it slide.

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Re: Re: Checking in – and I’m glad I did – and so am I

  Hey Mac,

  Thank you. I keep thanking you, don’t I?

  Italy sounds great, and I’ll check the link out. I caved in to Bebe’s desire to go to Cape Town, so it’s my turn to call the shots. Yes, I ski. Badly. Bebe doesn’t ski at all, so we’ll probably...

  “Mac, for fuck’s sake. Stop staring at your goddamned phone and pay attention!”

  Mac closed his phone and put it away. He’d read it later.

  And reply.

  Six months earlier

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Thanks and I’m not in a good mood

  Hey,

  Not a good day, so I’ll just let you know that, yes – the restaurant you recommended was excellent. The wine was too. We stayed way too late, and Bebe got “friendly” with a visiting Frenchman.

  I tried to make a joke this morning about her Latin lover. She smirked, and I exploded for no goddamned reason at all. I said some things I shouldn’t have said, and I’ll apologize once I’ve calmed down, but it won’t be fun. She’s the strongest woman I know and doesn’t let anyone off the hook when they’ve been stupid. And I was, so I’ll have to grovel some, which I won’t like.

  Anyways, I’ll stew for a while and then go find her.

  Later / Beth

  God, Beth thought. What the hell had been her goddamned problem? Bebe was gorgeous and single, so if she wanted to hook up with an equally gorgeous man with a fantastic accent, she sh
ould. Why the hell had it bothered her so much?

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Thanks and I’m not in a good mood – and it might get worse

  Hey,

  For what it’s worth, I’m starting to think that you are the strongest woman I know.

  Now I’m gonna say a few things, and you might tell me to go to hell, but here goes:

  First time I had sex after Corinne died was not good. It was too soon, and I was too raw. Too determined to prove that... I don’t know. That I was still a man?

  Anyway. I went through the motions, made sure she wasn’t disappointed, and that the physical part of me wasn’t either. Then I went home and cried for the first time since the funeral.

  I have no advice on how to make it feel less like a betrayal but being blunt – the sex will get better too.

  So, if you’re not ready for it, don’t rush it. But if you want to do it, just do it.

  You are still alive.

  Pick a good man, don’t tell him he’ll be competing with your dead husband, and enjoy.

  I might be completely off, and you might put caps lock on before typing a reply, but I’ll take my chances and hit send now.

  /Mac

  _____________________________

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Re: Re: Thanks and I’m not in a good mood – and it might get worse

  ARE YOU A GODDAMNED PSYCHIC???

  Caps lock off again, and that’s all I’m going to say on the topic :)