Badges and Bikes

Chapter 16

Ashton's pov***

The guys are all so damn shocked as they leave the conference room. I love how Kyle outed my relationship with dad. Thane and Max have been talking quietly. I stand to leave the room.

"Hey, Ashy, where are you going?" Dad asked me.

"You are finished with me so I'm going to get some work done." I reply as a couple reporters are shown into the room.

"No, sweetheart. You are part of the press conference. You are a vital part of it. We will be talking about the incident. We are also naming you as the future chief of the department. Kyle and Saunderson are demoting that ass Brown right now. This is as you and Jax call it, the first turd in a shit show."

"But, dad, I'm not in the proper uniform." I start to almost panic.

Dad holds up a suit bag for me. I check it out and discover that it is one of my uniforms of jeans and a polo shirt with the department name and insignia on the chest. He hands me my badge and belt. He has everything that I need right here. I take the bag and smile. "Thanks, dad! As I said, I'm going to change into my uniform. I'll be right back." I tiptoe to kiss his cheek. Just as I have done millions of times before.

"That is what I thought you had said. Hurry, we only have about ten minutes."

I am already out of the door. I change quickly in the bathroom across the hall. I put my other clothes in the bag and take it to my locker then return to the room that has filled up. The dais has been taken over by microphones. There are at least forty reporters in the room talking to each other and trying to guess what will be said today.

I wonder how Brown is taking the situation of his new job description. I will have to work on my surprised face. I have a feeling that I am going to catch a lot of shit over this entire thing. Just because Kyle and Saunderson are appointing me as chief.

Max approaches me as I am standing in the corner by myself. I smile at him. "You can't stay in the corner all evening. Everyone is attracted to you like a magnet to steel. It is your aura and personality. It draws people in. Whether they want to be attracted or not." He is always saying stuff like that to me.

"You are a sweetheart! Why are you still single?" I reply easily.

"Because I have been waiting on you!" He says then walks away. I just stare after his retreating back.

Thane walks to me and gets my attention. "What is wrong, baby?" He asks me quietly.

"Max just blew my mind. But I am fine. Are we about ready to get this over with?"

"Yes. We need to get up there. Saunderson will call the meeting to order. We will stand behind him with Kyle, Justice, Griffin, and the others. Then it will be Kyle's turn. You and I may not need to talk. We just need to show a united front. You might need to answer a few questions at the end."

"I can do that. I imagine that I will have to if they are going to announce the chief position. But I knew about that. I'm ready, honey."

"That's my girl! Let's do this and knock these idiots on their asses!" Thane leaned in to kiss my cheek.

We went to stand behind Saunderson with my dad and Kyle, Jimenez, Max, and Taggart. At a few minutes till four o'clock, Saunderson calls for attention. I listen as Saunderson talks about the dispatch records being combed over for inconsistencies. He talks about bias against women in the department. He talks about Brown handing in his resignation.

I gasped at the news. Thane holds my hand as Max looks at me. I didn't realize that I was smiling again. Dad looks at me and smiles. This is definitely great news! Then I realize that Max is holding my hand too. But I don't take my hand away. It feels natural like it does with Thane.