“Don’t be. I won’t be a part of it. It’s a long story I’d prefer not to go into, but the bottom line is none of that matters at the moment,” Bennett said, looking around the table. “We’re sitting in an excellent restaurant with excellent service, excellent food, and a plethora of wines to choose from, so, like Ruby said, why don’t we just eat, drink, and be merry and leave all the other bollocks behind for tonight—eh?”

Lisa immediately raised her glass. “I’ll drink to that. Let’s celebrate what we’ve accomplished, who we are, and who we’ll always be. Friends, comrades, and the most kick-ass women I have ever met.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

Six months later…

Max stood at the bottom of the stairs in the basement, admiring his manicure, when he heard a cell door open. He looked up, watching as Bennett stripped off her surgical gloves and then squirted a copious amount of hand sanitizer into her palms. “Please tell me that’s the last time you’ll be whacking off that man’s willy.”

Every laugh line Bennett had sprung to life, and briskly rubbing her hands together to rid herself of the sanitizer, she ambled over to Max. “Since we’re leaving tonight, six times will have to do. And I’m far from being an expert with that particular part of the male anatomy, mind you, but I honestly believe it’s growing back smaller every time.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Max said, sweeping his arm toward the stairs. “Let’s go to my study. You and I have some things to talk about before you leave.”

Bennett followed Max up the stairs and through the house. When they passed the great room, Bennett saw Gus jump to his feet, and she waved him to sit back down before she continued down the hall to Max’s study.

“Would you like something to drink?” Max said, walking to the credenza.

“Will I need one?”

“Possibly.”

Max poured a splash of scotch into two tumblers and handed one to Bennett. “The council has finally come to some decisions, and I wanted you to hear it from me.”

“I appreciate your trust in me, Max, but you can’t tell me anything,” Bennett said, sitting down. “Until the council makes their official announcement, what’s said at the table, stays at the table. Did you forget I was in the process of giving up my chair when all hell broke loose? I don’t have the right—”

“You most assuredly do,” Max said, taking a seat. “I didn’t forget one word of our conversation, Bennett, and when I informed the council of your decision, they refused to accept your resignation.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re the leader of the—”

“No, I’m—”