“I need you to sign off on a couple of contracts for the additional security we’re hiring for the charity gala,” I said as I strolled over to the long, boardroom-length table at the far end of his office.
“You’ve vetted this firm we’re going with, I assume.”
“Of course. We used them last year for the Christmas party. A few of our guys will be out on vacation during the gala, which is why I thought the additional manpower would be best for this occasion.”
Aaron’s eyes narrowed as he stared, assessing. It was typical Aaron.
He nodded.
I handed him the documents to sign. And just as he finished the final signature and rose from the table, a squealing noise sounded at the door.
“Daddy,” three-year-old Stasi called out as she bumrushed the office.
Aaron bent down, scooping her up into his arms. She giggled as he tickled her underneath the chin.
“Dad!” Andreas, one of Aaron’s younger twins, called out.
I peered down to find Thiers staring up at me. His light brown eyes already held more intensity than a five year old’s eyes should.
“Hi, Mr. Brutus.” He nodded and then narrowed his eyes.
I braced myself for what was about to come. Right as his little fist went flying toward my abdomen, I caught it in my much larger hand. Thiers frowned.
“Thiers!” Patience, Aaron’s wife, yelled. “What did I tell you about that?” she admonished.
A deep chuckle fell from my lips. Thiers’ little ass was always trying to catch me or one of the other security details off guard. He, more than any of the other children, took his self-defense training seriously.
“I’m sorry, Brutus.” Patience grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him farther into the office.
“Little man’s just practicing,” I told her.
She glared down at him and then looked up at me. “Practicing or not, he doesn’t get to go around hitting people for no reason.”
“I didn’t hit him, Mom,” Thiers replied.
“Only because Brutus is stronger and faster than your little behind.”
“But—”
“Don’t argue with your mother,” Aaron’s voice boomed from across the room, catching everyone’s attention. All three of the children went silent for a beat. “Apologize to Mr. Brutus,” Aaron told Thiers.
“Sorry, Mr. Brutus,” Thiers mumbled.
“Save that energy for next training, kid,” I told him, even though it wasn’t a big deal.
“Hey, sweetness,” Aaron crooned, finally greeting his wife.
I’d heard him give that same greeting to Patience thousands of times over the years, but this time, it caused an image of Mia to flash in my mind.
Silently, I watched as Aaron played with his kids, letting them have free reign over his office. He then pulled Patience into his arms, sitting her on his lap behind his desk. At the same time, she updated him on the kids’ school projects, teacher reports, and the happenings at the community center that she and the other women in the family founded.
In the corner of Aaron’s office, Andreas and his twin played a game on their tablets. I could tell from the arguing between them that it was some sort of battle game. Stasi flitted around the office with a doll in her hand that she’d pulled out of one of the drawers of Aaron’s desk. I recognized it as the doll she’d left on her last visit to his office a couple of days earlier.
After about fifteen minutes, an alarm sounded. Patience hopped up from Aaron’s lap. I noted the way he frowned at her withdrawal.
“It’s time to pick up your sister from her riding practice,” Patience told the children.
“And Kyle?” Aaron asked.
