“I did hear something about that,” Cole admitted, starting in on his sogliola, which he’d ordered after Tommy assured him lunch was on him. “A few guys from the vet groups havementioned applying for positions.” He glanced between Tommy and Thorn. “None of them mentioned being approached, though. I’m pretty sure it would’ve come up if Tommy Sloane reached out personally.”
“Thorn’s in charge of all that,” Tommy said, sipping his wine. “Doing a great job, too. We’re in high demand, especially the bodyguard division.”
Cole laughed. “What makes you think I want to protect spoiled rich people? Or is that why I got special treatment? You figured you’d recruit me face-to-face?”
“I have got plenty of former military applying,” Thorn said, leaning back and folding his arms, clearly unimpressed by Cole’s tone. “I am not so hard up I need to chase them down and beg.”
“And yet your boss is wining and dining me and my wife hoping I’ll take a job,” Cole shot back. After a beat, he tilted his head. “You don’t want me for bodyguard work, do you? Need another trainer or something?”
“That would be part of it, yes,” Tommy said, pushing his plate aside. No point in pretending. Thorn had been sure the former Green Beret wouldn’t walk away once he heard the details. “But there’s another side to the business,” Tommy continued, keeping his tone light and conversational. “We’re putting together a small team.” He studied Cole over the rim of his glass. “Have you heard of grey ops?”
That got Cole’s attention. His fork stilled, shoulders straightening. “Grey ops?” He looked at his wife, whose hazel eyes were suddenly filled with wariness. “As in mercenaries - soldiers for hire?”
“Something like that,” Tommy said with a faint smile. “But all official and legal.” He paused, then added, “Well, legal-ish, anyway. We’ve been quietly looking for people who’d be a good fit,” Tommy continued, nodding toward Thorn and Nissa. “And we think you’re one of them.”
Cole leaned back, folding his arms. “What would a job entail?”
“Nothing you haven’t done before,” Tommy said easily. “You’d work alone or with a partner. The entire operation would be yours to plan, start to finish, with full access to Sloane resources.” Interest flickered in Cole’s expression, but Tommy knew it wasn’t him he had to win over. He turned his attention to Lana, who was frowning down at her plate, looking like she wished she’d never spoken to them at the zoo.
“We’re also looking for an executive assistant to help Nissa,” Tommy said lightly. “She’s Director of Strategic Operations, but like Thorn, she’ll be in the field sometimes.”
“You’re offering us both jobs?” Lana’s head snapped up, eyes wide as she looked between Tommy and Nissa. “Just like that?”
“With signing and relocation bonuses, and temporary housing until you find a place, yes,” Tommy said with a nod. “Plus, competitive salaries, performance bonuses for Cole, full health coverage, and company benefits. All standard for Sloane Enterprises employees, no matter the division.”
Cole and Lana exchanged a look before Cole sighed. “That all sounds great, but the reason I left the Army was so we could start a family. I don’t want to be gone all the time anymore.”
Nissa laid her hand over Tommy’s, giving him a warning glance before she spoke. “While we can’t predict everything,” she said calmly, “you’ll be home more than you’re away. Most operations are short, research is done while you plan your op,then in and out quickly. Ideally a less than a week, two at most, unless extensive on-ground recon is needed.”
“And in between jobs, you’ll be training the bodyguards and security personnel which keeps your employment legit,” Tommy said. He noticed Lana still wasn’t completely convinced and smiled. “Did I mention one of the perks of working for Sloane Enterprises is a full year of paid maternity or paternity leave?”
He saw her hand go to Cole’s knee under the table and knew he had her. “Really?” she asked, glancing at Cole. “And there’s no limit on how many times someone can take it?”
“I mean, no.” Tommy frowned slightly. “But ideally there’d be at least a year between leaves, not just because it wouldn’t be very financially responsible for my company, but because I’m pretty sure it’s not medically recommended to have kids back-to-back.”
Lana let out a soft giggle. “I don’t plan to, but I do want three or four kids.”
“Oh. Yeah, then no, there’s no limit.” Tommy shook his head, amused. Three or four kids seemed excessive to him, but then again, he was an only child. “There’s also an on-site daycare for employees with both drop-in and long-term options.”
Cole took a slow breath, running a hand through his short, sandy-brown hair before glancing at his wife. “So, just to make sure I’ve got this right; you want to hire me as a grey operative, training your bodyguards and security teams between assignments and you want to hire Lana as an executive assistant for Nissa. We’d get signing and relocation bonuses, free room and board until we find a place to live, and you’ll help us find that place?”
“Correct,” Tommy said, swirling the wine in his glass. “This division’s still new, and I’m taking my time finding people I trust, people Iwantto work for me. I want this team to be the absolute best. I’m keeping it small and elite, no more than six or eight of you.” He smiled faintly. “You have a way of fading into the background despite your size, which is impressive. Not to mention, you clocked Thorn in the park and come highly recommended by your former COs.”
Cole and Lana shared another look and this time she nodded, smiling broadly. “You know, I was just telling him I’d love to live in New York City.”
Cole chuckled and held his hand out to Tommy. “Looks like we’re in.”
Chapter Thirteen: Under Oath
Almost twenty months after his failed attempt to kidnap and kill Tommy, Oscar went on trial to answer to the laundry list of charges the prosecution had put together. There were a few smaller charges related to business fraud that had come out during the investigation, things like misrepresentation to investors, attempted coercion or vote manipulation with the board and falsifying corporate records, but the prosecution and SEC had decided to wait for the outcome of the kidnapping trial before they proceeded with the lesser charges.
He was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Kidnapping in the First Degree, and Solicitation to Commit Murder all of which were Class A or Class B Felonies with sentences of twenty-five years to life in prison, if convicted, which the prosecution was sure he would be, calling it a slam dunk in their last meeting to go over their statements.
The morning of the court date, Evie arrived at the courthouse alone, as per the District Attorney’s instructions, and went inside to find Janet, the paralegal who’d been assigned to get her where she was supposed to go. She knew Thorn and Tommy were already there, tucked away in other rooms and going over the final instructions.
“Everything should go very quickly.” Evie’s nervousness must have been showing on her face, because Janet’s voice was low and reassuring. “We have lots of evidence, Mr. Orlovic’s testimony that he was hired by Mr. Stanley, the bankstatement’s showing the withdrawal of the money, the briefcase with the money in it and both Mr. Stanley’s and Mr. Orlovic’s fingerprints on it, the messages to the group of hitmen the FBI recovered from Mr. Stanley’s computer history requesting the kidnapping, plus we have all the security footage from Mr. Sloane’s office from the confrontation. You being on the stand is just to corroborate the timeline and how erratic your father was behaving, okay?”
Evie nodded as she took a seat on the lumpy chair in the corner of the room. Looking around at the depressing hospital green walls, she ran her hands over her skirt, nervously smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. “And after I’m done testifying I can stay?”
