Task One:
Rena and Tytan. You may work as a team.
Retrieve all hard drives from the address listed below.
Upon the conclusion of the second shift at eleven p.m., enter the premises. The electricity is linked to a silent alarm that is also on a backup generator. Any disturbance will alert a security team, and a cage will lock you in. There is a forty-five-minute window before the cleaning crew arrives.
From the designated time of entrance to the time ofhard-drive destruction, you are granted two hours. No investigation into the business or viewing of hard-drive information is permitted.
Liam and Gage may only assist from afar or in an instance where you are made.
Address: 2192 Rocky Cove
When the three guys read the assignment earlier, they broke into hysterics.
“Fucking child’s play,” Liam howled.
Gage just shook his head, rubbing his fingers over his lips, bald head scrunched in rumination. “The fuck is the point of such a pansy-ass job?”
“Who the fuck cares?” Ty grinned with a sigh of relief. “We’ve got this, Little Moon.” He winked at me, which made my cheeks heat as he tacked on, “One day at a time.”
That last sentence lingers as a reminder that tomorrow’s job might not be so agreeable, but nothing in life is guaranteed. Might as well bask in the gift of the present, and live.
And at present, my husband is reaching for me. “C’mon, baby. Time to get into position.”
We creep behind the warehouse toward the office building as the din of excited voices echoes around us, crouching down with our backpacks on, guns in hand, and our comm microphones operating again.
Ty leans in and captures my lips for a brief yet consuming kiss. “You’re amazing, handling this so well. You know that? Follow my lead, okay?”
Before I can answer, Liam’s voice filters through the comm. “Occupants are vacating slowly. Hold your position.”
The last three days were daunting, tense with waiting, but the anticipation only intensified the bond I’d been forming with all of them.
I kept busy, swimming and working out with the guys. It was all good until they taunted me for quitting early on the first day—whichI had to do because who can work out like that? Exhausting, but also excruciatingly boring.
Lunge and sweat and run and lift.Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.
In response to their mockery, I sprinted into a back handspring, back tuck, and challenged them to do the same in order to make me continue. Fair is fair. If I’m forced to endure their bullshit workout, they can master mine.
They all stared. Silent. Smirking. Blinking. The three men who were Navy SEALs in their former lives, and are trained assassins and cabal leaders now, were stumped. I’m not gonna lie; that was a good freaking moment. I think Liam and Ty would have caved and gone for it—maybe broken their backs or died trying. But Gage immediately became a staunch advocate in permitting me to retire. There’s no way the Big Guy was flipping anywhere. Liam howled and claimed I was dangerous because I’d defeated them with a circus trick. And Ty beamed proudly.
We played music the rest of that day, alternating between our favorites. Liam likes some great classics—mad respect for some of his picks. Gage enjoys a wide variety, including jazz and reggae, which I love. Who would have freaking known? He was thrilled because no one shares his passion for Miles Davis or John Coltrane—both godfathers of jazz. And when we spent an hour listening to Bob Marley, he was in his glory. But the kicker was when I suggested Matisyahu, a more contemporary reggae artist. Apparently, that’s his current obsession, so I struck gold.
And Ty is a ’90s groupie—much like Axel and Ryker—and a lyrics hoarder, like me. But I had already gathered that from the way he related to me through songs.
I even taught them some insider card tricks to beat Celeste next time they play since she kicks their asses at every damn game. That scored me royalty points. It’s probably against girl code or something, but even the queen needs to let someone else carry the crown on occasion.
It was fun and a taste of home. Similar to my easy days with mybrothers yet a whole different vibe. Ty got us sushi, tacos, orange chicken, and egg rolls for dinner. All my favorites. And I drank my fill of Liam’s beer.
The next two days followed suit. All of it made my heart ache. Because there was a fragility to those moments, everything teetering in the balance. I didn’t need the walls to pulsate or the lights to buzz with warning. It was in the very molecules of the air haunting me. Hovering over us like a humid blanket—one intent on smothering. One that I knew would descend on us, no matter how much I ignored it.
“Final two occupants are descending the stairs,” Liam informs into the comm before Gage tacks on, “Four vehicles remaining in the parking lot. Continue to hold.”
The way they communicate is so fluid that it’s both intimidating and reassuring. It seems there’s a valid reason for their laughter this afternoon.
But like always, the wait is the worst, so I ease it. “We need a theme song.”
Ty spares me a glance with one cocked brow. “What?”
