It was like the old days when they first started.A few guys who were former military, a company with a super mission able to carry out all kinds of tasks because they were loyal to each other.That’s how it worked.
And that’s what Ares wanted.
Someone to be as loyal to him as he was to everyone else in his life.
But someone who was just for him.
Tears pricked his eyes as the thought back to Josie chewing Xander out over the silly reality TV show.
She was so fierce in her anger.Two big ass men being scolded by a five-foot-nothing woman with curly hair and glasses but she could have been leading the charge on the war path by how much passion she vibrated with.
His heart clenched.
To think that all that was in his fingers and it slipped away…he couldn’t get his brain around it.He put on a smile as he followed Nick and Xander into the conference room.His laugh was fake but the sight was comical.
Little gift bags lined the table, along with a pile of tissue paper and wrapped presents.
He marched right to the conference room, phone in hand, his thumb on the number of his team.He wanted to check in with them.
“What are you doing here?”he asked the guys at the table.
“It looks like they’re playing Santa,” Xander said.
“This is what Harper called me for?”Nick said.
“Yep,” Erik said, tossing a bag at Nick.“Get going.We have a million of them.Have you seen the size of our house?All of this is too much.”
“If my sister wants it, she gets it,” Quinn said, glaring at his brother-in-law.
“You didn’t answer him.Why are you here?”Xander asked.
“Relax Xander.Ryder and his team are fixing something at the compound, and we left them with our new guy.He’s going to work out,” Quinn said, picking up a gift bag and stuffing it with paper.
“Knew the guy would work out.Anyone Dax recommends is solid,” Erik said.“Harper told us to prep these bags for Kayleigh’s baby shower.”
“I can’t believe she hasn’t popped yet,” Quinn said.
“Tell me about it,” Erik mumbled.
“Here, have a bag,” Quinn threw one to Ares.
Ares caught it, stopping himself from crumbling it up.
His phone rang.
“Just when you need an excuse,” Erik said.
They all laughed.
Not recognizing the number, he almost didn't answer it but maybe it was Josie.
“Hello?”
“Ares is Josie with you?I’m sorry to call and I'm probably acting like an overprotective mother, but I can’t get her.It's not like her to take off for two days and not tell me where she is I know, she's an adult but she was looking forward to seeing Carlos’s grandkids before we left for Montreal, and she didn’t show up for dinner.”
“Fleur, slow down.”His throat went bone dry.
“I know Josie is capable of looking after herself.I just want to know where she is.”
