Page 1 of Ridge

Chapter One

Ridge knocked on the office door, still confused as to why he was here. Gregory wasn’t his handler. Normally, he wouldn’t be talking to Ridge about anything, let alone a mission, yet here he was.

Although he had to admit that he was here mostly because, one, he was curious, and two, he was doing one of his friends a favor. Tex had asked him to hear Gregory out, and Ridge was happy to do so. He’d do so much more for his friends if he had to. Talking to someone wouldn’t be a hardship, especially since he wanted to know what was going on, too.

“Come in,” Gregory called out from inside.

Ridge turned to smile at the secretary, who was sitting at the desk by the other door, then opened the office door and peeked in.

Gregory was behind his desk, frowning at something on his computer. Ridge didn’t know him well, but he’d seen him around. Gregory was a handsome man. Ridge had no idea how old he was, but he looked to be in his mid-forties, although for a shifter, that didn’t mean much. He could be forty just as easily as he could be a hundred and ten.

“Gregory,” he said with a smile.

Gregory looked up and grinned. “The famous Ridge.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m famous, but yes, I’m Ridge.”

Gregory waved at the two empty chairs in front of his desk. “Sit down. Tex is coming, too. He just went to get some coffee.” Gregory wrinkled his nose. “I would’ve gone myself or sent Annabelle, but apparently, Tex has a very specific coffee order.”

Ridge snorted. “I’m aware.”

“Good. You won’t be offended if he’s late, then.”

“I won’t be, no. I believe I’m a little early, anyway.”

Gregory nodded. “You are. I have to say, I appreciate that. I’m one of those people who’s always early. For me, if you’re right on time, you’re late.”

Ridge wouldn’t say the same went for him, but being punctual was important in his line of work. Not being so might get him killed.

He settled into one of the chairs, still watching Gregory. He had questions, but he suspected that Gregory would answer them in his own time. That was just as well.

Ridge looked around the office. It was just like every other office in the building—hell, in the entire facility. He hadn’t seen much of the place beyond the training areas where he and the others had learned to be professional assassins for the council, but he’d seen enough. Even his handler’s office looked like this. There were no personal touches, which was just as well. Ridge wasn’t surprised that Gregory didn’t want most people to know him personally.

The door opened, and Tex strode in. He grinned at Ridge when he saw him, put down the coffees he was carrying, and pointed at one of them. “That’s yours,” he told Ridge.

Ridge picked it up and inhaled the scent of coffee. “Black just like my heart?”

Tex snorted as he flopped down into the other chair. “You don’t have a black heart. Hell, you’re a softie, although you hide it well.”

“Not too soft,” Ridge murmured.

“No, that would be me,” Tex said. “I’m the one who refused to become an assassin.”

Ridge shrugged. “It’s not for everyone.”

“Which is why you’re here,” Gregory declared.

Ridge sat up. He was happy to find out what was going on finally. “Why am I here? Do I have to kill someone?”

Gregory chuckled. “I realize, usually, the answer to that question would be yes, but not in this case. You were with Tex when that mess happened in Starhaven, right?”

Ridge had no idea where Gregory was going, but he nodded. “I was.” As if he could ever forget what happened in Starhaven. He’d met his mate there. He still hadn’t told Kael about it, and since Kael was a demon, he might not know, but Ridge suspected that he’d at least sensed something was there. That would explain why he fled the other way any time Ridge was anywhere near him.

“This is a continuation of that mission, if you will,” Gregory explained. “I’ve been talking to many people since that happened, and we all agreed that if the demons were a little more open to the outside world, it probably wouldn’t have happened the way things did. People died, and we stopped it, but we could’ve stopped it much sooner if we had access to the demons and their villages.”

“I agree, but I’m not sure what that has to do with anything.”

“I’ve been talking to several demons, including Nymon. The council is planning on sending someone out as an outreach. They want to try to convince demons to be a little more open. To do that, the demons have to trust us, which we realize isn’t going to be easy, hence sending a demon. Hopefully, whoever accepts the job will be able to show the demons hiding in their towns that opening up to the outside world isn’t a bad thing. After all, Nymon found love with a shifter. Demons might not have mates, but that doesn’t mean they’re not someone’s mate. They could have love, build families, and have opportunities they’ll never have if they stay so close to home.”