other guys,” San announces. Knowing him, his finger is on the trigger and he’s targeting one of them.
If this was an isolated place, I would say go for it and shoot the guys in the van. Since my orders were very specific and the quad is filled with people, I say, “We can’t draw attention to them, or us. I’ll let the boss deal with the rest—as he requested.”
“G, walk away slowly,” I command. “Get lost in the crowd.”
“I’m not new at this,” she protests.
She shrugs out of the black jacket she’s wearing and hands it to a homeless person. She takes off the hat and wig, tossing it into a trash can. She pulls off the skirt she’s wearing and shoves it inside her backpack. By the time she meets me, she’s a different person.
She’s now my G.
“Hey,” I say, taking her into my arms. “You were going to get in the van, weren’t you?”
When I release her, her gray gaze finds mine. She smiles, and there’s so much mischief in her expression.
“You’re either going to get me killed or give me a heart attack,” I say, pulling her close to me and kissing the top of her head.
She takes off the earpiece, turning it off. I do the same, and she finally speaks, “You would’ve done the same.”
“Probably,” I answer, swatting her colorful braid.
Her hair is always a different color. Today it’s teal. It amazes me how she can camouflage herself during a mission when she’s so colorful.
“Let’s go home. I’ll cook tonight.”
“Great, he’s cooking,” Fish says, joining us. “You heard that, Sir Byron Langdon. Drive your ass to Beac’s.”
“Just call him fucking Lang,” I say, hoping his communicator is still on and Lang can hear me.
As we approach my SUV, I spot Mane and San leaning against it.
“Lang says that everything is under control.” Mane fists bumps with G. “That was pretty badass.”
“My favorite part is when you transformed from naïve student to”—San glances at her and shrugs—“you?”
“Let’s go before people start recognizing us,” I warn them, unlocking the car and getting into the driver’s seat. “The plane is ready for takeoff.”
“I thought you were driving,” G says, pulling a granola bar and water out of her backpack.
“It’s faster to fly,” I answer casually, instead of saying, “Your father wants you back in Seattle, now.”
“So, what’s happening with your Dad’s will?” Grace asks.
Could we avoid talking about parental units for at least a day or two? I don’t bring up your overprotective dad. You don’t mention my fucking father.
I blame her for answering the fucking phone when my brothers called. If I had ignored them…well, they’d have come to find me. Our father’s will is too important to ignore. With a snap of his fingers, he can end the livelihood of thousands of people—and he’s dead. Who has that fucking power?
William Aldridge.
But, if he’s the Thanos to our world, I’ll make sure to pull a Dr. Strange-Ironman-Antman move on him and avoid any destruction.
“Have they found a way to get you off the hook?” San asks.
“Nope. So far, the answer is I have to live in Baker’s Creek for an eternity,” I answer, driving toward the airport. “They’re already building my studio. The contractors that will be building my underground home are already working on it too.”
There’s no way I’m going to share my space with them. I need a place where I can practice and another one where I can talk with The Organization in private. I’m still pondering how the hell I’ll do my job. I’m the team leader. There’s no fucking way I’ll let my people go into a mission without me. That’s like sending them to the grave.
“It’s only eighteen months,” Grace reminds me.
“We have work to do,” I protest. “A lot is happening in the world. I don’t have time to sit back and relax—while dealing with my brothers. All five of them.”
Knowing G, she has some kind of silver lining speech ready in case my brothers say, “There’s no other alternative. You have to move with us, now.”
“But—”
I shake my head. “Not today, G.” I don’t want to discuss my father, my brothers, or the stupid will. For now, I want to pretend it’s not real.
Chapter Five
Beacon
“You don’t pay me enough for this,” I joke when I enter Mills’ place. “Can we discuss your relocation?”
His glare shuts me up. “What happened?”
“I think they’re going to release me from my contract.” He sighs.
For a moment, I’m speechless. What can I say that