invoices, reports, and checking in with his staff, some of whom were on job installations. Just after lunch, he was doing some routine system checks when Ace walked into his office.
“You’re up.” Ace tossed an elegant-looking black envelope adorned with a gold crown in the center onto Jack’s desk.
“What’s this?” Jack picked up the envelope and removed the fancy invite inside. “Four Kings Security cordially invites you to our fifth annual black-tie dinner and charity auction event benefiting military veterans and their families. Join us for cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a—” Jack’s head shot up. “No.”
Ace’s grin was pure evil. The bastard. He waggled his eyebrows at Jack. “Oh yes.”
“Are you doing this?”
The fucker pretended to look disappointed as he placed a hand over his heart. “Alas, I’m no longer an eligible bachelor.” His evil grin returned. “But you are.”
“A bachelor auction? Really?” Jack narrowed his eyes. “Wait, so none of you are being auctioned?”
Ace shrugged.
“But it’s just a date. For charity. We both know Colton would be fine with that.”
“King, Red, Lucky, and I discussed it. We decided we didn’t want to take the focus off the charity event or overshadow the rest of the guys on auction. I mean, I wouldn’t want King to feel bad if I brought in more money than him. It would bruise his manly ego.”
Something would bruise all right, but it wouldn’t be King’s ego. “King would get four times whatever someone ponies up for you.”
Ace’s offended gasp made Jack laugh. “Ouch! Harsh.”
“It’s that ‘Daddy’ vibe he gives off,” Joker said, hopping up to sit on Jack’s desk. “Like bees to nectar.”
“First off, get your ass off my desk. Second of all, please, please, walk up to King and call him Daddy. I will pay good money for you to do that right now.” Jack pulled some bills out of his wallet and tossed them on his desk.
“Pay good money to do what?” Lucky asked as he entered Jack’s office.
“For Joker to call King Daddy,” Jack offered cheerfully.
Lucky pulled his wallet out and removed several bills. “I will give you this if you go to his office right now and do that.”
“Do what?” Red asked, poking his head in. He narrowed his eyes at them. “Whatever you all are up to, I want no part of it.”
Ace patted Joker’s shoulder. “We’re paying Joker to walk into King’s office and call him Daddy.”
Red’s eyes went huge. “I’m taking a break and won’t be anywhere near this building. You’re on your own.”
Jack had never seen Red move that fast.
Joker threw his head back and laughed before growing serious. “You are all out of your fucking minds.”
Lucky waved the bills in Joker’s face. “Come on. Easy money.”
“Yeah,” Joker said with a snort. “And all it’ll cost me is my life.”
“You’re right,” Ace said, dropping down onto the couch to Jack’s left. “Ain’t no one in this place got the balls for that.”
“Got the balls for what?” Ryden asked from the door.
Jesus, was everyone hanging outside his office door just eavesdropping? He blamed Ace. Whatever happened, it was no doubt Ace’s fault. Shit. Jack spun in his chair to face Ace, groaning at the wicked grin on his face.
“Ace, no.”
“Bro, no,” Lucky said in agreement.
“What? What’s going on?” Ryden asked, stepping into the room.
Ace stood and shoved his hands into his pocket, his innocent expression fooling no one. “We have a bet going on that no one has the balls to walk into King’s office and call him Daddy.” He pulled his own wallet out and added to the growing pile of cash on Jack’s desk.
Joker shook his head sadly. “So far there are no takers.”
Ryden peered at them. “Just walk in and call him Daddy?”
“That’s it,” Ace replied, smile wide.
Ryden shrugged. “I can do that.”
Jack quickly rounded his desk and stopped in front of Ryden. “Look, you’ve been here longer than six months. Your grace period for getting away with shit where King is concerned is over. Do not listen to these assholes.”
“Come on, Jack. Leave the soldier alone,” Joker said, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Jack cringed. Joker was such an instigator.
Ryden took a step around Jack. “The fuck did you just call me?”
Joker blinked at him. “What?”
Never call a Marine a soldier.
Ryden marched over to the desk and grabbed the cash. He stuffed it into his pocket, then poked Joker in the shoulder. “You want to see some balls? Never send a Snake Eater to do a Marine’s job.” He stormed out of the