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“Is that where we are, Jax? Two used-up former grunts dulling our pain the best we can?”
Jax laughs, and his eyes brighten.
“Well, Easton helps me feel other things besides the pain. And I don’t just mean in the obvious way, either. I never would have said it before, but human connection can help you cope with loss. You should try it sometime.”
I scoff. The idea of being with anyone for a long term relationship seems absurd to me. No one would put up with me except in small doses. It’s better that way.
“I’ll make that a priority. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me?”
Jax strokes his chin, his eyes boring into me.
“Can you put your pain aside and do the job?”
“Yeah,” I say without hesitation. “I made a career out of stuffing the pain and getting the job done, Jax. That’s why you hired me.”
Jax looks at me for a long time, not saying a word. I can tell he’s not sure if he believes me or not. But in the end, he gestures for the door.
“All right. Keep her safe, Grayson. She’s a high profile client with a huge following. If you screw this up, I don’t know that the firm can take the PR hit.”
“I’m sure your wife knows some excellent public relations people. But don't worry. I won’t let anyone harm a single hair on Charlotte’s head. I’ll die first.”
Jax blinks and drops his hand to the desk.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Good luck, Grayson, and never forget that your Platinum Security brothers are just a phone call away. We stand together, or we die alone.”
I grunt. I never got much into the team-building platitudes. In the CIA that’s the first thing they break you of. Platitudes. Reality is far more complex and a lot less jolly.
I head into the lobby and find Charlotte hanging with Easton, Griff, Lexi, and Avery, who balances a bubbly infant on her hip. Easton holds a small black object in her palm, displaying it to Charlotte.
“So, when you flip this switch, it’s powered up. See the red light is on, now?”
Charlotte nods. “Yeah, I see.”
“All right. Now it’s ready, and you just shove the metal prongs into your attacker and press the button on the side.”
I realize that Easton is showing Charlotte how to use a stun gun. I pause at the doorway, not wanting to interrupt.
“Will this really work?” Charlotte asks.
“I’ve seen it take down a three hundred pound man before. Trust me, it will work,” Easton replies, handing the device over to Charlotte, who stuffs it in her purse.
“Not that you’ll need it, with Grayson around,” Griff says.
I take that as my cue. They look up when I enter and Griff gives me a nod.
“Here he is, the man of the hour. Ready to pop your cherry on your first Platinum Security job?”
“I’m ready to show you how it’s done, Griff. Just like I do on the basketball court.”
“Damn, Griff, I think he just got the better of you.” Lexi says.
“A minor setback,” Griff says.
Lexi and Griff have been an item ever since she hired him to help find her brother. From what I’ve heard, they ended up on a wild treasure hunt adventure. Avery is Ryker’s baby momma. Their story is pretty epic too.
Avery settles Luka into a carrier and turns toward Easton.
“Hey, Easton, you got any of that Taittinger’s Blanc bubbly stashed around? This is turning into a party.”
