Page 17

Since I’m still smiling up at him, he lowers his head and kisses me gently, making me smile. I love how easily all of my men show me affection; no matter who is around, it makes me feel special and loved.
“Before I join the others in the festivities, I know that Atlas sent me a text and I’d like to talk to you all about it?” Alaric announces.
“Absolutely, why don’t we go into the dining room, and we can all sit down then, I know the others don’t want to miss this,” Trick replies.
Alaric nods, and we all head through the house and the kitchen, picking up the others, who all look like they’re somehow on their second cocktails, which I’m going to have to get the guys to explain to me at some point because they all seem to have a different one and they are truly fantastic colours.
Once we’re all seated, Alaric says, “First, I want to make it really clear that I had no idea that she’d taken up my offer to have Mr R involved.”
“What do you mean?” Jynx asks, just as confused by that sentence as the rest of us.
“I mean, I had no idea that she was working for the organisation. Mr R never told me, and if what you said in your message was right, then I can see why. Only he, and maybe one other person, would know who she was, and that’s simply because she is a ghost agent.” Alaric explains.
“Okay, so what do you know?” Atlas asks, watching his uncle closely.
“You remember when Blake took her, you left her in my care?” Alaric questions, and those of us who were there nod, “Well, she was really quiet and didn’t really say much, which is understandable. She was clearly extremely upset, but it was more because of what she said to you, not what had just happened.”
“How do you know that?” I ask.
“Because she said so, I said something like I know this has been really difficult, and before I could finish my sentence, she laughed and said that doesn’t bother me as much as it probably should; it’s not like it’s the first time, I’m upset because I’m a coward and just told the best friend I ever had, that I couldn’t be friends with her for a stupid fucking reason.” He replies, and I feel a knot of emotion try to rise.
“Yeah, that sounds more like the Rylie I knew. She was tough as nails, but she desperately wanted to be normal and live a normal life. If I had to guess, I’d assume that was what prompted her to tell you that she couldn’t be friends with you,” Jynx adds to the explanation of what she knew about Rylie.
I nod, “That makes sense.”
“That’s what I got from her as well, although I had no idea what she was capable of or who she was related to.” Alaric adds, “I managed to talk to her when I’d explained everything that had happened to the agents that turned up. It was like those few minutes that I’d been away from her, her whole demeanor had changed. There was a fire in her, a fight that wasn’t there before. She told me that she was done hiding; it wasn’t who she was, and she was done being a victim.” He pauses and frowns as he seems to think back, “She said D’s current safe word and shocked the shit out of me. She explained what she could, although she was very careful not to name any names, so I had no idea she was related to Mona. I didn’t even realise that Jynx knew her. She was angry as hell and said that no matter what she did, this life pulled her in. She was done trying to hide from it.
“She didn’t really know what she wanted, so I made a suggestion. She already had a vague idea of what I did, but I explained a little bit more about it, what I could at least. I explained that it was legal but still used the darker skills that I assumed she’d been trained in; she only gave me a single nod to confirm that I was right, so I continued. By the end, she was intrigued but wasn’t completely sold, which is more than understandable. I mean, I couldn’t exactly tell her much. I double-checked her age, and she’d actually already turned eighteen, which was a shock but meant that I could give her Mr Rising’s card. I told her to think about it and that if she decided that it was something that she wanted more information on, to call that number, and he’d take it from there.”
“Wow, that wasn’t what I was expecting you to say,” Rome replies, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I filled Mr R in on her potential and what she shared with me about her past. I never heard from her again, and Mr R never mentioned anything to me about her. When I checked in at the town, she and her father had already left. I assumed that D had moved them on again because I hadn’t heard anything, which would’ve been the best thing for them both. It would’ve been unsafe for them if I knew where they were or started asking D questions in case someone was looking for them, so I didn’t ask. Trying to make sure that everyone was safe and stayed that way.”
“Why didn’t you say anything about any of this?” I ask him.
“Because she specifically asked me not to say anything to you about any of this, she said it was better this way and that once she knew who the hell she was, she’d get back in contact. I imagine that was made more difficult when she became a ghost agent for him. He would’ve had to have decided that from the very beginning because otherwise, she would’ve gone through training with the others, and that would have defeated the point of her being a ghost because they would’ve known that she existed.” Alaric explains. “I also didn’t say anything because, as far as I was aware, there wasn’t any more information to give you. That conversation was it, and it really wasn’t my place to tell you about that, especially since, as far as I was concerned, she was in a kind of witness protection.”
I nod, my mind spinning, but finally understanding what happened and where she’s been, I also appreciate Alaric’s need to keep everybody safe. I would’ve done the same thing. “I get it. Thank you for telling me now.”
“Of course, I wish I had more to tell you, but like I said, for Rylie’s safety, very few people will know that she exists, and she will be given the most sensitive of cases, including internal ones. If I were you guys, and handling this job I’d start there, find out what the job was and see where that takes you.” Alaric offers his advice.
“Thanks, we’re going to, but we aren’t doing anything until after Christmas,” Trick replies firmly.
Alaric’s smile widens as D looks at him with respect and says, “And that right there is how you run a team and a family. Good job.”
“Thanks,” Trick smiles and then adds, “Well, now that’s over with, why don’t the three behind the cocktails explain our options?”
“I’d love to,” Jensen grins.
“One second,” Ace adds, as we all watch curiously as Ezra and him rush into the kitchen.
“You know, for some reason, I am concerned for you all,” Lyric says from beside me, and I chuckle.
“Yeah, me too. I’ve already been warned that they’re potent.” I reply.
“Don’t worry I’m going to get any antics caught on film, and I’ll rope those of your men that shouldn’t be drinking because of their meds, into my scheming too.”
I burst out laughing, “I don’t know whether to be amused or absolutely terrified about what stories you guys are going to have to tell tomorrow morning. Fortunately, I’m only going to have a couple. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow, the parents are arriving, and I have so much to do that I absolutely don’t want to risk having a hangover to do any of it.”