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“Grey’s a protector at heart. He loves investigating, but protecting people is something that comes naturally to him. You and Hawthornes can give Grey what he needs and what he received from the Bureau. So did you say yeah?”
“What do you think?” Dad demanded, crossing his arms and trying to look intimidating. But this was my dad, and I wasn’t remotely scared of him.
“That you said yes.”
“Then why ask?” Axel asked grumpily.
Ellen began to laugh.
“Because it annoys you to know your baby grew up,” I teased.
Dad glowered even further.
“I love him, Dad.”
His face softened. “And he loves you, and that’s all that matters. Now get me some grandbabies,” Dad demanded.
I leant back in my chair and laughed. “Okay. After the wedding!”
Dad looked torn between happiness and pain. And that was exactly why I loved him.
Chapter Three.
Grey
Grey grinned at London across the office as the call came in he’d been waiting for. London raised an eyebrow before rolling his eyes.
“Hundred bucks, sucker!” Grey crowed, making Max and Davies laugh.
“You suck donkey balls,” London complained.
“Still owe me, fucker,” Grey said with a huge grin.
His first week at Hawthorne’s had been one of orientation. Despite his FBI qualifications, Hawthorne and Davies had run him through the gauntlet of tests they insisted were necessary. Grey respected that they weren’t going to take his word. If they had, Grey would be rethinking his role with them.
Even so, he’d been in the office a lot, and London was on a particularly annoying case. He was tracking an asshole who’d let his pregnant fiancée put her house up as a bond, and then he’d absconded on her. The poor woman was facing homelessness and bankruptcy. This was a pro-bona case for Hawthorne’s. Davies explained they did take them on with his and Dylan’s approval. Not everyone who deserved justice could afford it.
However, this asshole had London chasing his tail for a month, and London was now beyond pissed.
Grey had tapped some contacts, and London had snorted his disagreement that Grey’s people would come through. In fact, they had, and Kele and Makia, twin brothers, were bringing the guy in, much to London’s disgust.
“Seems you better pay up, brother,” Dylan said from the doorway, smirking at London.
“Assholes,” London muttered.
“Also, maybe Kele and Makia should claim the bounty on his head, too,” Dylan teased, and London scowled even deeper.
Dylan paid them all a good basic wage, but they got bonuses for each case they took on and solved. The incentive offered them all an extremely fat pay packet at the end of the month. Grey thought it was generous that they all then gave Dana a percentage of their bonus, as she did most of their paperwork, booked their appointments, and so on. Leila Gibson, their internet guru, earned her own bonuses.
Grey wasn’t expecting anything over his basic earning this first pay period, as he knew he had to earn his cases and the trust of the men around him. New team members at the Bureau experienced a similar situation. It hadn’t been easy leaving the FBI. Markin had done everything possible to find him a position nearer to Rapid City but had been unable to do so.
However, Grey’s mind was set, and he didn’t regret the choice. Once his name was linked to Willow’s, any infractions or disciplinary action would reflect on her.
Markin was genuinely sorry to see him leave. Most of their team felt similarly. Grey had never considered how popular or respected he was until his leaving-do.
The bar they’d selected had been filled with people. Grey finally kissed Willow in public, feeling somewhat vindicated. The shocked silence that met them had lasted several moments before everyone broke into catcalls and congratulations. Many claimed it made sense why Grey had left. He wondered what they would say if they knew he and Willow had pulled the wool over their eyes for eight years.
Despite his days being full of Hawthorne’s, Rage occupied most of his nights. He’d been voted in unanimously by the Inner Circle and owned his prospect cut. The night he had been given it was the first day of working at Hawthorne’s, and he’d looked an idiot wearing a cut over his suit. And Rage made sure he knew it. But Grey had shaken it off with his general good nature.
