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"Boss!" Frankie greeted with a grin, standing up and smoothing out the creases in the map. "How's it hanging?"
"Always to the left," I shot back with a smirk, and we shared a chuckle. "Everything secure?" I asked, nodding towards the map on the hood of the jeep.
"Locked down tight," Mario confirmed, pushing away from the vehicle. "We've got the first perimeter locked down tight around the camp," he reported, his voice carrying the assurance thatcame with years of experience. "A small team's already made their way to the secondary dig site, setting up shop."
"Good, good," I murmured, surveying the cluster of tents and equipment that made up our temporary stronghold against the backdrop of ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed. "And the others?"
"Zonked out in their tents. They'll be fresh for the night shift." Mario gestured toward a group of unassuming canvas shelters where several of our crew had taken refuge from the daylight's blaze. They’d set up another camp as soon as we arrived, a short distance from the main camp, preferring to keep to themselves. "We've been doing sweeps further out. No sign of hellion activity close by, but there are a few spots where we've caught their scent. We're gonna keep an extra watch on those areas.”
I nodded. “Good. Hellions prefer the darkness anyway, so make sure the teams taking over at night are clued in about these locations."
Mario nodded. “Will do, boss.”
My gaze flicked between Frankie and Mario, noting the subtle signs of their vigilance. Even out here, surrounded by desert and battered by the heat, they were on alert, ready to respond at a moment's notice. These men weren't just my employees; they were friends, brothers in arms, each having been dealt a hard hand before I brought them into the fold of my business. They'd been cast out, left to fend for themselves in a city that could be as savage as any untamed wilderness. I believed in second chances, and they had proven themselves a hundredfold.
"Speaking of holding up," I turned to Frankie, lowering my voice to a more intimate timbre, "how's Donna? Must be close now, huh?"
Frankie's tough exterior melted into something softer at the mention of his mate. "Yeah, she's good. Glowing, you know?" He rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile playing on hislips as he glanced at Mario. "We're expecting our second pup in a couple months. Little rascal's already keeping her up at night."
"Congratulations, man." My heart warmed at his happiness. "That's incredible news. Make sure you let me know if she needs anything, alright?"
"Will do, Theo. Thanks."
“Actually, screw that,” I said, running quickly over a scenario in my mind. "Once we wrap up this job, I'm putting you on leave."
He straightened up, confusion furrowing his brow. "Leave, boss?"
"Six months," I said firmly, locking eyes with him. "Paid, of course. You're gonna be there for Donna and your new pup. No arguments."
His eyes widened, taken aback by the suddenness of the declaration. For a moment, he just stared at me, likely assessing if I was playing one of my usual pranks. But seeing the earnestness in my face, his posture relaxed, and a grateful smile slowly emerged.
"Damn, Theo..." His voice held a rough edge, tinged with emotion. "I don't know what to say. That's... Thank you, man."
"Nothing to thank me for." I shrugged it off, but inside, my chest swelled with pride. "You've been with me since the beginning. It's about time I did something more for you."
"Seriously, Theo," Frankie continued, his gaze steady and sincere. "You took a chance on me when no one else would. You've done more than give me a job; you gave me a purpose. And now this? It means everything."
I clapped him on the shoulder, the bond between us deeper than any pack ties. "Just promise me you'll actually relax and enjoy the time off, alright?"
"Will do, boss. Will do." Frankie grinned.
“Hey, when do I get six months paid leave?” asked Mario.
Frankie grinned at him. “When you finally settle down and get a mate and family of your own.”
“Yeah, never going to happen,” joked Mario. “Would be a shame to restrict this…” he gestured down his body. “… to just one woman.”
Frankie snorted.
“Mind you, did you catch a look at the new girl on Theo’s team?” Mario asked, his tone casual but laced with a curiosity that set my teeth on edge. A smirk played at the corner of his mouth. "Sariel, right? She's sexy as hell. Is she single?"
My jaw clenched and my whole body tensed at his words, the need to protect my mate surging up inside me in a moment. It was instinct, something primal awakening within me. "She's an angel," I replied tersely, the words coming out sharper than intended. "And she's off limits."
Mario laughed. “Yeah, yeah. You know what they say about angels though… all those years with action, she must be absolutely gagging for some. Maybe that’s why she’s working down here. She’s slumming it, looking for some big dick-”
I grabbed the front of Mario's T-shirt, the fabric twisting between my fingers as I shoved him hard against the dusty side of our utility vehicle. The metal groaned under his weight, a hollow sound that echoed my frustration. "Back off," I growled, the words vibrating deep in my chest, a warning from the alpha within. “Stay away from Sariel.”
"Whoa, whoa, easy, boss!" Mario held up his hands, and I could see in his eyes he realised he'd crossed a line. There was a flash of respect there, mixed with the hint of a challenge that always lingered beneath the surface with him. He had always been too brazen for his own good, but this time it felt personal. He may have been joking around, but there was nothing funny about Sariel's relationship status to me. I'd be damned if I let anyone reduce her to mere banter.
