“Is it bad that I feel like he’s stealing from me?” asked Ike.
Adonis said, “Thieves gotta thieve, Ike. You can’t ask that manto walk away from his criminal activities and not provide something that satisfies that itch he has to loot and plunder.”
“I knew this sudden desire to change was your fault!” Tatiana seethed through gritted teeth. “You brainwashed him, waving that black metal card in his face. He’s walking away from a lucrative business because of you.”
Kane had been Ike’s latest recruit onto the Stingray Security team. Years ago, his childhood friend had taken the opposite fork in the road from Ike. While Ike went to the Palmchat Islands Military Academy, Kane chose to become a petty thief. Over the years, Kane became one of the world's most skilled, sophisticated, and sought-after burglars. Capabilities that would prove useful in helping Ike to identify weaknesses in his client’s security systems. Convincing Kane to give up stealing had been easier than he’d expected. Ike didn’t know why, and that still bothered him.
“Business?” Ike scoffed. “Stealing from people doesn’t constitute a business, Tatiana.”
Tatiana’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “No one cares what you think, Ike. You may have convinced Kane, for now, but you won’t get Adonis to join your merry band of bodyguards.” Tatiana turned on her heels and jogged across the field toward Kane.
Ike glanced at Adonis. “Is she right?”
“I’m my own boss, you know that,” Adonis said. “Business is too good, and I love what I do. Not looking for a change, even though I admire what you’re trying to create here.”
While Ike wanted all his friends to be part of his new security team, he had no plans of using their friendship to goad them into coming aboard. The decision for each of them had to be based on whether they could believe in and support the mission of Stingray Security.
So far, he’d gotten Sebastian Luttrell, a former PISCO, LachlanRitchie, a former US Air Force pilot, Everett Gilliam, a former DEA agent, and Kane Ambrose, a stealthy thief, to accept the dark metal cards etched with the stingray logo. It was a sign of membership into the exclusive union of operatives that would provide threat protection detail to an elite clientele.
Adonis and Bobby were the last holdouts. He needed both men, and they knew it. Bobby was an IT genius and critical to have on the team. Adonis owned a business that specialized in cleaning crime scenes and was used exclusively by most of the law enforcement agencies in the Palmchat Islands. They were the perfect combination to ensure any evidence of Stingray Security activity could be erased at a moment's notice, whether online or in real life.
A combination that Ike had utilized only a few months ago when the DEA had stranded Everett on an undercover operation. A Jamaican cartel was hours away from ensuring they’d never see Everett again if Ike hadn’t received the S-O-S from Everett through a system they’d perfected as kids.
As a former PISCO, Ike had ample skillsets to extract his friend from the clutches of the cartel. But the operation required more than an exfiltration. He had to make sure the cartel had no way of detecting how Everett got out and erase any chance they had of figuring out Everett’s real identity from his undercover persona. It was the only way to ensure his friend wouldn’t need to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life. Especially after everything that undercover op had already taken away from him.
Bobby and Adonis had been the keys to making that happen. Ike needed them to become permanent members of the Stingray Security team.
Adonis continued, “I have a counteroffer for you.”
“Okay, lay it on me,” Ike said, glancing at Bobby to see if he knew what Adonis was about to pitch. But the cyber genius lookedbored with the conversation, focusing on Tatiana’s jiggling assets as she ran across the field.
“You become one of my clients,” Adonis said, giving him a grin that made it clear this was an offer Ike shouldn’t refuse because he wouldn’t get another.
He had to admit it was a suitable solution. But Ike needed access to the very best Adonis was offering. “A top priority client? Drop everything when we need you kind of client?”
“Damn, Ike! You drive a hard bargain.” Adonis chuckled.
“I got the money to back it up. I don’t need a discount. I need preferential treatment. Charge what you like. How about that?”
Adonis grabbed Ike’s hand, forcing him into a handshake. “I say you got a deal. I don’t want you changing your mind once you see what that level of service will cost you.”
Ike handed him a dark metal card etched with a stingray. “You’re worth it.”
“Damn right, I am,” Adonis said.
“But we need to be off the books. Can’t have a record of your services to Stingray Security in any of your files.”
“Done,” Adonis agreed.
Ike gave Adonis a hearty smile, recognizing that they’d both gotten what they wanted. He turned to Bobby.
“Give me my fucking black card so I can get back to St. Basil.” Bobby shoved an open palm toward Ike.
“That was easy,” Ike said, slapping the card onto Bobby’s palm.
“No other man I respect more,” Bobby said, gracing Ike with a rare moment of sincerity. “I’m honored to work with you.”
And with that, Ike’s team was complete.
