Page 1 of Forever Flustered

CHAPTER 1

ARCHANGEL

This was a mistake.

Life.

Work.

Thinking he could somehow reach Bode – his brother – but that had backfired spectacularly. They never talked about their relationship, never admitted that they were family because it could cause problems, and they had enough of them to last generations – or it could simply die off with them, Elijah thought as his phone rang, walking into the office to do some much-needed and never-ending paperwork. Yanking up the receiver, he answered it in true ‘Hall-Family’ fashion.

“What?”

Silence hung for less than a second – and then he heard it.

“Seriously?” A voice sounded on the other end of the line – cold, arrogant, and unfamiliar. “If you are putting your butt in my chair, using my phone, and trying to hold my team together. You could at least have the decency to act like a leader – not a mistake.”

Elijah hesitated while his brain immediately went into full throttle, accessing every avenue and scrap of information that he could to determine who this was… because it sure wasn’t Piranha. She would have laughed and then lobbed some mental grenade at him before hanging up.

This was a guy and… and this was a private line.

“Who is this?”

“Great,” the voice drawled out coolly. “Reilly is finally gone, and my replacement leaves in time for some newbie to take over – well, that sounds just about right…”

“I’m not a newbie and…”

“I’m not finished,” the voice interrupted again – even icier than before. “Respect your elders, boy… and listen up.”

Elijah pulled back the receiver, staring at it in shock and amazement, before putting it back to his head to hear what this person had to say – grinning at the obvious arrogance coming through the line. That was fine – two could play this game.

“The team just got a phone call from Banshee…”

Elijah’s mouth dropped open in shock as his eyes immediately turned toward the open doorway nearby, almost as if he’d see the man appear in that instant.

Banshee was Sidewinder’s wingman.

Sidewinder was the call sign of his little brother Bode, who was doing everything he could to burn the world down around him. His brother needed attention, therapy, and a swift kick in the butt… probably all three things – but then again, didn’t they all after growing up like they had. He wouldn’t wish his childhood on his worst enemy. The irony wasn’t lost on him that because of his childhood, his own brother thought Elijah was the enemy.

“Sidewinder is here…”

“Who is this?” Elijah interrupted again, pointedly.

“Things happen fast here, so you are going to listen to me very carefully and follow my directions – or you’ll miss his wedding.”

“Whose wedding?” Elijah retorted and then hesitated. “Sidewinder? He’s not getting married. No one would ever…” and he paused, hearing a scuffle as someone else got on the phone, speaking to him. What in the world was happening, and how did they get this number?

“Archangel, it’s a long story, but you need to act fast - or you’ll regret it.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Again – another scuffle before the first voice got back on the line.

“I’m not going to repeat myself,” the voice began. “Your flight leaves in four hours if you can be ready – and hopefully you won’t miss Sidewinder’s wedding.” There was something about that tone – the staggering amount of confidence – that made him hesitate once more as he listened. “I know Piranha believes in you, which is why we’ve reached out. Family is everything and…”

“I know that,” Elijah interrupted tersely.

“Then get your butt on that flight – and we’ll pick you up at the airport. Your ticket is in your email and…”