Page 48 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Free glanced at him. “Morrison, I’ll have your watch calibrated soon.”

Morrison nodded.

Xander released a breath he seemed to have been holding since he’d walked into the room.

Free stepped closer and placed his hand on Xander’s shoulder softly. “I’ve been designing devices like these for a long time.” Free’s voice was low and soothing. “Because I know what it’s like to be afraid. To be targeted and feel defenseless.”

The room was quiet.

Free removed his hand. “You won’t feel like that much longer. You have us now. All of us.”

Xander’s eyes filled, but the tears didn’t fall.

“And this isn’t the only precaution we’ve taken,” Free added, easing back into business. “Your house is getting a full overhaul. There’ll be no more fake texts or breaker access. No blind spots. We’re gonna make sure your home feels safe again.”

Xander’s mouth trembled before he pressed his lips together hard.

God gave him a second before he finished the introductions.

“Detectives Ruxsberg—we call him Ruxs—and his partner, Green.” God motioned to them. “They’ll be your personal security. They’re both experienced with guarding state witnesses, informants, and high-profile targets with active hits on their lives. They know how to move a principal and specialize in spotting threats before it gets close.”

Ruxs gave Xander a lazy two-finger salute. “We’re more charming than we look.”

That tiny smile returned to Xander’s face.

“That’s Detective Edwin Steele,” God said.

Steele nodded from near the door.

“He’ll be with me and Day on Stage 8. We’ll be managing West Protective Solutions during Morrison’s absence.”

God paused, then ordered.

“Morrison makes the fourth man on your personal detail.”

Both Morrison and Xander blinked at him.

He kept going as if he hadn’t just dropped a grenade in the room.

He’d made that decision the second he saw the comfort Morrison’s sheer presence gave Xander. Not to mention he’d called Morrison when he was in danger. He trusted him…needed him. And he wasn’t about to be the man who took that comfort away.

“Any issue with that?” God asked Morrison.

Morrison’s jaw flexed. “No.”

Xander couldn’t hide his relief, and God knew he’d made the right call.

“Wes and Law speak very highly of you guys,” Xander said. “They said you were the reason they got to come back to LA.”

His voice wavered. “I’m glad they did. I missed them. I don’t have a lot of friends.” He said, seeming embarrassed by the admission.

The room went still.

Xander swallowed. “I’m sorry you had to take time away from the important stuff you do to come and—”

“This is what we do, Xander.” God let his voice settle “Doesn’t matter that it’s on a different coast. Wes and Law are ours. They asked us to come. That makes you ours too.” God held his gaze. “We protect our own. And we’ve never lost a principal.”

Xander nodded once then whispered, “Thank you.”