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My phone vibrates in my pocket.
A grin splits my face. I have Instagram notifications for Cocky Caveman, which means Ophelia has received my gifts.
I flick through her postings, smiling like a lovesick fool to myself. My woman looks stunning and happy. She loves the new boys in her life from the postings that have gone up on her page.
I had asked the MacDougall brothers to subtly keep an eye on their neighbors and make sure they help them out if the ladies need any assistance.
I can see they brought some Christmas joy to the Fainting Goat Ranch from the group photo posting.
Hell, if I don’t have FOMO. I am missing Ophelia’s first Christmas in Temecula.
I write a few short, witty comments on her postings because my alias—Cocky Caveman—is allowed to wish her a Merry Christmas.
My phone starts ringing.
I signal Shamus to walk ahead with my family.
Is it wrong that I hope Ophelia lured Alice into giving up my number?
I fish my phone out of my pocket to take the call.
Disappointment floods my body. It’s not Ophelia; it’s a friend of mine from my military days I haven’t yet had a chance to contact since we arrived in Alaska, but usually, there’s plenty of time to catch up and have a beer. However, it sounds like no time like the present to get reacquainted with Darius Stone, aka Ghost.
Ghost lives in Alaska most of the year unless he’s on a secret mission working for our good friend Boxer, who has a private securities business. The work from Boxer’s company, combined with my other interests and investments, assisted in me paying off my Redondo Beach home and living a comfortable lifestyle. People reach out and are willing to pay big money to private security companies to get a sensitive job done.
My parents live not far from Darius’ home. Ghost is not someone I would introduce to my family and best friends. The man only invites a handful of people into his private life, and he likes it that way. He’s a damn good guy to have on your side when you need rescuing or a job done, but he wants to be left alone as a rule.
“MeerryChristmas, Ghos—”
“Tucker, sorry to cut you off, and Merry Christmas.” His smooth baritone voice booms through to my ear. “I’ve got a Code-Red, and Boxer needs you on the team ASAP. We’ve got nobody else close enough to pull into the job at a moment’s notice, and we need to move someone as quickly as possible, so we are calling on you.”Shit, the situation must be dire.
Ghost and Boxer are both a part of my military past. I’ve worked for Boxer, who is in his late forties, a time or ten on missions since leaving the military, but I haven’t gotten involved in a job since Mom and Dad left for Alaska because I need to be home for Teagan and Alice. It is usually non-negotiable, but I’ve already decided I will be answering the call to be on his team from the urgency in his voice. Ghost wouldn’t be bothering me on Christmas Day if it was anything less than a top priority emergency mission.
“Anything you can tell me?”
“Long story short: the female we’ve been keeping safe at my home is under threat, and she needs to get evacuated to a safe house. We’re splitting into two crews. Are you in?”
“Yes.”
“Get over to my place in the next thirty minutes.”
“I’ll be there.”
“The female’s lover is an enforcer for the Soulless Bastards MC, so for the love of God, don’t yank his chain. I’m giving you a friendly warning. The man is dangerous, and he’s worried about his woman’s life.” We disconnect.
After letting Ophelia into my private life, I don’t need to keep up the façade of acting cocky all the time. I want her to seeme.But I’m about to switch on my trained military persona. I need to keep Ophelia a secret for now from Ghost and the team I will be on, so they are going to get who they always get.
I don’t want anyone I will be working with noticing my lack of cocky and sniffing about asking me questions about my personal life. Any change in my personality and Ghost will be on me. The man is highly skilled—a shadow. He didn’t get the nameGhostfor no reason, and he’s only ever known one ‘Tucker,’ and that is the one I keep switched on for everyone, bar my family, to witness. It kept people from digging under my layers. People stuck to the surface I gave them—nothing to see here. Keep on moving along.
I jog to catch up to Shamus.
“What’s up? Ye got that serious look on yer face, which tells me yer about to drop something on me.”
“I need your help.”
“Whatever I can do, I will.”
“Thank you. Could you please pack my duffel bag? I’ve got to leave ASAP on an urgent mission. I’m going off the grid, and none of my family can know my destination. I’ll need to contact you, so like in the past, we will use burner phones and codes to let the other person know when we message. I need eyes on Ophelia, so I know she’s safe. You are my eyes for my family.” They won’t know where I am until it is safe. And that means Ophelia as well. “I’ll speak to Dad. He understands I can’t say anything, and they won’t know where I am. I’ll need you to drive me somewhere in ten minutes. I’m sorry to abandon you and the family. Can you stay longer to watch over them?”
