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In the Marines, he was an Explosives Ordinance Disposal expert, otherwise known as the bomb guy. It was a risky job that he was damn good at, but after being replaced by robotics more and more, he decided he’d try a civilian life. He was young enough to go back in the service if he wanted to, but at twenty-eight, he’d turned into a gym rat, spending all hours coaching flabby executives who had more money than sense.
Then, one day, Jac walked in looking for someone associated with his ongoing job. “You work here?”
Without looking up, Levi said, “Yep.”
Jac watched him for a moment before he inquired, “Marine?”
Levi hesitated before looking up and nodding. “That’s right, but you weren’t.”
Jac grinned. “Army.”
Levi chuckled. “That’s about right.”
“Hey, now. Is that any way to talk to someone about to give you a decent job?”
Levi didn’t smile. “Got a decent job.”
Jac looked around. “No offense, but not for a Marine.”
The men talked for a while, and before Jac was distracted by another person in the building, which must have been his original reason for stopping in, he handed Levi a card. “Call me.”
Within two weeks, Jac had him entirely up to speed and on one of his teams. Later, he moved to the Alpha team, and that is where he met Finley, a Marine who had left the Corps a year earlier who’d become Jac’s nanny and, later, Levi’s friend. The Alpha team that he now felt was his new band of brothers, included Mark, Garrett, Callie, Carter, Kayden, Monroe, Sharlee and Jac. Recently, his school buddy had appeared and was working close security, often for Jac’s house.
Others Jac called family included Ryker, who was Jac’s closest friend and the agency attorney. He was now with Oakley, who was a psychiatrist. Becky, who belonged to Carter, was Jac’s personal assistant. Jessie, who was the agency accountant, had been claimed by Mark. Ivy, who was Kayden’s and Finley, Jac and Sharlee’s nanny, helped to train the agents in martial arts. Finley could handle herself with firearms, but due to her shoulder, she was no longer a sharpshooter. Mallory was apharmacist and Monroe’s wife. Callie belonged to Garrett. They were all his friends and now had become Cash’s friends as well.
Cash came on the video feed and checked in on everyone. “You guys all done with LPD?”
“Yes, I’m thinking of getting Oakley out of lockdown. She’s at her limit,” said Mallory.
“Do one more recon sweep before letting her out. Stay on here until you stand down,” said Jac. “The same goes for all of you. If you’ve done one final clear, come out of safe mode.”
“I’m signing off. I’ve got too small a place to not know I’m clear,” said Levi. “I’ll be in first thing. Office or yours?”
“Mine.”
“Roger. Out.” He sent a text to Cash to call him later and fill him in on how Finley and the others were, really. Then he started shutting down his safe room.
Levi had relaxed more around Finley. She had calmed down as well. With her, it had always been more friends than lovers, but at times it was both. Cash had come along soon after Ryker was no longer in the picture. Levi couldn’t be happier that Cash was working alongside him, but wanting to share Finley was different.
He didn’t have as much concern over Cash being with Finley as he had with Ryker. For some reason, Levi didn’t experience any threat of competition for her attention. However, a feeling of rightness had settled over him at the prospect. He’d known about Cash’s penchant for sharing in relationships, but Levi had never engaged in a threesome. He’d considered them a few times in the past when the opportunity had come his way. With Finley, he didn’t balk at the idea. He still wasn’t sure. Intrigued. Hell yeah, especially since the co-dating seemed to be working out well. At least Finley hadn’t called a halt yet.
He and Cash had some deep conversations concerning Finley. They’d have more, but for now, things were going alongas best as he could have expected. Never one to consider a menage relationship, Finley seemed agreeable to at least explore it. Cash had already had one relationship that had started as a triad before it had ended abruptly, so it seemed as though they were going to feel things out. Levi found that this new concept appealed to him.
Levi couldn’t be that soft person that every woman wanted and, if Cash were to be believed, needed. He was sometimes too hard, competitive, played hard, and worked hard. The softer side of love was something he had never learned. Cash filled that gaping hole easily. It seemed like the two of them made a perfect partner for Finley.
Being a securities agency that worked for high-profile people, even occasionally the government on unofficial business, was something his friend characterized as “A lot like the CIA. Only without the internal politics.”
The money was very good. The work was intense at times, but no more so than when the women associated with the team members found trouble. Something that happened more often than he would have liked. Thank God Finley was a sensible, low-key woman with a protected job. Nothing would get to her, but he wasn’t a fool. Tonight had rattled him.
Once Levi had switched from another team to the Alpha team, he had decided he would do whatever he could to stay. He liked these guys and enjoyed their work ethic. It aligned with his own values and ethics close enough to make it easy to find his rhythm with each member of the team. Their wives and girlfriends, as they arrived, changed the rhythm of life some, but not too much. The priority switched to home first, then work. A new flip for everyone. His teammates were fierce when in protection mode and untouchable if it concerned one of their women.
They were all good women and the best choice for each of the guys, but while he thought they good matches, he wasn’t sure that the team was ready for the complete upheaval in dynamics these proposed life changes would bring to the table. He wondered what they would say about him, Cash, and Finley trying things out.
Since all the engagements and marriages, Levi had learned that women were wily and aggressive when needed, like Fin when pushed. He had already had his fair share of run-ins with his teammates’ women, both good and bad, and he was not ready to add one to his inner sanctum. Or at least he had thought that was the case until recently. It seemed that now he was the last man standing; no one was satisfied with leaving him alone.
The women tried to get him to go on dates, check out their friends, and more. They were the sweetest women he had ever known outside his own mom, and she had actually been less willing to manipulate him than these ladies. As a confirmed bachelor who enjoyed his freedom openly, he had, despite his confirmed single status, begun to crave Finley’s company more and more. It shocked him, and now, with Cash, he wasn’t convinced it was just circumstance.
Levi looked around himself often and questioned if he was putting things in the right perspective because all his comrades had fallen. Fallen in love, that is. His phone rang, so he grabbed the cell. It was Cash.
