Nixon
"Wow. All you need is a set of binoculars and a creepy van and you'd be a relative stalker. Hitting up the local playground later?" Chase slapped me hard on the back and laughed.
"Hilarious." I didn't turn around, didn't acknowledge his teasing, just watched the screen in front of me and winced every damn time Phoenix put his hands on her.
I was in the security room, doing my job, which was to protect Trace. She'd see me if I looked through the window outside, so this was the next best thing. Watching their training like live TV. "How'd you find me?"
Chase sat down in the chair next to me and leaned back. "Easy, I saw Phoenix in the gym with Trace and put two and two together. She'd see you through the window so—"
"Sometimes it terrifies me how much we think alike."
Chase cursed. "Don't I know it."
"Are we starting a spy club?" Tex's booming voice sounded behind me. I groaned into my hands ignoring the hard slap on my back.
"Nixon's monitoring." Chase answered for me, nodding reassuringly.
Tex scratched his head. "Don't you have, oh, I don't know… a family to protect? People to kill? Torture? Threaten?" He put his feet on the table in front of me and leaned back in his chair like Chase did.
"It's Saturday." I said gruffly.
"Right." Chase nodded. "I forgot we don't kill things on Saturday, it's why I set that bad ass spider free this morning… no blood on God's day, oh wait, no that's Sunday…"
"Where's Mil?" I changed the subject. "Shouldn't you go check on her or something?"
Chase chuckled. "Because she's five and in need of a babysitter?"
"Shopping." Tex licked his lips and watched the screen in front of me. "She and Mo wanted to make appetizers for New Year's."
"Shit." I jumped out of my seat. "Today's New Year's Eve?"
"Calendar app." Chase shook his head. "On your phone, use it, set an alarm or something."
I sat back down and groaned. Trace had begged me to get sparklers for tonight and I'd totally forgotten.
"I need a favor."
Both guys stood abruptly and ran to the door.
"Not that kind of favor you bastards." I rolled my eyes. "I need sparklers for tonight, and some fireworks."
"Aren't those illegal?" Tex tapped his chin. "I mean I think the city of Chicago has this weird thing about fireworks within its limits and we did have a drought."
Chase put an arm around Tex's shoulders and nodded solemnly. "One should never take chances with fire safety."
"Agreed." Tex grinned.
I looked back at the screen to make sure Trace was okay and then back at them. "Fireworks, consider it your job."
"It'll cost you." Tex exhaled loudly.
"Extortion." I cursed. "Nice."
"Let's say we get these fireworks." Chase crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "What will you do for us?"
"I won't kill you," I answered honestly. "Happy New Year."
"You know I'm really glad he's taking those anger management classes," Tex said to Chase. "Vast improvement since last Christmas when he tried to set the tree on fire because you looked at Trace cross eyed."
Chase grimaced. "To be fair I was trying to lighten the mood."
"Yeah this isn't memory lane and I'm not the ghost of Christmas past," I said gruffly. "Fireworks…" I cleared my throat and looked heavenward. "Please?"
"Say with a cherry on top," Tex whispered. "Say it, say it, say it."
Chase clapped.
I leaned forward to bang my head against the desk and grumbled, "With a cherry on top."
They laughed and walked out of the room while I lifted my head to the screen again. Phoenix had Trace in a type of headlock. I almost bolted out the door when she stepped on his foot, elbowed him in the ribs and twisted out of the hold.
Furious, I knew I couldn't do anything except watch, and trust both of them, something that was getting harder and harder every damn time he put his hands on her body.