He shakes his head to his brother like it wasn’t, but yeah, that felt personal. “Jane and I will come up with a list of lies,” Thatcher says, “and we’ll make a plan for each room.”
“Thank you,” I tell him.
He nods back, a small recognition that beyond our rift, we’re still here for these families and for each other.
I’m about to address everyone again when another tailor speaks louder from the back. “I’m sorry, Mr. Montgomery, but we’re going to have to order extra fabric to fit your…well, all of you really.” The tailor returns with the new 24/7 bodyguard.
Security Force Omega is now officially eight men strong.
The tailor gives Gabe Montgomery a sympathetic look and leaves him in the fitting room with us. Stocky, blond-haired, and only twenty-two like Quinn—Gabe is by far the most muscular bodyguard in my fleet.
“They really did you like that, Monty?” Donnelly asks.
“They’re just jealous of these guns.” He kisses his bicep.
“No one’s jealous of your honey baked hams,” Oscar tells him.
Gabe smiles. “It’s Thanksgiving every day over here.”
The guy might not be the brightest crayon in the box, but he’s fast for his size, intimidating at first glance, and he aced all of Michael Moretti’s training.
After a lot of consideration, I promoted him to the full-time roster as the floater. He has Banks’ old position. And he’s been doing well as Jack Highland-Oliveira’s part-time bodyguard.
Gabe is also a key element in my grand master plan.
I clasp my hands. “Okay, guys, the reshuffle.” I motion to the most tattooed bodyguard. “I’ve talked with Farrow about potentially assigning a full-time bodyguard on Ripley.”
“Potentially,” Farrow emphasizes.
I nod and explain to everyone else, “He talked with Maximoff, who’s open to the idea.” I nod towards Farrow to elaborate.
“Wolf scout likes roadmaps and not a vague picture of what that’ll look like. He also cares about who you’re reshuffling to make this work.”
Which is why I couldn’t go for the obvious pairing. Pull Donnelly off Xander and pair him with Ripley. It makes the most sense and alleviates the tension between Donnelly and Xander’s dad.
But Xander likes Donnelly.
Xander is Maximoff Hale’s younger brother.
Maximoff wants what makes Xander happy.
This was a logic puzzle that I think I nailed. “I’m sending you a written proposal for Maximoff to read over tonight,” I tell Farrow, “but I wanted to run it by everyone here first.”
They all listen carefully.
“Quinn will be transferred to Ripley’s detail. He mirrors your style of guarding, Farrow, so he should be the best fit to protect your son.”
“And Luna?” Donnelly asks before even Quinn.
I stare into him. Why is he asking about Luna? I have a weird feeling, knowing Luna is sheltering some kind of secret that we shouldn’t know. And he was the most vocal about the “tentacle porn” leak.
Please tell me they didn’t fuck.
Banks is eyeing me, then Donnelly too.
I wanted to solve the mystery, but not if it’s leading me here. I could ask him outright, but I almost don’t want to know now.
Shit.
Shoot.
Whatever the heck.
“Gabe will be transferred to Luna,” I tell everyone.
“Sweet,” Gabe says into a nod.
Donnelly goes quiet.
Farrow lifts his brows. “And you’re back to not having a floater.” He prefers having a floater on SFO so temps aren’t on Maximoff during med calls.
“Hopefully soon, Michael Moretti should have another temp ready to transition to full-time and they’ll become the new floater. How does that sound?”
“I’m game,” Quinn nods confidently, knowing this is a harder task and a bigger challenge. He looks to Farrow. “I’d protect Ripley with my life, Farrow. I’m good with kids.”
“He is,” Oscar advocates. “Babies and puppies love my bro. He’s a perfect fit.”
Farrow thinks for half-a-second. “I need to talk to Maximoff.”
I nod. “Get back to me when you can. Until then, everyone stays where they are, but the reshuffle is all in the plan.”
All in the plan.
The grand master plan.
Let’s just hope nothing fudges it up.
36
SULLIVAN MEADOWS
Nestled in the back of an iconic red sleigh, I snuggle up under a furry gray blanket. Bells jingle-jangle as a horse trots along a circular path around the Winter Festival. A heavy snowfall last night in Philly has made tonight a winter wonderland.
As the sleigh ride circles the festival, I soak in the romantic atmosphere. Snow and icicles coat tree limbs in a majestic, Disney-like setting. I’ve gone from The Little Mermaid to Frozen in a blink. Bulbed lights are strung along branches and trunks, and carolers sing classic holiday songs.
Around the glittering lights, kids and adults sip hot chocolate and eggnog. Sledders laugh as they whiz down the biggest hill in the distance. Others build snowmen in a contest for the Winter Fest trophy, and I see smiling families as they slip into a warm tent, full of holiday arts & crafts like ornament painting and gingerbread making.