Page 6 of Cage

“I have a job for you,” she explains bluntly. “I’ll be honest, though, it’s a bit different than the type of stuff you normally do.”

I shrug, unfazed. Just because it’s not my usual job doesn’t mean I’m not trained for it. Whatever she needs me to do, I’ll complete the mission successfully because that’s what The Elite Team does. That’s whatIdo. Failure is not an option in dark ops.

“A congressman has reached out to me and asked for someone I trust. His daughter’s life is being threatened.”

Leaning back in my chair, I nod. “So, track down who is threatening her and eliminate the threat. That’s no problem, Ruth. I don’t think I needed to fly out here for that information, though.”

The older woman stares at me and then rolls her eyes. “Cage, shut the fuck up and listen.”

I chuckle and hold my hand up for her to go on. Ruth is the perfect name for her because she can be absolutely ruthless when she needs to be.

“It’s a bit more complicated than that. And no, I don’t need you to find out who the threat is. We have that information already.”

“Then what the fuck am I doing here, Ruthie? This meeting could have been an email.”

Her lined face turns into a scowl. Amusement spreads through me as she glares at me.I don’t know why it’s so fun to ruffle her feathers, but it is. Maybe because, around everyone else, she’s nothing but professional.

“Do you want me to shoot you, Cage? Because I will if you call me Ruthie one more time. And this meeting couldn’t have beenan email because it’s classified information, but you won’t shut up long enough for me to tell you everything.”

Okay, I guess the trip was worth it. Messing with her is always a blast.

“Yes, ma’am. Please proceed,” I reply with a smirk, only irritating her more.

She sighs and rubs her temples. “I don’t know why I like you as much as I do. You’re a true pain in my ass.”

“It’s the flowers I send for your birthday each year,” I answer confidently.

Her scowl softens. Ruth’s husband died nearly twenty years ago. Ever since I found out that he never missed getting her favorite flowers on her birthday every year, I’ve been sending her a bouquet. I’m not sure why I started doing it; it felt right at the time. The tearful phone call I got from her afterward cemented it as a new tradition for me.

“As I was saying.” She lowers herself into a seat across from me. “The daughter is in danger. Her father wants someone who has what it takes to protect her.”

That has me sitting straighter. “What exactly are you getting at, Ruth?”

“Your mission is to protect his daughter. Take her into hiding and keep her there until this situation is resolved.”

“I’m not sure when the last time you looked at my resume was, but I’m not a bodyguard.”

She shoots me a bored look. She’s used to my sarcastic comments. I’m pretty sure she loves them, too, based on the way her eye is twitching.

“I know you’re not a bodyguard, Cage, but I promised him the best. That’s you. He’s concerned because whoever is threatening her claims he’s taken something valuable of theirs.”

I raise an eyebrow and lean back, threading my fingers together in my lap. “And has he?”

Ruth shakes her head. “No. He’s a family man who lost his wife well over a decade ago and has been serving his country since then. He’s put forward a substantial sum of money for his daughter’s protection. You may not be a bodyguard, but for the amount he’s offering, it might be worth your time.”

Money means nothing to me. I have heaps of it. But if the man is prepared to pay such a large sum to keep his daughter safe, he must feel that she’s in true danger.

“How old is this kid?” I ask. “I’m not a babysitter.”

Rush shakes her head. “She’s old enough to take care of herself. All you have to do is keep her alive.”

“No limits on that?”

She smiles at me. “No limits. You have the freedom to protect her how you see fit and use your own facilities and safe locations. The less I know, the better. He would prefer she be far away from DC, though.”

I let ideas roll around my head for a moment. I could take her to one of the safe houses we have in Idaho, so I’d still be close enough to Bend if I needed to go home for some reason or call in some of my other brothers to assist.

“You’re still forgetting one thing, Ruthie. I’m not a fucking bodyguard. I run missions to stop terrorist attacks, to find serial killers, and to spy on other countries for delicate information. Not babysit some spoiled rich kid.”

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