Page 4 of The Wild Charge

Though thatwasthe mafia model…

“Alright,” Ghost said, setting his mug down, drawing the meeting to order. “We’ve got a lot of shit on the table. Big shit.” Several lighters clicked, and Ghost’s serious gaze was met with tense regard. “But first. I’ve got something to put forward – something I think we can all be on the same page about, considering what we’re up against.”

Then, to Tenny’s surprise, his gaze lifted to the back wall. And he said, “I propose we patch Reese and Tenny in. Full members. Right here, right now.”

It took Tenny a moment to register what had been said – and then he wrote it off as an aural hallucination.

But Reese must have been experiencing it, too, because he stood up at attention and said, “Sir?”

“I know they haven’t served a full year as prospects,” Ghost said, “but I think we can all agree that they aren’t exactly the usual candidates.”

Everyone was staring at them now, all various degrees of considering.

Tenny frowned, and knew that he was having trouble keeping his mask in place; he didn’t seem able to help that right now, though. “Why?” he blurted.

Ghost traded a look with Fox, who nodded, and then turned to them. They’d discussed this already, then.

Fox said, “The two of you have experience, training, and particular skillsets that are not only highly unusual, but very necessary, if the storm we’re about to weather is as bad as we think it’ll be.”

“We,” Ghost said, motioning to include himself and the rest of the Dogs at the table, “all have our strengths. We do things a certain way. But I think we might have to approach this thing from more than one angle. We can handle cartels, and mob guys, sure – but we’re also gonna be dealing with a buncha rich, untouchable assholes. Companies running cover for sex trafficking rings. We’re in the deep shit, boys. And I for one think having two assassins in the ranks will give us a leg-up.”

“But,” Reese said. Something almost like emotion touched his voice. Uncertainty. “You already have us in the ranks.”

“As prospects, yeah,” Ghost said, hands folded on the tabletop, expression amused, faintly. Perhaps warm. It even looked genuine, which shocked Tenny. “But if you’re gonna be of any help, then you need to sit in on church, hear everything we hear, be a part of things. I want you to contribute.” He cocked his head. “If that’s what you want.”

Tenny finally realized that his mouth was dry, and swallowed, with difficulty.

“What do you say, boys?” Ghost asked. “You want to be Dogs?”

Tenny plucked at his cut. “I thought that was evident.” He knew his sneer lacked its usual bite. He made the mistake of meeting Fox’s gaze, and the bastard smirked at him, knowingly.

Ghost shrugged, unbothered. “Some guys decide they can’t hang. Ten months, six months, two months…some of them hand in their cuts and walk away.”

“I don’t want to walk away,” Reese said, quickly.

Tenny glanced toward him – and Reese glanced back.

“Do you?” His expression was subtle, wouldn’t have been noticeable to anyone else, but Tenny saw the little groove between his brows, and the uncertain angle of his mouth.

He wondered, for one brief, heady moment, if Reese would follow him if he walked away now. Just imagining it…It sent a shudder through him, one he was careful not to show externally.

But what would that look like? Living on top of one another in a cramped apartment? Grocery shopping? Watching TV? Mundane, ordinary things. No ops, not even the pathetic excuses the Dogs sent them on.

Nochallenge.

Tenny had been bred and raised to require a challenge.

And Reese cared about these people, besides. He liked and respected them, and he understood the importance offamilyin a way Tenny didn’t think he ever would.

Though hedidhave biological brothers here…

Reese’s brows went up a fraction.Well?

Tenny turned back to Ghost. “No. I don’t wish to walk away,” he said in his loftiest, least interested voice.

Fox and Ghostbothsmirked. Thebastards.

“Okay,” Ghost said, glancing around the table again. “Let’s take a vote. All in favor?”

---