Page 1 of Noel
Prologue: Noel
Sigma International Security, Volkov Towers, Manhattan Office
Christmas.
The word alone makes my teeth hurt.
Tinsel.Fake smiles.Too much sugar in the air.People pretending everything’s merry and bright when half of them are two drinks away from snapping at their in-laws.
Yeah, hard pass.
Give me twelve-hour shifts, an unmarked SUV, and a Glock on my hip over mistletoe and small talk any day.
I don’t do carols.
I don’t do cozy.
I don’t do snowed-in scenarios where people fall head over heels in like seven seconds.
And I sure as hell don’t do love.
Love makes people soft.
Gets them killed.
I’ve seen it too many times—soldiers dropping their guard for a letter from home, agents hesitating because someone they care about is watching.
That’s not me.Never will be.
I live for the job.
The mission.The objective.The endgame.
So when Connor Callahan—my boss’s cousin-in-law or some other tangled family web I’ve never fully unraveled—calls me intoRemy Falco’soffice instead of the briefing room, I know something’s off.
Remy doesn’t do drop-ins.
He gives orders.Commands respect.Doesn’t even pretend to do small talk.
So, seeingConnorin his seat, leaning back like he owns the place, tie loosened, Christmas music playing somewhere in the background?
Yeah.Red flag.
Probably the work of one of the boss’s wives.Around here, most of the top brass are hitched to women who could run empires in their sleep—and probably do.
Remy married Andrea Ramirez, daughter of Andres Ramirez, and they’ve got twin newborns, a cute little preschooler, and one helluva extended family.
Connor’s married to Clementine Aziz—daughter ofthatAziz.Josef Aziz, the founder and CEO of Sigma International Security.The man who trained me, tested me, and then trusted me with some of the most sensitive assignments we’ve ever run.
From what I’ve gathered—yeah, I do my homework—I know Clementine and Connor have been married a while.She’s younger.Like way younger.
He’s an ex-mobster and lethal as hell.But they’re solid.A whole fleet of redheaded kids from the photos I’ve seen on their social media and staring at me from frames inside his father-in-law’s office.I recall one of Clementine and Connor mid-laugh.Soft edges, real smiles.
I don’t get many of those.But around here?Let’s just say the big bosses have struck gold when it comes to women.
Clementine runs Drew’s House, the nonprofit that takes in at-risk youth and gives them a second shot.
It’s the kind of thing I don’t let myself believe in.But I respect the hell out of it.
