Page 72 of Red Hunt

“I’ve proven myself as an arms dealer to the cartel, so they shouldn’t be too suspicious,” George said, “but introducing Lucas is an unknown”—George’s eyes found Lucas—“your performance will be critical. They don’t trust easily, especially not people they don’t know. I told them about your leg, but not a lot more. Convince them, or we both might end up dead before the evening is over. I forced your invitation because of the auction, so they’re probably already suspicious because of that.”

George looked over to me, his game face firmly in place. “Max, you’re outside in the car, and cover the front of the club. Goofy, you cover the back entrance. There’s a side entrance to an alley, but your positions will cover both exits. This is a low-viz operation, so Richard and the rest will wait farther out here.” He pointed at a mark on the map in the middle of the table. “If anything goes south, you”—he pointed at me and Goofy—“are our QRF. If there’s indeed evidence of humans being auctioned, we’ll make it official. Richard and his boys will step in, as will Jeremy with our guys.”

He looked at Jeremy again who nodded once.

The dynamic between them was apparent. Jeremy was the senior guy, but he trusted George to lead this OP. As a leader, Jeremy had a similar style to Carter: hanging back, letting the team come up with the plan; trust his people and get everyone to own the plan. Good leadership.

“Just remember, keep cool, don’t do anything rash, and whatever you do, don’t blow my cover.”

This was the most I’d ever heard George say, but then again, this was his gig. His party. Infiltrating the baddies and bringing Lucas into the fold was risky.

I watched Lucas. He looked ready to pounce, determined, concentrated, focused. Finally having a mission again was something he’d probably desperately needed.

Carter had given that to me. I’d been restless. Lost. But not anymore. I’d found my mission. And now I’d found Milli which opened a whole other dimension of possibilities. Possibilities I never thought I wanted.

But being with Milli, creating a family together, having babies together—holy shit, it felt right. Right and good and joyful. And now that I’d had time mulling it over, it didn’t sound nearly as insane as it did four days ago when it knocked me off my feet and caused me to panic, run like a scared kitten, and leave Milli in my dust.

Major dick move.

“Max?”

Goofy elbowed me again, a split second before I could react. I’d spaced out…again. In the middle of a meeting. Not good.

“Everything okay?” Carter looked at me, concern making his eyes crinkle.

“Sorry, yes, I’m good—just spaced out for a second there.”

“Great. Wheels up in fifteen,” George said and clapped both hands on the table.

The group dissolved into smaller groups. Peter and Blake were joking with Lucas, Richard, George, and Jeremy huddled together on the other side of the war room.

I made my way out of the room and up the stairs, two at a time. I needed to get my head on straight. This was the wrong time, thinking about how I could make things right with Milli. Or how in love I was. Or babies.

I opened the doors and walked onto the balcony and inhaled the fresh mountain air. It was pitch dark up here, with a canopy of myriad stars visible. How I loved this place.

“Everything okay with you?” Goofy and Peaches stepped outside, their faces stern, but at the same time, compassion shone in their eyes, no joking in sight.

“I’m fine. I just—”

“You’re not fine. You haven’t been fine these last couple of days. Peter and Blake told us what happened. They thought you cleared things with Milli,” Peaches said.

I looked down at my feet, a small slice of light from inside illuminating them. “I did.”

“And?” Goofy said, impatience marking his voice.

I looked up directly at Goofy. “And I realized I’m in love with her.”

Goofy’s eyebrows shot up, and a soft whistle escaped his lips.

Peaches next to him chuckled. “That’s great, man. Never thought I’d see the day, but good for you.”

I closed my eyes and squeezed my fist. “Nope. I panicked…and ran.”

Goofy chuckled, then slapped my back. “You gotta make that right, bud.”

As if I didn’t know that.

“It’s been four days.”

---