Operation Keeping Christmas (Alliez Security)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

One of the favorite things in Dylan “Irish” O’Reilly’s life was kissing his wife. He didn’t care they were standing in her office, and anyone could walk in, he needed her close like he needed air to breathe.

“I have to get back to work,” Cassandra murmured as she dropped her head to the side to allow him to nibble on her neck.

It didn’t matter that they’d made love only a couple of hours ago, his cock was hard and he was fighting the urge to push her against the wall and take her. But even he knew the timing sucked and he would have to control himself. With one last taste of her sweet lips, he pulled away.

“Are you sure we can’t leave now?” Ever since he’d gotten married to the woman he was holding, his life had changed. He’d gone from living and breathing his job, to living and breathing his Alastriona.

None of the guys in the office had said anything to him, partly because his closest friends were all married themselves. The newer guys who were part of Alliez Security were single and knew better than to say anything.

Cass touched his cheek. “No, we can’t. I’ve got too much to do, and you do as well. But if you’re good, I’ll clear a spot in my calendar at one and we can have lunch.”

There was a glint in her eye, and Irish knew that not much food would be consumed at their shared lunch. “I like that idea, but also we have to be out of here at five.”

“Why?”

“Because we’ve got something important to do.”

Cass’s brow furrowed as if trying to remember what he was talking about. She would have no idea, because he’d only thought of it on the way to work when she’d made a passing comment. “We do?” she asked, when it was clear she had no idea what he was talking about.

“Yes, we’re going shopping for a Christmas tree and decorations.”

Cass’s mouth dropped open at his declaration, and he loved that he’d rendered her speechless. “I never thought you'd be interested in Christmas decorations.”

Irish shrugged. Normally the holiday season didn't mean much to him. It was just another commercial season that held little interest after he’d been disowned by his family and friends.

Now, though, he had Cass, and life was so much better. The shadow that had shrouded him for so long had lifted, and he had friends that were his new family.

Seeing her joy when they passed a pop-up Christmas store cemented how much he wanted to celebrate the holiday. “Yes, we need to get one for our first Christmas as husband and wife.”

Cass clapped her hands before launching herself at him. He caught her, holding her tight against him. He would never get enough of having this woman in his arms. They shared another kiss before breaking apart.

“I love Christmas. You won't get any complaints from me about going Christmas shopping for decorations. we don’t need a tree though, I’ve got a great one.

” She smiled blissfully, and he always wanted to do whatever he could to keep that smile on her face.

“I'm always wanting to add new stuff to my ornament collection.”

“You have a collection?”

Cass put her hands on her hips. “Irish, we've been living together for months, and you haven't noticed the boxes in the attic?”

“Can't say I have.” He didn’t spend his time gazing around the attic whenever he had to go up there. It was usually for a specific reason, and so he did what he had to and then left.

“Next time you’re up there, have a look and you'll be surprised.”

Irish wondered what he was getting himself into but stopped. He didn’t care. He was sharing it with Cass, and that was all that mattered. “I can't wait to see everything you’ve got. I should go.”

“Yes, you should, but don’t forget our lunch appointment.” Her eyes alight with happiness.

“As if I could,” he said, pressing his lips to hers, before walking out the door.

As he made his way to the main hub of the office, Fox, Jag, Hound, and Deal were all crowded around Jag’s desk, having a little conversation.

This wasn't the first time he'd seen them all huddled up like a group of gossiping high school girls.

His senses were on alert when they stopped abruptly and looked up like meerkats at the zoo, when he got close to them.

“All right? he asked.

Jag gave him a chin lift. “Yep, all good.”

Irish studied them for a moment. Something was going on, but he didn't know what, but he planned to keep an eye on them.

He didn't think they were doing anything sinister.

The guys had fitted into the team really well since they'd all joined, but sometimes looks could be deceiving, and he'd been deceived one too many times for him to be totally comfortable with it.

He gave them another chin lift and headed towards Ox's office. Perhaps his boss knew something about it. He tapped his hand on the doorframe. Ox was on the phone; he lifted a finger, indicating he'd be ready in a second.

Once he ended the call, he motioned for Irish to enter. “What's up?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Irish noticed the faint purplish half-moons beneath his eyes. “Oscar keeping you awake?”

Ox grimaced but then smiled. “Yeah, he had a bad night, but it's all good. A little sleeplessness is worth it.” His attention drifted to the photo frame on his desk. Irish knew it held a picture of Ox, Eveline, and their baby son, Oscar.

Irish recalled the conversation they shared at Angel and Teresa's place months ago, when they had been celebrating Angelica's birth, and the fear and worry Ox had about becoming a dad. “Told you it would be the best thing that happened to you.”

Ox's smile widened. “Yep you did. I wouldn't have it any other way.”

“Good.” Irish sat, and Ox leaned forward, as if sensing he had something else he wanted to discuss.

“This isn't a visit to talk about babies, is it?”

Irish shook his head. “No.”

“What's up?” Ox asked.

“Have you noticed anything squirrelly going on with Jag and the guys?”

Ox steepled his fingers under his chin. “Can’t say I have, but thinking if you have, then I’m listening. What's going on?”

The last thing Irish wanted to do was throw his fellow colleagues under the bus.

He didn't want to make assumptions either.

He knew all about assumptions. But he needed to say something, because the success of Alliez Security was due to the harmony and respect between all of them.

“I don't know. I just...” this was a little harder than he thought, because was he reading too much into their get togethers.

Ox could give him a different perspective.

One he needed. “I've come across them a few times all huddled together, and the moment they see me, they seem to break apart and stop talking about whatever they’d been discussing.”

“You noticed that too?”

Irish turned to see Angel standing in the doorway. Okay, so he hadn’t been imagining it.

“What have you noticed, Angel?” Ox asked, a tone of worry entering his voice.

Irish was sure the last thing he wanted was for the team, and the company, to fracture.

Now that he, Ox, Angel, and Growler were married, and three out of the four of them had kids, or were expecting some, they didn't want to go on the dangerous missions they did in conjunction with the FBI.

But they also didn't want to lose their connection with the organization, and the other contract they had with a security company in Australia.

They, and Julian who was the FBI contact, were building up a good, solid relationship. Fox and his team were now going off on the missions, doing what he'd done as a Delta before he'd been dishonorably discharged, and before he and Cass had gotten together.

Angel came in and sat down. He went to close the door but was stopped when a hand hit the middle of it.

“Is there a meeting going on that I don't know about?” Growler asked, looking around at them in the room.

If the other guys were being suspicious, the four of them sitting in Ox's office with the door shut would be even more suspicious.

Ox shook his head. “More like an impromptu one. Come in but leave the door open.” Ox obviously had the same idea that Irish did.

“Okay, what's going on?” Growler looked at all three of them.

“Have you noticed anything untoward with the other guys? You know, conversations stopping midway when you walk past them or walk into the room?” Ox queried.

Growler leaned against the credenza, crossing his arms over his chest. The stance casual, but like all of them, Irish knew he would be ready to spring into action if necessary.

“Hmm, not that I can say. Although I've been hearing chuckles from them, and something like, ‘yeah, that would work’—words along those lines.

I didn't pay much attention because I figured they were working on plans for an upcoming mission.”

Ox nodded. “That's possible. Maybe that's what they're doing. When you've seen them, Irish and Angel, maybe they're just talking about a mission.”

Irish looked at his boss incredulously. “No, it's not, because if it was a mission, we’d all know about it. They don’t do anything unless instructed to by you. It's definitely something they don't want us to know about.”

“Yeah,” Angel piped up. “I've seen them gather up pieces of paper and shove them into a drawer the second I walk past, as though they’re worried I'm going to look at what they're doing. This isn't fucking high school.”

“Before we jump to any conclusions, why don't we all sit back and observe.

See what's going on,” Ox suggested. “We've got a good team.

A good crew, and the balance is working well.

It was always going to be tough bringing in some new guys, but Jag and the others have slipped in seamlessly. Let's take a wait-and-see approach.”

Irish nodded. “Fine, I can do that.” But he would be keeping a close eye on them. He didn't want anything to fuck up Alliez Security—the very company that had saved him and had given him purpose after his life as a Delta had been destroyed.