Chapter Fifty-Two
Phoenix
I parked the armored Denali next to a row of exact duplicates in the underground garage of the new headquarters for Paragon Operations. The three of us silently got out. Judas and I flanked Lincoln, and we walked onto the elevator.
I used the code Cypher had emailed earlier to access the twenty-ninth floor, Judas focused straight ahead, and Lincoln shifted his backpack on his shoulder as he stared at his feet.
Suspecting what was in his pack, why he wouldn’t leave it anywhere, guilt crushed me. “Ten minutes, then we’ll head to the house.” Even though I’d explained on the plane what was happening, albeit briefly, this felt like I was ambushing my son instead of protecting him. “You okay?”
“Um, yeah.”
His answer and tense body language said otherwise, but I needed every one of my men to see Lincoln.
Judas’s gaze cut to mine. He raised an eyebrow.
I tipped my chin because this was it.
This was my plan.
Since that first texted picture from Lincoln two months ago, then the subsequent texts and videos, finding out his mother was dead, realizing he hadn’t known about me any more than I’d known about him—I’d known immediately what I was going to do.
Come in. Bring my team. Set up operations next to Alpha. Surround Lincoln with protection, and myself with backup.
Be the paragon of protection. For my son.
The house was ancillary. His trust, I’d gain. Our relationship, I’d build.
I couldn’t make up for the fifteen years, but this, I could do.
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped off. Then I tipped my chin at Judas to go ahead and gave him a few seconds to enter the command room down the hall.
Once the door shut behind Judas, I gripped my son’s shoulder.
“This isn’t meant to be a spectacle, make you uncomfortable, or put you in the spotlight.
These are men I served with and trust with my life, which means I trust them with yours.
You’re under no obligation to meet them tonight—I can show them your picture—but I do want them to know who you are.
More importantly, I want you to meet them.
We don’t have much of a biological family, but we have this family.
If I convey nothing else tonight, I want you to understand you’re safe, you’re protected, and you can go to any of these men for any reason, and they will have your back. This is your new family, Lincoln.”
He swallowed hard.
“I can’t make up for the fifteen years we lost, but I can give you this.”
“Thank you, sir,” he whispered roughly.
Gratitude from him for something he should’ve always had was another knife to the chest. “If you you’re good with this, we’ll walk in now.
I’ll be at your side. I’ll make the introductions.
Then I have a couple items of business to download to the team.
After that, we’re out. However, if at any time you become uncomfortable, tap my arm, and we’ll exfil immediately. Deal?”
“Deal,” he agreed.
“Good.” I led him into the command room, opened the door, and stepped inside.
The chatter stopped, and ten pairs of eyes fell on us as Lincoln walked into the space behind me.
You could hear a fucking pin drop.
Stopping next to Cypher’s desk, I placed a protective hand on Lincoln’s shoulder as I quickly threw all of them a warning look. “Thanks for coming in tonight. I wanted to introduce you all to my son, Lincoln Granger.”
For a split second, no one said anything.
Then Talon Talerco fucking grinned. “Hol-lee shit. Bravo made a mini me!” Striding over, he held out a hand to Lincoln. “What up, Mini Me? I’m Talon.”
“Lincoln,” I corrected.
Talerco chuckled as he grasped Lincoln’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder with the other. “You call me when Billy-Bravo-Bird here gets outta line, and I’ll step in. I’m more fun anyway. You surf?”
Lincoln, looking shell-shocked as hell, didn’t miss a beat. “No, and thanks anyway, but we’re good.”
Talerco’s smile held. “A Nilsen through and through.”
“Talerco,” I warned as Alpha flanked him.
“What?” He grinned. “Am I or am I not more fun? Also?” He punched me in the arm. “Good to see you’re still kickin’ it.”
Alpha held out his hand to Lincoln. “Adam Trefor. Nice to meet you, Lincoln.”
“You too, sir.” They shook.
Before Alpha could say more, I cut him off.
“Lincoln, this is my team.” I went down the line.
“Cypher, Saint, Chaos, Church, Helios, Ares, and Judas you already know. They’re all Paragon Operations.
” I glanced at Christensen. “And this Neil Christensen, a friend and colleague, same as Talon and Adam.”
Everyone exchanged hellos, and my cell vibrated in my pocket.
Ignoring it, I glanced at Cypher. “Did you hand out the key cards?”
“Affirmative.”
“Copy.” I looked to Chaos. “You have the key fobs for the Denalis?”
“Roger that,” Chaos confirmed.
I addressed everyone. “All right, heads-up. In addition to introducing my son, I called you all in tonight because we have some changes moving forward. As you can see, Paragon Operations has a new headquarters. Miami Beach is now our home base.” I glanced at Alpha and raised an eyebrow.
He tipped his chin.
I read everyone in. “You all know Alpha Elite Security, and are aware we’re on Trefor’s turf.
That was purposeful. I’ve asked him to consider a joint venture with Paragon Ops where AES would be the client-facing arm of operations, while Paragon remains behind the scenes.
While he’s deciding, no matter what he decides, we’re business as usual with a few changes.
One, our fleet’s been relocated to Miami Executive and Opa Locka.
Two, I’m not asking anyone to permanently relocate, but if you choose to, I’ve asked Christensen to be on call to help you find property.
In the interim, the building has residential apartments ready to go.
Utilize them.” I glanced at Chaos. “Fobs.”
“Copy.” Chaos started handing everyone on the team a key fob.
“Three, we’re more visible now, and with that comes enhanced security.
While here, everyone has an armored Denali.
Use them. Four, Cypher will update the team with our new on-site security protocols once the servers are up and running.
Until then, you have key cards to access the building.
Lastly, I asked Alpha to bring in Talerco.
” I turned toward the former SARC. “We all know he’s one of the best combat trauma medics we’ve ever seen, and fortunately, he’s local. ”
Talerco smirked. “Already know what you’re gonna ask. Ain’t lookin’ for employment, Bravo-Bird.”
“Nix,” I corrected as my cell vibrated with an incoming call again.
“Good,” Helios added. “Because your stitches are tight as shit.”
Talerco chuckled. “Didn’t see you stitchin’ yourself up that day.”
“You shot me up with fucking painkillers,” Helios argued.
“You’re welcome.” Talerco looked at me. “He always like this?”
“Yes, and I’m only asking for your help in emergency situations, should they arise. My men are all field trained.” The comment, purposely aimed, had the intended effect.
Offended, Talerco shook his head. “Not like me.”
“Agreed.” A text alert came through on my cell.
Talerco studied me a beat, then laughed. “Christ, minus the lack of smile, you haven’t changed. And yeah, I’m aware I walked my ass into that one. Fine, give ’em my number.” He glanced around the room. “But don’t fuckin’ call me unless your shit’s somethin’ to write home ’bout. Copy?”
Three copies, two affirmatives, and two nods of confirmation went around the room as I quickly checked my cell.
Tauk: Two vessels been circling the ship. Coast Guard showed up. Need to get back on board ASAP.
“Great. Speakin’ of home, I’m out. My women are waitin’ on me.” Talerco looked at Lincoln and smiled. “Good meetin’ you, Mini Me. You can call me anytime.” He glanced at the rest of my men. “Ladies,” he hazed, then walked out.
“Alpha, Christensen, thanks for coming.” I glanced at my team. “End of briefing. Any other questions tonight, field them through Cypher.” I nodded at Helios. “Walk us out.” With a hand on Lincoln’s shoulder, I turned us toward the door.
We’d made it two paces outside the command room when Alpha stopped me.
“Will, wait.”
I glanced back at Alpha as Helios hit his six, palmed his piece, and raised an eyebrow.
I shook my head once. Alpha wasn’t a threat, but Helios’s inherent protectiveness, hidden under his disposition, only reaffirmed why I’d done all of this.
I focused back on Alpha and instantly knew from his expression that he’d alerted Maila. “How long?”
Alpha didn’t pretend to not know what I was talking about. “She’s on her way up.”
The elevator doors slid open, and my sister stepped out.
“Looks like we’re doing this now.” Fuck. “Lincoln, how’d you like to meet your aunt?”
“Um” was all he got out.
Maila, looking every bit like Alpha’s wife instead of my sister, came at us in a designer dress and heels, but then she broke her new version of decorum.
Gripping Lincoln by his arms, searching his face, her eyes welled. Then she looked up at me. “When?”
“Lincoln, this is your aunt Maila, and Alpha—Adam—is her husband. Your uncle,” I added, glancing at my former best friend.
“Ah, hi,” Lincoln replied nervously, holding perfectly still.
“Hello.” Slight, but definite if you knew her, Maila’s voice caught. “I didn’t know I had a nephew until a few minutes ago.”
“He didn’t know he had a father until two months ago,” I interjected. “Give him some room. This is new for all of us, and it’s been a long day. We were about to head home. Lincoln hasn’t seen the house yet.”
Maila, to her credit, instantly let go of him and took a step back. “Of course. My apologies.” She looked at me. “May we have dinner tomorrow?” Then she added, “I didn’t realize you’d gotten a house here.”
“Also new. Couple miles north of you. I’ll be in touch about dinner. For now, we’re going to focus on settling in.”
“Right. Of course.” My sister looked back at my son. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m truly happy to welcome you into the family.”
Lincoln’s face flushed. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Please, no ‘ma’am.’ Feel free to call me Maila or Aunt Maila.” She reached for Alpha, wrapping her hands around the crook of his arm. “And I understand you’ve already met, but the same goes for Adam as well. You can call him Adam or Uncle Adam.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
My sister’s gaze cut to mine, but I ignored it. “You two take the elevator first. I need a minute with Helios. We’ll see you sometime soon.”
Reluctantly, Maila turned to leave, but not before smiling at Lincoln. “You really do look like Will when he was your age.”
Saving him from a reply, Alpha cut in. “I’m honored to be your uncle.” His gaze hit mine. “Your father’s a good man.” He looked back at my son. “One day, I’ll tell you how he saved my life.” He tipped his chin at me and Helios. “Good night.”
They headed to the elevator.
Lincoln exhaled, and Helios tracked their exit, then glanced at me. “What’s up?”
“I need you to relieve Tauk at the penthouse suite. Same detail as last night. The Paragon’s currently a ghost ship, and Tauk needs to get back. CG’s circling.”
“Fuck no on the hotel. Send crew out to your boat. Hell, send Ares. He likes it out there.”
Giving as few details as possible in front of Lincoln, I held firm. “You’re the known entity.”
Helios looked at Lincoln a beat, then his gaze cut to mine. “Christ, fine. But you’re fucking insane.” He turned toward the command room. “Grabbing my shit. You need an escort to the house first, wherever the fuck that is?”
“Negative.”
“Copy.” Helios opened the door to the command room, then glanced back and tipped his chin at Lincoln. “Night, kid.”
“Good night,” he replied.
The door shut behind Helios, and I looked at my son. “Ready?”
Lincoln nodded, and we headed to the elevator. He lasted until we’d stepped on and the doors had shut before he looked at me with his wide-eyed innocence. “You have a boat too?”
I couldn’t help it. I fucking smiled—at the absurdity of this from his perspective, the fact that I’d stolen a mega yacht. But most of all because, after everything that’d gone down in the past fifteen minutes, my son was most shocked by the fact I had a boat.
“I do.” I wrapped an arm around my son’s shoulders. “She’s a sixty-five-meter Heesen mega yacht called the Paragon. When you’re ready, I’ll take you out to see her.”
My son leaned into me. “Okay.”