9. New Year’s Eve #4
Her thoughts jumped to him on her, their bodies moving as one between the sheets. A surge of adrenaline had her biting back a moan.
When they made their way to the expanded dining room table, Caroline said, “Halston, come sit next to me.”
Gabriel found a seat directly across the table from her.
Perfect.
When she peered over at him, he was waiting, his ravenous gaze making her squirm in her chair.
Teddy—sitting at the head—raised his glass. “To family. The ones we’re born into and the ones we make.”
Cheers all around.
“I love New Year’s Eve,” Sydney said from the other side of the gray oak table. “We can reflect on what went well, where we fell short. I love tonight. We’re filled with hope for the New Year.”
“I love tonight too, babe,” Teddy said, “but for a totally different reason. I’m a one-day-at-a time—one-night-at-a-time guy.”
Laughter filled the room, but it was love that filled Halston’s heart.
She missed having friends, true friends.
Yes, she’d worked with great teams over the years, Caroline had been a phenomenal handler, but she hadn’t been surrounded by people who operated like a pod.
Her reality was very different from this late-night celebration.
Too soon, she’d be back at work, her defenses up, her radar on full tilt.
She’d been sent to Russia to follow-up on chatter. She’d been positioned to get close to key personnel. Just because she was back didn’t mean the danger or the threat was behind her. She was still hunting for clues as to what the Russians were up to… and when they’d pull the trigger.
“Halston, are you BLACK OPS?” Gabriel asked plucking her from her thoughts.
Silence.
All eyes on him.
“You can’t be talking ‘bout that,” Greystone said, the growl in his voice a warning.
“Back off,” Gabriel scolded. “Let Halston answer.”
“No,” Greystone pushed back.
“We need to take this down,” Sin said.
“Gabriel is doing what he always does,” Greystone said. “He’s poking the bear.”
“Gabriel,” Teddy intervened. “Let it go.”
“Barbianna Bogdanova is Halston Devereux,” Gabriel said. “She knows Caroline, Evangeline too. Either she’s in ALPHA BLACK OPS or she works at Langley. She’s a grown woman who can answer the damn question—or not answer it. I’m not holding a gun to her head.”
“Let’s make some New Year’s resolutions,” Caroline suggested.
Refusing to back down, Gabriel said, “Give Halston a chance to answer my question.”
“Enough!” Greystone snapped.
“I’m happy to answer Gabriel’s question,” Halston said. “I did introduce myself as Barbi.” She shifted toward Gabriel. “I’m an international flight attendant.”
Snickers and muffled laughter filled the room.
She bit back a smile.
He couldn’t hold back his. “You can do better than that, Ms. Devereux.”
“Not a good one?” Halston asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
“I’m a travel writer.”
“That works better with the Russian accent,” Gabriel replied, “but how ‘bout we try the real answer?”
“I’m lead translator and the Russian Ambassador’s assistant,” Halston replied.
“That’s your cover,” Gabriel pushed.
“Use your brain, dumbass,” Greystone said to Gabriel.
“You’re a dumbass,” Gabriel bit out.
“I’m thinking you’re both dumbasses,” Sin said, and the group cracked up.
But Halston wasn’t laughing. The power struggle between these two was strong. A combative dynamic that felt like it had history… and legs.
“Gabriel, let it go,” Luciano warned.
“Stop trying to control me,” Gabriel bit out. “Both of you. It didn’t work when we were kids. It sure as hell won’t work now.”
“Fuck you,” Greystone said.
“Fuck you back,” Gabriel replied.
“It’s a celebration, so take it outside if you can’t get along,” Teddy warned.
“Jesus, what is it with you two?” Sin asked. “You’re more explosive than the Fourth of July fireworks. Is it always like this?”
“It is when G’s in the mix,” Luciano said.
“He’s right,” Gabriel replied. “It’s about control.”
“We’re all fighting for it,” Luciano said.
“I’m not,” Teddy added. “I’m the one trying to calm everyone the hell down. Look, you’re in my house. Sydney and I invited you. If you three can’t keep it together, go fight in the kitchen.”
The four of them glared at each other, then started laughing.
And just like that, the tension broke. The rift had ended. Dinner guests resumed their meals.
Riveted by the scene, Halston had never been in a room with so many alpha males. She broke eye contact, sliced into the tender beef. As she chewed, she returned her attention to Gabriel.
Staring at him was the only place she wanted to look. To her delight, he was waiting, the intensity in his eyes making her panties damp.
“G is the great Agitator,” Greystone said.
Her heart beat a little faster.
I like that about him.
“Someone’s gotta swim against the current,” Gabriel replied.
Teddy chuckled. “He’s the salmon—”
“Black sheep,” Gabriel corrected him before eyeing Halston. “Ms. Devereux, what’s it gonna be?”
You and me, between the sheets, starting the New Year off right.
“YA rabotayu na rossiyskoye pravitel'stvo, no moya vernost' — ne im,” Halston answered in Russian. I work for the Russian government, but my loyalty is not to them.