Chapter 4
Sabre
Ishow up for work at the civic center wearing a fucking suit and tie.
Tonight, we’re providing security for the mayor’s annual black-tie awards ceremony to honor city employees.
So, denim and our Savage Legion cuts just won’t fucking do.
Tex says that in order to be effective, we have to blend in.
I understand, but that don’t mean I have to like it.
Thank God, blending in doesn’t require an actual tux. We’re all wearing dark suits, dress shoes, and polite smiles. I shove my earpiece into my ear so I can hear what Tex is saying from his vantage point in the security room.
“Zen’s gonna stay in here and monitor the security feed. If he sees anything unusual on the security office cameras, he’ll alert us,” Tex says. “Tusk, I want you to cover the front door. There will be employees checking for invitations. Don’t get involved unless something pops off.”
“Roger that,” Tusk responds.
“Rage, stow your medical kit and circulate among the tables. The highest chance of a medical emergency will be choking or someone having a medical event.”
“Got it,” Rage answers.
“Talon and Sabre, each of you take one side of the gala room.”
Talon and I answer back. We’re all keeping it brief tonight.
Tex continues, “Keep your comms turned on, and your radios low so as not to disturb the guests. This ain’t your first rodeo, so you know better than to accept alcohol that might be offered or to get distracted by women.”
“Everyone’s fuckin’ married but me,” I growl into the comm unit. “So, I’ll try not to take that last part personally.”
“No insult intended, brother. I’m headed out to monitor the parking lot because if there’s trouble tonight, it will probably start there.
Let me know if you need anything. To be honest, this should be a relatively easy job.
We’ve provided security for this event for three years running.
The hardest part of the job is staying awake and alert. ”
I can hear Tusk chuckle through my earpiece. “Ain’t that the damn truth.”
Talon and I meet up in the gala room. “Something smells good. I wonder what the fancy folk are eating tonight.”
“It won’t be overcooked beef, that’s for sure,” I tell him. “Not with The Gilded Fig catering.”
Talon shoots me a knowing grin. “I forgot The Gilded Fig means your chef’s crew is workin’ this gig.”
“She ain’t my chef,” I grumble, wishing she was, but knowing the last thing I need is a serious relationship to mess up my life.
“Whatever you say. I’m gonna take the right side of the room. You take the left and make damn sure you watch the crowd instead of the hot chef.”
“I’m nothing if not professional,” I shoot back before turning on my heel and stalking off from my best friend.
I hear Talon chuckle from behind me. He can be an ass sometimes. He knows just how to irritate the fuck outta me.
The Las Salinas Civic Center is packed to the rafters this weekend.
There is an art showing in the east wing, the mayor’s banquet that we are providing security for in the main ballroom, and a military history and model expo in a big room off one of the side halls.
It’s probably in honor of Armed Services Day.
To my mind that means there are more moving parts to worry about than usual and more opportunity for something to go wrong.
I pay attention to the men and women filling up the gala room.
Most of them I recognize just from growing up in Las Salinas.
There are judges, prosecutors, firefighters, cops, paramedics, and city workers all dressed up in tuxedos and glittering gowns, looking relaxed and happy.
They’re all wearing a name tag with a little gold ribbon on it.
I walk the perimeter of the room like I always do, looking for evidence that they might be carrying or casing the room. Seeing combat during my time in the Army taught me to pay attention to details, because if you don’t, they may come back to haunt you. Thankfully, I don’t see anything amiss.
I turn when the catering doors swing open to find Linsey walking out in her chef’s whites with her sleeves rolled up. Her honey blonde hair is twisted into that elegant knot, and she looks absolutely fuckin’ stunning. I glance away as she directs her crew to begin passing drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
She’s checking that the table service is laid out correctly. I watch her straighten one of the floral arrangements to make sure it’s aligned perfectly with the others. That’s not technically her job but she does it anyway.
This is the same woman from class, only sharper and in charge of her world. God help me if it isn’t the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
I’m staring even though I promised myself I wouldn’t. And of course she catches me in the act, stopping dead in her tracks. Her pretty brown eyes drift down over my suit, and back up to the earpiece, and the Legion Security badge clipped to my belt.
“Sabre, it’s nice to see you again.”
“You too, Chef.”
“You’re dressed for work, I see,” she says, giving me a polite little smile.
I tug at the collar of my shirt because it’s just a tad too tight. “I’ve been so busy blendin’ in I forgot I was wearing a suit.”
“So, you really work security for the Savage Legion Security firm?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s how I keep myself in gas money, steak, and knives.”
“Well, you look nice tonight.” As if realizing how that could sound, she adds, “Not that you didn’t look nice in your leather vest.”
“Yeah, I do okay as long as the lightin’ is good.”
She shoots me a polite smile. “Well, I hope nothing out of pocket happens tonight.”
“We’ve been providin’ security for this function for the last three years and nothing dangerous has happened yet, Chef. We even have a paramedic on our team who brought his bag just in case anyone has a medical emergency.”
Her expression turns serious. “I’m really relieved to hear that, Sabre. I imagine your company is worth its weight in gold.”
“Tex calls it a value-added bonus. It’s apparently also good marketing.”
“I can believe it.”
Talon’s voice comes through my earpiece, “Thought you weren’t gonna focus on the chef, brother.”
He’s standing across the room smirking at me. I’d like to tell him to fuck off but then Linsey would know we’re having a disagreement. Before I can take my leave, someone calls her to the kitchen.
She rushes off, excusing herself over her shoulder. She’s got a whole mess of dinner plates to get out and no time to waste talking to me. Seeing her in action is turning out to be the best part of my whole week.
I keep walking the room and see the last thing I expect.
One of the kids from the military and model expo is tucked away just inside the staff break room.
I see him through the door when someone walks out.
He’s got a thick book of some sort and sitting right on top of it is a model tank. It looks like a Sherman.
I move closer to the door and open it with one hand. The kid has homework spread out in front of him, but he ain’t doing any of it. Instead, he’s staring at the tank model, running his fingers over the details.
Linsey walks past, catching sight of me.
“That’s Noah,” she says seriously. “He’s my son.
There was a military model expo here earlier and my Aunt Carol’s car got a flat, so she couldn’t pick him up like we planned.
I told him he could stay in the break room until I finish work and we’ll ride home together.
Both my employer and the civic center okayed it. ”
I keep my face bland. “There ain’t nothin’ wrong about a boy waitin’ on his mama to finish work.”
She relaxes. “Noah,” she says, “this is Sabre. He took my steak class. He’s working security tonight. Say hello.”
He looks up at me, and I see his mama’s likeness in his features. Except he’s watchful and careful, taking a minute to look from me, to his mother, and back again, before responding.
I move forward and extend my hand. He’s actin’ like a grown-up, sitting here by himself, so I treat him like one.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
He shakes my hand solemnly. “Are you in the military?”
“I was in the Army,” I tell him.
His face brightens as our hands separate. “Did you ever go to war?”
Linsey goes still beside me, and I instinctively know she doesn’t approve of that question.
The thing is, kids don’t always think before they ask, nor are they aware of how appropriate or inappropriate a question is sometimes.
So, I answer as casually as possible, “Yeah, it was a long time ago, though.”
He immediately shoots me another question. “What did you do over there?”
“I carried around a lot of heavy gear, followed orders, ate a lot of crappy food, and learned to stand where I could see all the doors.”
Noah responds without missing a beat. “That’s called situational awareness,” he says, reaching out to put his hand on what I now realize is a thick military book.
I nod. “Yep, that’s exactly what that’s called.”
Linsey is watching this exchange like she can’t decide how to redirect him without dousing his enthusiasm.
“Noah,” she says quietly, “Sabre and I need to return to work now. Remember to stay in here until I come and get you myself. And check that your cell phone is charged. Call me if you need anything.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“No wandering around. You only have permission to be here in the break room, okay?”
“I promise to stay here and read my book.”
She points two fingers at her eyes and then at him. “I mean it, bug. I’m gonna be watching you.”
He rolls his eyes. “I know, Mom. Go to work. You’re embarrassing me.”