Operation 10 Principal Starlight #3
“When you press it, I’ll know where you are,” Free said.
“Your location comes to me, and your audio opens. I can monitor your vitals too. If your panicked and your heart rate spikes over a hundred and ten beats per minute or your oxygen drops—for instance if someone puts a hand over your mouth—and you haven’t pressed it, I’ll still get an alert. ”
Morrison’s voice was low with disbelief. “Holy shit.”
Free glanced at him. “Morrison, I’ll have your watch calibrated soon.”
Morrison nodded.
Xander released a breath he seemed to have been holding since he’d walked into the room.
Free stepped closer and placed his hand on Xander’s shoulder softly. “I’ve been designing devices like these for a long time.” Free’s voice was low and soothing. “Because I know what it’s like to be afraid. To be targeted and feel defenseless.”
The room was quiet.
Free removed his hand. “You won’t feel like that much longer. You have us now. All of us.”
Xander’s eyes filled, but the tears didn’t fall.
“And this isn’t the only precaution we’ve taken,” Free added, easing back into business. “Your house is getting a full overhaul. There’ll be no more fake texts or breaker access. No blind spots. We’re gonna make sure your home feels safe again.”
Xander’s mouth trembled before he pressed his lips together hard.
God gave him a second before he finished the introductions.
“Detectives Ruxsberg—we call him Ruxs—and his partner, Green.” God motioned to them.
“They’ll be your personal security. They’re both experienced with guarding state witnesses, informants, and high-profile targets with active hits on their lives.
They know how to move a principal and specialize in spotting threats before it gets close. ”
Ruxs gave Xander a lazy two-finger salute. “We’re more charming than we look.”
That tiny smile returned to Xander’s face.
“That’s Detective Edwin Steele,” God said.
Steele nodded from near the door.
“He’ll be with me and Day on Stage 8. We’ll be managing West Protective Solutions during Morrison’s absence.”
God paused, then ordered.
“Morrison makes the fourth man on your personal detail.”
Both Morrison and Xander blinked at him.
He kept going as if he hadn’t just dropped a grenade in the room.
He’d made that decision the second he saw the comfort Morrison’s sheer presence gave Xander. Not to mention he’d called Morrison when he was in danger. He trusted him…needed him. And he wasn’t about to be the man who took that comfort away.
“Any issue with that?” God asked Morrison.
Morrison’s jaw flexed. “No.”
Xander couldn’t hide his relief, and God knew he’d made the right call.
“Wes and Law speak very highly of you guys,” Xander said. “They said you were the reason they got to come back to LA.”
His voice wavered. “I’m glad they did. I missed them. I don’t have a lot of friends.” He said, seeming embarrassed by the admission.
The room went still.
Xander swallowed. “I’m sorry you had to take time away from the important stuff you do to come and—”
“This is what we do, Xander.” God let his voice settle “Doesn’t matter that it’s on a different coast. Wes and Law are ours. They asked us to come. That makes you ours too.” God held his gaze. “We protect our own. And we’ve never lost a principal.”
Xander nodded once then whispered, “Thank you.”
“I’m sure you wanna get some sleep, so I’ll give you the short version,” Day took over. “There are two penthouses on this floor. God and I are in this one, Free is set up in the other. This floor is command. Nobody comes up here without us knowing.”
Xander was focused on every word despite how tired he looked.
“The floor below us is where you’ll be,” Day continued.
“There’re only three suites in the east wing.
Yours is the one at the end and takes up the entire right side.
It has two master bedrooms, and the floor is only accessible by an encrypted elevator code.
Ruxs and Green are in the suite opposite to yours.
Tech and Steele are ahead of that. The West end suites are empty, except for one.
It’s occupied by newlyweds from Detroit.
They check out in two days, then Free will block it from future reservations. ”
“I checked out the couple, they’re boring and harmless.” Free said. “Terrible taste in room service desserts, and bad tippers, but harmless.”
“My point is…” Day shook his head at Free. “We control everything. Anyone trying to hurt you has a lot of obstacles to get around, including my men. They’ll have to decide if trying to get to you is worth dying for.”
A single tear slipped free before Xander quickly swiped it away.
“All right,” God said, his voice shifting into command mode. “He’s ours now. You know what to do.”
“The enforcers are going to escort you to your room.” Day said. “Tomorrow we’ll meet with you and your team, look over your itinerary, scheduled public appearances, studio hours, everything.”
Ruxs pushed off the wall, he and Green moving toward the door.
Morrison stayed where he was, so close behind Xander air could barely squeeze through.
He and Day turned and went into their bedroom.
Xander Vale was in their circle now. And the men hunting him just had their last easy night.
Now they had a much bigger problem.