LOGINTraci’s POV BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! My eyes flew open before the alarm even had the chance to sound a second time. “It’s Monday!” I screamed as I slapped the alarm silent and shot upright in bed with the biggest grin on my face. Today’s the day. The annual barbecue. I glanced at the clock. 4:30 a.m. Perfect. I’d already been awake since two o’clock, but I’d left the alarm set anyway, hoping it would wake my mates for me. Apparently, that plan hadn’t worked. Raiden groaned beside me and cracked one eye open. “What time is it?” “It’s four-thirty!” I practically squealed. He looked at the clock, then at me, before giving me the flattest look imaginable. “It’s… four-thirty.” “I know!” Laughing, I bounced onto my knees and started patting his chest. “Come on! Get up! It’s barbecue day!” A muffled groan came from my other side. Zayden never even opened his eyes. He simply reached for a pillow, pulled it over his head, and muttered one very firm word. “No.” I laughed harder. “Yes. We are
Maddox’s POV “I know it’s here.” Boomer’s voice broke the silence for what had to be the tenth time that morning. He leaned closer to the laptop, scrubbing through the security footage frame by frame. We’d been over every second of it more times than I cared to count, yet he refused to quit. Neither did I. Jordan’s death still bothered me. Not because I’d lost sleep over him. Men died every day. That was the life we’d chosen. No. What bothered me was the fact that someone had killed my beta right under my nose. I didn’t tolerate betrayal. Boomer dragged the timeline backward again before letting it roll forward. “Come on…” he muttered. The explosion flashed across the screen.Smoke. Chaos. Men running in every direction. Boomer paused it. “No.” He rewound it several seconds. Played it again. Then again. His entire posture stiffened. “Damn.” He leaned even closer to the monitor before looking over at me. “Boss…” Something in his voice made me stand. “What?” He pointed toward the
Traci’s POV Since they won't tell me what the big deal is with this damn royal ribbon, I'll have to get it out of them myself. After dinner I came up with my own plan. A slow, satisfied smile curved my lips as I finished in the bathroom. I glanced at my reflection, running my hands over the delicate white lace lingerie. It was their absolute favorite on me, and I knew exactly how it made them look at me. Like I was a feast and they were starving. I stepped out of the bathroom, the cool air of the bedroom kissing my heated skin. Their conversation died instantly. Two pairs of eyes, dark and hungry, locked onto me. I watched their chests still, their eyes raking over every inch of my body. "Damn," Zayden breathed, the sound low and appreciative. He sat up, opening his arms to me in a clear invitation. I just shook my head, a playful smirk playing on my lips as I sauntered toward the bed. My hips swayed with deliberate slowness, the lace skirt swishing against my thighs. I reached
Zayden’s POV The second breakfast ended, and Raiden looked at me. That was all either of us needed. While everyone else lingered around the table, we quietly excused ourselves and headed down the hallway toward the office. Traci watched us leave with narrowed eyes, her curiosity already beginning to build. “Where are you two going?” she asked as she raised her brow. Raiden never broke stride. “We’ve got something to finish.” “What? Is it that damn mysterious ribbon?” She laughed as she teased. “You’ll find out Monday.” I heard her mutter something under her breath as we disappeared into the office. The second the door closed behind us, Raiden reached over and locked it. “There,” he said with a satisfied nod. “Now we can work.” I laughed as I crossed the room. “You really think that’s going to stop her?” “It’ll slow her down.” I admitted but I knew she wouldn’t stop trying to see what we were up to. The supplies we’d hidden the night before were exactly where we’d left them.
Traci’s POV A loud knock echoed through the room. Then another.Then another. I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow. “Go away,” I mumbled. The knocking only became more enthusiastic. “Oh, come on!” Sarah’s cheerful voice called through the door. “It’s Friday! We have so much to do!” I cracked one eye open before looking between my mates. Raiden had one arm draped around my waist while Zayden lay on my other side, neither of them looking remotely interested in moving. “I think if we pretend we’re asleep…” I whispered, “…she’ll leave.” Raiden chuckled without opening his eyes. “I don’t think Sarah knows how to leave.” Another knock. “Roman! Ronan! Tell them to wake up!” Sarah’s voice was loud and clear through the door. A muffled laugh came from somewhere beyond the bedroom door. “They’re awake,” Roman answered. Traitor. That’s exactly what he was. I sighed dramatically. “I liked him better five seconds ago.” Zayden finally opened one eye, amusement dancing there
Ralph’s POV I lowered the phone from my ear and stared at the screen for a long second before letting out a slow, humorless chuckle. Well… Look who finally decided to call. I tossed the phone onto the table beside me and leaned back in my chair. Across from me, Travis glanced up from the map spread across the table. We’d been discussing patrol routes and supply runs when my phone rang. Judging by the look on my face, he already knew the conversation hadn’t gone the way I’d expected. “Something funny?” he asked. I snorted. “You could say that.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Who’s got you smiling like that?” “My daughter.” One of his eyebrows rose. “Darci?” “The very one.” I nodded my head. He looked genuinely surprised. “I didn’t think she’d be calling.” “Neither did I.” I admitted. For a while there, she’d made it perfectly clear she wanted nothing to do with me. The moment she’d found another place to land, she’d disappeared without looking back. Now… Now my phon







