Page 23 of Instinct & New Identity

Ah, yes, the interior designer.Thatmade sense.Shewas also really good.

“My room, bathroom, and office are behind that wall over there.Letme show you,”Vincesaid, still carrying his bags.

We followed him to the hall and headed to whatIassumed was his bedroom first.Itwas huge.Hehad a massive bed with dark sheets, the same brick wall behind the bed, and gray walls elsewhere.Hehad a chair and a small table off to the side with a large dresser andTVacross from the bed.Heset his bags on the floor and turned to face us.

“My bathroom is right there,” he said, pointing to a door next to what looked like a walk-in closet. “Downhere is the office.”

We followed him out and headed down a small hallway to a room that had a small desk, a set of weights, and a futon which would be the other bed one of us slept on.Itwasn’t much, but it was a relaxing space.

After seeing the whole place, we headed back to get more bags but were met with several new people in the kitchen space.Twonew men were standing there with boxes in their hands.

“The rest are busy, but they’ll meet us over atTheWateringHolefor lunch in a bit,” the tall, burly, bearded one said. “I’mWade.Niceto meet you.”

We shook hands, and the other guy walked forward.

“I’mJack.Goodto finally meet you,” he said.Hewas nearly as tall asWadebut with no beard, and more of a lean, muscular frame rather thanWade’sburly, wrestler build.

“Sure,I’llcarry everything in while you chat in there like a bunch of old ladies,”Archeryelled from the hallway with two boxes in his hands.

The other guys gave him crap, but we all headed back out to grab the remainder of the things.Afterwe had everything out of the truck,ValandIheaded back up to getHarrysettled into his new space.

Vince came back in and let us know thatArcherandJackhad taken theU-Haulback and would return my car in a bit, and then we could go grab some lunch at the pub.

Val andIchatted back and forth about who would sleep where, and we decidedIwould take the futon andValwould take the bedroom.Butsince there was no dresser in the office, she andIwould share the guest bedroom space for clothes.

I found myself looking aroundVince’sloft, impressed by the character it had but also how warm and safe this space felt.Ifound myself thinkingIcould get used to it here, and that both excited and scared me at the same time.

10

VINCE

I gave them some time to get that weird cat settled in beforeItold them we would head over to the pub for lunch, and thenIcould take them over to the security business to show them around.

It would help if they could see the space and know that we were a legit business, whichIwas hoping would go a long way in helping them feel safer and more comfortable around me.Ialso wanted to show the front office toCatso that she could use one of the front rooms to work from.Imade a point to mention how easy it would be for her to work from there, and it was also safe until she got familiar with her surroundings.

I knew the original threats from the robbery were all dead, butIhad learned that other gang members could sometimes retaliate due to loyalty, soIneeded to make sure they were fully cleared from any potential threat before clearing them to move into a new space.

On our way to the pub,Iwalked them through the main level, showing them where the mailboxes were, our small fitness center, and the main lobby with front desk reception area.

We walked into the pub and sawJack,Wade,Diego, andArcheralready seated at a large table at the back of the room.Ithad a long booth bench at the back up against the wall and five chairs on the other side of the table.Inaddition to the guys, bothRuthieandElliewere also there.

When we walked up to the table,Iintroduced everyone, andRuthieandElliecommandeeredCatandValto their side of the table and instantly began chatting with them.Iwas happy for them because from the limited conversations we’d had,I’drealized they didn’t have friends since they had moved around so much.

“I’m happy for you, cuz,”Archersaid to me across the table. “Younot only found your girl, but she’s a looker too.”

“Watch it,”Ispoke low, but made clear she was off limits.

He grinned, andIknew he got it.EventhoughArcherhadn’t served with me overseas, he knew all about the letters and how important they were to me.SinceArcherhad no siblings andIonly had a sister, we had been close from a young age.Healso wrote to me whileIwas overseas, andIwrote back to him telling him all about my mystery girl.JackandWadegot it too because they saw me every timeIgot one of those letters, and they knewI’dcarried them on my person with me everywhereIwent.Ididn’t know why becauseInever kept any of the ones my mom or sister sent.Ididn’t even keep the onesArchersent.ButIkept hers.

BeforeIcould respond to him,Diegointerrupted.

“Their creepy neighbor is on the prowl,” he said low so that only the guys could hear him. “Ipulled up the apartment complex security cams, and he tried picking the lock to get into their place shortly after you left.Healso went to the front office and claimed he had something ofCat’sto give back and needed her forwarding address.”

On the surface,Iwas quietly stoic with a frown, but on the inside,Iwas seething.Thatprick needed to back off.

“The forwarding addressCatgave her apartment complex is our address here forRangerShieldSecurity, so hopefully, he’ll drop it,”Itold him, knowing if he didn’t,Iwould find a way to make him think otherwise.

“Don’t think that will be an issue,”Diegosaid with a small smile on his face. “Imay or may not have called the apartment front office, pretending to be from their security company and alerting them to a break-in spotted on their cameras.Thepolice were called shortly after.Idon’t think he’ll be a problem, butI’llkeep an eye out.”

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