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“I didn’t feel sorry for you,” he laughed, shaking his head. “I just wanted us to stick together for safety. I wasn’t worried about Trak and his safety.”
“Get washed up,” said Ian. “We’re starting dinner, and everyone will chip in tonight. We’re not going to make this the girls’ duties and the guys’ duties. This will be split between us all.”
“I’m all in,” said Bryce. “Happy to help wherever you need me.”
Bryce turned to look for his wife, Ivy, and found her exactly where he expected to find her. On the edge of the campsite with a camera in her hands, photographing the gorgeous terrain around them.
“Ivy, you don’t have to take photos for us,” said Nine. She turned, a strange expression on her face.
“I’m not. I mean, I am taking photos, but just because I want to. I was looking up at that cliff face. I thought I saw someone, but that can’t be right.” Nine stared upward, not seeing anything with his naked eye.
“It’s possible. Lots of climbers will try to scale the cliff faces free solo.”
“Free solo?” she frowned.
“Yes, it means without any support, ropes, companions, nothing. It’s dangerous and stupid, in my opinion, but a lot of climbers will attempt it.”
“Do you see anyone?” she asked, handing him the camera.
He lined up the lens to the cliff face, turning and adjusting it for his own eyes. He looked up and down, back and forth, not seeing anything.
“I don’t see anything, honey. It could have been a large bird or a mountain goat. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“If you say so,” she nodded. “I just hate the idea of someone being in trouble and we missed it.” Nine just smiled at her as she walked away. He looked back at the rock face and then muttered to himself.
“Fuck.”
CHAPTER FIVE
No matter how many times Ivy reviewed the photos on her camera, she didn’t see what she thought she’d seen the first time. Annoyed with herself, yet still feeling concerned, she put the camera away and joined the others near the fire.
“You okay?” asked Bryce.
“Yeah,” she smiled. “I just need to relax, like all of you.”
“Didn’t you two meet because of a photo?” asked Erin.
“We did,” laughed Bryce. “If I remember correctly, I seriously pissed her off as well.”
“Okay, I want to hear this,” laughed Gaspar.
“There’s a woman here asking if she can hire us,” grinned Ace, smiling at his boss.
“What does she want to hire us for?”
“Protection.” Ace walked out of the kitchen and down the hall as Ghost frowned at his coffee once again.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually finished one whole cup of hot coffee. Standing, he poured the lukewarm liquid down the drain and started to head to the conference room. Grace, his beautiful wife, came around the corner with a big smile. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him passionately, shoving a large thermal mug in his hand.
“This should stay hot for several hours,” she smiled. “I bought a dozen of them so that you’ll never have to drink cold coffee again.”
“Woman, you give me new reasons to love you every fucking day,” he growled against her mouth.
“That’s right, buddy, and don’t you forget it.” She winked and smiled over her shoulder as she shook her ass walking away from him.
Ghost could only chuckle, tasting the hot, liquid Colombian gold passing over his lips. He settled himself, stepping into the conference room. A woman with medium-length dark hair and gray eyes stared back at him. She was dressed in cargo pants and a t-shirt that hugged her very full, very voluptuous curves. Over the t-shirt, she wore a vest with a million damn pockets. She wasn’t wearing any makeup and didn’t appear to be injured in any way. There were no visible bruises, so maybe the protection wasn’t against a stalker or spouse.
“Hello,” he said, reaching out his hand, “my name is Ghost. I understand you want to hire us for protection.”
