Page 1 of Never Going to Care

CHAPTER 1

HALE

Taking someone’s life shouldn’t be a fantasy that you play out in your head, but I’m in need of some action and none of the current jobs we have at Sullivan Protection is giving me what I need. It’s not that I don’t like the ho-hum day-to-day which is going on right now, it’s perfectly fine. Fine and fucking boring.

I never thought I’d want more than boring as fuck when I was serving. But now? I could use a little more excitement in my life.

Sure, someone’s always in danger and we get paid a pretty penny to make people not only feel safe butbesafe. Still, the threats we’ve been assessing lately aren’t making my blood pump. Maybe I’m just fucked up and a little bit of fear, real bodily harm fear, is the only thing which can get me going anymore.

If so, it’s fucked up and sad. I know this. But what can I do about it?

The last thing which had me really concerned was when threats were being made against Piper. She’s not only the receptionist for SP, but my boss, Landon Sullivan, is in love with her. It took him a while to admit it to himself and to her, but they’re on the right track now, happy and engaged.

Maybe it was because we had no idea who was sending her threats, even after we put our investigative noses to the ground. Maybe it was because I know Piper. Hell, I even care about the woman.

Which is strange for me to say. I don’t care about many people, but we’ve created a little family here at Sullivan Protection and Piper is definitely part of it. Landon might have claimed the woman, fucking finally, but I still care about her. The rest of the guys here—Remington, Easton, Weston, Blaze, Owen, Barrett and Colt—care about her as well. We were all beside ourselves when she was in danger, but her being safe has left a vacuum of adrenaline behind.

After growing up with three sisters, I was pretty fucking sure I didn’t need any more women in my life who I look at like a sister. Then I met Piper and she just got slotted in with Raegan, Justice and Isabella. I’d protect all of them with my life and I wouldn’t bat an eye about it.

At least I can relax a little bit now with Piper since she has Landon at her back. After seeing her held at gunpoint by an obsessed fan of Ezra Payne, the goalie for the New York Storm and one of her oldest friends, he won’t be letting her out of her sight for a while. We held him back so he wasn’t involved in the takedown of her attacker, but I don’t blame him. He forgot everything he’d been trained to do the moment he saw the woman he loved in trouble.

It was eye-opening to see him lose it. He’s a former SEAL, same as me, and I didn’t realize there would ever be a situation where our training would fail us. I’ve never seen it happen before. Considering it was Landon, it scared the hell out of me. Not like I would admit it out loud. Hell fucking no.

It does make me realize there isn’t room in my life for a woman. Nope. I won’t be losing control. I can’t afford to.

I’m itching for something. I can feel it under my skin. It feels like I’m a caged lion and it doesn’t sit well with me. I need…something.

I knock on the door frame to Blaze’s office where I find him looking through some files. He’s an even bigger grumpy fucking asshole than I am. He doesn’t talk a lot, but he’s solid as hell. He’s just as deadly as the rest of us, but without the nice guy persona of Remington or the easygoing outward appearance of Weston and Easton.

I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen the man so much as smirk, but even I could feel his relief when we rescued Piper. The big fucking softie. He’d probably choke me with his bare hands if I said it out loud. I’m damn tempted just to get some action around here.

He looks up from his files, but he doesn’t say a word. Typical.

“You up for a few rounds?” He arches an eyebrow in question but doesn’t say anything. Quiet, brooding asshole. “I’m itching for some action.”

“Want your ass kicked is more like it,” he deadpans. I would think he’s joking if I didn’t know him, but he’s not. He’s just that solemn.

I smirk at him just to rile him up, well as much as I can with a man like Blaze. He wouldn’t show it even if he was. I goad him, “If you think you’re up for it.”

Blaze’s eyes harden and he snaps the folder closed, his movements precise, telling me my barb landed. He doesn’t give away much, but it’s clear to me right now. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s been itching for something more than the work which has been coming our way lately.

When he stands and strides toward me, he makes a motion with his hand to proceed. I can’t help the adrenaline which flows through me at the prospect of a good sparring match. It’s been too fucking long. As we pass by Weston’s office on the way to the gym area on our floor, I hear some shuffling, but I don’t look in.

“Hey,” I hear Weston’s voice call out after us. Before I can turn, he’s walking behind us. He sounds practically fucking giddy, “What’s going on? You two are stomping down this hallway like we’ve gotten some exciting mission?”

“We’re going to spar,” I inform him without looking back.

“Oh,” he exclaims a little breathlessly as if he’s been dying for some entertainment too. “I should call the guys. Maybe pop some popcorn.”

Blaze snorts out a laugh but doesn’t do anything to dissuade Weston. I’m not surprised. The man might be quiet and brooding, but he’s a fucking showboat in the worst kind of way. He does it quietly and without the boasting, but still manages to make you feel small while doing it. Expressive gloating has nothing on quiet pride.

I roll my eyes, but I don’t say anything to Weston either. I don’t mind sparring with an audience. I’ve done it plenty of times. Actually, it might be better to have a few more people there. Especially if it means I can get them in the ring after I kick Blaze’s ass.

Well, hopefully kick his ass. We’re evenly matched and things are always a toss-up between us. Maybe it’s because we’re so similar. Who the fuck knows?

We head into the locker room area we had designed and installed when Landon bought this floor of the building for the business. It took him some time to gain the capital after just starting out and making a name for himself in the city. We certainly aren’t the only security firm around, far from it, but our skills and our training catapulted us to the top.

We get a lot of jobs and a lot of high-end clients. It works for us because the money we get from those jobs also allows us to help people who need us and can’t pay the same fees as the rich muckety-mucks do.

---