A Mad Reed Security Christmas

by Lagomarsino, Giulia

  “How?” he asked, a tad irritated.

  “You’re parents could be showing up too.”

  He huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess that would be worse. Of course, then Vanessa could convince them to stay. They love her.”

  The doorbell rang and he looked at me warily before walking over to the door and pulling it open.

  “Surprise!” his mom said, rushing forward to hug him. “We’re all together for Christmas now!”

  I grinned, walking up behind him and gripping his shoulder hard. “Now, it’s Christmas.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Florrie

  “Hey,” I said, walking into our suite, seeing Reid sitting on the couch. The tv was on, but he didn’t look like he was paying attention. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” he shrugged.

  I sat down beside him, trying to figure out the best way to handle this. I didn’t want to push him, but I also didn’t want to make him feel like he wasn’t really wanted.

  “Have you thought any more about what you want to do?”

  He shrugged again.

  “Do you know any of your other relatives?”

  “Not really.”

  “Is there anything you want to know, to help you make your decision?”

  He looked at me, curiosity sparking in his eyes. “Are you and Alec married?”

  “Nope. We will someday.”

  “Why can’t you have kids?”

  Ouch. That was a sore spot that I didn’t really want to talk about, but I had been the one that brought it up. “My body just can’t do it, I guess.” I hoped that was both vague enough and informative enough to keep him from asking any more.

  “So, if I stay, and your friend can’t find any of my relatives, would I sort of…be your kid?”

  My heart thundered in my chest. The hope in his eyes was so bright that I was scared I would say the wrong thing. “Reid, I would love it if you were my kid. But I’m not trying to replace your parents.” That hope dimmed a little and I had the feeling I had said the wrong thing. So, I tried again. “Reid, do you want to be my kid?”

  “I want someone that cares about me,” he said quietly.

  I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. “I care about you and so does Alec.” I pulled back so I could look him in the eyes. “In fact, everyone in this place cares about you. That’s just who we are. But you’re special to Alec and me, and you always will be. Whatever you decide. I really hope you stay with us, though. But if we find some relatives that want you, you can always come visit or call anytime you want. We’ll always be here for you.”

  A small smile touched his lips before he looked away and schooled his features. The poor kid was lacking any kind of affection and had been for a very long time.

  “I want to stay.”

  “I’ll see if I can talk to Sean about putting this off until after Christmas.”

  “Why?”

  A huge grin split my lips. “Santa, of course. Now we can figure out what you want to ask him for this year.”

  He rolled his eyes at me, but seemed a little excited. “I know that Santa’s not real. My stepdad made sure that I found out my first Christmas with him.”

  I quirked an eyebrow at him. “I still believe in Santa.”

  “You do not.”

  “Yes, I do. Besides, Santa is about believing in magic.”

  “Santa’s not magical.”

  “It’s the magic, the spirit of Christmas! Besides, how can you say Santa doesn’t exist, but he has a name? That just doesn’t make any sense.”

  He sighed, pretending to be irritated with me.

  “Well, you can think what you want, but who’s going to bring all those presents if not Santa?”

  I watched as his eyes widened slightly, and then they filled with tears. I was afraid that I had made a huge mistake here, but I didn’t know what it was.

  “The last time I got a present was the year my dad died,” he said quietly.

  I pulled him in for a hug. “Be prepared, because you’ll be overflowing with presents this year.”

  ⛄️⛄️⛄️⛄️⛄️

  “Why are we here?” Sinner whined. “We’re supposed to be leaving tomorrow and I still have to go home and pack.”

  “Don’t give me that shit,” I snapped. “I know Cara packs your bags for you.”

  He turned a little red. “Well, I still have to get my weapons ready. And I need my sleep.”

  “Can we get on with this?” Cap asked. “What’s going on?”

  “Reid has decided to stay with us,” Alec grinned.

  The whole room erupted in congratulations and cheers. It took a good five minutes to get everyone to shut up again so I could talk.

  “Reid told me that he hasn’t had presents since the year his dad died. I want to make this the most special Christmas any kid could ever have.”

  “But, we’re about to head out to the wedding,” Hunter reminded everyone. “And all the ladies that are staying will be locked in the panic room.”

  I put on my best bitch face and walked over to him, grabbing his shirt by the collar. “I don’t care what you have to do to get those presents here, but this kid will finally have the Christmas he deserves, and you’re all going to participate. Use Amazon. Have the ladies send their relatives shopping. Call fucking Santa Clause and tell him what we need. I told care what the fuck you have to do, but this will happen.”

  I jerked him once before releasing his shirt and walking back to stand by Alec.

  “Sheesh. I can see you’re full of tidings of comfort and joy,” Hunter grumbled as he fixed his shirt.

  “And we need this place decorated while we’re gone,” Alec added. “There’s one fucking Christmas tree in this place. I want lights and decorations everywhere. I want fucking candy canes lining the gates that light up at night. I want a sleigh and reindeer on the front lawn. I want the whole fucking building lighting up with Christmas cheer.”

  “Uh, one problem,” Jackson said. “There’s no fucking snow. It’s forty degrees outside.”

  “Then we bring in machines to create snow,” I said. “I don’t care what I have to do, this kid will have a great Christmas. And you’re all going to help me.”

  “Right,” Cap cleared his throat. “Let’s get to work.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Cap

  Maggie peeked her head into my home office and grinned maniacally at me. “Sebastian, the kids want a bedtime story.”

  “Okay, go read them one.”

  “Oh, shoot. You know, I haven’t been feeling so well, you know, carrying triplets and all. I’m afraid the stress of it would just be too much.”

  I rolled my eyes. Ever since Maggie found out three weeks ago that she wouldn’t be going to the wedding, she had it out for me. Every night, whether I was fucking busy or not, she was on me about reading bedtime stories. And that wasn’t the worst of it. That was only one-tenth of the shit she was putting me through. But I couldn’t really say anything. I had asked for it when I decided that I would allow the guys to go through with this crazy plan at Chance’s wedding.

  Luckily, after tiring of reading the same fucking book every night, Twas The Night Before Christmas, I decided to switch things up a little. Make things more exciting. I pulled my newly made, hand drawn book, out of my desk drawer and smirked to myself as I walked toward Caitlin and Clara’s room. I stopped when I passed the living room and watched Maggie hanging an ornament on the tree. We’d had up our Christmas decorations since right after Thanksgiving, but she went out and bought a new ornament every fucking week. The lights from the Christmas tree gave a soft glow to the room, making my hard-ass wife look soft.

  I walked over to where she stood and wrapped my arms around her, resting my hands across her belly. She leaned her head back with a sigh and I nuzzled her neck, loving the smell of her hair.

  “It’s gonna be good, you know?” I said.

  “I know. I ju
st wasn’t expecting triplets.”

  “Neither was I, but you’re happy right?”

  I had to admit, I was a little nervous after her reaction in the hospital. She had never wanted any of this, but I kept knocking her up. I loved the way she looked when she was pregnant.

  “I’m happy. I just don’t know how we’re going to raise three babies at the same time.”

  “Other people have done it before.”

  “Yeah, but this will take me even further from doing any kind of job,” she said sadly.

  I turned her to look at me, cupping her cheek in my hand. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help you out. I’ll even hire a nanny if you want.”

  “I don’t want someone else raising our kids, but maybe someone to help during the day would be good.”

  I kissed her, relieved that she wasn’t going to hate me forever.

  She smacked my chest with a grin. “Now, go read to our kids.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  I headed for the girls room, peeking in to seem them still wide awake.

  “Daddy, what book are you going to read us tonight?” Clara asked, jumping up and down on her bed.

  “I’m reading a special book tonight. Come here, Caitlin.”

  She rolled her eyes at me, but came and plopped down on Clara’s bed. “I don’t see why I need a bedtime story. I can read by myself.”

  “Well, your mother said I have to read to you, so you’re going to listen. Besides, I think tonight you’ll like my book.”

  I opened the pages and showed them my terrible drawings.

  “Twas the night before Christmas-”

  “Dad, you’ve read this to us every night,” Caitlin grumbled.

  “Just hang on. Give me a chance to finish.”

  She sighed and sat down, propping her chin up on her fist. Man, she had her mother’s attitude.

  “Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,

  Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

  Because Daddy set out traps to catch those fuckers.”

  Clara gasped and covered her mouth. “Daddy, you said a bad word.”

  I grinned and continued.

  “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

  In hopes that grenades would soon be in there.

  The children were nestled, all snug in their beds.

  While visions of weapons danced in their heads.

  And Mama in her nightie and I in my boxers

  Had just settled down for a fun night together.

  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

  I sprang from my bed to grab my Sig Sauer.

  Away to the window I flew like a flash

  Covered my junk and threw mama her pants.

  The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow

  Gave the luster of fireworks on the bombs down below

  When what to my wondering eyes did appear

  But a huge fucking tank and eight military jeeps.”

  “Daddy, Santa has a sleigh, not a tank,” Clara scolded.

  “Not in this story. Now, sit back and let me finish.”

  “With a huge fucking driver, so lively and quick,

  I knew in a moment it must be Uncle Nick.

  More rapid than eagles, his foot soldiers came

  And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

  Now, Sinner! Now, Alec! Now, Chris and Irish!

  On, Jackson! On, Gabe! On, Ice and Knight!

  To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

  Now blast away! Blast away! Kill them all!”

  “Dad,” Caitlin interrupted, giving me a look like she couldn’t believe what I was saying. “You know that Uncle Knight would never let Uncle Storm tell him what to do. You should make Storm in one the jeeps and put Knight in the tank. It just makes more sense.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind for tomorrow night.”

  “As dry leaves before the wild hurricanes fly,

  When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

  So up to the housetop the foot soldiers climbed,

  With the tank full of grenades and a rifle fully loaded.

  And then, in a clatter, I heard on the roof

  The stomping and pounding of each huge boot.

  As I drew in my head and was turning around.

  Down the chimney, Uncle Nick came with a bound.

  He was dressed all in camo, from his head to his boot,

  And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

  A bundle of weapons he had flung on his back,

  And he looked like a psycho, just opening his pack.

  His eyes, how they flashed! His ears red with fury!

  His cheeks were like bullets, his nose like a cherry!

  His fierce mouth drawn tight with anger,

  And the beard of his chin was as black as a dead finger.”

  “Daddy,” Clara sighed. “That’s a really terrible rhyme.”

  “Well, next time you can write the words,” I said, sticking out my tongue at her.

  “The pin of a grenade he held tight in his teeth,

  And the apprehension encircled his head like a wreath.

  He had a tough face and a maniacal grin

  That shook when he laughed, as he replaced the pin.

  He was muscled and buff, a right cranky old soldier,

  And I laughed when I saw him trip over the stroller.

  A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

  Soon gave me to know I had everything to dread.

  He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

  And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

  And flipping his middle finger high in the air,

  I soon realized we made a great pair.

  He sprang to his tank, to his team gave a whistle,

  And away they all drove, and I saw them bristle.

  But I heard him shout, as he drove out of sight

  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

  “That was awesome, Daddy!” Clara was bouncing around on the bed and Caitlin was trying to hold back a smile. Yeah, she didn’t want to admit that she liked my story.

  “I’m glad you liked it. Now, everyone get to bed.”

  I kissed them both on the head and tucked them in, then turned out the light. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Maggie leaning smugly against the opposite wall.

  “Nice story.”

  “I thought so.”

  “I need you to scrub the tub so I can take a bath.”

  I rolled my eyes with a sigh. “I have work to do.”

  “I know, but in my condition, do you really want me bending over like that?”

  “How long is this going to go on? Because I have a business to run.”

  “Until I find out why you really don’t want me to go to the wedding,” she said with a grin.

  “And then?”

  She walked forward and wrapped her arms around my neck, her slightly rounded belly pushed against me, distracting me from her leaning forward to whisper in my ear.

  “And then I’m going to have Santa slip a little something in your stocking.”

  I looked at her in confusion, not sure what she was meaning. She pulled back and her eyes flicked down to my dick. I quickly covered the front of my pants with my hands as she smirked at me and walked away.

  “You just had to knock her up again,” I muttered to myself, dropping my head back against the wall.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Coop

  I watched as Becky got out of her car and ran over to Claire to give her a hug. It pissed me off that she didn’t listen. But since Cap had banned us all from letting the women know what was going on, I couldn’t give any logical reason for her not to be here. I tried to tell myself that I was worried about her because she had become a friend. I tried to ignore the ache in my chest, reminding me that I had pushed her away. But I couldn’t worry abo
ut silly emotions right now. So instead, I got angry.

  I stomped over to her and ripped her away from Claire. I let the anger take over, my nostrils flaring wildly as my body thrummed. Her look of disgust only fueled me on.

  “I told you not to come,” I spat, noticing out of the corner of my eye that Claire had slipped away, leaving me alone with Becky. Everyone else had seemed to move on.

  “And I told you that you don’t have any say in what I do.”

  I shook her slightly, wishing that she would just listen instead of being a brat. “Did you ever think that I’m trying to look out for you?”

  She looked around and then met my eyes. “Look, I know what’s going on, and I understand that it has you a little worked up. But this used to be my job and I’m still very good at it.”

  “This guy is a killer. You could get caught in the crossfire. What part of that don’t you understand?”

  “I’ve seen the plans. Knight filled me in on what’s going to happen. If everything goes as planned, this won’t come anywhere near me.”

  “Yeah? And what if it does? Are you prepared to die because of this asshole? Because I’ve already lost someone because of him.”

  She grit her teeth. “You’re hurting me.”

  I let her go and took a step back. I hadn’t realized how hard I had been squeezing her arms. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. And no one said you were going to lose anyone else. You have to trust these guys to have your back.”

  I scoffed, not really believing it even though I had seen the lengths they would go to for each other. This was different. They didn’t have my back because they wanted to help me. They wanted revenge for themselves, and I was just a secondary in this whole thing. When it came down to it, they would put themselves ahead of me, and I would have to figure this out on my own.

  “You really need to learn to trust people,” Becky snapped.

  “I’ve been here a fucking year. What makes you think that I mean anything to any of these guys?”