Nightingale: A Reed Security Romance

by Giulia Lagomarsino

  “It was suggested by your boss that I don’t take any of her calls,” he huffed out a laugh. “I gotta say, I was really hoping that she wasn’t working with her father.”

  “Do you know for sure that she was?”

  He shook his head. “No, but I’m not sure I can take that chance anymore. Not after what happened.”

  “So, what’s your plan now?”

  “Well, Sebastian is working on setting up a security detail for me, one that has nothing to do with Blakely.”

  “From our guys?”

  “Nah, he said he could hook me up with a company out of California.”

  “OPS.”

  “Right. They have a few guys that agreed to move out here.”

  That would take more than guys just moving out to New York. They would need a base of operations close by for that kind of security detail.

  “How exactly would that work? Is the company working for you or are you hiring these guys?”

  “I guess for the first year they’ll be working for Reed Security on loan, but only with me. If all goes well, I’d have the opportunity to employ them myself.” He shrugged, looking a little baffled. “I don’t really understand how it would all work, but Sebastian assured me that he would set it up so I wouldn’t have to worry anymore.”

  “Well, he’s good at that kind of stuff. What about Blakely? Any word on him?”

  “You mean, besides the fact that he tried to kill me off?”

  “About that,” I questioned, “what happens to your companies if you die?”

  “I didn’t actually have that set up.”

  “Seriously? You just made all this money, had your wife try to kill you off, and you still haven’t taken care of this?”

  “You’re not the first to lecture me. It’s all been moving so fast. I guess I got sidetracked.”

  “So, if you died, all your companies would be up for grabs.”

  “I know, Mom. Believe me, I’ve already put in the calls to have myself protected.”

  “Just do me a favor?” He nodded with a grim smile. “The next time you decide that you’ve found the love of your life…walk away.”

  ✯✯✯✯✯

  “What are you doing?” Alec asked as I got out of bed later that day.

  “Cap sent me a message that he needs to see us.”

  Alec pulled out his phone and swore. “I told him this wasn’t the right time.”

  “Well, I got a message and I’m going,” I said, standing up. My legs wobbled and my vision swam, sending me right back down to the bed. Alec was by my side just moments later.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked urgently, running his hands up and down my arms. “Are you okay? Is it your head? Florrie! Can you hear me?”

  “I can hear you. Stop fucking yelling at me.”

  “Then what the fuck just happened?”

  “I’ve been laying down for two fucking days. I just got a little head rush when I stood. I’m fine, I promise. Just give me a minute.”

  “You shouldn’t be going anywhere yet. The doctor said that you need rest.”

  “I am resting. Going up to Cap’s office isn’t going to kill me.”

  “But it may kill me,” he grumbled. He took a step back and sighed. “Look, if you’re determined to do this, then do one thing for me.”

  “What’s that?”

  He raised an eyebrow and I knew I was screwed. Ten minutes later, Alec was carrying me into Cap’s office like I was a child that needed to be carted around. It was a small price to pay for getting a little freedom. Cap stood, shoving his chair back as he raced around his desk.

  “Are you alright? What happened? Did you get dizzy? Did you fall? Craig, call an ambulance!”

  “I’m fine,” I interrupted him. “Caveman insisted that he carry me here because I was lightheaded when I stood up.”

  “So, you don’t need to go to the hospital?” Cap asked warily.

  “No.”

  He turned to Alec and slapped him upside the head. “A little warning next time. I thought she was fucking dying!”

  Alec set me down in the chair and took the one beside me, never letting go of my hand. I wanted to jerk my hand away because we were in Cap’s office and it was unprofessional, but I just couldn’t bring myself to hurt Alec like that. Not so soon after what had just happened.

  “So, I’ll get right to the point,” Cap said, clearing his throat. “Alec has informed me that he’s leaving the team.”

  My gaze shot to Alec’s and I slapped him. “What the hell?”

  “Yeah, I told you we weren’t done talking about this,” Craig said angrily.

  “I made my decision and I stand by it.”

  “Listen,” Cap sighed. “It makes sense. I don’t want to see your team split up either, but after Alec told me what happened, I think we all know that this just isn’t going to work forever. It’s not fair to Craig-”

  “I’ll deal,” Craig spat. “I’ve been dealing with their issues for the past year, and even longer when I didn’t even know they were together. I can handle their shit.”

  “That’s not what you said the other night,” Alec responded.

  “Look, I was pissed, but I got over it pretty fast. I don’t want our team to split up.”

  “Neither do I,” I said.

  “I’m not leaving this up for discussion,” Alec said as he stood, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Look, I know what I can handle and what I can’t. I love working with you guys, but there are just some things that I can’t deal with when I’m on the job with Florrie. And I promised you that I would put aside my jealousy and possessiveness when we were out on the job. I just don’t see that happening, so I’m doing what I need to. It’s either our team or our relationship, and frankly, if our relationship doesn’t work, we wouldn’t be able to work together anymore anyway.”

  “So, you’re just leaving us?” I asked, shoving up out of my chair. “After everything we’ve been through, that’s it?”

  “It has to be,” Alec said quietly.

  “No,” I shook my head. “No, you didn’t put me first on the job with Jamie. You got him to safety. You did what you should have done.”

  “But only because I talked myself into it,” he snapped. “Do you really think that I wanted to save his ass right then? I did that for you! I did it because I knew that was what you wanted. For some reason, you really like that jackass and I didn’t want you waking up and chewing my ass out for protecting you over him. So I did what I had to, and I fucking hated every second of it. I was worried that you weren’t going to wake up. I felt like I would claw my way out of my body if it meant waiting even five minutes to check on you. I was fucking terrified that I was going to lose you!”

  “And do you really think it would be any different if you were on a different team? Do you think that you wouldn’t worry about me every second that I was gone?”

  “The difference is, someone else is there to do the thinking for me. I know that someone else would think of what was best for the team and the job at all times. I just can’t be trusted to do that anymore. I thought I could, but…I’m sorry. This is the way it has to be.”

  Craig hung his head and Cap nodded, like everyone was accepting of all this. “You can’t seriously be accepting this. Craig, we’ve been together for years. You can’t really think that this is okay.”

  “It’s not my decision, Florrie. Alec has to do what he feels is best for him. If he says he can’t do it anymore, then we have to trust him on that. You know he wouldn’t walk away unless he thought it was necessary.”

  “Cap,” I pleaded.

  “I’m sorry, Florrie. This is no different than if he wanted to leave the company. It’s his decision.”

  We had already talked about this, and at the time it made sense, but now all I could think about was how we were splitting up and wouldn’t be working together anymore. It would change everything about us. I didn’t even realize I was crying until Alec walked over and s
wiped his thumb across my cheek.

  “Don’t cry, Nightingale,” he said jokingly. “We both know this had to happen. It was only a matter of time before I lost it. Let’s just be happy that I made the decision to leave the team, not you shooting me and forcing me off the team. I don’t know that our relationship would have survived that.”

  I huffed out a laugh and swiped at my cheeks. I really hated this, but I think deep down my gut instincts had been right. Back when we first started seeing each other, I knew that we wouldn’t be able to work together. There was just no way to make it work. It wasn’t about him trusting me to do my job. He knew that I was capable. He just loved me too much to see me risk my life on the job.

  “So, what do we do now?”

  “Now, I talk with Coop, Tony, and Storm and see if we can make a switch. They’re still a fairly new team and they haven’t worked that many jobs together, so it would make sense to make that switch. The other option would be to talk with Derek’s team. They have two medics on that team, so it would make sense to switch things up, but I think Derek and Hunter would have an issue with their team being torn apart again.”

  “So, this is it.”

  Alec grasped my hand in his and gave a squeeze. “Yeah, this is it. But this could be for the best. You know, now we won’t always be away from Reid at the same time, and you know we’re going to need all the help we can get in that battle. I think this will be good for us.”

  He smiled with confidence, but I wasn’t so sure. I felt like everything was starting to fall apart, and nothing would ever be the same again.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Alec

  “Alec,” she moaned beneath me. It had been a week since she was released from the hospital, and I was using my time wisely. Of course, I was going to have to start training with my new team once we finally made a decision on that, but in my downtime, I was making Florrie squirm from my touch and driving her mad. I took her every chance I got, but my time with her was limited. Eventually, she would want to get back to work, and then I wouldn’t have her whenever I wanted.

  “Give it to me,” I whispered. “Give me what I want.”

  “I already told you I’d marry you,” she groaned.

  “I want so much more,” I said, sliding slowly inside her and nipping at her neck. “I want you to hand yourself over to me in every way.”

  “I already do,” she panted, her fingers snaking through my hair and gripping on tight.

  “I want your heart, Florrie. I want you to need me like I need you.” I slid out and slowly pushed deep inside her. I could feel her holding back, wanting to maintain control, but I wanted her to hand herself over to me and let me give her everything she needed. She very rarely gave in to me. It just wasn’t in her nature.

  I felt her arms slide to my back and tighten around me, pulling me in closer to her. Her legs wrapped around me, clinging to me with a need that had me slamming inside her. There was my girl, finally giving in and letting me have all of her. I stared into her eyes as I fucked her with an urgency that I felt deep in my bones. Her eyes slid closed as she gave in and let me take over. I felt every shiver and every gasp from her mouth. I felt the need pouring off her. I felt my heart swell with so much love for this woman that I thought I would die if she ever left me.

  “Alec,” she cried as I pushed her to her limits. Her nails dug into my back and her breath huffed out in fast pants as she clenched around me. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I slammed into her a few more times, coming hard as she held me to her body. I rested my head against hers, careful not to press against her cut that was still healing.

  “I needed that,” she laughed.

  “I told you, just let me take care of you.”

  “I’ll let you take care of me any time you want, as long as you do that.”

  “Florrie!” Reid shouted from the other side of the door. “I’m going to train!”

  Florrie tapped my arm, signaling for me to get off her. “I want to go watch.”

  “Not yet. You should rest.”

  She choked out a laugh, wiggling out from under me. “I’m pretty sure after what we just did, I’m cleared to walk to the training center and watch.”

  I sighed and flipped the covers off. “Fine, go be with the kid. Leave me all alone in bed by myself with nothing to do but play with my cock.”

  She quirked an eyebrow at me and grinned. “I think you’ll be fine for an hour. Just don’t come without me.” She leaned in and kissed me hard, then finished getting ready and walked out the door.

  I quickly showered and got dressed. If I wasn’t going to spend all day in bed with Florrie, then I might as well go blow off some steam in the gym. I was used to Reid interrupting us by now. If he knocked, Florrie went running. Luckily, most of the time I was still able to find a little alone time with her.

  I changed into some workout clothes and headed for the training center. Knight and Reid were boxing in the ring and Florrie was shouting out instructions to Reid. It should be me over there, but Knight insisted on “training the kid the right way”. Now he spent all his time with Florrie and Knight in the ring, and I snuck in when I could.

  My relationship with Reid had grown into something that I never thought I would have. He was like my kid in every way that mattered, though he never acted like he was my son. He was still wary, and I understood that I had to give him time. But I already loved that kid and was so fucking grateful that he had chosen to try and steal our money that night outside the restaurant.

  Florrie was different with him. She was more like the big sister that really liked hanging out with her kid brother. She loved him, there was no fucking doubt about that, but she didn’t try to mother him. She was his best friend and the person that he went to for pretty much anything that was on his mind. She was his sparring partner when Knight wasn’t available and his informant on the best movies to watch. Apparently, Florrie had better taste in movies than I did.

  This whole thing with the other family that wanted custody was weighing heavy on my mind though. Florrie and I had guardianship of Reid, but a family member would outrank us, I had no doubt in my mind about that. The real question was what I was going to do when the time came to go to court. He was mine in every way that mattered, but I knew that wasn’t all there was to it. As I watched them from a distance, my heart sank a little, knowing that our time was limited with Reid. I knew it was only a matter of time before he was taken from us. Florrie, on the other hand, didn’t seem to realize that, and I wasn’t sure how she was going to deal with that particular blow. So, I had to take what time I could with them and pray that when the time came, I would have the strength to let go.

  “Hey,” I said, smiling at them as I stepped up to the ring. “How’s it going?”

  “It’s coming along,” Florrie grinned.

  “Yeah? You want to take me on?” I asked Reid, bouncing from foot to foot. I was ready to get in the ring with Reid, and I didn’t give a fuck what Knight said today.

  “If you think you can take me,” he smirked. Yeah, he was definitely taking on a cocky air, and I was so fucking glad that the terror I had seen in the beginning was fading fast.

  “Let’s see what you got,” I said, climbing through the ropes.

  “He shouldn’t be sparring with you,” Knight grumbled.

  “Pull the stick out of your ass, Knight. I’m not gonna go crazy on him. I just want to see what you’re teaching him.”

  “I’m not worried about you going crazy on him. I’m worried about you taking it easy on him.”

  “Relax, would you? It’s just a friendly sparring match. Right, Reid?”

  He looked over at Knight and grinned. “Right.”

  Why did I get a bad feeling about this? What the fuck was Knight teaching him?

  Knight tapped the mat and moved to the corner. “Just like I taught you, kid.”

  Florrie smirked at me and moved into the same corner as Knight.

  “What, I don’t get any
one in my corner?”

  “A big, strong man like you? You’ll do fine.”

  “Yeah, but it would be nice to have you in my corner every once in a while.”

  “Oh, don’t pout too much. The guys will start to think you’re going soft,” she taunted.

  I puffed out my chest and bounced from foot to foot, trying to loosen up. Reid did the same and then came at me. I dodged his hits, trying to get a feel for his moves. He had some good moves for a kid his age. Knight was doing a good job teaching him. But Knight was teaching him to go on the offensive instead of hanging back and learning his opponents weaknesses. I wouldn’t have done it that way.

  I started jabbing, throwing a punch here or there, and Knight was right, I was pulling my punches. But he was just a kid. I wanted to take it easy with him. The last time I had sparred with him was over two weeks ago.

  “You’re doing good, kid.”

  “Yeah?” he grinned.

  “Yeah, not bad. Although, I would have taught you differently.”

  “How?” he asked, dodging my right hook.

  “I would have made you go on the defensive first. It’s all about learning weaknesses, kid.”

  “Oh, I know your weaknesses.”

  “You do, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  I switched it up and tossed a left hook, catching him in the jaw. I pulled my punch so I didn’t hit him too hard and bounced backwards. “So, tell me about these weaknesses.”

  “Well, I’m your greatest weakness.”

  He was doing his best to push me into the corner of the ring, and I let him because I wanted to see what he would do.

  “That’s probably true. What about it?”

  He ran at me and I slid to the side. He jumped up on the ropes and contorted his body so that he was flying through the air back toward me. I didn’t know what the fuck to do, so I just fucking stood there. This wasn’t the enemy or another one of the guys and I didn’t want to hurt him. I felt his knees lock around my body and I saw him twist right before my body was jerked and I was flipped onto my back. The air rushed out of me and spots danced in front of my eyes. Holy shit. That was like some kind of ninja assassin move. He walked up to my side and stared down at me with a grin plastered on his face.