Epilogue
Six months later
Sinjin strode down the hallway and stopped at the last room on the left, not bothering to knock as he pushed the door open and entered. Sunlight filled the space, streaming in through the windows that lined the outer wall and highlighting Michelle’s lithe frame. She stood quietly, looking out over the Seattle skyline. Her hair flared gold and platinum, falling around her face as she turned to smile at him.
“How do you like my new office?” She opened her arms to indicate the space they stood in.
“Your new office?” Sin paused and then shook his head. “Baby, you’re mistaken. This is my new office.”
“Nope.” She shot him a grin that he knew meant they were about to have one of their now infamous fights. “I’ve been talking to Geoff, and we’ve decided that I’m not going to be as silent a partner as you wanted me to be.”
“Oh you did, did you?” He glanced around at the furniture and realized that although it was similar to what he had ordered, it was not exactly the same style. “And did you decide to redecorate my office at the same time?”
“Well, it’s my office now, so yes. You’re getting the corner suite across the hall.” Her arms crossed over her chest, and she gave him an even bigger grin. “It’s larger than this one, and I know how you boys all feel about size.”
“Minx.” He pulled himself to his full height and glowered at her, loving the fact she was completely immune to his attempts to intimidate her. Six months had seen so many changes in both their lives, all of them for the better. She was full of confidence these days, and more than a little sass. He loved it, almost as much as he loved her.
“And what exactly is it you’re going to do sitting here in my office? You don’t know a thing about security protocols or running a paramilitary unit. And the last time I checked, you were happy spending your time putting together that charity for the victims of domestic abuse.”
“Oh, I’m still very happy with the charity, but I need something else to do with my time.”
“And that would be?” He arched a brow at her, waiting to hear what she had to say.
They’d come up with the idea to expand White Knight’s services together, but until now Michelle had never expressed any interest in being more than a silent partner. She’d invested the money, but it was going to be his to run. Anya had suggested the name Guardians for the specialized team they had gathered and trained. The Guardians were a uniquely designed team within White Knight Security, specializing in supernatural cases. Anya had assured them that there was a need for their services, and had brought in contacts and people with talents and abilities he hadn’t known existed. They even had a medium and a telepath on the payroll, along with Anya herself. It had taken months to identify the right members of White Knight’s employees and then train them in skills none of them had ever imagined they’d need.
Their offices were on the same floor they’d built Michelle’s ghost trap, a fitting tribute to the origins of the Guardians, and their operations room ceiling still had the pentagram inscribed on it. Anya had told them to leave it in place as part of the protection wards that now guarded the entire floor. Remington had just loved that.
“I’ve come to realize that with all the hiring and training going on, we missed one very important position.” Her eyes took on that sparkle he adored, and he knew she was about to get sassy with him again.
“And what position is it you’re looking to take over, from my office?”
“Client relations.”
“Client what now? Baby, I hate to point this out, but we don’t even have any clients yet.”
“And we never will if I leave it up to you and Geoff. Let’s face it. Neither of you is the warm and fuzzy type. The people coming to us for help are going to be scared and likely questioning their sanity. They need a sympathetic ear, someone who’s been where they’re standing. I’m going to be the kinder, gentler face of the Guardians, maybe even all of White Knight when Geoff thinks I’m ready. You and Jase get to play with your shiny new toy, or what I keep hearing is now called the Gulf Bravo Unit.”
Sinjin grimaced. He hated that name, and the next time he saw Jase he was going to remind him just how much.
“It is not the Gulf Bravo Unit. It’s the Guardians. That’s just Jase’s pet name. I wish he’d quit using it.”
“What’s it mean?”
“Gulf Bravo, as in Gee-Bee, as in Ghostbusters.” Sin ground out the explanation, his jaw tensing up more with every syllable. “And quit changing the subject.”
“Oh no!” Michelle burst out laughing, her eyes wide with amusement. “Seriously? He’s such a little boy sometimes!”
“And you are a minx.” He waved his hand around the office space. “When were you going to tell me about this new job?”
“Geoff only gave me formal approval this morning,” she admitted. “I wanted to be sure he was on board before I told you. I wasn’t sure you’d agree.”
“So, you ordered the furniture before you even knew if it was a sure thing? It’s a good thing you’re paying the bills around here, baby, or I’d have to discuss budgeting with you. And why did you think I wouldn’t approve? You helped create all this. If you wanted to be part of it, you should have told me.”
Her smile lit up the room brighter than the winter sunshine that came in through the windows. “Well, White Knight is your family. I wasn’t sure you’d want me here.”
“Of course I want you here. You’re here half the damned time anyway. I see no reason not to make it official. You really should have told me though. And I’m still not sure I’m happy you’ve stolen my office.” He slanted her a grin, and his fingers flexed as he started considering how best to punish her for leaving him out of the loop, not to mention swiping his office. “I’m going to have a long chat with Remington, very soon.” He started moving toward her. “But first, you and I are going to have a quick refresher course on what happens when you sass me.”
She grinned and kicked off her heels, already moving backward and increasing the space between them as she ducked around her new desk. “You’ll have to catch me first!”
THE END