Love and the White Wolf - Book 2

13. Attack With a Side of Breakfast (Sexual content)

Three hours came all too soon when James heard a discreet knock on the door.

"Go back to sleep," he whispered then gave me that long, slow, sweet kiss before he got dressed and got up.

I tried but my mind couldn't stop thinking. I gave up, had a shower, dressed and went out. Hope and Scott were sleeping in the spare room, Shuri was asleep on the couch wearing earplugs, Oeznik was sitting upright on a chair but seemed to be meditating. Sam and Maria were sitting with James at the table, all of them with a coffee. The lights were turned down low except for a desk lamp transferred to the table.

"Sorry, I tried," I whispered, "but I couldn't sleep anymore. Where's T'Challa?"

"He calls it prowling," said James, patting his lap for me to sit, "looking for stray sheep. He found a guy taking a leak in the bushes of the river pathway. Said he was homeless but he had night vision glasses. Mercenary, trying to determine how many people are on the ground. We've reduced the perimeter."

"Did the interrogation reveal anything?" I asked.

"The four that gave up were given big money to pilot their drones" said James. "They were told they were helping flush out a traitor, me. Obviously hadn't watched the news lately. The fifth one was from the Group, not the religious fanatic part but the Carlitos Chavez part. Chavez has a beef with me but this guy didn't know why. Whatever it is his hatred is affecting his judgment. He's done stuff for the cartels in exchange for favours later on. The operator has only heard of the brother but he's supposed to be smart, strong, and handsome. He's never involved himself in his older brother's activities."

He kissed me on the cheek.

"I think this last attempt will be by the Group, but it will be Chavez's people. He's paid trained mercenaries and we think they're planning a ground attack as well as a drone attack," said James. "They aren't going to be deterred by a few Avengers. We're getting some special forces soldiers and they're going to join forces with my security detail to provide a defending force around the perimeter of the building. Torres is enroute. He and Sam are going to be our eyes in the sky and take out as many drones as possible. You, Shuri, and Oeznik are going to wait this out in the panic room. I don't want you anywhere near the line of fire."

He stroked my cheek as he said it. I knew he was right but I still wished I could watch. His abilities to think 3 and 4 moves ahead of the opposition was fascinating and I finally truly understood why his security team looked up to him so much. He allowed them great latitude to excel in their work and they repaid him with their loyalty, affection and their best efforts. He put himself into the line of fire, sometimes to protect his own men. They would do the same for him. Dixon returned from his honeymoon expecting to be busted to private after driving me 10 hours in the dark. Instead he received a commendation for service above and beyond the call of duty. When James said he looked after his guys he meant every man and woman on his security team of over 100 people.

In the meantime we waited. At 5 am, everyone else was up, and had a cup of coffee while James updated them on the situation. T'Challa stayed outside. Torres and Sam would fly the sky, Scott and Hope had the lobby, Maria and he were the last line of defence in the apartment.

"I fully expect we will stop them before they can get in here, but just in case, it's been an honour," James said emotionally. "You guys are family. I know I can be a dick sometimes but I'm your dick. That didn't come out right but you know what I mean."

Everyone laughed. They knew.

"So either you got soundproofing around your bedroom or you actually did sleep when you joined Gail," said Sam teasingly.