Nicholas's POV:
I started my day the way I always do with a morning run. The air was crisp, the sky clear and for once I didn't mind slowing down to take it all in. Other joggers passed by lost in their own routines but I moved at my own pace. By the time I got back to the penthouse I was already thinking about the day ahead. A quick shower, a clean shirt and I was out the door. First on my agenda was a meeting with Gloria at one of my clubs, she oversaw daily operations and rarely reached out unless something warranted my attention. Settling into the backseat of my car i barely glanced up from the stack of documents Greg had handed me that morning.
"To the club, Paolo" I said, focused on the numbers in front of me. Financial reports, projections and budgets except something didn't quite add up. I frowned flipping through the pages as we pulled up to the club. Even with the early hour the place buzzed with quiet energy. Staff's moved with precision and soft music played but the air felt tight with unease.
"Sir, I've been expecting you." she said leading me toward the office. It was as polished as ever with its mahogany desk, leather chairs and soft lighting.
"The girls are being threatened" Gloria said wasting no time. "Men have been waiting outside after their shifts. No one's been hurt but they're getting bold. They're demanding things and making the girls feel uncomfortable" I took my seat slowly my face unreadable.
"Has anyone quit?" She nodded "A few. More are talking about it they're all scared." She said worriedly
"Ivan," I called glancing toward the security lead in the corner "What do you know?"
"Not much boss. Seems like they're targeting multiple locations in the area, it's organized but messy. They're careful not to touch anyone just enough to scare"
"I want double security outside starting tonight" I said "Anyone suspicious, I want names, photos and Gloria—" I handed her the reports "There's something off in these find out who had access and cross-check with recent transactions. Get it to Greg." She scanned a page her brows furrowing.
"You're right there are inconsistencies."
"As I said earlier figure it out with Greg" I stood the unease in me lingering long after I left the office. Greg caught up with me a few hours later handing over a folder. The look on his face said he'd found what I suspected.
"Do you trust her?" he asked.
I didn't answer immediately instead I said "I trust you and that's what matters" He nodded "Find out who's behind this" I said "The money. I want a name and I want them brought in."
He met my eyes. "Alive?"
"Alive" I confirmed "I want to ask the questions myself."
He gave a thin smile. "Understood."
We walked out of the building and a dull throb pulsed behind my left eye. A fucking migraine, all I needed now was a massage, total silence and two attractive men pouring me whiskey while telling me how great I am, problem solved.
"The Dominican guys want to meet" Greg reminded me catching up with me in easy strides.
"Yeah i'll deal with them" I muttered my thoughts were still tied up with the dealer who'd managed to evade us for weeks. We were just about to get into the car when my phone buzzed. Colonel Donovan The name title showed and i answered.
"Nicholas Grey."
"We need you" Donovan said " It's urgent, I'm sending someone, be ready in an hour." And that was it, No explanation, no heads-up, nothing. I stared at my phone scowling. The military didn't own me anymore, I had a life now with businesses and responsibilities. Girls were being threatened, money was bleeding out and someone out there was making a move on my empire. The last thing I needed was the military sniffing around again. The last time we worked together it was chaos wrapped in discipline, calculated, and too damn addictive. Camaraderie, and Adrenaline but above all, Purpose. I missed all of it more than I cared to admit. You don't walk away from something like that without leaving pieces of yourself behind, and honestly? I'm not sure I ever got those pieces back.
Greg moved beside me steadily that's one of the things I appreciated most about him: Ex-military he's sharp and calm under pressure. He didn't just run security for Grey Enterprises he practically held the place together. He knew how this kind of stuff worked which made him the guy I needed right now.
"I need you on this with me" I said locking my phone "Donovan's pulling a string and I don't like the feel of it" Greg gave a short nod he didn't need the details to know when things were about to go sideways.
"You think it's bad?" he asked and I let out a dry breath
"Yeah I don't know what it is yet but knowing Donovan? It's gonna be a mess."
An hour later we pulled up to a heavily secured military liaison tucked behind layers of concrete walls and just enough cameras to make you second-guess every move you make. At the checkpoint a soldier stepped forward checked our identification and gave a curt nod before motioning us through. I straightened my cuffs as we walked in forcing the tension out of my shoulders.
The air made my skin crawl, this place hasn't changed a bit. The same kind of building where I'd once been briefed before black ops and where I'd sat with men who didn't blink when told they might not make it back.
"This place smells like worse decisions" I muttered and I hated how familiar it felt.
We were led into what looked like a sleek conference room. The door swung open and there he was, Reed. He stood with his back to us his eyes fixed on the screen his posture relaxed but calculated like he hadn't noticed us enter. I knew him better than that. He'd always been good at pretending everything was under control even when he was falling apart inside.
My breath caught just for a second he was my first kiss, my first fuck, my first everything. Even now my body remembered what my pride had tried so hard to forget the way it felt to be seen by him, touched by him and wanted by him. What we had wasn't some teenage fling. We were two storms that never learned how to quiet down and now seeing him again, older and broader, still carrying himself like the world owed him shit. From beside me Greg shot me a sidelong glance picking up on the sudden charge in the room. I forced my expression to neutral, rolling my shoulders back even as my jaw clenched tight.
"Gentlemen" Donovan greeted stepping into the room his voice cutting through the silence like a scalpel. Reed turned slowly, his gaze found mime and stayed there. He took his time dragging slowly down my body like he was memorizing every inch like he hadn't already done that a hundred times before. When he reached my face again his expression didn't change but I could feel it like I was seen too deeply and I hated it.
"Grey is here because we're facing a national-level threat" Donovan said, addressing the room. "We need his company's tech to patch a critical gap" Then he turned fully toward me his tone shifting to something more pointed "Reed will be your primary point of contact."
I raised a brow glancing between them my voice low and laced with disbelief. "You can't be serious. You expect me to drop everything and act like it's business as usual? I run one of the most powerful empires in this city. My people are under threat I've got my own war to fight"
"This isn't just about your empire anymore Nick. It's bigger than you, bigger than all of us."
"And I'm just supposed to ignore the fact that someone's making demands from my girls and bleeding my inventory dry?" I asked the irritation in my voice no longer subtle. "That's not a side problem that's a goddamn crisis." I was barely holding myself together when Reed finally decided to speak his voice was deep and steady.
"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't serious." I turned to him slowly my expression flat and annoyed
"Right, you show up in a crisp uniform and expect me to fall in line? That's it?" He didn't respond. Of course he didn't, same old Reed, selective silence when it suited him.
Greg folded his arms stepping in. "You're asking us to hit pause on everything we've built to trust people we haven't seen in what? Years? And for what? Some top-secret op you can't even lay out properly?" Donovan sighed frustration bleeding into his usually unreadable expression.
"We're not asking for blind trust we're offering a partnership. There's a national threat in play one that affects everyone your people included." I exhaled slow but sharp forcing myself to stay calm
"Then you'll wait I'm not walking away from my people or the problems sitting at my front door. I'll send over the initial specs that's all you're getting for now."
Donovan gave a curt nod clearly biting back what he really wanted to say. "Fine don't take too long we're already behind schedule" Reed stepped forward like he was about to say something, probably trying to smooth things over but I lifted a hand and cut him off
"Don't" I said my voice was cold, and my eyes locked onto him. "You don't get to pretend like we're fine you want my help? You wait for your goddamn turn" Greg glanced between us.
"Well… this just got uncomfortable fast." Donovan's tone shifted back to business.
"Lead however you want Nick just don't let your pride screw us over we don't have time for that." I gave him a tight smile
"Then stop wasting mine."
The ride back to Grey Enterprise was too quiet. Greg kept sneaking glances at me like he was trying to figure out the right moment to open his mouth but I beat him to it "Just say it." He blinked like I'd startled him.
"Say what?" I shot him a dry look
"Don't play dumb you've been looking at me like you swallowed something sour since we left." He let out a breath and leaned back tilting his head against the seat
"Fine. I think you should help" I arched my brow unimpressed.
"Oh, great here we go"
"I'm serious" he said his tone even. "They need you let's be real without your tech and your brain they're basically a bunch of toddlers trying to build a bomb shelter out of legos" I scoffed turning to stare out the window
"Wow. Look at you siding with Donovan and kissing my ass all in the same breath that's some real talent" Greg grinned
"It's worked before" he said and I rolled my eyes at him
"Barely, you forget I know all your tricks."
"True," he said with a shrug "But I also know when you're posturing to avoid feeling something"
That made me pause and I turned back toward him narrowing my eyes "You wanna try that again?"
"Come on Nick, It's Reed. He walks in after all these years and suddenly you're back to locking your jaw like you've got a personal vendetta against oxygen" I stayed silent the truth of it making my fingers curl against my thigh.
"I'm not saying trust the guy" Greg continued. "Hell I still remember what you looked like after he left but this? What they're dealing with? It's not some run-of-the-mill government bullshit. Something about this smells bad and there's more than they're letting on"
"Exactly," I muttered "Which is why I don't like it. They're playing games" I sighed "he looked at me like nothing had changed." Greg raised a brow
"Maybe because nothing has at least not been between the two of you"
I glared at him "Don't."
"I'm just saying" he said, holding up his hands in surrender "whatever happened between you two, unresolved shit like that doesn't just go away. If you're gonna work with him even on the sidelines you better figure out how to coexist without imploding."
I leaned back letting my head rest against the seat "Coexist" I muttered "Right like it's that simple."
"Well the other option is burning the place down and frankly, I like my eyebrows where they are" Greg added with a smirk. Despite myself I cracked a small smile
"I'll consider your eyebrows in my decision-making process."
"Appreciate it. They're my best feature" I glanced at him
"You think I'm making a mistake?" I asked and he hesitated
"No i think you're scared of making the same mistake, there's a difference." then I quietly added
"I'll think about it"
Greg nodded "That's all I'm asking" Then he glanced at me with a smirk "But just for the record if you two end up in a supply closet somewhere i am calling it."
"Shut up Greg." I responded
"I'm just saying"