The motorcade of black armored SUVs wound its way back down from the mountains, but the vibe inside the lead car was anything but "corporate." Usually, a return to the Black Box meant Keifer was gearing up for war, but today, he was staring out the window with a look of profound resignation.
Sitting right between us on the premium leather seat was Ghost. The dog had somehow doubled in size since we found him, and his head was resting comfortably on Keifer's shoulder, leaving a steady trail of drool on his custom-made cashmere sweater.
12:00 PM: The Arrival
POV: Jay
The gates of the mansion creaked open, and the entire Section E was lined up on the front steps, led by Percy (Blue Eyes), who was wearing a pristine, white designer suit. He looked like he was ready for a gala, not a homecoming.
"Welcome back, Boss! Baby sista !" Percy shouted, flashing a blinding smile. "I've prepared a light lunch and—"
The SUV door opened. Ghost didn't wait for the valet. He lunged out of the car, a 70-pound blur of mountain fur and excitement, and headed straight for the brightest object he could see: Percy's white suit.
"NO! GHOST, HALT!" Alexander screamed, jumping out after him.
WHUMP.
"GAH! GET IT OFF! IS THIS A BEAR?!" Percy shrieked as Ghost tackled him to the manicured lawn, pinning him down with muddy paws and licking his face with aggressive affection.
"It's a dog, Percy," I said, stepping out of the car and adjusting my sunglasses. "His name is Ghost. He's the new Head of Physical Security. You might want to update the payroll."
01:30 PM: The "Savage" Grooming Session
Keifer was standing in the foyer, arms crossed, watching the carnage. He looked at the muddy paw prints already decorating the marble floor.
"Percy," Keifer rumbled, his voice cold but with a hint of hidden amusement. "Since you've already been 'initiated,' you're in charge of the dog's bath. If I find one tick in this house, you're back on night-watch in the sub-basement."
"Boss, please! This suit is dry-clean only!" Percy pleaded, trying to hold Ghost at arm's length while the dog tried to eat his silk pocket square.
"Ma-ma! Percy play!" Astraea cheered, clapping her hands as she watched Percy get dragged toward the garden hose by a very enthusiastic Ghost.
I leaned into Keifer's side, watching the chaos. "You're enjoying this way too much, hubby."
"He needed a reality check, wifey," Keifer murmured, his hand sliding around my waist. "And the dog is a better judge of character than I thought. He clearly knows Percy is the easiest target."
04:00 PM: The Security Briefing
I walked into the tactical room to find Erdix and Rory trying to show Keifer the latest London reports. But the meeting had been... compromised.
Ghost was lying underneath the high-tech glass table, his tail rhythmically hitting the server rack. Thump. Thump. Thump. Astraea was using the dog as a pillow, fast asleep with a half-eaten cracker in her hand.
"The Russian assets are—" Rory started, but Ghost let out a massive, vibrating sigh in his sleep that sounded like a groan of boredom.
"Even the dog thinks your reports are dull, Rory," I teased, walking in with a tray of snacks.
Keifer looked up from the screen, his "Monster" mask failing him. He looked at his daughter, then at the stray dog he had claimed he would "never" keep. He reached down and absently scratched Ghost's ear.
"The security perimeter is now twenty pounds heavier and smells like wet fur," Keifer sighed, looking at me. "Is this what my life has become, Jay? From international arms deals to... this?"
"It's an upgrade, Keifer," I said, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "You went from being feared by everyone to being loved by a toddler and a mountain dog. I'd say the Watson Empire is finally thriving."
09:00 PM: The Black Box's New Normal
That night, the mansion didn't feel like a cold fortress.
Alexander was in the library, showing Ghost how to "patrol" (which mostly involved Ghost knocking over a lamp). Section E was in the kitchen, with Percy still grumbling while Honey helped him get dog hair out of his hair.
I walked into our bedroom to find Keifer already in bed, propped up against the pillows. He was looking at a file, but he had a bag of dog treats on the nightstand.
"Don't say a word, Jay," he warned, not looking up.
"I didn't say anything, hubby," I laughed, climbing in beside him.
The door creaked open, and Ghost trotted in, followed by Astraea. The dog didn't even ask permission; he jumped onto the foot of the king-sized bed, did three circles, and collapsed with a heavy thud. Astraea crawled up right next to him, tucking herself into the dog's fur.
"The bed is for humans, Keifer," I reminded him, repeating his own words from the mountains.
Keifer looked at the dog, then at our daughter, then at me. He closed his file, reached over to turn off the light, and pulled me into his arms.
"The dog stays," he growled softly into my hair. "But if he snores, he's going to Percy's room."
"Deal," I whispered, finally closing my eyes. The Black Box was loud, messy, and full of fur—and for the first time, it finally felt like a home.