188 - New Beginnings
188 - New Beginnings
I can keep you in the game, but on the outskirts of it. You get paid under the table, probably through contracts with Priscilla’s company. And yes, you get to bend the law a little bit. You walk a fine line; just make sure you never cross it. - Murphy
January 2026
For the first time since they got married by Bam Bam, all four of them woke up in the same bed without a deadline for Geo and Porthos to return to DC. Porthos’ contract with the Army ended two and a half years ago and he took a job with the National Police. He resigned in December and was scheduled to start with the Monroe Police Department on February first.
Geo moved to the reserves to finish out his eight years with the Marines. He was working with Celt’s family law firm and was scheduled to take the LSAT in June. Law school had never been part of his overall plan, but the more he saw the inner workings of the law, he became intrigued. With a guaranteed position with the law firm, he scheduled his LSAT and accepted the help from Celt and his family to study for it.
Denver had discovered that he enjoyed farm life and everything that it entailed. Although he did quickly learn why the blue heeler dogs were all outside dogs and lived with the herds. He tried to bring a puppy into the house and Priscilla refused. Within days, the dog was back outside with the rest of his litter.
Blue heelers are notorious for being high-strung and protective. They were great during spring and fall round up, sheep shearing, and overall herd protection. The chickens and other fowl were seen as fast food that needed to be caught. Dundee had picked Denver as his human and all that he had to do was call out and the dog would come running.
Patch brought them a dog from his rescue kennel that was better suited to a household with small children. Toblerone was a Bernese mountain dog that was bigger than his original owners had anticipated. JR took her first steps clinging to him. Her little brother, Rowan, took his first steps towards the large dog.
When they were building their house, a dog washing station was built into the mudroom. Learning from Charlotte and being unable to wash Toblerone with a large pregnancy belly, Carlos from the grooming salon came out once a month. Over the last few years, Patch dropped off a puppy or two here or there, just for a few days.
Along with Toblerone, they also had two pugs, a Corgi, and a rat terrier. An orange cat was brought over for just a few days, three years ago, and slept with Rowan every night. The latest drop off was a black lop-eared rabbit that thought his place was curled up with either the pugs or Toblerone.
Priscilla lay in the custom-made bed that Sticks designed and made just for them. She loved being in the large bed with all three of her men. She loved it even more when they all stayed in bed with her and were not gone before the sun came up. Last night, Camille and Darkness took the kids, and Toblerone, to their house allowing the parents to have some time to themselves.
Camille joked that she expected to be an aunt again in nine months. None of them in the bed were going to tell her that it would not be that long. Priscilla had her next appointment with Dr. Blake later this week. A few more weeks and she would be in her second trimester and they would announce it.
Denver stirred as Geo pressed up against him, wrapping his arm around his partner and rubbed Priscilla’s hip. Porthos opened his eyes and smiled at her before giving her a quick kiss. Rolling to her other side, she kissed Denver and then Geo.
“I feel like I have overslept,” Denver admitted.
Laughing, Priscilla snuggled in as Denver rolled to his back, taking her with him. The other two handsome men moved in closer, and he wrapped his arms around them as they draped arms over Priscilla’s back. She loved this position because she felt connected to all of them like this.
“Even dad sleeps in on some days.”
Denver chuckled, “Your father’s definition of sleeping in is still getting up before the sun.”
“He’s lived on the farm for all of his life. I think when Tammy got him to take a couple of weeks off to go meet her sister was probably the longest that he’s ever been away from the farm.”
“I think Patch is going to try to drop off another animal, just for a few days,” Geo chuckled as he traced a lazy design on her bare back.
“Why do you say that?” Porthos asked. “I mean, I’m not at all surprised, but… why?”
“Because when I took Toblerone down to the clinic yesterday, Alicia met me in the parking lot and took the giant furball and told me to get out of there before Patch saw me.”
“Thank you for taking him,” she smiled at Geo.
“I need something to do while I’m being a sexy house husband.”
Propping up on his elbow, Porthos grinned at his husband, “I got something that you can take care of.”
“You’ll have to take car of that later,” Denver chuckled as he looked at Porthos. “Or did you forget that you have a uniform fitting at nine?”
“It’s…” he looked at the digital clock behind Geo, “not quite seven-thirty. We have time.”
“You need a shower and with the school zone, it can take up to forty-five minutes to get over to the station. Plus,” Denver cocked an eyebrow, “you have to meet with Murphy.”
“She kinda scares me,” Porthos admitted. “Not like Dom does. In a whole other, never see the bullet coming kind of way.”
Priscilla chuckled, “She’s not that scary.”
Chuckling, he kissed her and then got out of the bed and headed for the attached bathroom. “Keep telling yourself that, baby girl.”
At seven-thirty, Murphy stepped into the waiting area of the police station and motioned for Porthos to follow her. On the way to her office, they discussed mundane topics – weather, traffic, construction on the East side of town. Not speaking draws more attention than stupid conversations.
Not only did he have to transition to a new department, learn new state laws, and memorize city ordinances, but he also had to learn how to be a spy. They knew that working with Dom came with conditions and sacrifices. More than just the dark marks on their souls from having tortured and killed a man. To keep their loved ones safe, they would do it again.
Closing the door behind them, Murphy motioned for him to sit in the empty chair. “First, let’s be very clear. I’ve been ordered to train my replacement. They are preparing for my retirement.”
“I didn’t think that if you were deep in the game, you got to retire.”
She pinned him with a cold glare, “You don’t.”