CHAPTER EIGHT

As the lazy days of summer casually passed in heat, humidity, and late afternoon storms, Moose, Erica, and Jennifer relaxed into a routine. They enjoyed date night twice a week with the help of their friends and found their rhythm in working with the others.

Erica used her new identity, Erica Smith, on the recordings with Bull, Amanda, and Mia and was thrilled that she would never have to go any further than the recording studio. The two of them tried to have lunch together as a new family every day. Dinner was non-negotiable. They would wait for one another and head to the cafeteria together. It was everything Moose had dreamed of in a family.

When Cam and Hex walked toward their table, there was a feeling of dread in Moose's gut. Something about their expressions said there was something wrong.

"Good evening," smiled Hex.

"Hi," smiled Erica as Jennifer babbled, reaching for her new uncles. Hex lifted her, tossing her in the air, not minding the crumbs of food up and down her pretty little dress.

"Erica, we think it might be a good idea for you to take some self-defense classes with our team." Moose froze, looking down at Erica, then back up at Cam and Hex.

"Self-defense? Why? I mean, am I not safe?" she asked.

"You're very safe, honey, but all of the women have gone through basic classes. You don't have to learn how to shoot if you don't want to, but you should know basic weapon safety. It's always a good idea just to be prepared for anything."

"Alright," she smiled, nodding at the two men. She looked over their shoulders and saw Amanda and Mia waving. "I'll be right back."

Moose's eyes followed her as she met with her new friends, then looked at Hex and Cam.

"What the fuck is that all about?" he growled.

"Language," frowned Hex. "There's a little one present."

"Hex," he ground out.

"The two assassins are still out there, and it doesn't appear that they've given up and gone home. They're asking questions about the café and who owns it. Even wanted to know who lived in the private gated community. I'm not sure how they got on the main road instead of the diverted road, but it could have been an accident.

"Sly and Code have seen them driving this way, but they miss the stealth cut-off every time. We think they're trying to find their way back here again."

"I don't get it. Why? Her father is dead. They won't collect their money at this point, and their country is in turmoil. Why are they staying?" asked Moose.

"We're still trying to figure that out, but we did have an idea," said Hex.

"I'm listening," answered Moose, looking at them side-eyed.

"Ece."

"What the fuck are you thinking? No! I will not reach out to that woman. Not now, not ever," he growled.

"Listen to us, Moose. She's pissed she didn't get her story, and from what the boys in comms have been able to figure out, her editor is ready to fire her because she doesn't have a story. Give her this one. Two North Korean assassins trying to kill the alleged daughter and granddaughter of Park."

"Have you lost your minds? She would expose them both. No. No, I won't do that," he said. "Besides, I made a promise to Erica that I would never speak to Ece again."

"I think she would understand this," said Hex. "You don't have to tell her that Erica and Jennifer are here or that you even know them. Just tell her the story. You know that she'll go with it."

"That means she'll come back to New Orleans," said Moose.

Cam and Hex stared at him, then realized that Moose had never broken up with a woman before. Him. He'd had break-ups, but it was usually on the part of the woman. This time, he'd been the one to end it, and he didn't know how to go forward other than to ignore her calls and messages. He was just going to pretend she didn't exist.

"Moose, brother, Erica would understand that you're communicating with her to protect her and Jennifer. She would understand. You can't keep this from her."

"You know how she is with a story," said Moose. "She'll dig her teeth in and won't leave it alone. Ece won't give up until we've found the two assassins and maybe placed Erica and Jennifer in danger. No."

"I would understand," said Erica, standing behind him. Moose closed his eyes, then turned to stare at her beautiful face. Hex was still holding Jennifer. "I know that you're trying to protect me, to make sure I know that you're not going back to her. And I do. I do know that. We've spent enough time together that I know that you love me, Moose. You haven't said it yet. That's okay."

"I love you," he said, pulling her toward him. "I love you, and I love Jennifer, and I want us to be a family, and I don't want anything to come between us."

"I love you, too," she smiled, touching his face. "I love you enough to know that you wouldn't do anything to betray me. If this woman can help us, if she can help to find these men and why they're after me, then I say we speak to her. You and me."

"Baby, what if she gets vindictive knowing that you're in my life? That you are my life."

"Well, then. I guess we'll have made a colossal mistake. But we won't know until we try. It'll be worth it just to know what these men want from me."

"I can't lose you," he said, crushing her body against his face. She gripped his shoulders, running her fingers through his thick hair.

"Now you're pissing me off," said Cam. "You won't lose her. We won't allow that to happen. She'll be safe, and we're going to teach her how to protect herself."

"Are you sure?" he asked, looking up at her again.

"Positive. Let's go make that call." Hex smiled at the two.

"Cool. I've got the kid."

"I knew you'd call eventually," smirked the pretty woman. Erica swallowed, staring into the screen with Moose beside her. "I guess I didn't expect you to bring a guest."

"Ece, I'm not calling because of our past," said Moose confidently. "We have no future together as a couple."

"I see. So, are congratulations in order? Is that why you called? You want my blessing?"

"No. We will be getting married," he said, squeezing Erica's hand, "but not right now. I'm going to offer you something that I think you need and want more than you ever wanted me."

"I'm listening," she said, staring at the screen.

"A story. A big one."

"About your team?" she frowned.

"No. Have you been watching what's happening in North Korea?"

"Of course I have," she scoffed. "I'm not an idiot. The whole world is watching what's going on over there. No one liked Park. In fact, they think he killed the president, but now they're left with no one."

"From this point on, Ece, I'm a confidential source. Understand?"

"Now you're scaring me," she said quietly. Moose said nothing, just staring at the screen. "Alright, Major. You're a confidential source."

"So is she," he said, nodding at Erica. "And it's Moose." Ece just laughed, nodding again.

"Fine. What's this big story?"

"This is Hae-Won Park."

"Holy shit," muttered Ece. "Everyone thought you were dead."

"She is," said Moose. "Understand that? To everyone in the world, she is dead. Except before her father was killed, he sent two assassins to kill her, and we don't know why. She hasn't lived in North Korea since she was eleven, had very little contact with her father, so there doesn't seem to be a reason."

"There's every reason," said Ece.

"What do you mean?" asked Erica, finally finding her voice.

"Your mother was the former president's daughter." Erica blinked several times, opening and closing her mouth. "Holy shit. You didn't know. Your mother was the former president's daughter. He even declared that if he had no male heir, your mother could take over as president. He did not want that offered to his son-in-law, which is why I suspect he killed your mother. He figured he could take it by force. But when she was killed, he extended that to you, not to the good general."

"Th-that's absurd," said Erica, shaking her head. "That's insane. There's no way. I don't want it."

"That's okay. You don't have to accept the nomination, but you do have to appoint someone else. You. Only you. They think you're dead, and they're scrambling to find answers. Those assassins need to make sure you're dead, or they may end up with a president that they don't want."

"Why wouldn't she tell me? Why would she keep that from me?" Moose hugged her close, kissing her forehead. Ece watched the touching moment and realized that his expression was one of love. True love. He'd never shown that look to her.

"Major…"

"Moose," he said sharply.

"Fine. Sculler, she needs to go back to North Korea and make an appointment to the presidency if she doesn't want it."

"I'm not going back there. Never. Do you understand that they could keep me? They could accuse me of being a traitor for having left with my mother. I'll write a letter."

"It doesn't work that way," said Ece. She stared at the couple, the concern and fear etched on both their faces. "Look, let me do some preliminary research. If North Korea is close to appointing someone else, someone decent, we'll just leave this all alone, and I'll try to help you find the assassins. If they're not, we need to come up with something else, and that might involve you exposing yourself."

"Ece, please. Don't make her do that. There's a little girl involved in this. A child," said Moose. The word ‘child' seemed to make Ece sit up straighter. Her face went blank for a moment, then she nodded.

"I see. I'll do what I can," she said. "I may need to come to New Orleans, but I'll stay in the city. I don't think I'd be welcome back there."

"You'd be welcome for this," said Moose.

"No," she laughed. "I don't think so. You've got a good thing there. I can see it. I won't interfere in that. My ego and, I suppose, feelings were hurt initially. But it's clear that you and I weren't meant to be together. You two, however, have an ethereal glow about you. It's kind of disgusting." She grinned at them, and they both smiled.

"Thank you, Ece," said Erica. The others had told her not to mention her new name.

"You're welcome, Hae-Won. I'll call again in a few days."