Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,3

is here with Alder and Justice’s ol’ lady. She’s working for us now. I can’t believe she’s here. I was working, then hung with the Bits in the music room, then at my house with Garren and Michael. Garren was excited about seeing Alexia today. Alder didn’t want me close to the kids until they were all checked so I stuck to keeping busy at my house. I am excited to see her in person but didn’t leave at five with them. She’s amazing on the computer. She can hack into anywhere with all the clearance the FBI has.

Justice stops to get sprayed. I go to my brothers then Alexia. I don’t know what I said to Alder, Alexia has my attention. As soon as my arms go around her, my head is spinning. I shouldn’t have touched her is in there, but it’s too late and she’s not complaining. She holds onto my hand when I step back. I’m rambling about something, getting a smile and another hug from her. What the fuck is going on? My mind is spinning out of control. It takes me a second to clear it.

Since she took my hand and initiated a hug, I think she’s still unsettled and I’m a safe person for her. That’s what Garren calls the people who look out for him. Alexia said Marks was a safe person when he left the FBI. That day, on the chat with me, she was upset about losing him in her office. I talked to her about the Alpha-Bits until she was settled.

We turn to Alder when Justice and Carmen leave. “Boss Alexia, you show Web house? I check babies and new Alpha-Bits from island.”

Alexia nods. “I’ll show him. He’s in the big house across from me.” She sounds happy. We’ve chatted more since Marks left than ever before. I’m glad she’s comfortable with me.

Alder nods once. “I meet to you at lunch.” He waits for my nod then runs.

I smile. He’s never still. “I like when we meet, he talks more about life and what’s going on when we do.”

Alexia nods, still holding my hand. “Alder is busy. There are a lot of kids from all over the world here. Tonight, we have a spirit party so we can meet the kids from the island and the ones I don’t know from other countries. They’re swimming first, I can’t swim. Alder said you can teach me.”

My dick likes that thought, fucking hell, this is not the time. “I can teach you. Almost all the kids in Phoenix are lifeguard certified so you’ll be safe. Show me my house and yours. Garren and Michael’s house is close to me but Alder wasn’t here when I came down.”

Her smile has my breath caught in my throat. Shit.

Chapter One

Web

I smile seeing Akai and Alexia climbing the stairs to Ops. She’s more settled over the last three days. We had two days together down at Alder’s where I taught her about the smart cars, showed her the new office and got her on the schedule. Having a job to go to calmed her. We spent almost every minute of those two days together. She loves the Alpha-Bits and never complained about spending time with them. I think she likes them more than the Brothers.

Alder gave her to me for Phoenix and IT. She asked about training the new Alpha-Bits at the school and Alder agreed. It takes my time with them away but she was excited, hugged me and had my head spinning again. She’s so smart and told me about working in the dark web for the FBI. I use it for hacking but not like her. She knows how to do so much shit I’ve never done. I’m excited to work with her trying to find kids from the new alphabet and the originals we’re still missing. We’re swimming tonight for her first lesson. I can’t wait. The brown-haired blue-eyed computer wiz has me daydreaming since I put my arm around her the first time I saw her.

Cort hits my arm. “You with us, Brother?”

I turn fast from my laptop to the boards. Major, Maverick, Jordan, Falcon and Cooper are up there. Shit. Alder smiles at me, standing on his chair across from Banks. “Alpha-Bit circuit. We chopper to Clubs.”

I nod. “It’s a good idea and will keep the Clubs running consistently.”

Falcon laughs. Alder rolls his eyes. “You set up, keep running?”

I nod. Since I’m not training Alpha-Bits, I have the time.