Safeword: Storm Clouds(42)

He smiled, "Sorry, my location is usually classified information."



"So, you're like, a spy?"



"Not quite, you really don't know what Special Operations Forces are?"



"Sorry, no. But I'm guessing you don't know the difference in a Manolo and a Louboutin either."



He smiled, "Not much difference. They are both way overpriced but usually incredibly sexy"



Wow. "Okay, so maybe that was a bad example. Why don't you tell me about Special Operations Forces then, Ranger."



"Special Operations Forces are trained for, as you might guess, Special Operations. Some things are obvious, like rescuing hostages, or extracting forces that somehow get caught behind enemy lines. It's public knowledge that Spec Ops forces have been active in Mogadishu, Afghanistan, and lots of Central and South American countries. I can speak five languages fluently and another four just enough to get around. I have to be able to look at someone and know if they are dressed to look like they have money or if they actually have money. That's how I know about the shoes, and it's how I know that the athletic shoes you are wearing now are Gucci and those combined with a few other things I've noted tell me that you most likely are in fact fairly wealthy. Probably wealthier than your words earlier would have led one to believe."

"So, you’re kind of like a spy on steroids."



Eric was back with the drinks. "Not exactly, but close enough."



"And what would you be doing for this security company?"



"They handle security details for some pretty famous people, which seems odd since they are situated here in Chattanooga, but I guess that's the reason for the company jet. They also handle consulting for some major corporations, to set up their security systems and to come in and help with security for special events."

"When we hire bouncers for the bars we have to be very careful about hiring ex-military. We like for our bouncers to defuse a situation instead of just throwing people out, and ex-military usually just wants to throw people out. So, I guess I find it odd that a security company is looking to hire from the military for that kind of work."

"But I'm not what you are used to seeing. Defusing situations is one of the things I'm trained for. I'm also trained to kill everyone if the situation can't be moderated, of course, but in many cases a political solution is much preferred over wholesale slaughter."

Kendra raised her eyebrows. "Indeed. What languages do you speak?"



"Sorry, that's information they'd prefer I not tell civilians."



"But, you'll tell your possible future employer tomorrow, right?"



"Yes, but they aren't considered everyday civilians, either. They are... I guess you'd say they are in the business, even if it is private now instead of government."

"Well, if I can't make small talk with you by asking questions then I'm not sure what to say at this point. Maybe you can tell me embarrassing stories of Eric growing up?"

"Ah, like the time he jumped off of the roof of the house holding a sheet over his head like a parachute? He was about eleven or twelve at the time. I thought his mom was going to kill me, since I'd let him come watch us jump earlier that week."

Kendra laughed. "Yeah, that's the kind of stuff I want to hear." She looked at Eric, "Were you hurt?"

"I jumped off of a two story house onto hard dirt, of course I was hurt. And when mom got me home from the emergency room with a cast on one ankle and a wrap on the other she took a belt to my ass before she gave me the pain pills, just to make sure I didn't do it again."

Ranger laughed. "She threatened to take a belt to my ass, too. I told her that I'd just enjoy it too much and she got pissed and told me to get the hell out of her house."

Kendra looked up pretty sharply at that and Ranger grinned at her reaction. "No, I wouldn't have enjoyed it, but she didn't know that. She knew I had some sexual kinks but didn't know what they were, so I figured I could throw her off balance with that. And, it worked. Kind of."

"How much older are you than Eric?"

"I'm eleven years older. I was kind of a father figure to him a lot during his teen years in those times when his dad couldn't be around, but in a lot of ways I guess I was more of a big brother figure."

"Then I would guess one of the reasons you are interested in this job is that it will put you in a city that Eric has chosen to spend a lot of time in."

"Yes, that's a big part of it. I know there is no guarantee he won't find another city with even more fun to be had within a day's drive, but he's spent a good bit of time here for several years and it seems to have turned into kind of his home base. I won't stay in the military forever, not like my brother did. At some point I will go into the private sector, and I guess now is as good a time as any."