Strangers in the Barn

ZACH

I’d imagined Callum and I would be spending our time together in the most intimate ways, exploring every nook and cranny of our home. But reality had other plans. Instead, we found ourselves hosting four unexpected guests—three strangers and one semi-stranger—on our property.

“Stop making that face, it doesn’t suit you,” Callum teases as we head toward Catherine’s barn for his meeting with Dante. I could have stayed back at the house, but the thought of being alone while Tyler is at my mother-in-law’s with his ex, their child, and our child and girlfriend, is enough to drive me to the brink of insanity.

I attempted to reschedule the therapist’s appointment, but she’s still coming later today. So here I am, strolling out in nothing but jeans and flip-flops, much to Callum’s amusement, toward the barn on the left side of the property.

“Maybe we should build another barn for Sense Security. I bet Catherine isn’t thrilled about these strangers seeing the inside of her home,” I grumble.

I wouldn’t want them in the main house, at least not until we know they can be trusted.

“I was thinking of renting offices in town if we start getting enough jobs,” Callum replies.

I can’t help but smirk at his underestimation of himself.

“Of course you’re going to get enough jobs,” I say as he knocks on the front door three times before opening it. What was the point of knocking? “No need to waste money just yet, not if it’s only going to be the six of us.”

“You’ll get more.”

“At some point,” he agrees.

I trail behind Callum into the barn. I’ve never been in here before. It’s an open-plan space with floor-to-ceiling windows. The second floor is like a floating platform above us with matching black iron railings to our house.

The lower floor has three bedrooms, though I don’t think they’re used as bedrooms. Upstairs is the main living area with the master bed and bath, and the living room and kitchen. Callum guides me to the furthest room on the right. It’s a large open room with a huge table and eight chairs.

Dante is sitting on one side, while the other four people are sitting opposite him.

“Ah, you’re here.” Dante motions for us to come in. I feel underdressed in just my jeans, my bare feet slapping on the cold tiled floor as I glance between Dante and the four other people, all dressed in suits.

Callum is also casually dressed in black jeans and a tailored gray shirt. But I’m not going to leave to find a t-shirt. That would make me seem self-conscious, which I’m not. Or at least I don’t want them to think I am.

“Afternoon,” I greet, taking a seat two away from Dante so Callum can sit between us.

I don’t know much about security. I’ve always left that to Dante, so there’s no need for me here. But I don’t want to go back to the house alone with nothing but my thoughts for company.

“Welcome. Thank you all for coming. My name is Callum Farren and this is Zachary Henderson, fifty percent owner. And Dante is twenty-five percent owner, just like myself. The three of us will be overseeing the company, but mainly Dante will be the face of the business,” Callum begins.

My fingers momentarily stop tapping on the table, only for two beats before I start drumming them mindlessly again. When did this happen? It was supposed to be just me and Callum. But I can’t complain. Dante has been around for so long, he’s like part of the furniture. And he’s kind of with Catherine, from what I’ve seen. He moved his whole life out here because Catherine followed us, so that says something, doesn’t it?

The three men and one woman on the other side of the table nod their hellos and greet us all at once. It’s a bit eerie, but I guess teamwork is important in their line of work. Not so much in mine, unless I’m…well, you know.

“So this interview is going to be completely different from what you’re used to. We’ve already checked your references and qualifications. What we want to know is you. Who you are, where you live, your family life, what hours best suit you. Anything we can do to further your experience and education, as well as qualifications. We want our company to be a family first and foremost before work,” Callum starts.

I probably shouldn’t, but I interrupt. Callum clearly hasn’t done this before.

“We need people who can be honest about their strengths and weaknesses, people who can be truthful and help us build our company by contributing the best of themselves, their experiences, and education. Essentially creating your own job role around each other’s to make an unbeatable team. We need reliability and professionalism. You will need to think outside the box and on your feet because although you’ll be hired by us, you’ll also be hired by the individuals that need your protection. On the job, your opinions and decisions are the ones that are going to make or break that particular assignment. If you see something we are implementing and don’t agree with it, then you need to speak up. We are always open for discussions and ideas as we will be a team, a family even. And as we prosper, we will make sure you benefit from that for the part you’ve played within our company. That’s only fair, right, boys?” I say, flashing my dimples.

Callum nods at my every word, and Dante does that thing where he stares at me, half-smiling, as if he’s just realized again that I’m not just a pretty face but a savvy businessman too.

“Right,” they both agree, nodding to me and then turning back to the people in front of us. Callum seems a bit more relaxed after I’ve spoken.

“Why don’t you introduce yourselves? Tell us a little something about you. Ladies first?” Dante suggests, nodding to the only woman here. She has short, pink hair and a face that’s pretty in a girl-next-door kind of way. Her arms are covered in tattoos of trees and animals. She smirks at me when our eyes meet.

“Elizabeth Wren. I served as a military intelligence officer in the Navy back in my homeland. It was my job to know everything, preferably before anyone else. I retired early but got bored,” she says, picking at a nail as if she’s tired of telling her story. And she swore. What the hell?

“Yeah, so that’s me. I worked as an MIO for over fifteen years, straight out of high school. I know my stuff, and I know my way around a computer and a gun—maybe even a knife too, not that I like using one of those because things get too messy. There’s no sugarcoating that I could kill six men with fewer bullets than my gun holds.” She shrugs and leans back in her chair. Well, damn. I hate guns. And knives...

“My name is Len, or Lenny, whatever you prefer. I’ve worked as a security guard for around five years now. I started out as a personal bodyguard, but the work dried up. So I thought, why not sit in front of screens watching people shoplift all day? It was a temporary measure, but we all know how those things go. They suck us in until we can’t leave. It’s easy work, and I learned a lot of tricks and tips from the thieving customers and helped a few women evade violent partners. So anyway, I got stuck in a rut because no one wanted to hire me after doing security work. I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things though, because we have a little one due in March,” Len shares.

We already knew his story, of course, but Callum and I don’t let on that we know him. Because he does have everyone else at an unfair advantage, and that is because we know him on a much more personal level. Our eyes slide over to the muscle of the four of them.

“Marc here. I was recruited into the military right after school. I served for about fifteen years before transitioning into a cryptologic role. I gradually climbed the ranks until I no longer had to be on the field. Instead, I worked remotely from computers here in the States. But I’ve grown tired of that. It’s pretty dull being home all day or being on standby for a call to hack into something. So, I thought, why not give this a shot? And here I am, so you must have seen something in me too,” he says, shrugging and flashing a smile at us.

Damn. Who on earth did Dante decide to interview? Some rejects from the military?

Our attention shifts to the last man. He’s tall, not particularly muscular. He reminds me of Tyler. I bet there’s something worth seeing under that suit and shirt, but it’s all concealed by his attire and a boyish grin that he clearly hasn’t outgrown.

“My name is Richard. I don’t have exciting tales like the rest of you. I’ve been a personal bodyguard for about ten years. I enjoy my job. I don’t have a family to worry about, and I just moved here, so I don’t have much of a social life either. I used to work twelve-hour shifts for some celebrity’s kids. Now that they’re adults, I’m not needed. That’s why I decided to move here. To try a different lifestyle in a new place.” Well, he seems pretty dull compared to the other three. He’s the Callum of the group. I almost laugh at the thought, but I manage to hold it in, though a smile creeps onto my face.

“So why are you so underdressed?” Elizabeth asks me, a smirk playing on her lips.

Her question stirs my playful side—and I can’t resist. I know I shouldn’t provoke her, but that’s my forte.

“Didn’t have time to get dressed after I slept with Callum this morning,” I reply nonchalantly, smirking back at her. “You might see a lot of me while the offices are here.”

Callum jabs his elbow into my side as Elizabeth’s face falls.