The Games of Kings

Prologue


He hummed as he wrote her script, the one she would read in the video he was planning to send to the Los Angeles' branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, eyes wandering over the folders neatly lining his desk. Each folder represented a player in his game. He could always tell when the chosen contestants would play a good game. This group was very promising indeed.

Everything was planned and ready, down to the minute details. He really didn’t like leaving things to chance. And of course, the rules had to be followed. He looked forward to playing this game again.


Chapter One


“Is it ready yet?”

Ramsey spared a quick glance at the owner of the deep voice hovering over his shoulder then rolled his eyes at the impatience of his teammate. “Almost.”

“The salad and sides are ready.”

Ramsey threw an exasperated glare over his shoulder this time, hating it when Dylan did that thing were he didn’t come right out and say something. Instead, the irritating man would say something else that would hint at his true motives. It was no wonder he and Alicia hadn’t gotten together yet. “They’re almost done, Dylan, stop hovering!”

The six foot four giant of a man smiled serenely, taking himself and his beer bottle back to the patio table laden with food. The sound of snickering turned Ramsey back to the grill to find his best friend holding an extremely large serving platter. He raised a sleek dark eyebrow at her.

Alicia grinned at him, her gamine eyes still laughing at him. Dressed casually like himself and Dylan, she was the organizer of all of their little get-togethers. Left up to the men in the group, she’d once said, they’d simply sit around and grunt at each other over beer. He and Dylan had shrugged at that, but had gone along. He because a team that trusted each other worked better than one that hated each others’ guts. Ramsey figured Dylan went along with it because he had the world’s biggest crush on Alicia. But the cincher was Benedict and Chris, who had enthusiastically embraced the idea of monthly parties at each of their homes.

“He’s always hungry,” Ramsey grumbled, using the heavy bar-b-cue tongs to place a heavily raw steak onto the platter she held out. It should be bloody enough to appease the old profiler. How Benedict could eat anything that still bled was a mystery to him. The other steaks were no where as bloody as the first. He carefully made sure the ultra rare steak was separated from the others to ensure it's delivery to Benedict.

Alicia snickered again. “Have you seen how big he is? Needs all this just to keep breathing.” She juggled the plate a bit as he put the last of the steaks on it.

Ramsey snickered this time, nodding. Dylan was a good friend, but it was ridiculous how huge the guy was. From his size thirteen shoes to his long dread-locked hair, Dylan was not someone that could be overlooked. He pushed his own dark hair off his brow, grimacing at the sweat, but the taste of grilled steaks would be worth it. Smiling, he followed his second in command towards the covered patio where the food was being laid out. Everyone was busy congregating around the table, helping with the food platters. Everyone, that is, except a few notables. "Where are the kids and Chris?"

"In the hammock," his father pointed towards a secluded part of the yard, tucked away in between the house and the fence. The hammock in question was the biggest, sturdiest hammock he and Ramsey could fine. They had strung it up between two strapping pines and was a favorite spot for catnaps. "After they ran Chris ragged, they dragged him over to nap with them."

"I'll get them." Ramsey chuckled under his breath as he turned towards the niche, missing the knowing looks his family and friends exchanged behind his back. Once in the alcove, he stood over the low lying hammock, memorizing the picture laid out before him. His children were puppy piled on and around Chris; all five of them fast asleep. On the ground before the hammock, Chris' Old English sheepdog, Thane, dozed away in the sun. In the hammock, his children were octopi, arms and legs wrapped around the young profiler, but Chris didn’t seem to mind. Ramsey smiled; for once not hiding the hunger in it, this boded well if he ever got Chris into bed. Laura had loved to cuddle, but not all of his previous bedmates had. He missed having a warm body to curl around, but Ramsey found that if the warm body didn’t belong to Chris, he wasn’t interested.

“Daddy?”

He smiled at his youngest daughter. “Jilly, baby, it’s time for dinner.”

She yawned, still utterly adorable at the age of four, big blue eyes blinking out the sleep. She held up her arms. He comfortably settled her on his hip, smiling again as she nestled into the curve of his shoulder. He gently nudged his other children awake. It was a fight, as always, to get Jake up, his youngest son did love his sleep. But finally they were all awake and heading towards their grandparents and the food. Thane had lifted his shaggy head at the fuss of getting out of the hammock, carefully watching as the children climbed down with their father's help. After that though, the sheepdog decided everything was fine and dropped his head back down onto his paws.

Ramsey let Jillian down to follow after her brothers and sister before turning to the last sleeping beauty. Dark lashes fanned across creamy cheeks, delicate facial lines relaxed in slumber. He sat back on his heels so that he was eye level with Chris, the youngest member of his team. The young man was only twenty five but had dual PhDs in psychology and criminology. His intelligence was breathtaking but what never failed to catch Ramsey’s attention was the younger man’s smile. When Chris smiled, it wasn’t just with his lips and mouth, but his whole face lit up. His eyes shone brighter, nearly twinkling with his mirth.

Ramsey laughed softly as he realized how like a romance novel he sounded, but it was all true. Chris was gorgeous but he was hands off. Not only was he a subordinate, but he was Benedict’s nephew and he knew there’d be hell to pay if someone messed with the profiler’s family. Still, he wouldn’t say no if, for some reason, Chris decided to jump him one day. Smiling at the thought, Ramsey cupped his cheek, thumb smoothing over Chris’ soft skin. He didn’t resist the urge to brush over the long thin lips that made him crazy sometimes. His smile widened when Chris nuzzled into his palm. Hazel eyes blinked sleepily at him.

His smile grew into a grin as the image of his youngest daughter as she awoke flashed into his mind. As with her, Chris was adorable. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty, it’s time for dinner.”

Chris nodded, hiding a yawn half way through the motion.

Ramsey stood and stepped back just enough to let Chris stand up from the hammock. He unabashedly took advantage of the situation by being too close and catching Chris just as he planned when the hammock knocked into the back of the young profiler’s knees. He smiled down at Chris as he securely locked his arms. Just because there would be repercussions didn't mean he couldn't indulge his fantasies every once in a while.

“Thanks,” Chris laughed, hands gently clutching at his biceps as he sleepily fought for balance.

“Welcome.” Ramsey desperately wanted to dip his head and catch those lips.

“Daddy! Chris!” Jillian demanded from near his knees. “Grandma says come to dinner!”

They smiled down at her.

“Be right there, baby.”

She smiled at them both then skipped away, turning back to call out, "C'mon, Thane!"

The dog woofed once at them, from deep in his throat, before lopping towards her. He stopped long enough to let Jillian grab onto his ruff before they two of them joined the party. Ramsey reluctantly let Chris go, stepping back to give the other man room. Chris grinned at him, then followed Jillian and Thane to the patio.

Ramsey found it funny that there were only two spots left at his table, large as it was, and they were right next to each other. One at the head of the table and the other spot was to its left. Taking his cue, Ramsey sat himself at the end of the table, smiling at Chris as he slipped into left. Benedict was at the other end of the table and in between them, the other members of their team, his children, his parents and his in laws were interspersed. Whether by accident or design, Ramsey was glad Chris was seated next to him. "How's the third PhD coming?"

Chris grinned at him. "It's good. Chemistry is completely different from the other two and I have to work at not only learning the concepts but understanding how they relate to each other as well."

"Doesn't sound too different from your Criminology and Psychology degrees." Ramsey smiled a thank you to Alicia as she passed him the salad, dropping a huge helping on his plate, but his attention was still solely for Chris.

"You'd be surprised, Ram." Chris was mirroring his actions, only he was thanking Joseph as he passed him the potatoes.

"Chemistry, yeech," Joseph announced, making a face.

Ramsey nodded to his oldest son. "Right there with you, kid." He winked at Chris. "I always sucked at Chemistry in school."

Chris rolled his eyes. "Somehow, I doubt that."

Joseph didn't get it, but laughed along with his father.


~*~*~*~*~


Fortunately, lunch was done and dishes were being cleared when simultaneously five beepers sounded.

Ramsey rolled his eyes but reached for his cell phone anyway. “Sorry, Mom.”

Lillian waved away his apologies with a forgiving smile. “Go save someone, honey.”

Ramsey was still laughing even as Assistant Director Hannigan answered her cell. “It’s Montgomery, ma’am.” He had to swallow that last burst of laughter, but he was pretty sure she'd heard it. Fortunately for him, she either didn't let on or didn't care. Her tone was, as always, brusque.

“Your team needs to come in, Agent Montgomery, the Game Master has resurfaced.”