When my teammate and good friend, Kroupa, told me about the small family-run PI/personal protection company with a great reputation, I hadn’t hesitated to apply.
When Meg texted to offer me money from the Grannie’s Fund, I turned her down with a laugh.Seriously, how is it hazing if I don’t pay for it?
She probably thought that’s why I seemed grumpy, but money wasn’t the issue. They had no way of knowing, but I was a wealthy guy. Rich by many standards. Not a billionaire, but wealthy enough to retire.
If I wanted to.
I didn’t.
I needed to work, to serve, to keep moving. I’d considered starting a company after leaving Hawken’s, the black ops company I’d worked for, but my head wasn’t in the right place. The idea still lingered, but I wasn’t ready yet.
For now, I was happy working for a company that exuded family values while serving its small-town community and the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area.
I told myself repeatedly that I didn’t take the job at SSI so I could stay in Texas. My decision had nothing to do with a certain sexy, sassy brunette I’d met in Vegas who’d told me she lived in Dallas.
I didn’t believe myself.
With my experience, I could’ve worked anywhere in the country. But Ashley’d mentioned she lived in Dallas. So here I was, moving to a small town ninety minutes west of the big city.
Don’t be stupid; you’ll never find her.Texas was one big-ass state. The second biggest in both population and land area.
You don’t know her last name.
It didn’t matter. I couldn’t get her out of my head. If I tried hard enough and wanted to cross more than one ethical boundary, I could find her. But I wasn’t willing to cross those lines. Not anymore.
I gripped the steering wheel as memories of blurring those lines crossed my mind. Being deep undercover required it, and I’d hardened myself to the task for the greater good, but I still carried the guilt.
I’d never killed an innocent, but I’d hurt a few.
I ran my hand through my hair, my thumb feeling the bumpy, rough edge of the scar on my left cheek. A reminder of the life I’d left behind when I quit Hawken’s Security Company, a black ops company that hired former spec ops guys, like me, to do a hell of a lot more than provide personal protection. Often off the books, which meant if shit went south, we were on our own.
A chill, that had nothing to do with the A/C blowing in my truck, ran down my spine.
After parking, I took a few minutes to focus on the present and calm my nerves. I released my vice-like grip on the steering wheel and flexed my hands a few times to get the blood flowing again.
Time for the new guy to get the coffee.
I walked into Grannie’s, a cute coffee shop owned by my boss’s wife, John to be specific. The shop had an eclectic mix of coffee shop and old western saloon decorations like cowboy hats, old-fashioned colored glass bottles and black and white photos. It stood out from the boring chain ones, and I had a feeling I’d like it.
Soft country music filled the space, as did the smell of rich warm coffee. Glancing around, I saw Jamie’s wife, Emily, two seconds before I heard it.
A sound I hadn’t heard in a year.
A sound I’d dreamed about during my captivity and every day since.
A sound I didn’t think I’d ever hear again.
Chapter 3
Ashley
Emily’s amazing honeymoon made me jealous. She’d lived like a princess for seven days, being spoiled by her husband and the cruise staff. I was even a little jealous of Jamie’s over-the-top protectiveness. I loved how the men of SSI protected the women they loved, but they could be extreme. Often acting ape-brained and needing to be reminded that the women they loved wouldn’t break.
Jack was just as bad. I’d swear he’d wrap Meg in bubble wrap and lock her in the house if he could. Some days she loved it;others she’d tear him a new asshole for treating her like she was made of porcelain.
I’d never seen them fight, but Meg claimed they did.
I can only imagine what AJ will be like. He’d found the love of his life earlier in the year, and his protective streak made the other guy’s behavior seem tame. The image of a pregnant, bubble-wrapped Blake crossed my mind, making me laugh.
