Sawyer shook his head in agreement. “What’s so important?”
If Rusty didn’t know Sawyer’s slacker attitude was more front than his real character, he wouldn’t have hired him as the newest member on his team. Luckily, Rusty knew Sawyer well-enough to see through the carefree, playboy façade he put on for the world.
Ten months ago, Sawyer Youngblood was honorably discharged with a Purple Heart after serving in Afghanistan. He’d taken a bullet to the shoulder during a gunfire exchange on a routine caravan ride, and Rusty knew Sawyer’s bravado was just so Sawyer could prove to himself he hadn’t lost any part of his self when the wound healed.
The shot had decimated Sawyer’s throwing arm; a hard blow for a kid who’d deferred a spot on a college football team to serve in the military and earn the G.I. Bill. He got the GI money, but his days of football glory were gone. But even with the wound, Sawyer could still take almost any man down with a punch. He was young and rough around the edges, but with plenty of potential in Rusty’s eyes. Enough to hire him, despite Sawyer’s tendency to go rogue while working as a mercenary for another security firm back in his home state, West Virginia – he disobeyed direct orders that would otherwise put his client’s life at risk by using him as bait to flush out a hitman. Sawyer opted to put his life on the line instead.
Sawyer had plenty of hours covering D.C. politicians before moving to New York to work with Rusty; the Morgan case would be perfect for him, as he’d transitioned to learning the Redmond Guardian Service protocols and tactics. Protecting Lila Morgan would be similar to Sawyer’s previous work, but would also help him learn how his improvisational skills suited him in a city like New York. With a little grooming, Sawyer could easily become one of the best private security guys in the city.
Rusty grinned. Well,ifSawyer was capable of a little grooming. Sometimes a rogue was just what was needed, and from what Kaylin told him of Lila, someone skilled in the art of surprising people, was exactly what he needed.
* * *
Rusty heldup his phone for Sawyer to see, shielding it from the sun. “Got a new job for you. It starts tomorrow.”
“Thought you were doing the Senator Morgan detail, boss” Sawyer scanned the articles Rusty had pulled up.
“I am,” Rusty said. “In collaboration with his full-time team, until this blows over.”
“Doesn’t look like it’s blowing over,” Sawyer said, quickly reading the updates on the threats received at Senator Morgan’s New York office.
“That’s not the half of it,” Rusty said, taking back his phone. “The asshole behind all of this has gone around the Senator and sent threats directly to his daughter. Threatening to kill her if he runs for office again. That hasn’t been made public.” He eyed Sawyer. “We’d like it to stay that way.”
“So, the daughter is my job?” Sawyer crossed his arms, consciously making his biceps bulge. This was Sawyer to a tee – he loved being the knight in shining armor, ready to swoop in and save the princess in distress. It had been a while since he had a taste of some fresh wine - or what he called these daughters of the elites. He was always eager to meet them. It was just a perk of the job he had the opportunity to meet these girls and have them at will. They were, as he liked to call them, “the icing on the cake”
Rusty nodded, before tucking his phone in his back pocket. Smoke rose off the burger patties and he flipped them, before grabbing a plate and handing it to Sawyer.
“Kaylin knows her,” Rusty replied. “The daughter also works at the hospital. Lila Morgan. She’s coming into the office tomorrow to meet you.”
“Got it,” Sawyer grabbed a hamburger bun out of an open bag. He finished off his beer and tossed the bottle in a bin, before picking up a patty with his bare fingers and placing it on the bun. Rusty put more meat on the grill.
“What I’m saying,” Rusty clarified, “Is she’ll be at the office by seven, on her way to work.”
“In the morning?” Sawyer asked incredulously.
Rusty eyed the new beer Sawyer had taken from the cooler. “In the morning,” he confirmed.
“It’s a Saturday.”
“That’s when she’s free.” Rusty layered cheese on top of the patties and let them melt into the meat.
“You’re killing me.” Sawyer reluctantly placed the unopened beer back into the open cooler.
“Not if your training’s worth anything.”
“Who needs training when you’ve got these?” Sawyer flexed his muscles again.
Rusty rolled his eyes. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were just some punk.” He tried to hide his grin as he said it. Sawyer liked flaunting his bad boy persona, but Rusty knew it was just a layer – just waiting to be peeled back by new clients, like it always was. Out of all of his team, new clients seemed to be surprised by their discoveries about Sawyer the most.
“Am I not?” Sawyer took another patty off of Rusty’s pile and layered it on top of his first. “Anyway, I’m slowing it down.”
He gestured at his abandoned beer and took his plate back to the table where Colt, Natalie and Kaylin were laughing together in the glow of the sunset over the city. Colt draped an arm over Natalie’s shoulder, and squeezed her close before planting a kiss on her temple. Kaylin waved at both of them and called for Rusty to join them.
Sawyer slowed his pace, taking in the couples. He felt wistful, and a pang bordering on jealousy, as he considered how happy they all looked together. He shook his head, wishing Bryce – the fourth member of Redmond Guardian Service and other single guy - was there too, so Sawyer wasn’t the odd man out.
Back in high school, Sawyer had a serious girlfriend in West Virginia. But once he’d move back after being discharged, he learned she’d married someone else. Learning his ex had gotten married in the years he’d been away, stung more than Sawyer wanted to acknowledge. To make matters worse, she married one of his childhood friends, who’d become a wealthy real estate mogul. The realization that this friend – someone who had competed with Sawyer more than once when they were children – had gotten something of hisagain, was enough to trigger his Post Traumatic stress disorder. Thankfully, there had been a local non-profit to help with vets in the area. But he hadn’t dated anyone seriously since.
Oh, there’d been plenty of women, of course. Sawyer liked their company, especially girls who had a little meat on their bones. He liked women with some flesh around the booty and the breast. He also liked having a revolving flow of beautiful women in his bed. With his line of work, it was easier not to get attached, and he also made sure to not create attachments. It was just easier that way.
