CHAPTER ONE
ELIAS KNIGHT KEPTmoving despite the eyes on him from close by, crossing the street with the crowd of people at the traffic light. His peripheral vision netted him nothing except strangers oblivious to the danger he felt with every step.
After he reached the other side of the street, he separated from the throng, frowning. Perhaps he should have agreed to the lawyer’s suggestion that she come to Fortress headquarters for Elias to sign the paperwork. The trouble with that plan? He didn’t want anyone to know his business, especially Iona. She wouldn’t thank him for what he planned to do.
His hand fisted. Tough. This was his money, and he could do with it as he chose. Besides, if he died, she couldn’t argue with him. What she did with the money was up to her.
Elias slowed when he passed a department store, pausing at the window display of men’s clothes. No one who truly knew him would believe he was looking for a new wardrobe. His Fortress Security wardrobe of black t-shirts, black camouflage pants, and black tactical boots filled his closets along with a well-stocked weapons vault and a hidden panic room.
He snorted. As if he’d take advantage of that last refuge of safety. That wasn’t his style. He would take a stand and go out in a blaze of glory, wiping out as many of the enemy as possible.
While he stood in front of the large window, Elias studied the reflections in the glass, searching for the person watching him.But the watcher had found the perfect hiding place because no one drew his attention.
Frustrated, he clenched his fists and continued down the street. He didn’t want to delay his lawyer. She had court soon.
Although he remained alert, Elias saw nothing to confirm his suspicions. His trouble radar, however, insisted he was in danger, and he’d learned never to argue with that radar.
Two minutes later, he entered the office building where Maggie Wainwright leased a suite of offices. Soon, Elias stepped off the elevator and approached the receptionist. “Elias Knight. I have an appointment with Ms. Wainwright.”
“I’ll let Ms. Wainwright know you’re here, Mr. Knight. Please have a seat. She’ll be with you shortly.”
Instead of sitting in the designated area, he walked to the bank of windows, stood to the side, and eased the curtain aside to see the denizens of the street below. He studied the urban concrete jungle, searching for the watcher. From where was the stranger keeping tabs on him?
“Mr. Knight, Ms. Wainwright will see you now.” The receptionist smiled politely, although worry filled her blue eyes.
He needed to stop scaring the lady and complete his business before the next assignment started. “Thank you.”
The lady relaxed. “Of course. Come with me, please.” She led him down the hall to a closed door and knocked. A moment later, she turned the knob. “Mr. Knight is here.” She stepped back to let Elias enter the office, then closed the door behind him.
Maggie Wainwright came around to the front of her desk and shook his hand. “Thanks for meeting me here, Elias. I appreciate you going out of your way.”
“No problem. We have a light training schedule today. Besides, it’s the least I could do since you’re doing me a favor.”
“A favor? You’re paying me, Elias. That makes you my client, and I happily go out of my way for clients.”
He lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. “However you want to couch the terms, I need this finished before my next mission.”
Concern filled her gaze. “I thought your team was going off the deployment rotation this week.”
“We are. This is something different.” And dangerous. He ought to know.
“I see.” Her expression said she didn’t. No one did.
Maggie opened her top desk drawer and brought out a manila folder filled with pages. “I have your paperwork here.” She looked at him. “I included all your stipulations. Read through the document to be sure I wrote the stipulations according to your wishes. If you want to make changes, we can do that before you leave my office so everything is signed and dated.”
After she handed him the folder, Elias slid the papers out and read page after page of legalese. Man, if he had to deal with this kind of paperwork all the time, he’d lose his mind. If he hadn’t wanted this thing finished today, he would have chucked the folder back on her desk and gone out the back way to find his watcher.
Maggie called Alice back into the office and asked her to join them for a few minutes.
Elias slogged through the rest of the document and looked up to find Maggie watching him, speculation in her eyes. “It’s fine. Give me a pen, and I’ll get out of your way.”
Maggie handed him a black ink pen and pointed out the places he needed to sign or initial.
Ten minutes later, he signed the last line with a flourish, and he was free. Elias sat back with a sigh, relief washing overhim. It was done. Now he could go into this assignment knowing everything was in order and his desires were clear.
After Alice applied the stamp, she left the office with the document and returned a moment later. She handed the original and a copy to her boss. “Is that all you needed, Ms. Wainwright?”
She nodded. “Thank you, Alice.”
