Page 13 of Serve ’N’ Protect

“If you don’t let me go, I swear, I’ll call the police.” The words sounded ridiculous, even to her. It was obvious these men would never let her go. Trusting John Freeman might be the last stupid, naive thing she ever did in her life. She gulped, breathing hard as she sucked in what might be her last breaths.

“Miss Morgan,” Kade said calmly as he continued staring down at her. “We can’t let you call the police.”

“Why not?” she gritted out. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call them?”

When Kade looked over his shoulder, Cassidy glimpsed Sourpuss momentarily squeeze his eyes shut then give a slight nod.

Kade looked back to her. “Because we are the police.”

Chapter Six

“Kade, let her go!” Markus pushed from the sofa, instantly regretting it as he nearly doubled over in pain.

Ghost hopped off the sofa, leaning against the side of Markus’s leg and bolstering him up so he wouldn’t fall.

Heat flushed through Markus’s body, but he didn’t know if it was from his injuries or the uncharacteristic surge of protection he felt toward Cassidy.

Matt rushed forward, steadying him and urging him to sit, but he shrugged off his friend’s efforts. Kade had backed away from Cassidy, still looking as if he was ready to hogtie her if she made another move to leave.

“I mean it, Kade.” He took in Cassidy’s wide-eyed, frightened stare. “Leave her alone.” If anything happened to her because of him… You dumbass. Something had already happened to her. She’d nearly been shot trying to help him. “Cap?” He looked at McMurray, who stood there frowning. If the captain didn’t give his blessing, Markus wouldn’t have authorization to read Cassidy in on what was really going on.

McMurray growled then nodded, albeit reluctantly.

“Cassidy.” When she didn’t budge but planted her back flat against the door, he added, “Please?” For emphasis, he extended his arm, holding out his hand and hoping she’d stay. Not only did he not want Kade or Matt tackling her to the floor, he really did want to explain.

She looked up at Kade, fear tinged with a not-so-tiny bit of pissed-off evident in her face.

Kade held up his hands. “Sorry. Just following orders.”

Hesitantly, Cassidy came back into the living room. Markus breathed a sigh of relief. Not that he understood why, but it was important to him that she wasn’t afraid of him.

“If you’re the police, prove it.” One by one, she met each of their gazes. Matt, Kade, and even Captain McMurray pulled out their creds, flipping open the standard issue black leather cases to reveal their badges and federal credentials. “What department are you with?”

“I’m with the CIA,” Matt said.

Kade moved closer so she could see his badge. “Homeland Security.”

McMurray held up his creds for her to inspect. “I’m Captain Michael McMurray. United States Secret Service, Uniformed Division.”

Unable to stand a moment longer, Markus began lowering to the sofa. More like falling. Matt reached for his right arm, while Cassidy reached for his left. Both helped ease him down gently. Right before his ass hit the cushion, he caught Matt and Kade exchanging surprised looks, and he understood why.

Even under these bizarre circumstances, when Cassidy might have rightly concluded that she was under house arrest or in mortal danger, she was concerned for his well-being. Ghost jumped back on the sofa, snuggling up to him with a throaty whimper. Markus patted the cushion on his other side. “Please, sit,” he said to Cassidy.

Surprisingly, she did. He half expected her to hit him over the head with her cane.

Her brows scrunched and she frowned, calling attention to her lips. “Alex Markus Adessio isn’t your real name, is it?”

“No.” He tugged out his creds from the jacket pocket, opening it. “It’s Markus York.” Surprise flared in her eyes, and she reached out to touch her fingertips to the gold badge. “I’m with the Secret Service’s Emergency Response Team. So is Ghost. He’s my partner.”

Hearing his name, Ghost snorted.

Her mouth opened then closed as she absorbed what he’d just said. “You’re all with the federal government. What’s really going on here?”

He stuffed his creds back in his pocket. “A week ago, two Secret Service officers were attacked while off duty. One—Jack Barnes—died instantly. The other—”

“It was you!” Her eyes lit with comprehension. “You were the other officer. I did hear about it on the news. I remember, I had the TV on in the background while I was making cookies. I don’t remember all the details, but the reporter said one officer died and the other lived. I’m so sorry. Were you close to him?”

Markus shook his head. “Mostly, he worked at the Treasury Building. Ghost and I patrol the White House grounds.”