5. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
AJ
“ M orning, Mary. Morning, Beth.” I called as I walked into Grannie’s Coffee Bar bright and early Monday morning.
“Morning AJ. What brings you in this morning?” Mary asked.
“Treating the office to the best coffee in town.” It never hurt to kiss up to the boss’s wife.
Mary Sheppard was an amazing woman in her own right. She and John had been married, well I didn’t know for sure, but, over thirty years, given Jamie’s age. She was a strong, loving mother; the kind I wished I’d had growing up. Mary inherited Grannie’s from her grandmother, and treated everyone who worked for her like family. She was the Mama Bear at the coffee shop and at SSI. Those of us not related by blood or marriage weren’t exempt from her tough love if she thought we needed it. She and John have that in common .
“This have anything to do with scaring a tourist on Friday?” Beth asked.
Fucking Doug . He and Beth had been dating about six months. Technically, they were pre-engaged, after an accidental proposal, but he hadn’t officially proposed yet. I should have known he’d tell her . I’d put money on Mary knowing, too.
“It does. I figure it can’t hurt to suck up a little.” I wasn’t really worried about my reputation, but knew they'd appreciate my effort.
“John knows it’ll never happen again,” Mary said before asking, “How many do you need?”
“Eight.” I’d get murdered if I didn’t get coffee for everyone. “And a mocha for Meg.”
I arrived at the SSI office, holding nine large cups of coffee, twenty minutes earlier than requested. John had called yesterday afternoon, asking everyone to come in early at the request of a big client.
My goal was to arrive first, and I did. Barely. John arrived a few seconds after me. Just in time to unlock the back door and hold it open for me.
“Good morning, Sir.” I said, handing him a coffee with one hand while carefully balancing the trays holding the remaining eight on the other. It didn’t lighten my load, but it took the precariously balanced cup off the top.
“Morning.” His grin, so like Jack’s, told me he was expecting my coffee suck-up. Once again, reminding me how impossible it was to keep a secret around here. Though, I hadn’t actually told Mary it was a secret when I admitted I was sucking up to her husband.
“Thanks,” he said as he looked me over. I was wearing a plain black polo and khaki slacks. It was my typical work wear, unless I was protecting a rich or high-profile client. Then I’d be in a suit and tie. “You have a clean SSI polo here?”
“Yeah, should I change?” It was a stupid question. He wouldn’t have said anything otherwise.
“Yes. We’re meeting with Steven Davenport, District Attorney, out of Dallas.” We treated all our clients with the same courtesy and respect, but some commanded more professional attire than others.
“Yes, sir.” I set the trays on Meg’s desk, placing her mocha in front of her monitor before grabbing my coffee and heading to the office I shared with Doug. We all kept clean clothes in the office, never knowing when we’d need to change. We also kept bags with our tactical gear in our cars, so we’d be ready faster when shit hit the fan.
Which happened more often as our client base increased and we took on more dangerous jobs.
By the time I came out of my office, the rest of the guys were in and holding their coffees. We looked sharp in our matching navy polos, the SSI logo embroidered on the upper left chest.
“Thanks for the mocha,” Meg said as she lifted her cup in my direction before setting it down without taking a drink.
“You’re welcome.” I lifted my cup back at her.
“Thanks, man. You should be late more often,” Jay said. He only thought so because, as the new guy, it was his job to get Grannie’s coffee for the office. Before him, it was Maxwell’s job.
She’d bitched about it, thinking it was a pick-on-the-new-girl thing, emphasis on girl, but Doug and I quickly corrected her. It was a pick-on-the-new-person thing, emphasis on new. She was skeptical, but as soon as Jay started, the task fell to him and she shut up about it.
I’d expected Max to be serious, but not quite so uptight. If she didn’t remove the stick up her ass and relax once in a while, she’d be miserable working with us at SSI.
We took our job seriously but let loose when it was just us, sharing the typical dark humor found in the military and law enforcement. Jamie was the only full-time person on the team who hadn’t served in the military, but he had SWAT training, which was close. That shared experience was how the hazing ritual started.
As far as hazing went, it was enjoyable. The new guy, or girl, had to pick up coffee for the office. And while more expensive than when I started—it was just John, Jamie, and Jack back then—it still wasn’t hard on anyone’s wallet because Mary gave us the employee discount.
Plus, Meg had started a coffee fund shortly after she started working here. Not because she didn’t want to pay when it was her turn; it was never her turn , but because she recognized the growing expense as the team expanded. Probably a good thing; SSI had doubled in size since I signed my contract. Tripled if you included the part-time help.
“So, who’s the client we’re here early to meet?” Doug asked.
“District Attorney Steven Davenport. He received a note threatening his daughter and wants us to provide twenty-four-seven protection for her while investigating who sent the note,” John answered as he looked at his watch.
Great, a politician’s bratty daughter .
John, Jack and Jamie would handle the investigation, Doug and Maxwell had previous assignments, and Jay was still too green. Which meant I’d get the lion’s share of protection duty.
Spoiled rich kids are the worst.
“Is it a credible threat, sir?” Maxwell asked. She commanded respect in her smart suit and military tight bun.
“I don’t know yet. Davenport hinted it might be a prank, but doesn’t want to take any chances.” He filled a carafe with the coffee and handed it to Jack. “I’ll meet you in the conference room. Review the files I left on the table.”
We filed up the stairs, each of us grabbing a file folder before taking our seats in the conference room. According to the file, DA Davenport had family money and high political aspirations. I flipped to the next page and forgot how to breathe as I stared into the most gorgeous cobalt blue eyes I’d ever seen.
The eyes belonged to Davenport’s college-aged daughter, Blake.
The room disappeared as I sucked air into my lungs.
It wasn’t her beauty that held me captive; it was what I saw in the depth of her eyes. The windows to her soul displayed love, compassion, and intelligence; a person could drown in those beautiful blue eyes.
I hadn't met her yet, but Blake Davenport held the power to level me.
“AJ!” Jack’s voice ripped me back to the room.
I tore my gaze away from the page. “What?” I said, miffed he’d forced me to look away.
“What the fuck, dude?” Jack’s expression asked more than his words did.
No way in hell was I telling him I’d fallen into Blake’s eyes and gotten lost. What the fuck was right. It’s just a picture.
He glanced at the file I hadn’t finished reading.
Shit. How long was I staring at her pictures?
“Dad’s on his way up.” His look told me he’d be interrogating me later. “You should probably finish reading that,” he said, nodding at the file.
“Yes, sir.” I said with an exaggerated salute before licking my finger and turning the page. “Right away, sir.”
The next page had a photo of the note. My blood boiled as everything in front of me turned a frightening shade of red.
Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that this was just another job. I wasn’t the fall in love at first sight kind of guy. Besides, I’m sure her spoiled rich kid attitude will kill any potential feelings.