Guardian (Heroes of Renegade #4)

Chapter 1

One

It had either been a colossal mistake volunteering to assist with the annual Fourth of July Renegade Days or a brilliant idea.

Right now, Aubrey Richardson was leaning toward the former.

She stared at the to-do list on her desk and sighed at the enormity of her effort to give back to the community that had been her safe space for the last six years.

In Renegade, she was simply Aubrey, assistant for the US Marshals Service. This city had become her home, her lifeline, and she owed them the best Renegade Days festival she could organize.

Yet lately, the memories she’d worked so hard to box away seemed determined to break out, taunting her and putting her on edge. Just one of the reasons for the plate of homemade brownies, baked fresh this morning, currently sitting on her desk.

She gave herself a mental shake to banish the nightmare of her childhood. Focus, girl.

Old-fashioned stagecoach? Check. Band of outlaws recruited from the local community theater group? Check. Costumes and horses secured? Check and check.

Only two days until the festival, and everything was falling into line—except she hadn’t heard from Judge Stephen Mullinax in three days.

She’d specifically asked him to participate since not only was he a fixture around town and a dear friend of hers, but he also looked the part.

Salt-and-pepper hair. Full mustache and beard.

That beat-up Stetson he wore whenever he was outside.

The judge looked as if he’d stepped out of an old-timey black-and-white photograph from the Wild West. All he needed was a duster and a six-shooter strapped to his side.

She glanced down at her phone one last time before she logged in to work at the US Marshals office.

No messages. No voicemails.

Aubrey had formed a close bond with Stephen after she moved to Renegade six years ago. They’d known each other for years, and he’d looked out for her in a lot of ways, but over the last few years, they’d really gotten to know each other.

These days, he was the closest thing she had to a father figure.

After her testimony at a high-profile murder trial had sent her and her family into hiding, her relationship with her parents had become strained, to say the least. Her presence put them in danger, and it had caused a rift.

Six years ago, she’d left them to their life in witness protection and moved here to Renegade.

A tall figure opened the door of the Renegade branch of the US Marshals Service, his face obscured by the bright sunlight streaming through the glass windows behind him as he stepped in from the wainscoted hallway of the federal courthouse.

She raised a hand to her eyes, trying to determine if this was a friend or someone more sinister.

She shifted closer to the monitor, one hand on the office phone, one finger on the concealed panic button, ready.

Oh, good grief! Her imagination was getting out of control.

It was twenty years since her world had been shaken.

The man she had testified against was in prison, and he was never getting out.

“Hey, Aubrey. What’s up?”

She squeaked and placed her hand over her heart. “Goodness, Liam. You scared the ever-lovin’ wits out of me!”

Liam was the newest member of the US Marshals team in Renegade.

Over six feet tall, with expertly styled dark-brown hair, he could charm the worst offender with his blue eyes and that easygoing smile.

Even though he’d only been in town a few weeks, he was already one of the people she was comfortable confiding in.

“Guilty conscience.” Liam laughed.

All the tension in her back and shoulders released. She sipped the now-cold coffee she’d picked up earlier from the Beanery. “You’re in early this morning.”

He leaned against the reception desk, a grin on his face. “Yeah, thought I’d come in and take care of some paperwork for my group of protectees.” He’d pushed the sleeves of his dress shirt up his forearms.

His gaze locked on the platter of homemade brownies she’d baked earlier this morning.

A few weeks ago, Liam had met one of the local firefighters, Samantha Williams. Now that she wasn’t his protected witness, they were dating, and Liam’s niece and Sam’s sister––both in their teens—were best friends.

Aubrey loved their new little family, but as far as baking goodies went, Sam was a bit of a disaster.

She approached baking the way she approached a training burn—full commitment, lots of optimism, and a willingness to call for backup when things got smoky.

She’d once set a pan on the counter and announced, “Good news: Nothing caught fire. Bad news: I’m not sure they’re legally brownies. ”

Aubrey smiled as she picked up the plate. “Would you like a brownie?”

Truthfully, she was saving them for the return of Deputy US Marshal Ethan Butler, but there was no sense in wasting them.

Ethan probably wouldn’t eat them anyway.

The man was a health nut, usually, with no room for any “fun” food.

Though lately, he had been acting out of character, so she was hoping the treats—if he actually indulged—would cheer him up.

“I made them this morning for Butler.” She set the plate on the desk and pushed it closer.

“All those for Butler?” He quirked one eyebrow.

“Maybe.” She cleared her throat and looked away. “But I have a feeling my efforts will be rebuffed, so you go ahead.” Nothing she did seemed to break through Butler’s gruff exterior. Maybe she should quit trying.

“Well now, you don’t have to twist my arm.”

She laughed and watched as he ate the brownie in two bites, wondering how Sam thought he was attractive. To Aubrey, he was more of an annoying brother, but maybe she worked with too many alpha males with guns and badges.

“What?” He wiped away the crumbs with a napkin.

Aubrey shook her head, then waved away the thought. “Never mind. There’s a fresh pot of coffee on the credenza.” She opened a tab on her computer and clocked in.

“What would this office do without you, Aubrey?” He wandered over to fill an official US Marshals mug with coffee and held it up in a salute.

“Starve. And probably have better dental checkups.” She scanned her email, checking for any urgent messages. Nothing. “Anything new with your protectees?”

“Nope. All safe and secure.” Liam leaned both forearms on her monitor, his blue eyes intense. “Look, I know I’m the new guy around here, but what’s up with Butler?”

Ethan Butler was the one person in this office who seemed immune to her sunny disposition.

She’d seen him with his elderly neighbor at the grocery store, witnessed his kindness toward animals.

In those rare moments, he’d let down his guard and flash a brief smile.

And yet here, he rarely talked to her or any of the others on the team unless it was necessary.

Always the protector, Ethan stepped into danger without a second thought.

Between chasing fugitives and his talk of kayaking rapids and tearing across Renegade’s mountain trails on his dirt bike—when he did mention personal stuff—it seemed clear that adrenaline wasn’t just a rush for him, it was fuel.

Given they worked together, he was someone she shouldn’t want…

but couldn’t stop thinking about. Infuriating man.

Aubrey rearranged the already neat files on her desk. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, come on. All he does is growl at everyone in the office, especially you.”

She rested her chin on her fist and sighed. “I don’t get it. Most people like me. I mean, I’m easy enough to get along with, right?”

Liam smirked. “You’re Little Miss Sunshine to his thundercloud.”

“I suppose some people like to be miserable.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think that’s the reason.” He glanced over his shoulder, then came around the desk and sat in the extra chair beside her. “Do you think he’s in trouble?” He motioned her closer. “I mean, after all, he was suspended.”

As the office administrative assistant, she was privy to a lot of personal information. But Ethan’s sudden removal from the office two weeks ago didn’t make sense to her.

One day he was out visiting their witnesses, and the next day he was gone.

A few weeks back, he’d been on a short administrative leave following a shooting. That was standard procedure when a weapon was discharged by an agent. This suspension had been something entirely different, and it just didn’t make any sense to her. Had it been anyone else, maybe. But Ethan?

She stood and grabbed the stack of files from her desk. “I don’t know, but something odd has been going on lately, both around town and in the office.” Goosebumps rose on her arms, and it wasn’t the air-conditioned office.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Look, I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on. From what I’ve seen, Butler does everything by the book, so a suspension doesn’t make any sense.”

“And all this tension since he’s been gone isn’t good for the team.” Aubrey nibbled on a brownie. “Butler should be back either today or tomorrow, from what little information I’ve been given.”

“Good. When he shows up, I really need him to fill me in on whether he’s discovered more about this shadow syndicate since Dr. Torres was killed. I know he was looking into it, but I haven’t heard anything.”

She sighed. “I wish I could tell you, but the man is a closed book. The only thing I really know about him is that he transferred from a much larger field office two years ago. Denver, I think.”

Did Liam really think Ethan would tell him what he was working on? Especially if it was sensitive.

They should probably quit gossiping about the guy, but Aubrey was the first person to admit she wasn’t perfect. Ethan was just so difficult to figure out.

“That’s what he told me. Denver.” Liam crossed his arms and watched her under hooded eyes.