Her Guilty Protector (Halo City Protectors #4)

Chapter 1

Elias Hawke

There are two files on the desk, the name on the top protection folder makes my blood run cold. Delaney Carter.

The door opens behind me. My boss, Vance Landon walks into the office, another operative behind him. He arches his brow at me before taking his seat and motioning the other operative and myself to also sit.

“I have two new cases to discuss and assign.” He deliberately shuffles the files.

“The first is a forty-five-year-old male who is being blackmailed and possibly stalked. Recently divorced, it was not an amicable separation. Lots of money involved. Lots of money missing.” He pauses looking directly at me.

“According to the client, he has been physically attacked and threatened in the past by his wife and her family. She may or may not have mafia ties. We’re dealing with relocation and new identity.

We’ll know more after we’ve done our own investigation.

Whoever is assigned will be twenty-four-seven with the client.

“Porter, although you came to us as more of a software investigator, you have your four year army commitment and are almost done with your IRR.

You excelled in our combat training and proved yourself on your last two assignments.

However, this is a high-profile case and has the potential to turn deadly if it is indeed tied to organized crime. It requires an experienced hand.

“The second is a standard protection. A woman was attacked, her home vandalized while she was in the hospital. The assailant needs to be found and warned off. I think this is the perfect segue for you.”

“No.” I meet Vance’s gaze. “That case is mine.”

“You’re assigning jobs now?” he questions.

“Porter needs the experience so have him work with Thompson. He finished his last mission a week ago. He’s got excellent mentoring skills. This case will be a good learning experience and segue into tougher jobs for Porter.

Vance frowns working his jaw. “Porter, give us a minute will you?”

Standing, his back to the boss, Porter gives me the ‘you got balls’ look and walks out, quietly closing the door behind him.

“You want to tell me what’s going on here? I need your expertise on the other job it’s going to be dangerous.”

“It’s personal.”

“I’m gonna need a little more than that.”

“I know the woman and the man threatening her. It’s more than surveillance. The guy tried to kill her once before.”

“Really. One glance at the file and you know? The police don’t have a suspect.”

“I know. She’s my best friend’s sister. This is my fault.”

Vance leans back in his chair and studies me in his patiently annoying habit of stripping an operative down with his gaze.

“Her brother Frank and I were Rangers together. Whenever I was stationed stateside and he was deployed, I’d look after her.

She’s a computer programmer and was making quite a name for herself with her own business.

Two years ago, I was checking in on her and saw bruises on her arm and neck.

I found her asshole boyfriend and gave him a.

.. talking to. A couple weeks later I shipped out.

“Two months after that she ended up in the hospital. She’d been jogging.

Hit and run. Cops couldn’t find the guy.

She had severe hip and femur damage. It’s been two years, and after multiple major surgeries and months of rehab she still needs a forearm crutch to walk.

This is a woman who was a distance runner and played basketball and volleyball. That’s all gone for her now.

“Her ex also drained her accounts, leaving her only a small trust fund he didn’t know about and turned a lot of her clients away with lies. Then the bastard disappeared.

“She spent months in the hospital. Her brother relocated her after she got out and set up private rehab. She started over with another business that she can do from home. Her brother created a limited liability corporation to keep her identity safe. We’ve tried to hide her both physically and virtually.

“Because the guy knew who I was, her brother and I decided I should keep my distance, so he didn’t follow me back to her.

I got out of the service and came to work for you.

I’ve been trying to find the bastard, but my guess is he bought himself a new identity after stealing and then selling a computer program she developed. ”

Vance raises an eyebrow. “That’s who you’ve been looking for on your off time with the help of my staff and network.”

I shrug. Vance is smart and his staff is loyal. I’m surprised he hasn’t called me out sooner.

“Anything else you and her brother have failed to tell me?”

“I threatened the asshole. Then he hurt her because I didn’t finish the job. She didn’t deserve any of this. It’s my fault for not making the message ... clearer. I won’t make the same mistake a second time.”

“We don’t do revenge.”

“No. We do justice.”

He studies me a few moments then nods. “Our team picked her up yesterday, she’s being evaluated by our doctor now. Her ‘accident’ reeks of intent. The police witness reports and our initial evaluation led us to believe she was targeted.

“The notes of her first injury sent to us were sketchy and heavily redacted. No suspect name was listed.”

“Redacted? Why? By whom?”

“Knowing what you just told me, that’s a good question. We’ll be looking into it.”

Clenching a fist on my thigh, I nod. “Her brother and I informed the police the hit and run was a deliberate attack and the name of who we suspected. The hit was on a rural road where she habitually ran. No witnesses. There were tire marks in the gravel, but most were obliterated by passing vehicles. Allen Riven, the man who hit her, had a flimsy alibi. He’d already hurt her once that I knew of, but she didn’t report that one.

“I assume that her brother Frank gave you everything when he hired you.”

“Yes and no. He was with her at the hospital for two days but was shipping out. He sent what he had handy via courier.”

“I have copies of all the originals. You want me to upload it to you or the team?”

“Me.”

I steady my nerves before asking, “Her injuries this time?”

“Her attacker shoved her in a crowd. She fell down a flight of stairs at a mall.

A couple guys stopped her fall halfway but missed catching the guy who pushed her.

The critical camera that should have recorded the accident was out of order.

The others only got distance shots from awkward angles.

There was one face shot they were able to isolate but our forensic experts think he was wearing a prosthetic mask.

If you have a photo of who you suspect, we can compare and get a better idea.

“I’ll be honest, I’m concerned that you’re too close to handle this.”

“No one else is going to take this case. And no one is hurting her again. Take me off the payroll if you want. She...this case is mine. I’m not leaving her side till it’s ended.”

“Study the official file and we’ll meet again at eighteen hundred. Send Porter in on your way out.”

Heading to one of the empty offices, I shut the door and sit at the desk. Opening the file, I study the bruised face that has haunted me for two years. She’s thinner and looks tired. Still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

She’s been in the hospital for the head injury for two weeks.

Officially, PCS, post-concussion syndrome.

Chronic headache, dizziness, severe fatigue, memory and concentration issues, anxiety, depression.

Bruised and swollen elbow and her injured leg took a beating but no additional lasting injury.

Just going to be sore and swollen for a while.

The doctor notes she’s anxious, restless and depressed. Who wouldn’t be after being attacked. Twice.

The second I saw her name every rule I’ve ever lived by snapped clean in half. I’ve tried to do right thing. I’ve spent years protecting strangers without hesitation or reaction.

This is my biggest fear come back to haunt me. I failed her before. I still can’t forgive myself for that. I’m going to find the bastard and end him before he can hurt her again.

Allen Riven knew who I was, but he’d never met her brother Frank. As a precaution so that Riven couldn’t find Delaney via me, I’ve stayed away from both of them. In effect, losing the only family I’d ever had. Although Frank and I keep in touch through burner phones, it’s not the same.

It hits me. Frank hired Halo City Protectors so I would know and get the case. I pull my burner phone.

Hawke:

Got it. On it. Will end it.

Frank:

Thumbs up.

I’ve been looking for Allen Riven the whole time. How the fuck did he find her when we thought we had her hidden?

Until I find the prick, I’m her shadow. He’ll never hurt her again.