Big Sky Crossfire

Chapter One

Concentrating on the mission was impossible.

This never happened to Eli Easton. Never. A veteran combat engineer, and a member of Ironside Protection Services, he always made the job his top priority. He didn’t lose focus.

Today was different. Not working for the military or for IPS, he was in the lobby of the new Rising Rock Resort as a favor. Here as backup for the woman who was the cause of his distraction.

Olivia Adani.

His current on-and-off…complication. Friends but not platonic. The benefits part kicked in when they were in the same city. No strings attached.

Five years ago, they’d served together in the same military unit.

This was only the second time they’d worked together as civilians.

She was a high-level agent for Aegis Strategic Intelligence Group, a private firm dealing in everything from corporate espionage to risk analysis.

Olivia was posing as a quality assurance inspector, doing a routine check during the soft opening for the investors and VIPs who were the only guests aside from them.

On Saturday, the resort would officially welcome the public with a grand opening gala.

Hidden away in Montana’s Rising Rock Valley, the sprawling retreat located on two thousand acres had spared no expense.

Refined rustic elegance. Breathtaking vistas.

Gourmet cuisine. State-of-the-art spa. An extensive range of luxury amenities and diverse activities.

Those were the brochure’s highlights, anyway.

Having just arrived, Eli hadn’t gone past the lobby.

Olivia was there to ensure the opening went smoothly and to assess the potential threat posed by an ecoterrorist group called the New Dawn Revolution. Notorious for sabotage and vandalism, but not violence, they were considered such a low-level threat that the FBI viewed the group as insignificant.

Concerned shareholders hired Aegis to protect their multimillion-dollar investment after receiving a menacing note threatening consequences for opening the environmentally damaging resort. Eli’s job was to cover Olivia’s six, but he was off his game since she uttered four words.

“We need to talk,” Liv said. Again. Once flat out on the phone yesterday, which was pushed off because the conversation needed to happen in person, and now, for a second time. “But later.”

“About what?” His flat tone belied his curiosity and concern thrumming in his chest. His gaze roamed over her beautiful face, searching for an answer.

Her long, dark brunette hair was pulled back in a low bun that showcased her golden-brown complexion and elegant features.

High cheekbones and a graceful neck. She looked ten years younger than her true age of almost thirty-nine.

Meeting her deep brown eyes, he stepped closer. “You’ve got me at a disadvantage.”

Liv studied him right back with an impenetrable stare that revealed nothing.

An enviable skill he wished he possessed.

“Later.” She patted his arm like he was just a buddy, setting off an almost painful tightening of his stomach.

When he picked her up at the airport this morning, it’d been the same cool detachment.

She’d given him a one-armed hug, a peck on the cheek, and went straight into professional mode.

He’d expected her to spend the night at his place and drive to the resort tomorrow.

But she claimed the timeline had been moved up.

They strategized during the car ride. Now there was an awkward distance between them.

Normally, it was fluid. Like a shorthand they shared, one nobody else knew and they never forgot. It wasn’t only the way they spoke, but also how they communicated physically.

This wasn’t his Liv. This was some pod person. It had him on edge.

“Get the lay of the land while I check us in.” She headed toward the front desk, leaving him alone with their luggage speculating.

His jaw clenched as he watched her strut across the gleaming hardwood floor, beneath the antlered chandelier, with the backdrop of snowcapped mountains from the wall of windows.

His gaze traced the familiar lines of her body he knew intimately.

Her beige heels accentuated her lean legs.

The royal-blue sheath dress molded to sensual curves, cap sleeves exposing toned arms. A leather belt emphasized her hourglass figure.

The dress was sexy, yet still conservative.

The idea of undressing her popped into his head, but he dismissed it, averting his gaze. He was starting to suspect this trip wouldn’t be both business and pleasure.

Eli scanned the lobby. Three security guards dressed in suits with Bluetooth comms devices prominent in their ears.

There had been more guards patrolling the property when they arrived.

He flicked a glance at the surveillance cameras, their tiny red lights declaring them active.

Anything to redirect his attention back to the reason Olivia brought him here.

According to Olivia’s intel, the New Dawn Revolution recruited insiders to gain access and avoid anyone getting hurt. Assessing the staff to find potential supporters of the group was a demanding task for one person. She needed help.

The only other time she’d taken him on a job was after she lost a partner on a mission. Sean Gannon. The two had been close, and she blamed herself for his death. Since then, she only accepted solo assignments.

Eli grabbed a map of the resort from the concierge and strolled over to a lone security guard who appeared to be about Eli’s age, early to mid-thirties. “Excuse me.”

The guard clasped his hands in front of him. “How can I help you, sir?”

Being called sir grated on Eli since he’d once been enlisted. He glanced at the guy’s name tag, “Jason. I’m with Ms. Liv Lane,” Eli said, using her alias, and deliberately not giving his own name, “and quality assurance.”

“You’re early.” Jason straightened. “We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

Eli wasn’t the only one thrown for a loop by the sudden change in plan. “Is it going to be normal protocol to have so much security in the lobby and walking the grounds?”

“Only throughout the opening, sir. To reassure our guests. Give them peace of mind.”

“Any reason for them not to have peace of mind?”

“Um, well,” Jason muttered. “The grand opening will be rather busy, lots of folks coming in, and we have the top investors in this week. We’re battening down the hatches, sir.”

“We know.” Eli lowered his voice. “About the threat.” He kept it vague to see how much the security guard knew.

Jason hesitated.

“If you’ve beefed up security in response, it’s smart.” Eli hoped the soft nudge would be enough to get him talking.

“We were told not to discuss it with the rest of the staff,” Jason whispered. “About New Dawn Revolution. Only security has been briefed.”

“Between you and me, a lot of good people believe in the NDR cause. Ecosystems are being destroyed. Nature’s perfection spoiled. For what? Money. How much do these billionaires need? Right?”

Jason tensed, jaw hardening. “I don’t care about billionaires. I care about feeding my family. This job has been a lifesaver for me since I got out of the military and for a lot of other people. I’m not letting NDR threaten this place.”

“That’s the spirit,” Eli said. “I served, too.” Getting people to talk was all about building a connection. “What branch were you in?”

“Navy. Where did you serve?”

“My last duty station was Malmstrom Air Force Base. I was with the RED HORSE unit.” A cool acronym that condensed a mouthful—Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer. Also, redundant. “But I deployed everywhere.”

“Yeah.” The security guard’s eyes brightened. “I’ve heard of you guys. You’re like the Navy Seabees. You combat engineers get into the thick of it. Go on assault missions and blow stuff up.”

Eli had the training of a tier one operator, on par with SEALs. But EOD—explosive ordnance disposal—took nerves of steel. That he didn’t miss. “Build a lot of stuff, too.”

Jason offered his hand, and they shook.

“Are you familiar with the entire staff?” Eli asked.

“I know maybe seventy-five percent.”

The other twenty-five percent was Eli’s concern. He spotted Olivia going back to their luggage. “When is your shift over?”

“We change out at six.”

In four hours. “Can I buy you a drink?” Pump him for information about the staff.

Jason leaned in. “Not here. The prices are sky-high. We can meet down the road at the honky-tonk. The drinks are cheap but strong.”

After his talk with Olivia, he was probably going to need a strong drink. “How’s eight?”

“Okay.”

“Drinks will be on me.” Aegis was picking up the tab.

They shook again, and Eli met Olivia near the luggage.

“Here’s the key to your room.” She gave him one for 324. “I’m right next door in 326.”

Separate rooms. Maybe it was just for a professional cover but unease still percolated in his veins.

“Keep receipts. I’ll need to submit them for the expense report. So, what do you think?”

He had too many thoughts to share. “This place is as bougie as it gets.” He wasn’t sure why that one surfaced first. Other than nerves. He was out of his depth when it came to Liv and having the talk, which was probably code for the end.

Not that he blamed her. This thing had lasted longer than he expected. She deserved more, a guy who could give her all of himself, and that wasn’t him.

When they met, he was one of many enlisted engineers, while she was the sole intelligence officer assigned to his team. Their fling was forbidden, considered fraternization, and a violation of regulations. From the start, it was doomed.

“I don’t care about the resort. It’s not your style. Neither is the blazer.” She touched the sport coat that gave him a semblance of professionalism, even though he wore a T-shirt, jeans, and a holstered gun. “But I appreciate the effort. What do you think of the security guard?”

“He’ll make a good source. I’m meeting him tonight. I’ll grill him about the staff.”