Chapter 21
Blake kept his hand on the small of Elise’s back as they cleared security and crossed into the secure wing of Guardian’s New York offices.
The air inside was cool, humming with that low-grade tension of high security.
He watched as Elise took in the keycard locks, cameras in every corner, and agents moving with brisk, deliberate purpose.
She straightened her shoulders as if she’d walked into a newsroom rather than Guardian headquarters, her chin high and expression composed.
He admired that. They’d landed in the States only a couple of hours or so ago and were picked up on the tarmac by Guardian.
Rook had floated off to wherever he was staying, and Blake had come with Elise.
She gaped at New York traffic and bent into impossible positions to look up at some of the screens in Times Square.
He chuckled at her delight at seeing Central Park as they meandered through the city.
Her Irish brogue was thick, but he believed that was because she was tired.
God knew he was. He wanted to find a hotel, shut them up together, make love to her, and then sleep for a week.
Unfortunately, Guardian had other ideas.
She had no idea how much he wanted to tuck her close and shield her from what was coming.
Elliot Sawyer was waiting for them as they exited the elevator at the executive level. Tall, clean-cut, suit perfectly pressed, the man radiated quiet authority.
“Blake, been a while. Damn good to see you, son.”
“Thank you, Elliot. This is Elise Serra, my”—he glanced at her and smiled with a smirk—"significant other.” Elliot’s handclasp with Blake was firm and brief before his attention shifted to Elise.
“Ms. Serra, welcome. We appreciate you two coming in so quickly. I realize you’ve been traveling, but this won’t take too long. Unfortunately, it’s necessary to protect Blake, Guardian, and you.” His tone carried no malice, only the steady weight of protocol.
Blake felt Elise’s slight hesitation before she nodded. “I understand.”
Elliot gestured toward a frosted glass door down the hall. “If you’ll come with me, we’ll go over the paperwork required due to the information you’ve obtained during the last week and a few questions to help us with your security clearance. Blake, you can wait outside.”
Blake gave Elise’s hand a squeeze before she followed Elliot. He held her gaze long enough to send the silent promise. I’ll be right here. Then the door shut, leaving him with the familiar ache of emptiness he seemed to carry when she was out of his sight.
But he wasn’t alone long. A shadow shifted at the far wall, and Marcus King pushed off it with his usual ease.
Blake’s cousin looked like he’d just stepped out of an expensive law office.
He wore a perfectly tailored three-piece suit and highly polished shoes.
He was almost pretty; his features were magazine worthy, but his eyes carried the same steel Blake had seen in battle.
“Thought you might need backup,” Marcus said, clasping Blake’s hand before they pulled each other in for a bro hug.
“Always good to see you,” Blake replied, settling against the wall opposite the door. He glanced at the small window inset into the glass but couldn’t see Elise inside. His instincts stayed keyed up.
Marcus studied him for a moment, then let out a low breath. “So, this is the woman who rattled the unshakable Blake King.”
Blake’s mouth curved despite the long flight and desire to be anywhere but there. “She didn’t rattle me. She anchored me.”
Marcus gave a dry chuckle, then dropped his voice. “She’s got steel in her backbone. Not a flinch when Elliot talked to her. If you like her, I like her.”
That drew Blake’s attention. “Wait, who are you and what have you done with Marcus?”
“Ha! He’s still here. I doubt everything, triple-check all facts, and then I really start questioning things.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Blake chuckled. “I’m totally surprised you didn’t take the bar. You’d make one hell of a lawyer.”
“I like this world too much.” Marcus circled his hand in the air. “Guardian is in our blood, and there’s nothing better than tracking down a criminal. I fucking love investigations.” He paused, then added with a smirk, “How are your mom and dad? Have you told them about Elise?”
Blake frowned. “No, why should I?”
“Dude, have you not lived in our family? Everyone knows you fell for her. At least I think everyone does. I found out from Dad, who found out from Pops. Pops found out from Aunt Jewell, so I’m sure Talon and Reese know. Huh, I need to call Beth to make sure someone told her.”
He’d already told Beth. They’d had a quick conversation while he was driving home after his recon of the compound. “What the fuck ever, dude. You’re not serious.” Blake laughed, truly tickled at Marcus’s bullshit.
“I am.” Marcus’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “Just because we’re separated by distance doesn’t mean we don’t have immediate access and gossip lines.” He pointed to his ear, calling out comms device they both wore. “Twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five.”
“I fucking turn mine off when I’m not hot for an assignment.
” Blake rolled his eyes. Now he had to call his parents.
That was a conversation he didn’t want to have.
Not that they’d care, it was just … awkward.
With Beth, it was different. Not only were they siblings, but they were also friends, and they talked about everything all the time.
“Going back to the Rose?” Marcus asked.
He didn’t answer right away, eyes fixed on the closed door, where he could hear the faint cadence of voices inside, Elliot asking his careful questions, Elise answering with calm precision.
Every instinct urged him to open the door and go sit beside her.
But this was the cost of bringing her into his world.
She had to prove she was no threat to the organization that entwined all his family.
“No. I have a place by a lake. We’ll go there.”
Marcus followed his gaze. “She’ll be fine. Elliot’s thorough, not cruel.”
“I know.” Blake crossed his arms, keeping his stance loose but his muscles taut. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Marcus smiled faintly. “Welcome to the other side, cousin. You know the score. Loving someone outside Guardian? It means proving they can stand in the light without burning. She looks like she can.”
Blake let the words settle, then nodded once. “She can. She already has.”
The murmur of voices continued behind the glass.
Blake held his vigil, cousin at his side, the past and present of their family colliding in the narrow hallway while the future, his future with Elise, was being weighed and measured on the other side of that door.
Although it really didn’t matter what the final verdict was.
He’d stay with Elise, regardless of Guardian’s preferences, until she no longer wanted him around.
He’d already promised her that, and he’d meant it.
The door clicked open, and Blake’s body straightened before his brain even caught up.
Elliot stepped out, closing the file in his hand with crisp precision.
Elise followed, her expression controlled, though Blake saw the faintest flush along her cheekbones.
He knew her well enough to recognize the signs.
That Irish temper was there. She’d been tested, pushed for answers, and she’d held her ground.
Elliot inclined his head toward her. “Thank you, Ms. Serra. That’s all for today. We’ll process the paperwork and be in touch about the next step.”
She gave a polite nod, professional, but when her eyes flicked to Blake, they softened.
He saw relief, trust, and a shadow of exhaustion.
He wanted to pull her straight into his arms, but Guardian corridors weren’t the place.
Instead, he shifted slightly so she brushed against his side as she passed, the silent reassurance exchanged in that subtle contact.
Elliot lingered, turning to Blake and Marcus. “She did well.” His voice was neutral, but his gaze carried a weight that made Blake meet it squarely.
“Well enough?” Blake asked, his tone clipped.
Elliot gave a single nod. “She’s honest, probably more honest than I would have been, and I’m happy with the information she’s provided.
No hidden affiliations, no debts, no loose threads we couldn’t account for.
She’ll need to finish clearance processing, but from what I’ve seen, she isn’t a threat to anyone at Guardian or in the United States.
” He paused, glanced at her and smiled, then added, “She’s tougher than I expected. ”
Pride curled in Blake’s chest, even as tension remained. He allowed himself the smallest smirk. “I could’ve told you that.”
Elliot’s expression eased by a fraction, then he adjusted the file under his arm. “We’ll debrief further once the background pulls finish. In the meantime, she should stay close.” His gaze slid to Elise, then back to Blake. “Very close.”
Blake inclined his head in acknowledgment. “That was always my plan. We’ll be going to one of my places tomorrow. You can reach me through CCS if you need to talk to her.”
Elliot gave a curt nod. Blake didn’t ask for permission to leave, and he wasn’t looking for approval.
They were going to his lake house, and nothing was going to stop them.
After Elliot bid them a farewell and strode down the hall, leaving the three of them in a pocket of quiet, Elise let out a breath and murmured, “That felt like an interrogation.”
“That’s because it was,” Marcus said dryly, but his voice carried a thread of warmth. “You passed. I’m Marcus, by the way. Blake’s cousin.”
She looked at him with cautious curiosity. “Mother or father’s side?”
Marcus laughed, “His father’s side, and there are a ton of us around, most of us work for Guardian as well.”
Blake placed his hand at the small of her back. “Long story, I can fill you in later.” Blake decided he’d bridge that gap for her later when they were away from Guardian walls. For now, he slid his hand into hers, grounding them both.
Blake held the keycard to the lock and opened the hotel door. The expanse of windows had a peekaboo view of Central Park, and Elise moved directly to the window. “I’ve been to most of the major European cities. New York is different.” She turned around to look at him. “Is that stupid?”
“No. Every city has its own unique vibe. Europe is more sedate.”
“That’s it. There is an energy here that’s almost palpable.” She took off her coat and looked around. “Where?” She lifted her jacket.
“In here.” He walked to the bedroom and smiled as he anticipated her reaction. He opened the door to the closet and stepped aside.
“What in the world?” She blinked and walked toward the closet.
“I had my sister do some shopping for you. When it was obvious you’d need to stay in the States with me for a while, I figured you’d need some more clothes.
I told her to keep it casual. Jeans, slacks, shirts, a few dresses, and the things women need.
” There was a new set of luggage in the closet, too.
Elise watched as he opened the bathroom door.
There was an array of products already there.
Beth had had to guess on everything except her size.
He’d looked at the labels on her clothes, but he’d told his sister to keep it simple. Elise didn’t seem to be the fussy type.
“She spent a fortune.” Elise shook her head and turned to stare at the clothes.
“No, not really. This is just to hold you over until you can go shopping for yourself.”
Elise turned and frowned. The excitement that he’d hoped she’d have was glaringly missing.
“About that. I don’t have any money. Well, I’ll get paid for the last article, but I’m independent and not employed by a paper.
My articles barely pay my rent and bills.
I charged my trip to Hungary and the hotel room to my credit card.
It’s almost maxed out. I won’t be able to pay you for these.
At least not until I get to Paris. étienne left me some money, or the letter he sent me said he did.
” She bit her lip and shook her head. “You should probably return them.” She stroked a soft pink sweater. “Thank you, though.”
Blake closed the space between them and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. “I have more than enough money for both of us.”
When she opened her mouth to argue, he put his finger over her mouth. “No.” He shook his head. “There is no repayment needed. I’m going to take care of you until you tell me to stop. I’ve told you that. Until you tell me to leave, I’m here.” He dropped for a kiss.
She backed away and asked, “Why would I tell you to leave?”
“I’m not an easy person to be with. I know it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Who told you that? A woman?”
He nodded. “A long time ago.”
“She was wrong.” Her hands lifted to his chest, and she grabbed his jacket’s lapels. “She was dead wrong. I’ve never been so comfortable with anyone in my life. I can sit with you and not feel the need to say anything. You get me.” She smiled. “And the sex is really, really, good.”
“Just good?” Blake lifted an eyebrow, challenging her.
She shrugged. “I guess you’ll have to try a bit harder to get to great or maybe excellent.”
He laughed. It seemed he was the one being challenged. He picked her up and walked to the bed, where he laid her on the bedspread. As he took off his jacket, he smiled and growled, “Challenge accepted.”