Chapter Eight
Eight
Justin
Iwoke up that morning as the head of security for Texas Congressman Crenshaw. It wasn’t glamorous, but it paid the bills and kept me on my toes with the occasional nut jobs who had an ax to grind with the ex-SEAL turned politician.
By lunch, that had all changed.
My boss, Kade, gave me a buzz to let me know Rodrigo would be replacing me and he was moving me up to the big leagues. But after hearing him out, I had to scoff.
“Sorry, Kade, but a solo gig for one chick doesn’t exactly sound like a big job. What’s the catch?”
“Did you hear the pay?”
My silence must’ve been telling. I was never one to be motivated by cash. Don’t get me wrong, I had bills like everyone else, and I liked nice things just fine, but I just wasn’t driven by a need to have more and more of the green stuff. I’d learned the hard way there was more to life than that. Loyalty. Honor. A job well done drove me more than any paycheck.
Finally, he took a loaded breath and spit out, “It’s Camden Creed’s sister.”
I blinked at that. “Creed? As in the San Antonio Spartans?”
“That’s the one.”
Now I did reflect on the massive payout. “Why does she need security? Why now? He’s been retired for a minute, hasn’t he?”
“You know I don’t ask too many questions until my team gets a lay of the land in person. He’s a good client and a friend. He called saying someone’s been bothering his baby sister and he wanted my best to handle it. That’s you.”
That cracked open a world of possibilities from crazy fans of his to bitter exes of hers, and anything in between. Nothing I couldn’t handle.
“Then I’m back to Crenshaw’s detail?”
“Already thinking positive.” I heard the smile in his voice. “I’ll forward you the details. I’ve taken the liberty of setting up a meeting this afternoon.”
“Of course you did.”
He was laughing when he hung up.
I had the initial details and my first payment within the hour.
What I wasn’t prepared for was her. Her photo didn’t do her justice at all.
Bundled up in a cream-colored sweater that looked soft enough to sleep on, her hair was the color of dark sun-kissed wheat as it curled around her shoulders. Perfect pink lips. Round cheeks with a smattering of pale freckles. Then... then she lifted her eyes to look at me. Clear as frozen honey, fringed in long, dark lashes and devoid of makeup. Innocent and sexy as hell, she was an immediate gut punch.
This tiny goddess was Camden Creed’s sister?
I bottled my shock away and focused on the meeting. There was no time for anything other than complete focus, and definitely nothing like attraction. She was cute, yes, but to allow my mind to go there would be stupid. And dangerous.
She stumbled, unsure what to make of my no-nonsense demeanor, which suited me perfectly, just before blinking those big eyes at me after I explained how I did my job. “Just like that?”
I leaned toward her so she’d get the point. “Just like that.”
Silence descended upon us as the waitress reappeared with my omelet and refilled her water. I cut my food with military precision, covered it with hot sauce, then stabbed up a bite while she studied me.
I lifted a brow. “You sure you don’t want to eat?”
She waved that idea off like it was ludicrous. “You be my guest.”
I shrugged and took the first bite while her eyes drifted out the window beside us as she spun her water glass on the table in its condensation ring.
I took this time to not just eat, but to study her. I was trained to spot liars and cheats. The enemy. This woman held absolutely zero pretense. Instead, she had an aura of quiet strength and self-determination that was almost elegant, and I’d never used that word to describe anyone before. But beyond that, there was a hollowness to her stare and the inward curve of her shoulders when she let them go that told me she was also exhausted and more than a little bit afraid. Of what, was what I needed to find out.
When I’d eaten my fill, I pushed my plate away, accepted a refill of my coffee, then sat back.
She turned her attention back to me. “So... my brother told me—”
I picked up the file I’d brought and set it on the table, cutting her off as I slid it her way with one finger. “There’s no need for small talk, Ms. Creed. I’m not here as a guest. You can think of me as an employee.” I did not flinch at her raised brow. “Your very well-paid employee.”
“Right.” A flush of pink lit her cheeks as her gaze dropped to the folder. “And what’s this?”
“That’s all the information I’ve gotten so far.” I waited until she looked up at me again. “I need you to fill in all the blanks.”
“Information?”
I tilted my head, inviting her to look over the file I’d compiled based on the little bit that Kade had sent plus what I’d managed to dig up prior to our meeting. It wasn’t much, and it certainly didn’t do anything to explain why she needed me.
Slowly, she opened the file, her expression giving nothing away. It was organized with tabs for personal information, of which I’d found very little, professional information with a sticky note for her to get me details about her co-workers, romantic history was a big blank, as was the spot for my notes pertaining to security features of all the places she frequented.
When she got to the page I’d reserved for likely suspects and the results of background checks and/or interrogation, she glanced up at me with shocked eyes. “What is all this?”
“This is my version of a security dossier,” I intoned. “It’s a little thin, as you can see, but I plan to rectify that with your help and get this situation under control.”
She flopped the folder closed and shoved it back my way.
“I will also need you to get me up to speed on the exact nature of the situation at hand. Every detail.”
She swallowed, her face growing pale. “I’m sorry... this is all a bit much.”
“Maybe. But so is the threat if I’m here.” I sipped my coffee to let her sit with that thought for a moment. “I’m an intrusion in your life. I get that. But unless you’d like to talk to my boss about canceling the contract, I’m going to finish the job I was paid for.”
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered to herself as she squeezed her eyes closed, her face downcast, her body language screaming her desire to run away.
I gave her a few moments and accepted the bill from the waitress, slipping her my credit card. As I waited to sign the check, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked the caller ID.
Tricia.
Again.
Without allowing myself to feel a thing or give any headspace to why she’d be calling, I ignored the call and tucked my phone away.
As soon as I’d paid and pocketed my wallet, I sat back and folded my hands on the tabletop. “So, who is he?”
Troubled eyes the color of perfectly aged whiskey on the rocks flew up to mine. “I’m sorry, what?” But everything about her response gave her away. Too fast, too fake. She was petrified of a man, and that riled up all kinds of protective instincts in me.
“This isn’t going to work if you don’t trust me.”
“I just met you.”
“True enough.” I leaned forward. “But do you trust your mechanic or plumber the first time you meet them?”
Her brows pulled down in confusion. “They’re professionals.”
“So am I.” I sat back. “Just of a different sort.”
“In security.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s a little different and you know it,” she shot back, her eyes sparking fire. “Mechanics and plumbers don’t intrude into your life and ask personal questions. Plus, it’s not like I can look you up on the Better Business Bureau.”
“No.” I rubbed my chin with my thumb. “But if your brother’s word doesn’t suffice, I’m sure I can get you some references from my Navy SEAL days or show you my Navy Cross if you’d like.” Petty and a bit cocky, yes, but something about her goaded me to it. Or maybe it was just the way her warm citrus and wildflower scent was driving me to distraction and pissing me off when I was trying to be focused. Either way, I’d never pulled out my Navy experience before like some kind of showboat.
Now, she ran her gaze over me slowly, as if seeing me for the first time and trying to decide if I was lying. If only she could see the invisible scars I carried down deep in my soul, both from my service and from giving it up, she’d know how doggedly I fought to keep that man alive.
“My brother has already paid you?” she asked, not commenting on my SEAL revelation.
“He paid my boss, but yes.”
Something shifted in her body language then. Subtle, but sure, as if she was resigning herself to her fate. “Okay.” She sipped her water, then pushed it aside. “My brother is at my place. I think you should come meet him. I have something there to show you, then I’ll explain whatever you want to know.”
From neutral territory to her home turf with the safety of her big brother. I could respect that as long as Camden Creed didn’t get underfoot in whatever security plans I needed to implement after I knew all the details. But we’d cross that bridge once we got there. “It’s a deal, Ms. Creed.”
“Olivia,” she said, those arresting amber eyes lifting to mine. “Just Olivia is fine.”
I nodded and stood, offering her a hand to help her up.
When she took it, heat shot up my arm as I got slapped by another punch of her scent, but I ignored that as she rose, and I realized just how tiny she was. She came to just about my chin and her frame was as delicate as I’d imagined, all wrapped up in that sweater.
“Thank you,” she said softly as she collected her purse and led the way out of the diner.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but the basic blue four-door sedan she made her way to wasn’t what I would’ve pegged for her. “This is me.”
I tipped my head toward the black Porsche in the last parking spot.
She gave a light laugh. “Of course that’s yours.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Her smile grew, making her face light up like the sun above us. “Follow me and I’ll try not to lose you in that clunker.”
I shook my head and bit back my own smile as I made my way to my car and slid inside.
We backed out and I followed her through town, then east on Highway 190. The woman liked to speed but she wasn’t hard to keep up with in my 911 Turbo. I had no idea what had ultimately convinced her to trust me, but I’ll admit I was interested in seeing her home and what it was she wanted to show me. If her brother wanted to meet me, that was fine, but I was long past being starstruck by the people I worked for, so if this was some sort of a test, she didn’t need to worry.
She slowed and exited, signaling a left turn. The town around us was small, barely a town really. Quick mental calculations based on what I recalled from her file put us approximately midway between her dance studio and her folks’ place on Lake Livingston, explaining why she’d chosen this tiny place without much more to offer than a Bubba’s gas station and a Dollar General.
A few minutes later, we turned into a small subdivision of nondescript houses and I began to take security inventory of the layout of the neighborhood, how her home was positioned on the street, and how a potential predator would view it—complete with its large shade tree in the yard, the shrubbery lining the front windows, and the less than sturdy fencing to the backyard. Only the black G-Wagon parked on the street seemed out of place, and I could only assume it belonged to her brother.
I parked behind her and killed the engine, took a moment to shoot Kade a text letting him know I had made contact and would call him later, then stepped out to meet her.
My phone immediately buzzed so I pulled it out to read Kade’s reply. I frowned when I read the message... not from Kade.
Tricia:Please stop ignoring me! I need to talk to you, Justin!
I shoved my phone away and strode toward Olivia.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
I raised a brow at her insightfulness. “Everything’s great. Shall we?” I tilted my head toward the front door.
She nodded and led the way, unlocking the door and letting us in, all while I took mental notes of everything. No clear security system. Shitty thin wooden door that would be all too easy to kick in. Only one bolt lock. No dog.
Inside, the first three things I noticed were the window by the front door, the insane way the place smelled of her, and the happy squeals of laughter coming from the back somewhere.
She shot me a small smile. “That’d be Elizabeth.”
I said nothing and followed her down the hall, noting the layout of the small house. She paused by a back bedroom, and I felt her glance up at me.
I turned from my study of the other rooms and was quite literally sucker punched. I had to fight every instinct in my body to either run or crumple and curse as I came face-to-face with tiny round cheeks and big hazel eyes taking me in like I was nothing more dangerous than her teddy bear.
The big man on the ground with her put aside the doll he’d been playing with and uncoiled to stand, scooping her up into his arms with the skill of a practiced father. “Hey.” His eyes tracked over to Olivia, then back to me. “You must be Kade’s guy.”
Get your shit together, Justin.
“I am. Justin Ashford.” I offered my hand. “And you must be Camden Creed.”
He nodded and took my hand. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.” I couldn’t help glancing at the girl in his arms as she laid her head on his shoulder, still staring me down, her cloud of brown curls making a halo around her head.
He jiggled her on his waist. “This is my princess. Elizabeth.”
I’d known Olivia had a daughter from reading the file. Just like staring down the barrel of a gun, the idea and the real thing are two very different experiences. Still, I had a job to do, so I sucked it up. “Nice to meet you, Elizabeth.”
She wiggled her legs and tucked her face away.
He rubbed her back. “So, did Olivia give you the rundown? Did you make a plan?”
Olivia cleared her throat, making him glance her way.
“What?” he demanded.
“I think she needed to decide if she trusted me,” I said.
“If you trust him?” he whisper shouted. “Are you serious? I told you Kade’s guys are the best.” He pressed the side of Elizabeth’s face to his chest to block one ear and covered the other with a hand. “I trust them with my life. With my family’s. That includes you guys. What the hell, Olivia?”
“It’s just...” She bit her lip. “This is personal.” She shot me a look. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
Camden rolled his eyes. “Show him the note.”
She seemed offended. “I was going to.”
“Yeah, well...” He moved around us. “We’ll be in the kitchen eating a snack while you tell him what’s up. Then he can figure out what he needs to do to keep you safe.”
Once he was out of sight, she wilted. Just a bit, but I saw it. She was putting up a tough front for her brother and maybe her daughter. I could respect that, but I certainly didn’t need it for what I was there to do.
“A note?” I said. “Is that what you had to show me?”
She nodded and turned toward her bedroom.
I followed but stopped at the threshold and watched as she moved toward her dresser and picked up a slip of paper. Her face was stoic as she returned to me, but her eyes said it all.
Whatever was going on, this held the key, and she was scared out of her mind.
She offered it to me, but I didn’t take it.
“Before I look at that, tell me, who is he?”
She shook her head, then shook the paper at me, valiantly trying to keep a stone mask of bravery.
“You don’t know? Or you won’t say?”
“Justin, please!”
My name coming from her like that took me aback. Especially in the intimate space of her doorway, with her staring up at me with those big, haunted eyes, so clearly full of secrets she’d been holding on to for too long.
“Fine. Later.” I snatched the paper from her, ready to scour it for clues, but it held so much more than that. It held everything.
You can’t hide from me.
SHE IS MINE . . .
I’d known Olivia Creed for a handful of minutes, but even I knew enough to piece together that only one thing in those words could’ve made her this afraid. And it wasn’t a threat against her. She was in protection mode for her little girl.
Had I known, I would’ve taken this job for free.
I met her eyes, fighting everything in me that wanted to demand the answers she was holding back. “I’m not leaving here until this is resolved.” I swallowed against the sudden fire in my gut. “I swear my life on it.”