Chapter 1 #2
“He must have done it last night while I was sleeping,” Shelly said. Fresh tears tracked down her face. “I have a friend up in Denver who said I could stay with her.” She shook her head. “I can’t get her into trouble, too.”
“Then let me take you to the police.”
Shelly’s shook her head wildly. “I can’t file a report against him. They won’t believe me.”
Ben’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached, but when he spoke he kept his voice soft and gentle. “Why wouldn’t they believe you?”
Shelly looked at him then, her eyes flat and hopeless.
“Because he’s a cop.”
Everything clicked into place. The sabotage. The confidence that he could hurt her and get away with it. Dex Morrison was betting his badge would protect him.
Ben pulled out his phone. “Change of plans. We’re not going to the PD.”
“Where—”
“There’s a place called Watchdog Security in Lyons. They have safehouses for situations exactly like this. I’m taking you there tonight.”
“I don’t have money for—”
“You don’t need it.” Ben was already texting Kyle McGuire. “These are good people, Shelly. They’ll keep you safe while you figure out your next steps.”
His phone buzzed almost immediately.
Bring her in. I’ll have a safehouse ready. I’ll also call George.
Ben showed Shelly the text. “See? You’re not alone anymore.”
“Who’s George?”
“George is the sergeant for Lyons PD and a good friend. He’ll know how to handle Dex.”
She read it again, her lips trembling. “Why are you helping me?”
“Because you need help.” Ben said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. Because it was. “And because men like Dex Morrison count on women being too scared to ask for it. We’re going to prove him wrong.”
Shelly’s lips trembled, but this time when she cried, it sounded like relief.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Is Triple-A really coming, or was that to get me back on the road?”
“No, they’re really coming…Wait, I think that’s them,” she said, looking in the passenger side mirror. Sure enough, a tow truck was coming over a rise in the road.
“Then you talk to them while I get your things into the truck, then we’ll get you to safety.”
Shelly nodded as the tow truck passed them and pulled off in front of her Civic. “Thank you again.”
“Don’t mention it.”
They got out of the truck and Shelly approached the tow truck. The driver took one look at her smeared mascara and gave Ben the stink eye.
“You all right, miss?” he asked, never taking his eyes off Ben, which Ben thought was just fine given the circumstances.
“I am now.” Shelly turned to look at Ben. “This man’s an angel for stopping to help.”
Ben felt his cheeks redden. “I w-wouldn’t go that far.”
“Well, you are,”
“Th-thank you.” He cleared his throat. “You give him your info while I load up your bags.”
Embarrassed, he opened the trunk and took out two large duffel bags while Shelly gave the driver her information.
He carried them to the truck while the driver tilted the flatbed then hooked a winch cable to the front of the Civic.
Ben was walking back toward Shelly when a cop car came over the ridge and slowed down.
Shelly froze.
Ben reached her side. He stood between Shelly and the road, blocking her, ready to throw her to the ground if the son of a bitch decided to shoot. He felt the weight of his gun in his cargos’ pocket, hoping it wouldn’t come to that.
At least not here.
“Is that him?”
“I don’t know,” Shelly answered in a high-pitched whisper.
“If I tell you to get down, get down.”
Shelly nodded.
The cruiser slowed further, rolling past at five miles an hour. Two cops stared blank-faced at them. Ben stared back. The cop nearest to him flinched and looked away.
That’s right, you sons of bitches. Keep going.
Oblivious to the danger, the tow truck driver waved out his window as the Civic climbed the tilted deck. Once the cruiser passed the tow truck, it sped up. They watched it grow smaller, Shelly trembling at Ben’s side.
“Was it him?” Ben asked again.
“N-no.” She swallowed. “A couple of his buddies though.”
Ben nodded once. “We’ll take a different route. Just in case.” He looked down at Shelly. “Hey.”
She didn’t move, just kept staring at the disappearing cruiser.
“I need you to look at me, Shelly.”
She looked up at him.
“You’re safe with me. I swear it to you upon my honor.” The words from his favorite book, Sword of Embers, flowed off his tongue. Words spoken by the hero, a knight trying to claim his rightful throne. He thought it must have been the influence of the Ren Faire. Ben felt every inch the nerd he was.
The words did the trick though. Shelly gave him a wistful smile and nodded.
“I believe you,” she said.
The hydraulics stopped humming as the Civic was loaded into place. The driver got out to secure the wheels and told Shelly she was free to go. Ben walked her back to the truck and held the door open for her, then got in.
As they pulled onto the highway, Ben caught a glimpse of Shelly in his peripheral vision. She’d stopped crying. Her hands were still shaking, but her jaw was set with something that looked like determination.
She was going to be okay. They’d make sure of it.
And Dexter Morrison? He was about to learn that not everyone was afraid of badges.
On the drive to Watchdog, Ben kept the conversation light even as he kept an eye out for any rollers in his rearview. He asked about Denver, about Shelly’s friend, about anything except the man who’d hurt her. Shelly relaxed incrementally, her voice evening out as they got closer to Lyons.
The Watchdog gates opened before Ben reached them and he pulled through without slowing as the truck made its way up the winding road to the main office.
Kyle was already waiting in the parking lot.
The former SEAL looked every inch the professional—tactical pants, dark polo with the Watchdog logo, and an expression that said he’d seen this before and knew exactly what to do.
Beside him sat a gold-and-black mottled Lab who looked like he was about to vibrate out of his skin, wanting to greet the visitors but too well-behaved to leave Kyle’s side. Camo was Kyle’s former military working dog, and now his and his wife Arden’s constant companion.
“You must be Shelly,” Kyle said as she climbed out of the truck. His voice was gentle but confident as he fixed his ice-blue eyes on her. “I’m Kyle McGuire.” He gestured at his dog. “And this is my boss, Camo. Welcome to Watchdog.”
Shelly grinned and knelt to pet Camo, who melted under the attention. “Aren’t you a good, good boy,” Shelly told him, looking more relieved than she had since Ben met her.
Good move, Kyle.
Shelly gave Camo one last ear scratch and stood. She glanced at Ben, then back at Kyle. “Ben said you could help me.”
“We absolutely can.” Kyle gestured toward the building. “Let’s get you inside and we’ll talk through everything. The safehouse is all ready for you.”
Kyle and Camo flanked Shelly. Ben followed them in, catching Kyle’s eye. The look they exchanged said everything—cop abuser, sabotaged car, scared victim. Kyle gave a slight nod. He understood what Ben was about to do.
Inside, Kyle led them to a quiet office and closed the door. Camo settled himself in the corner closest to Shelly. The dog had a protective streak that rivaled any bodyguard.
“First things first—you’re safe here,” Kyle said. “Our facility is secure. Second, I’ve already contacted Sergeant George Williams with Lyons PD. He’s a good man and he’ll get this sorted.”
“But Dex is a cop,” Shelly said. “Won’t they protect him?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” a new voice said from the doorway.
Ben turned to see Sergeant Williams. Behind him stood Ben’s best friend, Shane.
And beside Shane stood a woman who never failed to take Ben’s breath away.
Charlie King.
Her gaze met Ben’s, and like clockwork, he forgot to take his next breath until she looked past him at Shelly, her expression all-business.
“Ma’am, I’m George Williams,” he said, stepping into the room, Charlie and Shane following.
Charlie was shorter than Shane by a couple of inches, but at over six feet, she stood taller than George.
Ben noticed her stooping ever so slightly as she glanced at the officer, as if to make herself smaller.
Ben’s heart clenched with sympathy. He knew exactly how that felt.
“Kyle filled me in,” George continued. “I want you to know that badge or no badge, Dexter Morrison doesn’t get a pass for hurting you.”
Shelly’s eyes welled up again. “You believe me?”
“I do,” George said simply. “And we’re going to make sure he can’t hurt you again.” He turned to Charlie. “This is Charlie King. She’s the best bodyguard here at Watchdog and she’s gonna keep an eye on you.” He nodded at Shane. “Shane Foti here’s not half bad, either,” he said with a smile.
Ben watched the tension drain from Shelly’s shoulders. She’d been carrying the weight of this alone for so long, convinced no one would help her. Now she was surrounded by people who would.
Charlie smiled warmly as she reached out to shake Shelly’s hand. “You’re safe with me, Shelly. I swear it to you upon my honor.”
Ben drew a quick breath in surprise.
Did she just quote…?
Behind Charlie, Shane smirked at Ben with a look in his eyes that said See?
I told you so. Shane had served with Charlie in the Navy as SWCCs.
A few months ago, he’d called out Ben’s crush on her, and gave Ben some intel on Charlie for him to use to get over his nervousness and finally ask her out.
Intel that Charlie herself had just confirmed—she was also a big fan of the Legends of BattleLore series.
I owe Shane lunch.
Kyle caught Ben’s attention and jerked his head toward the door. Ben followed him into the hallway.
“Good work bringing her in,” Kyle said quietly. “How’d you find her?”
“Broken down on the side of the road. Soon as I saw the look in her eyes, I knew something was off.” Ben scrubbed a hand over his face. “Bastard sabotaged it. Wanted her stranded. At best.”
Kyle’s expression darkened. “And dead at worst. Morrison’s going to regret that.”
“Yeah, he is.” Ben glanced back at the office where George was taking Shelly’s statement.
“A couple of Morrison’s buddies rolled by in their cruiser, undoubtedly hoping to find her in the ditch.
God only knows what they would’ve done if she’d been alone.
She needs serious protection until Morrison’s in custody. ”
“Already handled. I don’t like to pick favorites, but George wasn’t wrong when he said Charlie’s the best. Shane’s on standby if we need extra security, and no one’s getting into the safehouse here. Morrison won’t get within a mile of her.” Kyle clapped Ben on the shoulder. “You did good, brother.”
Ben nodded, but his jaw was still tight. Shelly was safe for now. But Dexter Morrison was still out there, still wearing a badge, still thinking he could get away with it.
That’s going to change.
“Keep me posted,” Ben said. “If you need backup—”
“You’ll be my first call,” Kyle promised. “I’m sure you’ve had a long day. Why don’t you head home?”
Ben glanced back into the office where Shelly and Charlie were talking. Shelly looked relieved. And Charlie looked, well, like a warrior princess.
“Do you mind if I stay close until Shelly is settled?”
Kyle shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Thanks.”
Kyle stepped back into the office. Ben stayed in the hall, watching Shelly, who was smiling at Charlie now. But he couldn’t shake the image of her terrified face when she’d first seen him. How vulnerable she’d looked standing next to her sabotaged car. How hard she’d been shaking in his truck.
Men like Morrison counted on that fear. They weaponized it.
Ben’s phone chimed with an alert. Anger seeped into his blood, heating it.
That was quick.
Ben unlocked his phone, opened an app, and checked his security camera feed. Sure enough, a Douglas County cruiser sat in front of his Victorian, lights off. He zoomed in on the license plate and his jaw clenched.
It matched the cruiser that had driven past Shelly’s broken-down Civic.
I knew it wouldn’t take them long to find me if they ran my plates.
Ben glanced in the conference room. Everyone was standing up, Charlie a head taller than Shelly. Ben looked back down at his phone as she looked his way. As everyone filed out, Ben pulled Kyle, Shane, and George aside.
“I’ve got company at my house.” He showed them the live feed on his phone. “That’s the same cruiser that drove past Shelly and me.”
George’s expression hardened. “Morrison’s buddies.”
Ben nodded. “Or Morrison himself. He probably thinks Shelly’s with me, that I’m the guy she’s supposedly cheating with.”
“Got an office I can borrow?” George asked Kyle. “I know the Douglas County sheriff. He’s a straight shooter. It would be interesting to see if Morrison has complaints in his file—and I’m betting he does.” He turned his attention back to Ben. “You want backup?”
Ben shook his head. “We’ve got it under control.”
George smiled grimly. “I’ll bet you do. Give me twenty minutes to make some calls, then I’ll head your way with Sylvie.”
Ben looked at Shane, who nodded.
“Make it thirty, George.”
George studied the two men. “Understood.” He followed Kyle down the hall.
Ben pulled out his phone and sent a group text to Mountain Division.
6. Watchdog.
The number six was their code meaning they had business to take care of. The responses came fast.
Gabe:
Ready.
Bear:
Be there soon.
Elias:
Time to go to work.
Waylon:
Gotcha.
Ben smiled grimly. Dexter Morrison was about to learn what happened when you hurt someone under Mountain Division’s protection.
And it wouldn’t be pretty.