| |
––––––––
NICK DOWD SWIPED HIS badge and strode into Shadow Security Headquarters, nodding at the receptionist. Clara was on a call, and he continued across the vast lobby, his sneakers squeaking on the shiny floor. He headed for the doors leading to the basement, which housed the armory, gun range, and large gym. He’d gone for a run on his lunch break but wanted to put in some time on the weights as well. Nick felt keyed up and on edge, and he hustled down the stairs, pulling open the door to the state-of-the-art facility. His mind had wandered as he’d lapped the grounds of headquarters, the cold winter air doing little to clear his torrent of thoughts. He grabbed a water bottle, taking a long chug, and unable to resist, pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Nick frowned as he reread the messages from a month ago, lines of worry etched across his forehead.
Kaylee’s text was uncharacteristic of her, not to mention completely out of the blue. Although he’d kept in touch with his ex despite all the years that had passed, it was more ‘how’s your family?’ and ‘hope you’re doing well.’ Christmas and birthday type stuff. Seeing her name when a message popped up always sent a jolt of awareness coursing through him, filling him with a warmth he couldn’t entirely explain. It might’ve been a damn lifetime ago that they were together, but his body always responded to hers on a primal level. Kaylee had a hold on him in a way he’d never fully understand, despite the miles between them and years that had gone by.
Once again, he looked over the month-old texts. Nick had been about to board a plane to Egypt with his teammates when he’d unexpectedly gotten a message from Kaylee.
Kaylee: I need your help.
Nick: Are you okay? I’m getting ready to catch a flight, but tell me what’s going on.
Kaylee: Call me when you’re back. It’s important.
Nick: Tell me what’s wrong.
Nick: Kaylee.
Kaylee: I need to hire you.
Nick: What?
Kaylee: I need a bodyguard.
Nick’s stomach had roiled at the implications of that. What danger could Kaylee possibly be in? She was a freaking graphic designer in Nebraska. He didn’t know exactly where she was working these days, but it’s not like she was running black ops missions like him. Was an old boyfriend giving her trouble? Was it something else?
Kaylee was currently single, as far as he knew. That didn’t mean she couldn’t have had a date gone bad, a stalker.... His mind had already been running through possible scenarios.
Nick hadn’t even seen her in over a year. He’d been home visiting his parents, and they’d run into one another. Seeing her at the bar that one night was like a bolt of lightning, brightening the area and electrifying the room.
Kaylee had still been gorgeous as hell—silky dark hair with those pretty green eyes. A petite body that fit perfectly against his. And her curves. Hell. Nick’s teenage self hadn’t been able to get enough of her. He still remembered exactly what she felt like beneath him, her body soft everywhere he was hard, her trusting gaze locking with his own as he’d made love to her. He’d never felt more alive than when he’d been with Kaylee. Years had passed, and they’d both dated other people. Taken separate paths in life. Moved on.
His gut clenched at the idea of another man’s hands on Kaylee. He couldn’t stomach even thinking about it, but Nick had no claim on her, no right to her body or heart.
Not anymore.
The out of the blue text from her had been startling. She never would’ve asked for his help if she didn’t truly think she was in danger. Kaylee was level-headed and smart. Nick had wanted to call her right then and there and demand to know what was going on. He’d sent Kaylee one last text before hopping on the flight to Cairo. While he might not be active-duty Army anymore, the Shadow Ops Team that he was part of deployed all over the world. Kaylee had no clue that he was still going on missions, taking jobs that Uncle Sam couldn’t or wouldn’t do. As far as she knew, Nick worked for Shadow Security, guarding clients.
The truth was far more complicated and not something he’d ever burden Kaylee with. They’d broken up all those years ago for a reason, needing to take their separate paths in life.
Nick shook his head, frustrated. Kaylee had always been too good for him. Innocent and trusting. Wicked smart. He was a crack shot with his weapon, but sitting behind a computer screen would never be the type of life he wanted to lead. Nick needed a physical job, to be in on the action. He went where the military had sent him, his duty to God and his country. His career was even more dangerous now, without the protection of the government at his back.
But Kaylee? She was supposed to be safe at home, following her dreams. What the hell had she gotten involved with that required his protection?
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Sam Jackson asked, startling Nick out of his thoughts. Sam crossed the gym at Shadow Security Headquarters to where Nick stood.
Nick’s gaze flicked over his friend and teammate, taking in his workout gear. He hadn’t even heard the large, muscular man come in, which was saying something. Nick was always on alert. Only thoughts of Kaylee could make him lose his edge like that. “Eh. It’s nothing.”
“It’s the girl,” Sam said with a smirk.
Nick raised his eyebrows.
“Before we went to Cairo, you were texting someone. A woman. You even called her your old flame,” Sam recalled, his gaze all too knowing.
“Of course you’d remember that,” Nick muttered.
“Yeah, well, you’ve been distracted ever since we got back. You even missed a shot at target practice the other day. That never happens. Besides, Gray’s the guy on the team who’s usually all brooding and shit. Something’s bothering you.”
“I’m surprised you noticed,” Nick quipped. “Hasn’t Ava been keeping you busy?”
“God damn, she has,” Sam said with a wicked grin. “She’s safe in my bed, exactly where she belongs. Thank fuck we saved her in Cairo,” he said, looking serious for a moment. Their recent op had unfolded quickly, with Ava unknowingly being hired by a terrorist intent to harm the U.S. The sculptures she’d been commissioned to make were a means to an end, meant to be smuggled onto U.S. soil with chemical weapons inside. The team had swooped in to save her, thwarting the plot, with Sam and Ava getting back together after they’d returned from Cairo.
“I’m glad she’s okay,” Nick said. “That was a hell of an ordeal for her to go through.”
“Same. That doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed something is going on with you, man.”
Nick lifted a shoulder. “It’s complicated. Kaylee and I were together when we were young, but that was a lifetime ago.”
“So why the hell was this girl texting you before Egypt?” Sam asked, his brows narrowing. “How’d she even get your number?”
“We’ve kept in touch over the years,” Nick admitted. “If ever there was a case of the timing being bad, this was it. We were both too young back then. I wasn’t ready to settle down. Besides, I couldn’t drag her into the Army life, always waiting and wondering if I was okay. We broke up. Moved on.”
Sam crossed his arms. “Last I checked, we’re civilians now.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Yeah, all safe and sound here in upstate New York. Bullshit. If anything, the work we do is even more dangerous now.”
“She didn’t like that you were enlisting back then?” Sam questioned.
“She was proud of me, but we both had some growing up to do. She graduated high school and went off to college. Got a job. She’s had boyfriends over the years but nothing too serious, as far as I know. Clearly, I’m still single.”
Sam snorted.
“Honestly, I figured she’d have settled down by now—gotten married, had a few kids. Maybe that didn’t fit into my lifestyle or career choice, but Kaylee? She’s incredible—”
Sam was smiling, a shit-eating grin on his face.
Nick shook his head. “Never mind. The point is, we text each other around Christmas and birthdays. That’s it. Right before Cairo, completely out of the blue, she shoots me a text and says she needs my help.”
“With what?” Sam asked, the smile disappearing off his face.
“She wanted to hire me as her bodyguard.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. I told her I was about to get on a plane but would call her when I was back. It just about killed me to not know what was wrong, but what could I do? This is my job. We’re always deploying on ops.”
“Cairo was a while ago,” Sam said dryly.
“It was. When I did reach out to Kaylee after we were back in the States, she sent me a vague text saying not to worry. I did, of course, because wanting to hire me was a strange request. She never explained what that was about, just blew it off. But then my birthday was last week—”
“And you didn’t hear from her.”
“Nope,” Nick said. “I want to think it doesn’t mean anything, but I can’t shake the idea that something’s wrong. Kaylee was finishing high school when I enlisted in the Army, but I always heard from her on my birthday. She’d text me when she was in college, afterwards. Even when she was dating some schmuck, she’d still shoot me a text just to say happy birthday. This doesn’t add up.”
Nick scrubbed a hand over his jaw. When he’d returned from Cairo a month ago, she’d practically ghosted him, only saying not to worry, she’d be in touch when she could. Like he wouldn’t worry about the one woman he’d ever truly cared about. That was like asking the sun not to rise one day. She’d been a part of him ever since he was young and dumb, forgoing a future with her and instead heading where the Army sent him. He sure the hell wasn’t ready to marry her when he was eighteen, and then life had moved on. If a part of him regretted letting her go, so be it. Nick knew all too well that life didn’t always turn out like you planned.
“You think she’s in trouble,” Sam said.
“Why the hell else would she need a damn bodyguard? That’s out of left field.”
“What’s out of left field?” Shadow Ops Team leader Jett Hutchinson asked as he strode into the gym, dressed in a polo shirt and pressed khakis, a stack of papers in one hand. He had about ten years on the rest of the team but was still incredibly fit, sharp, and lethal. He moved quietly toward them, not unlike the way a panther might stalk his prey. Jett was always alert, even in the building he owned, at the company he’d built. His gaze focused on the men as he assessed them.
Nick’s eyes met those of his boss. “Just a girl.”
Jett’s lips quirked. “Ah yes, the fairer sex. Not that my Anna would enjoy being called ‘fair.’ Fierce is more like it,” he joked, referring to his new bride.
“You can say that again, boss,” Sam quipped.
Nick crossed his arms, listening to them banter for a moment. Jett had been their team leader back in their Army days. When they’d all left the service after a mission gone bad, Jett had formed Shadow Security and recruited the others to work for him. Most of the public thought they were in the security business, providing bodyguards and security detail to clients. They did some of that to maintain their cover, but the Shadow Ops Team ran black ops for the government, taking on missions the Feds couldn’t. Jett took jobs from his government contacts, sending in the team when they were needed. It was risky, dangerous, and adrenaline-fueled work, and Nick wouldn’t change his career for the world.
“Yeah, well, this girl is more level-headed than fierce,” Nick said. Kaylee couldn’t have been more different from Jett’s wife. Kaylee was beautiful but always calm and in control. Focused. Anna was a firecracker, all wrapped up in a sexy little package. She wasn’t Nick’s type at all, even before she’d become his boss’s wife. Anna and Jett balanced each other out, despite their differing personalities. A woman like Anna would drive Nick batty.
Jett leveled him with a look. “Is this the same girl from last month?” he questioned.
Nick stiffened. Clearly, he wasn’t as secretive as he thought if even Jett had noticed his concern. “Just worried she’s in trouble, boss.”
“Where does she live?” Jett asked.
“Nebraska.”
Jett nodded as if he’d known that all along. “Go check up on her. You’re from Omaha, right? Head home for a couple of days and figure out what the problem is. I need my sniper to have his head in the game, and you deserve some down time. You’ve been going on nonstop missions for months. The guys with women all took some time around the holidays. You need some R&R as well.”
Nick let out a breath. “I didn’t need—”
“That’s an order,” Jett said. “If your girl is in trouble, you’ll hate yourself for sitting on it when you’re trained for all types of shit hitting the fan.”
“She’s not my girl,” Nick countered, shaking his head. “We dated when we were young. It’s been years—a lifetime ago.”
“All the same, it’s been on your mind. Take care of this—of her,” he stressed. “You’re concerned, and I can appreciate that. You’ve got good instincts, so I believe that you have reason to worry. If there’s a problem, notify the team so we can handle it.”
Nick raised his eyebrows.
“Don’t look so surprised. We take care of our own,” Jett said, his eyes hardening. His gaze shifted toward Sam before landing on Nick again. “We’re briefing in thirty about the Mexico op. I don’t anticipate us needing to move in for a week or more. After the briefing? Catch a flight to Nebraska. I don’t want to see you in the office tomorrow.” He waited until Nick nodded and then turned and walked back out of the gym without another word.
Nick’s gaze lifted to his buddy’s.
“Guess that’s that,” Sam quipped.
“Guess so,” Nick said, a new feeling winding through him. He was anxious to find Kaylee and learn what was going on. Nick wouldn’t feel settled until he made sure she was okay. If his body still took note anytime she was near, well, so what? He was a grown man. He could table the feelings he’d always seemed to harbor for her. Ignore the heat and adrenaline coursing through him.
After he checked up on Kaylee, Nick could go back to his regular life. Work. Gym. Missions. His gaze flicked over to the weights, and he felt more focused than he had in weeks. “I’ve got twenty minutes to lift, then I need to grab a shower before the briefing. After that, I’m looking up flights to Omaha.”
“Damn straight,” Sam agreed. “Go get your girl.”
