The Bodyguard's Deadly Mission, page 26
She backed up several paces. “You had it stolen?”
“Yes,” Randolph replied. “It was the only way I could find you, to draw you out. I’m just sorry men had to die in your quest to get it back.”
“You tricked me?” Her eyes grew bright with tears. She glared at Andrew. “You led him to me,” she spat. “This is your fault.” She tried to lunge at Andrew, but Alexa blocked her path.
“Don’t try it,” Alexa warned.
“Your reign of terror ends now, Eileen. You’re coming with me, and I’ll get you the help you need.”
“No, I’m not. And stop calling me that. I’m a grown woman. If you think I’m going to give up my life of independence to be under your thumb again, you’re mistaken, Father,” she said as if the word were a curse. “I have a very lucrative business that I built from nothing. I worked hard to get where I am.”
“No, you killed and intimidated people to get where you are. You’re sick, and you need help,” he said gently. “Please, let me help you.”
The Siren continued to back up. “No.” Her voice shook, and she looked confused. “You’re just trying to trip me up. I ran away from that mausoleum for a reason, and I’m not returning.”
Randolph signaled his men. The Siren spun around to look for her bodyguards, but they were gone. She ran to grab her sword, but they beat her to it.
“Don’t touch me,” she yelled when two men took her by the arms and ushered her up the stairs. “No, you can’t do this. I’m the Siren. Do you hear me? I promise I’ll kill every last one of you when I get the chance. I’m the Siren!”
The echoes of her screaming eventually faded away.
Randolph sank into a chair. He sighed loudly. “I’m sorry for all the trouble my daughter has caused. Unfortunately, she has a delusional disorder, just as her mother did. I took Eileen to the top mental health professionals. Her treatments worked for a while, but she refused to continue her sessions. Then, while I was on a business trip, Eileen got free of my staff and ran away.”
His eyes were saturated with pain. “You can’t imagine the helplessness of having a child run away and not being able to find them. I had my men searching everywhere, but my efforts were useless. By the time I heard about the Siren—” His voice was racked with grief. “I was too late to help my wife before she...died, but I have found a facility that can provide Eileen with the help she needs. One where I can visit her and help in the healing process.”
“What about the people hurt or that died because of her?” Alexa asked.
“She isn’t well enough to face prosecution, Miss King. And honestly, with my legal team, it’s unlikely that she would. But this is my cross to bear, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure my daughter isn’t a threat to anyone again.”
Randolph got up and left with his men, looking decades older than when he first arrived.
Alexa held Andrew’s hand. “It’s over.”
He squeezed it back. “Thanks to you.”
“It was a group effort.” She smiled and then grimaced at the cut on her lip. “Andrew, about the things I said—”
“Forgiven,” he finished for her. “I went to your condo that morning to apologize and humbly ask you to reconsider leaving me. Alexa, I never meant for you to feel like I doubt how capable you are of protecting yourself, me or whomever you’re hired to guard. You’re my world, Alexa. You have been since you stepped into my life. And I will do anything to keep you safe from harm. It’s who I am. I’m just sorry I went about it in a way that caused you to doubt my true intentions.”
Alexa shook her head. “Forgiven. And you should know that I went back to the hotel that morning to tell you I was sorry for what I said. I’m truly grateful to you, Andrew, for how you’ve protected, cared about and supported my endeavors since we met. Because of your hard work, dedication and commitment, I found a career that I love and a passion for serving others in a way that keeps them safe.”
“And you whole.”
She smiled. “And me whole.” She laced her fingers through his. “I’m not scared anymore. I know what we have is real. You were right. We can’t live in a bubble worrying about losing those closest to us. I can finally let go of my past and direct that energy to my future.”
He touched her cheek. “Our future,” he corrected.
Alexa beamed with happiness. “Our future.”
Andrew lowered his head and kissed her. Alexa’s hands came up to rest on either side of his face. A few moments later, she pulled back.
“Do you know the first stop on our new journey?”
He grinned lasciviously. “Do tell.”
“The hospital,” she said lovingly.
Andrew chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Lead the way, Miss King.”
Chapter 38
“Here, is this better?”
Alexa took a pillow from the couch and adjusted it behind Andrew’s head.
“Much.” He sighed happily. “You know, I don’t think I ever told you how proud I am of you. You were willing to let me die to save Sophia. That shows that you take your job seriously.”
She burst out laughing. “Well, I’m glad you approve. Though I had no intention of letting you die, Mr. Riker. In truth, I would’ve been devastated if something had happened to you.”
“Because you realized you loved me?”
“Yes, after our fight and you were taken, it hit me square between my eyes that I loved you and didn’t want to lose you.”
Andrew touched her cheek. “You are never going to lose me, Lexi.”
She settled next to him on the couch. “You can’t promise that, Andrew. None of us is in control. Our lives could be over in the blink of an eye.”
“True, but when you love someone, you give it your best shot and do what you can to keep each other safe.”
She leaned in and kissed him. “I love you, too. But honestly, Drew, because of what we do for a living, sometimes it does worry me.” She snuggled closer, careful not to lean on him too heavily.
They watched the fire blazing in the hearth in silence for a few minutes before Andrew said, “You know I’m not made of glass, right?”
“I know, but the doctor said it’ll be another week before you can get your stitches out. And until then, no strenuous activity—of any kind.”
Andrew leaned over and kissed Alexa’s lips, then a trail down her neck.
She immediately gravitated toward his touch. “You’re not playing fair.” Her words drifted out of her mouth like a soft caress.
“You know, there are a few things that I can think of that are not necessarily categorized as strenuous.”
“No, sir,” she laughed, pulling back. “You promised you’d be back to one hundred percent before the next group of trainees arrived. I love you, Andrew Riker, but those sparring sessions with overeager students can be a bit much.”
“And I will,” Andrew said, chuckling, before picking up her hand and kissing her palm. “And on that note, lunchtime is over. Back to work we go.”
“Ugh,” she protested. “I’d much rather be snuggling on the couch here with you.”
“That prospect is just as exciting for me, but you know if we’re late, Dad will come looking for us.”
Alexa bolted off the sofa. “You’ve got a point. Let’s go. Phalanx is calling.”
They rode the ATV from the guest cabin back to the main building for their next class. Alexa enjoyed helping Andrew and his father with the training sessions. She had taken a leave of absence from fieldwork at Dragonfly to stay in Pagosa Springs for an extended period until Andrew was fully recovered. She was still acting CEO and conducted most of her business by video conference while Dyan handled meetings with new clients and Alexa’s duties as the principal chief protection officer.
“There you two are,” James said when they returned to the training room. “I thought I would have to send up a flare signal.”
“You know Alexa wouldn’t miss jujitsu training. She loves grappling with the students.”
“I’d rather be grappling with you,” she whispered in Andrew’s ear.
His gaze could have scorched a block of ice.
“Anytime you want to try those nonstrenuous activities, just let me know.”
She laughed and playfully pushed him away. Then, after taking off her coat, Alexa warmed up to prepare for their next class. When the students trickled in a few minutes later, Andrew took the lead, instructing the students on which grappling techniques they’d learn during the class.
While he explained, Alexa used a volunteer to execute the motions that Andrew relayed. Unfortunately, the student didn’t understand the technique at one point, so Andrew stepped in to demonstrate.
“Be careful,” Alexa warned.
“Always am.” He winked.
As Andrew explained, he placed his hands on Alexa to show the trainees how their bodies should rotate in and out of a position. Next, he demonstrated how to flip an opponent using the attacker’s body weight, not their own.
He flipped Alexa, and she landed on the mat.
“Sorry, my love,” he said sweetly as she lay there staring up at the ceiling.
“No problem, my love,” she responded with a saucy grin.
Rolling over, Alexa pushed herself up.
“You dropped something, Miss King,” one of the students remarked.
“Oh?” Alexa was wearing a karate uniform called a gi, which didn’t have pockets. “Thank you,” she said, automatically looking down.
There was a black velvet ring box sitting on the mat. She stared at it for a few more seconds before gazing, bewildered, at Andrew.
“What in the world?” she said as she knelt to retrieve the box. When she opened it, all the air left Alexa’s lungs. She remained frozen in her spot, speechless as she stared at the square-cut diamond engagement ring with stair-step diamonds flanking the main one.
When she looked up, Andrew was down on one knee in front of her. Her hand covered her heart as she stared at him through unshed tears.
“Alexa Yvonne King, I have loved you since I carried you back after getting shot in the chest during training.”
The group let out a collective gasp, each looking around worriedly.
“I had a bulletproof vest on,” Alexa said, trying to ease the horrified students’ minds.
“You are intelligent, caring, funny and sexy,” he continued. “Plus, you truly make me the best version of myself. I would be elated to spend the rest of my life loving, working with and coming home to you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Alexa leaned forward. “James Andrew Riker II, I have admittedly been stubborn and have run from relationships, but you have shown me that love can be constant, and I don’t have to fear it, nor does it have to end in sorrow or tragedy. Because of you, I know that love is patient, kind, understanding and long-lasting. Being vulnerable enough to give another person a chance to share your life is the greatest gift of all. I love you, Drew, and yes, I will marry you, and I can’t wait to be your wife.”
Beaming proudly, Andrew leaned over and kissed Alexa. She wrapped her arms around him and cried tears of joy as she returned the kiss. Everyone clapped as he placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand. Alexa peered at the brilliant diamond ring for several moments, in awe at the surprise proposal. Then she spotted her family standing off to the side. Alexa was so shocked that she yelped before rushing over to greet her parents, cousin, aunt and uncle. Next, James and Esther stepped up to offer their congratulations. James dismissed the class early so their families could return to the house and honor the newly engaged couple.
While they were celebrating, Alexa received a video call from Sophia. She and Nicholas wished her and Andrew congratulations.
“Thank you and Andrew for protecting us both,” Nicholas stated. “And for keeping us, you know, from being dead.”
Alexa’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, you’re welcome, Nico.”
“You know, we worked so well together that anytime you and Andrew need operatives, Nico and I would be happy to lend a hand.”
“Wow,” Alexa said with genuine surprise. “If the need arises, we’ll let you know.”
“Cool. I have a special engagement gift for you, Alexa.” Sophia grinned. “Just a moment.”
She and Nicholas moved out of the way, and another woman moved into view.
Alexa was stupefied. “Oh my gosh. Shelley?”
“Yes,” her old friend confirmed. “It’s wonderful to see you, Alexa.”
“Likewise,” she said between tears. “I can’t believe it’s you. You look amazing,” she cried.
“So do you. Sophia’s told me so much about your life now. I’m so happy for you.”
“Sophia has kept me in the loop, too. I’m glad you’re living life to the fullest, Shelley.”
They chatted for a few more minutes before Shelley had to go, but she promised to keep in touch.
“I’d love to as well,” Alexa confirmed.
When they ended the call, Alexa found her fiancé and wrapped her arms around his middle. She told him about her video call with the Porters.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely. “This was a perfect proposal, and I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, soon-to-be Mrs. Riker.”
“I love the sound of that.”
* * *
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Chapter 1
He’d had sex with her. What in the hell had he been thinking?
Clearly, he hadn’t been thinking. Sitting in his office, Sebastian watched her through his window. Weeks had passed and still he watched with too much interest as the beautiful veterinarian left the kennel where she’d been seeing to a pregnant dog after her regular office hours at her clinic in town and headed toward his house. That messy bun—did she always have to wear it looking so bedroom-like?
The long blond hair had been down by the time she’d left his bed. Had she loosened it? Had he? Things had been so intense that night, with Oscar being injured by shrapnel from gunfire. Him calling Ruby in the middle of the night, afraid the heavily bleeding canine was going to die on him.
As if sensing his current unrest, the golden retriever mix—and Sebastian Cross’s personal canine companion—grabbed a stuffed octopus and brought it over to shove it in Sebastian’s hand. He and Oscar had started Crosswinds together, training search-and-rescue dogs, like Oscar, for people all over the country.
Oscar didn’t seem at all fazed by that night two months before. But Sebastian, thinking he’d lost his only family member—pacing in his home while Dr. Ruby Colton worked on Oscar—had been thrown back a few years. He’d thought he’d left the panic behind. And the vet—she’d finished with Oscar that night and had come upon Sebastian in a particularly low moment.
One no other human had witnessed before.
How it had gone from there to...sex...
Wiping a hand down his face, he turned from the window in his office—chosen because of the view of his property—and headed toward the back door off the kitchen. The door Ruby used every time she came to check on Oscar.
He grabbed another quick glance out the kitchen window. When it was light outside, the vastness of his land, the lake at the edge of it, soothed him.
Anytime of the day or night, sight of the kennels did the same.
Neither was enough that evening as he heard the knock on his door.
In the two months since “the night,” as he’d come to think of it, neither he nor Ruby had mentioned what had happened. They’d both pretended nothing had. They had to, right? Owl Creek was a small town. And she not only tended to the search-and-rescue animals that he trained, but she also gave free medical treatment to the PTSD dogs he provided to veterans who needed them.
Still...if nothing else, he had to apologize.
To her. To someone.
She was his best friend’s little sister, for God’s sake.
Wade Colton was the closest thing he’d ever had to a brother. And he’d gone and...
The knock came a second time.
He hadn’t been himself that night. A reminder to never, for any reason, allow himself to be around another human being when he was sinking.
Oscar stood at the door, staring at him. With a nod, Sebastian opened it.
And, while the dog gave his doctor an enthusiastic greeting, Sebastian took the few seconds that Oscar gave him to find an easy smile and paste it on.
* * *
Shamelessly using Oscar as a distraction, Ruby spoke with real joy to the boy wagging his tail and licking her chin, avoiding the big mountain man with his shaggy dark blond hair and beard. She related to animals so much better than she did to people. Understood them. Fully accepted and embraced their unconditional love as her top need in life.
Steadying the dog with her tone of voice as she told him, “Good boy, stay,” she checked his left hindquarter and left shoulder—both areas from which she’d had to remove shrapnel that fateful night two months before. Thankfully, neither had suffered muscle damage.
