Till I Found You: The Broken Hero Series—Book One

by Fernandez, Michelle

Booker’s feelings were growing stronger for Chloe, fast and hard. The longer he was on this case and around her, the harder it was to resist her allure. Every bone in his body was metal and she was the magnet that pulled him closer. He felt out of control and he couldn’t keep his mind straight.

  For two years he stayed away from Chloe, but every time he tried to push out the memory of that night, it was no use. Now that he’d kissed her, game over. Booker refused to have history repeat. If it did, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.

  No way in hell am I losing Chloe. She is not Amber.

  After hearing more intel from Tyco, Booker needed to get his shit straight—now more than ever. He took in a breath, needed to snap out of it, to focus on his objective.

  Booker got up. There was no use trying to sleep, too much information to deal with in the early hour. He went to the kitchen, pulled out a mug from the cabinet and placed it under the one-cup coffee maker. It took about thirty seconds for his mug to fill with hot coffee.

  No sugar, no creamer, just how he liked it.

  Now that his brain juices started flowing, Booker needed to connect the dots.

  Doctor Channing dead.

  Chloe’s attack.

  Kollsson dead.

  The CAF accounts and a million dollars withdrawn and then more the last year. Luke Jensen with Tellis O’Hare—what was in that damn envelope? Why the sudden redeye flight, and who was Jensen meeting with?

  Booker headed back to his bedroom and opened the hutch door to a hidden safe which housed the case file, iPad tablet, his HK VP9, an extra mag and a box of ammo. He took out the tablet and left the safe door open.

  He needed to review the financial documents yet again. Booker pressed the home button, typed the code before he opened the blue file-folder icon. The documents appeared one by one. He swiped the screen until he came upon the week before Sarah Channing’s death.

  There, in bold: $1,000,000 transfer processed by Sarah Channing.

  How had he missed it?

  None of this shit made sense and it pissed Booker off to high heaven.

  Frustrated, Booker placed the tablet back in the safe and locked it. There wasn’t much he could do now but wait for the results from Tyco. Booker needed a hot shower to relax.

  As the stream of water warmed his back, his thoughts drifted again to his dream. It was the first time he’d dreamt of both Amber and Chloe in one night. Shrapnel images embedded in his memory: Amber’s lifeless body as he cradled her, not letting go even as the paramedics finally showed up.

  It was no use for the medic to do anything; Amber was already gone.

  Booker looked down at his open palms, at a speck of phantom blood on his hands. The demons woven throughout his soul clawed at his chest. A rock of shame, of guilt and betrayal, sank to his gut, weighing him down.

  There in the shower, he fell to his knees.

  How could he have dreamed of both Amber and Chloe?

  He needed the mission to end, and when it did, Booker knew exactly how he’d finally lay Amber to rest and give himself peace of mind.

  Booker stepped out of the shower, towel-dried and wiped the steamed-up mirror with his hand. He stared at his own face, then down at his hands gripping the edge of the counter, his head hung low between his shoulders.

  “Pull your shit together, fucker,” Booker muttered to himself.

  Self-control and rational thinking—that was Booker.

  Yet he’d completely lost it the moment Chloe entered the picture. He could only blame himself for his actions these last couple of days, being in close proximity to her. But the new intel steadied Booker back into position.

  No more indecision.

  No more letting his guard down.

  He needed to refocus not just for his sake, but for hers.

  White-hot rage coursed through his veins at the thought of just how far this unsub would go. The man wanted Chloe dead, there was no doubt about it. There was no way in hell this asshole was going to get his hands on her.

  “This feels so awkward.” Chloe concentrated on the formation of squared shoulders, bent elbows and clenched fists in the air. The soft breeze was a relief, cooling her bare skin from the humidity and the sun’s beating rays. “Am I even doing this right?”

  They were back at the hilltop where they had their picnic the other day. Julian shifted his attention from her legs to Chloe’s feet in the grass. The toe of his running shoe tapped the insides of her feet, nudging them apart.

  “More space here and stay on the balls of your feet. The weight should be even,” he instructed, as Chloe rolled her eyes.

  This was the third morning of punching, kicking and blocking. And quite frankly, Chloe was getting tired of Julian’s mission of making her the next Ronda Rousey.

  Turn this way, pivot that way. Punch, kick, protect. Chloe mimicked to herself.

  The moment Chloe made up her mind to go a faster pace, Julian made a U-turn and kept going the other way. All morning, just like the last two days, she batted her lashes and licked her lips, but nothing seemed to faze him. Had he lost his attraction for her? Just like that?

  The abrupt shift made Chloe feel off balance.

  The flirting gone.

  No more kisses.

  None of it made sense.

  The touches were there, but only to position Chloe to correct her stance.

  Gone was the playful and seductive man she had met a few days ago. Chloe was on Julian’s damn rollercoaster stuck in the turning loop and she was hanging upside down hoping somehow this emotional malfunction would get back on course.

  The about-turn gave her whiplash and she didn’t know what to make of it. Should she go with the flow? Ask him why the sudden change of heart? Could she cut ties with him and treat him as the hired help? The latter question flickered and faded quickly, knowing she couldn’t do it.

  The chemistry that once brewed between them had dissipated. What happened to the old Julian? The one she was beginning to fall for…

  Julian leveled his eyes at her hips, shaking his head, dissatisfied with her stance. He placed his hands on her hips, angling her at a forty-five-degree pivot. His fingers sent an electric current with her aching with need, wanting more of his touch. Chloe gave a coy smile, trying to hide her euphoric emotions, but the unavoidable burn heated her cheeks as he studied her.

  “Concentrate, Doc.” His brows knitted together. “Be serious.”

  “I’m trying. But you’re tickling me,” she huffed, biting her bottom lip. “But I don’t mind you touching me there.”

  Julian shook his head, dismissing her flirty banter. “Don’t be so stiff,” he instructed, mirroring his hips with her movement. “Loosen up here…like this.”

  “I think you need to loosen up,” she sneered, eyebrow raised.

  Julian smirked, then repositioned his hands to her elbows, his thumbs grazing her breasts. Sensations tingled her taut nipples as the friction rubbed over her sports bra.

  Did he do that on purpose?

  “Keep your elbows here.” Julian’s voice was low and serious as he placed her elbows closer to her ribcage. “Need to protect your body.”

  Nope, not on purpose.

  “Is this better, Mr. Bossy?”

  “Mm-hm,” Julian said, eyes squinted with expressed irritation.

  “I didn’t sign up for this.”

  “Look, I know you don’t like this. But you’ll thank me later.”

  “I doubt it.”

  Keeping her eyes focused on Julian, confusion blanketed her thoughts. Confused and head over heels at the same time. She couldn’t help being irked by him and all the while wanted to throw her arms around his neck and taste his lips again. All morning, he’d touched her body but gave no sign of wanting more than just to readjust her fighting posture.

  Regardless of his rejections, she couldn’t help the goosebumps as his calloused hands smoothed over her biceps, then stopped at her shoulders. “Too tense. Relax here.”

 
“I’m too tense? You should hear yourself.” Sarcasm was Chloe’s best friend this morning. She couldn’t resist. In fact, he seemed more irritated and Chloe enjoyed getting a rise out of him.

  The nerve. I’m tense? I’ll show him tense.

  He smirked once again, ignoring her comment. His fingers moved down her arms. His large hands covered her balled-up fists; his thumbs softly grazed her knuckles. His brown eyes met her blue ones. Silence stretched between them.

  “Need more tension in your fists. Remember when you punch your attacker, it needs to sting.”

  Sting? Chloe wanted just one kiss to ease the sting piercing her heart.

  “Relax my shoulders. Tension in my fists. Why are we doing this, Julian? We’ve been at this and you still haven’t told me why the sudden change of…pace.” Chloe lifted a brow, underscoring the double entendre.

  Julian opened his mouth then closed it, taking too many seconds to answer. “I’d rather you be safe than sorry.”

  Chloe stared at him, letting the words sink in. “What makes you think I’m not going to be safe?”

  Julian let out a breath. “Before Fabi headed off to college, this was the first thing I taught her. The mace I gave her wasn’t going to be enough. And with her late classes, knowing what to do if she were ever attacked, gave me peace of mind.” Julian lifted both palms in front of him. “Okay, give me a left-right jab.”

  “Like this?” Chloe punched straight to his open palm, making impact.

  “Yes, good.” Julian nodded. “I’m glad I was able to show her because the following spring break, she was attacked by a jealous ex-boyfriend.”

  Chloe gasped, eyes wide. “Was she hurt?”

  “Some bruising and scratches. But at the end of it all, she kicked his ass good. Was she sorry? No, actually, she was safe. Even my mom knows how to kick some ass.”

  “Your mom? You showed her these moves too?”

  Julian’s mouth curled up. “Yes. I think every woman should know how to take care of herself. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.” He looked into her eyes with nothing more to say. His last words made her emotions go in all different directions but found purchase in her heart.

  Julian wrapped his fingers around her wrists. “After you punch, make sure you bring your hands back to your jaw. Always protect your face. If your attacker hits you here…” Julian demonstrated a slow right hook, his knuckles softly tapped her cheek. “Game over.”

  With both hands, Julian palmed Chloe’s jaw. “I would hate to have this beautiful face battered and bruised…or worse.”

  A triggered image raced through Chloe’s mind.

  Evil eyes filled with hatred.

  The weight of her attacker straddling her waist, pressing her into the concrete.

  Hands around her neck.

  The stinging blade and the bone-crushing hit to her face knocking her senseless.

  Chloe swallowed the bile in the back of her throat and shut her eyes to push back the threatening tears. Her fists began to shake as a cold shiver crept up her spine despite the warm breeze enveloping her.

  “Hey, you okay?” Julian’s voice brought Chloe back to their secluded hilltop where they stood. “Look at me. Where’d you go just now?”

  Chloe bent over, hands on her knees to steady her breathing. “I…it’s nothing.”

  “Bullshit. You’re ghost white.” Julian pulled Chloe up, forcing her to look at him. “Talk to me, Channing.” There was a raw grit in his tone. His jaw clenched, then unclenched.

  They both looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity. In his russet-brown eyes, Chloe met his concern and rage.

  “I can’t talk about it.” She shook her head, hiding the fear in her own eyes.

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Both.”

  She didn’t want pity. She didn’t need him seeing her as a frail stray dog that needed to be brought back to health.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything.” He tucked a loose curl behind her ear.

  “Then tell me what I did wrong.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Why haven’t you kissed me? I swear your mood swings are giving me whiplash.” Chloe crossed her arms over her chest and glared.

  “Chloe.” Her name was a sounding plea. “There’s things I wish I could talk to you about and things I really shouldn’t. You make me feel things I’m not supposed to.” He scrubbed his hair back with his hand as he turned away from her. “I need to figure this out.”

  “Figure what out?”

  “You. Me. Us. Fuck, I have a job to do.” He spun to face her. “And it’s not good for me to be comingling with my employer.”

  “Is that what I am to you? Your employer?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. I do care about you, more than you know.”

  “Fine.” Chloe smirked, then pressed her lips together.

  “Fine?” Julian echoed. “Having a sister and mom…fine is never a good answer.”

  “What else do you want me to say? You’ve been pushing me away and I thought we had an understanding. We weren’t going to fight, enjoy our time…remember? You told me—”

  “I know what I said, and I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

  Chloe’s stomach lurched as his words knocked the wind out of her. Her overwhelmed emotions were raked over hot coals. He might as well have taken the proverbial knife, stabbed her in the heart and cut the strings attached to it. So, where did this leave them?

  Un. Fucking. Believable.

  After a beat of awkward silence, their staring contest finally ended when Chloe spoke up. “Well. That’s the most I’ve gotten from you in the past couple days. So, let’s call it what it is. From now on, I’m your employer.”

  “Chloe.” His voice was soft, apologetic.

  “Don’t Chloe me, Julian. You said it loud and clear. No need to explain anything else.” Chloe slipped back into formation. Now there was a reason to hit him in the face. The humiliation, anger and regret would be the fighting forces behind her punches.

  She planted her feet, shoulders squared and head bobbing side to side. Balled fists lifted, ready. “Although I didn’t ask for these lessons, I guess we should finish. Let’s just do this. I need to learn, right?”

  “Okay.” His voice was low and sobered. “You ready?”

  “Mm-hm.”

  Julian bounced from side to side, patted and lightly slapped unguarded parts of her body. “Need to be quicker than that, Channing.”

  “Shit. I wasn’t ready.”

  “You must always keep your guard up. Come on…fists up…tuck in your elbows. Feet apart and relax your shoulders…and pivot your hips. Gotta be light on your feet. Now take your shot.”

  “I’m a lover not a fighter.” Chloe licked her lips and blew him a kiss.

  “Are you trying to woo your attacker, Doc?” Julian smirked.

  “I don’t know. Is my attacker wooable?”

  “Not today.” He pointed to his chin.

  “That’s what I thought,” Chloe chided.

  “Give me a clean shot, right here.” He delivered a hit-me-with-your-best-shot smile.

  Chloe took a deep breath and threw a right hook.

  Missed.

  Then a left hook.

  Missed again.

  A right uppercut.

  Missed.

  Dammit.

  Frustrated, Chloe blew out a long breath. She had an idea. She quickly lifted her tank-top, leaving only her sports bra to show off her flat and tight abs.

  Julian’s mouth opened slightly, as he peeked at her naked torso.

  Chloe repositioned herself as he continued his mouth-watered glare. A jab straight to Julian’s chin made impact with Chloe’s fist.

  “Holy shit.” Wide-eyed, Chloe shook out her throbbing hands. “Did I hurt you?”

  Julian rubbed his jaw. “It’ll take more than that to hurt me.”

  God, that felt good.

  “Goo
d hit. Let’s do it again. But this time, use your legs. Try to hit up here.” He pointed to the side of his stomach.

  Adrenaline invading her body, Chloe took a step forward. Julian took a step back. It was a mirroring of the mime game.

  Julian stepped forward; Chloe stepped back.

  Julian sent a right hook; Chloe ducked.

  A grin appeared on his face.

  Proud of Julian’s dodged swing, her insides were boiling like a tea kettle ready to whistle. Heat fueled her right leg, then smashed his guarded torso.

  “Nice. Now a combo.”

  Chloe was getting the hang of it. The fight in her was exhilarating and she loved every minute of it. Sweat beaded down her temples. Narrowed eyes darted to an opening. Alternating from a kick to a one-two punch, Chloe made impact.

  Julian grunted. “Damn. I think my apprentice is a fast learner,” he said, holding the side of his stomach.

  “Tired already? You’re not giving up on me, are you?”

  Julian’s left leg swept under Chloe’s feet, and she staggered backwards. His arms wrapped around her waist. Her hands caught his shoulders before hitting the grass.

  “I will never give up on you, Chloe Channing.”

  Chloe woke up disoriented and lost in the silence that surrounded her. She cancelled the Ronda Rousey morning session and avoided any reason to be near Julian. She pulled the covers over her head, drowning the sun rays sneaking through her windows.

  Avoidance was her best tactic to stay away from Julian. It was an emotional sting to her heart and a punch to her gut as if she were put back in the black hole when she’d found Luke with Reyna. How could the pain from Julian’s denial feel just as bad as what Luke did to her many months ago? It was because Julian possessed her heart.

  Chloe grunted. Love sucks.

  She shoved the covers off and picked up her cell phone to check the time.

  Nine-fifteen.

  Scrolling through her text messages, Chloe smiled at the long text from Celina letting her know she got the mail and rambling on about her dog and cat fighting.

  Three text messages from Julian.

  4:12 am. We need to talk.

  6:20 am. I need to clear the air.