Protector of Novah (Valor Knights Book 1)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “Didn’t you hear him say that I was the best assistant any businessman could ask for?”

  A sliver of concern crossed Egan’s features but vanished quickly. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this, Novah. Don’t screw it up for me, and especially don’t screw it up for my crew,” he growled, taking a step toward her. The vein in his neck, the one that popped out when he was irritated, made its presence known. He sized her up in one fell swoop of his icy gaze. “Got that?”

  No, she couldn’t do that to him or anyone else. In all her thirty-five years she’d never stepped on anyone to get ahead and she wouldn’t start now.

  Blowing out a long, exasperated breath, she blurted, “Fine. We’ll have to agree to be adults about this…”

  “Because we’re not adults? You’re the only one who seems worried.”

  She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “Mixing business and my personal life is never good. I need this job.”

  “Then don’t mix your personal life and professional life.” He exhaled. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed help? If my child support isn’t enough, I can send more—”

  Giving her head a quick shake, tendrils of hair fell to her cheeks. “No. I meant, I need this job not just for financial reasons but because it’s a challenge that I like.”

  “What about teaching? It’s in your blood. You’re good with the kids.”

  Losing her teaching position at the school had been heartbreaking. “Maybe I’ll find another in time, but right now I’m making do. Are you only working on Mr. Langley’s security team temporarily?”

  “The time frame is inconclusive.”

  Hearing voices from outside the closed door, she motioned for Egan to follow her through a back door that led into Mr. Langley’s private corridor. She quietly closed the door behind them and when she turned, he was standing inches from her. A sharp inhale of her breath pulled in his sandalwood scented soap deep into her lungs.

  “Egan…”

  “Novah…”

  “This is important,” she pushed through thin lips.

  “And did I say it wasn’t?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  EGAN WAS A lot of things, but unmoved by his ex-wife wasn’t one of them.

  She still did something to him, sparked a need in him that wormed past all his strength and toughness. She’d changed some since the divorce. There were a few new creases around her eyes, but she was more beautiful. Her hair was a few shades darker and pulled back, showing off the soft angles and pale hue of her face. Her dove grey eyes were surrounded by a fringe of long lashes and glossy lips were twisted as if she couldn’t bear looking at him. This triggered some old feelings of anger. He should be the one who couldn’t stand to be near her after she’d divorced him. He’d signed the papers, given her what she wanted, but this was where he drew a line. If she didn’t want to be near him then she’d have to quit because he sure as hell wouldn’t.

  She nervously slid her palms down her skirt that fit her nice curves and she appeared more composed. “There are some rules to this.”

  “Rules? So now you’re making rules even after we’re divorced?” He held her gaze with what he hoped was a steely glare. “You don’t dictate things, sweetheart.”

  Her thin brows curved. “When have I ever made rules for you? You’ve always done what you wanted to do, like when you reenlisted without talking to me first.”

  “It’s just like you to bring that up.” He studied the flicker of expressions passing over her face.

  She placed her hand over her chest as if to settle the beating of her heart. “If you and I plan to work for Mr. Langley there are a few guidelines that we must follow. One, it’s best we act like we don’t know each other. Second, don’t try any funny business. This is my job.”

  He picked up a tendril of her hair and pretended to study the silken tress. Wrapping the strand around his knuckle, he enjoyed how her cheeks flushed and her bottom lip quivered, but what he appreciated more was how she seemed to soften some. “Now what type of funny business are you referring to?” He took a step forward, blocking her between his body and the wall. He didn’t touch her, or hold her hostage, and she was free to move, but she didn’t. He examined her face as if he were relearning every line of her delicate features. Overcome with a need to kiss her, he forced the desire away.

  A pink hue covered her cheeks, matching the innocent color of her lips. He could smell her need and it hardened him.

  “We won’t land between the sheets again, Egan. We’re divorced,” she whispered.

  He dropped the strand of hair and let his hand fall to his side. “And you think I need to be reminded of that?” Heat scorched his insides. Old wounds were ripped open. “Or maybe you have to remind yourself?”

  She blinked. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  “I know how to keep my personal and professional life separated, sweetheart. While I’m on a job I’m focused,” he growled. “Second, don’t flatter yourself. I’ve moved on too.” He took a step back, adjusted his tie and forced a plastic smile to his lips. “So now that we’re clear on the do’s and don’ts, I have work to do. Don’t worry. I won’t need you to show me around. I can find my way.”

  “Good because I have some place to be,” she stammered.

  “Yeah? Where?” Sure, he’d take the bait.

  “If you must know, I have a date.”

  He laughed. “Lord help the man.” With a wink, he turned and headed down the corridor, leaving her standing there probably fuming.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A FLY BUZZED around Egan’s head and he swatted at the pest.

  “It’s almost an injustice for one man to have this much money,” Pao Noel laughed. “Is that really a 1955 Jag?” He stretched his gaze down the row of expensive vintage cars parked in Langley’s insulated garage.

  One of the perks of the job with Langley was being given the freedom to bring one of his men from VK. Egan and Pao worked well together and could watch each other’s backs. “I’d take the ’72 Ford Falcon.” He pointed out the pristine classic car that was built for racing.

  “Hell, probably just one of these beauties is more than I made in a year getting shot at by the enemy.”

  “Just think of all the invaluable things you’ve learned over in the sandbox.” Egan pounded his buddy on the back. “How to take a bullet and live to tell about it.”

  “Honestly, you going to vote for him?” Pao scratched his temple, grinning.

  “Not on your life,” Egan growled and turned to leave the garage. “Even though he has some good taste when it comes to cars.”

  They locked up the building and Pao asked, “Where do you want me?”

  “Check the perimeter and then get to know the men on the security detail. Find out anything you can from them. If you need to reach me use the radio on the private frequency.” The two men had served together in their Special Forces unit and they had been trained not only in handling terrorists and bombs, but to move about stealthily.

  They’d arrived early at Lake Jade, hours before Langley was due to arrive. The importance of any job was to acquaint themselves with the layout of the property and house, and to meet the existing security team. Egan had a strong feeling that a lot went down here on the resort. At some point he wanted to debrief his ex-wife to see if she knew anything about Langley’s relationships with criminals. Sometimes people didn’t realize the importance of what they were seeing until it was brought to their attention. She’d never work for someone like Langley if she had any clue who he truly was…

  Would she be angry with him?

  Didn’t matter. He had an ethical duty to protect Americans. If supporters knew about Langley’s connections, they wouldn’t vote for him either.

  After Pao and Egan parted ways, he headed toward the mansion when he heard,

  “There he is.”

  Egan spotted the tower of a man strolling toward him across the immaculate front lawn. “Banner, nice to see you, budd
y.” The two exchanged a firm handshake. They’d met each other years ago during a mission. Banner had retired and became an agent for the FBI until he left to work for Langley’s security. “So you finally took a leap and left the bureau.” Egan whistled through his teeth. “Big move, my friend.”

  “Yeah and look where I am now.” Banner laughed, sliding his fingers down his fancy striped tie that looked a little too tight. “And look at you. No longer in uniform. Glad to have you aboard, Banks. The men are proud to work with a hero.”

  “Hero? Where?” Egan gave a dramatic glance around the perimeter.

  “You saved my life, man. I owe you.”

  Banner referred to the ambushing of American forces in remote northern Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Ten soldiers were killed when insurgents attacked a security convoy. Banner was one of three injured in the gun fire. Egan managed to hold off enemy fire and carry the wounded to an abandoned building in the tiny village they’d been clearing until friendly forces arrived and took control of the situation. “You don’t owe me. I only did my job.”

  A moment of silence clouded them in honor of the soldiers who didn’t survive the assault.

  “Any questions?” Banner asked.

  “I guess I do have one. I’m curious why Langley let Drake go. I’m not complaining, because here I am and the money’s good, but I had met him before and he seemed like an upstanding guy. I guess I’m just wondering if there’s anything I need to be aware of.” What Egan couldn’t tell his buddy was that he’d tried to speak to Drake, but he’d disappeared from Wyoming and couldn’t be tracked. The man above anyone probably had the goods on Langley’s business deals.

  Banner swiped a hand down his smooth jaw and gave a subtle glance to make sure they were still alone. He jerked his chin. “Let’s walk.”

  Banner was a good guy, but Egan had to be careful who he spoke to and trusted.

  “Sure.” Egan hoped Banner wasn’t involved in any criminal misdeeds. Langley paid his security team extravagantly, nothing like they’d be paid at the bureau or Special Forces. Sometimes higher pay, outside of normal, was incentive to stay quiet.

  “He was suspected of leaking some information about Langley’s campaign to his opponent and was fired.”

  “You mean Downing? Was this before the attempted kidnapping?”

  Banner nodded. “Rumor has it that Drake was paid for details.”

  “Interesting. If the kidnapping would have played out, Langley would have had an easy path into office.”

  “Some say he already has one foot in,” Banner said with a grin.

  “So tell me more. Drake disappeared?”

  “Hell, I don’t know about all that shit. He was here one day and gone the next. I thought he was on the up and up, at least I never saw any suspicious behavior from him. If you ask me, I think they’ve all been a bit crazy lately. Langley included.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s been spending all his time here, like he’s hiding. Damn, sure, it’s a paradise but he’s been having all his meetings here too. All those snotty supporters swarming like flies on shit. And then there are the other guests.”

  “Other guests?”

  “I’m not one to spread rumors, but I’ve seen it for myself. He likes bringing in his weekend entertainment if you know what I mean, so maybe the stress of the campaign requires him to play more and I’m not talking golf.” Banner wagged his brows. “Anyway, you’re new blood. I guess bringing you in is his way of ensuring we’re all walking the tight rope. He talks a lot about trust.” He chuckled but it was raw.

  “You know I wouldn’t waste my time as a babysitter.” They came to a location by a hedge of bushes along the south side of the property and stopped. The elaborate flower gardens separated them from the house. “How well did you know Drake?”

  With a shrug, Banner sniffed. “About as well I know the other men. We worked together for a few years. He was a private man, kept to himself, but that’s nothing odd. Seemed loyal to Langley.”

  “Did you trust him?”

  “Yeah, I did. He was a good guy.”

  Egan stretched his gaze over the quiet property and pushed off the unsettling feeling in his gut. Maybe the sour feeling roiling in his stomach was from the spicy breakfast burrito he wolfed down that morning. “Is Langley normally late?”

  “Yeah.” Banner laughed. “You said you didn’t come on as a babysitter? Well, this job sort of feels like we’re chasing a rampaging toddler while trying to keep track of him. If you ever get on tour duty, you’ll see what I mean. Langley loves to rub elbows with everyone. Likes his picture taken and sharing his autograph. Hard to keep a man safe like that.”

  Was there an underlying meaning to his friend’s statement? Carefully, Egan pressed the issue. “With everyone?”

  Banner blew out a breath, relaxing his shoulders some. “I like this job, man. It’s a cakewalk. You’ll like it too if you learn that Langley is a politician and even a bigger businessman.”

  Not wanting to make Banner suspicious, he stopped the questioning. Maybe later they could have another conversation over a beer. “I’m glad we can work together again.” They shook hands and the men headed off in opposite directions.

  As Egan strolled through the massive flower garden his thoughts branched off to Novah and he gritted his teeth against the sudden bittersweet ache in his chest. Although he shouldn’t wonder where she was at the resort, he couldn’t help but ponder where she’d taken herself off to. That morning he’d received a list of the guests and her name was there.

  Frankly, it was never good to have someone close, especially an ex, around him when he was expected to stay focused. Although this was nothing more than a simple probe, for now, he didn’t want to blur the lines between personal and professional boundaries—just like she’d said. He’d always felt the role of protector when it came to Novah. She was the mother of his child and as fucked up as it was, he probably did still care for her—probably a lot more than he wanted to admit. No refuting the fact that he had a strong urge to drag her over his lap and swat her bottom, but he’d enjoy the act way too much.

  Feeling a tightening in his groin, he inhaled sharply. This wasn’t good, but damn if he could help his misbehaving thoughts. They hadn’t always had a smooth marriage, but what they lacked in marital bliss they more than made up for between the sheets. Novah could only be described as a satin covered firecracker. Looking at her, one would think she was an uptight, demure woman who never let go of those invisible strings, but he knew her, knew how she was anything but “held together”. In bed she could be a lioness on the hunt, having no qualms with taking what she wanted, but she gave pleasure too. She was commanding and energetic. Had enjoyed exploring new positions and ways to light the fire in their relationship. He’d never met another like her and supposed that he never would again.

  He had to face the music and admit that he was still butt hurt over the crumbling of their marriage. He’d loved her and wanted to spend his life with her and Finley. Some say that love made a man weak, but for Egan it made him a giant. With Novah he could do anything—would do anything—for his family.

  Then she’d pulled the rug out from underneath him.

  When they married, she’d had no complaints that he had a contract in the military. Sure, he understood once Finley was born things had unexpectedly changed, they certainly had drastically in their relationship. What he’d wanted Novah to understand was that he’d witnessed the devastation in war-stricken countries. Saw women and children used and abused—even some lost to suicide blasts. He’d made it his personal mission to save as many innocent people as he could because what if Novah and Finley had been placed in the same perils? Who would save them if he couldn’t? A man never walked away mid-effort. He’d been committed, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been just as committed to his family. Now he was back on friendly soil, determined to be a better father to his daughter. To give her a better life.

  Novah carried t
he weight of her childhood like a knight’s shield.

  Her father who’d been a general in the Army had been away a lot. She’d often talked about how she decorated the house to welcome him home from deployment and sometimes being disappointed enough to cry herself to sleep when he didn’t come. Egan understood, he did, and that was why he’d retired. Unfortunately, that came just a little too late for his relationship with Novah.

  Walking into the mansion and down the left wing of a private corridor solely used for security personnel, he entered the surveillance room where one of Langley’s security team sat behind a wall of monitors and an elaborate control panel. Egan skimmed all the levers and knobs.

  “Good morning, Joe,” he said to the man who had unusually protruding brown eyes behind thick lensed glasses. They’d met briefly earlier, but Egan made it his goal to get to know every one of them better. Loose lips would work in Egan’s favor.

  “What do you think of the place so far?” Joe eased back into the chair that creaked under his heavy weight.

  “I’ll give it to Langley. The man has a fortress here. It’d take some skill for anyone to breach the wall and gates.” He wasn’t quite telling the truth, but he wanted to fluff the man’s ego. Glancing over the screens, Egan took note of the few locations that weren’t monitored by cameras, which didn’t seem logical.

  “State of the art security.” Joe sipped his coffee from a Styrofoam cup. “Have you seen the gator hole yet?”

  “Gator hole?”

  With a chuckle, Joe pointed to a screen to his right. Nothing looked out of the ordinary except for overgrown ivy. “Right there is an underground tunnel, built when this place was erected. The door is behind that ivy-covered fence.”

  “And it’s passable?”

  “Yeah. Anyone can still move freely through it if they don’t mind spiders and rats. I’ve heard it was used for the bootleggers engaged in smuggling whiskey out of the mansion during Prohibition. If only these walls could talk.” He whistled through his teeth. “Now it’s just an escape route for Langley if he needs to get out without anyone seeing him.”