Protected

by Lexi Blake

  “Or Boomer could take the shot the minute he has one,” Wade argued.

  “Do you want Boomer to go to jail?” Ian asked as though he was asking about the weather. “Because I like my taxes low. Boomer hits the penal system and then they have to feed him. Taxes go up and I get irritable.”

  “It’s fine,” she said. “I’ll be okay. My main concern is that Brock doesn’t get the chance to send out that signal. You have to make sure.”

  “It’s already set up,” Wade replied. “I wish I could be there. Theo and the boys were closer. He’s in South Dallas. I would be stuck in traffic. I hate sitting here.”

  “Well, that’s what you’re going to do,” Ian replied. “Unfortunately, that bastard was smart to make this public or I’d let you murder him and then we could get rid of the body. Instead we have to deal with a whole bunch of co-eds, and that means we have to outsmart him. Which you already did, Wade. If you need some closure, you can have it in a couple of minutes.”

  “I have to face him in a couple of minutes,” she said. She took a deep breath, telling herself it would be fine.

  Adam Miles’s voice came over the line in the car. “I’ve got him. One hundred percent recognition. Tess confirmed it. Of course she also told me I should work out more, but you’ve got your go.”

  Wade touched a button on his phone. “Theo, Case, you have a go. Let me know when it’s done.”

  Fear went through her. “You can’t do that. We don’t have him yet.”

  Ian winked her way and pointed. “Yeah, we do. That’s Lieutenant Brighton and his team. We recorded the conversation between you and dear old Brock. And I think Ash will have something to say, too. Officer Lonzo is working that scene with our guys. She’ll gather enough to send this guy to jail forever. Ah, look. Howard just figured out Boomer has a bead on him.”

  Sure enough, Brock was looking down at the red dot on his chest, his eyes widening.

  Wade reached for her hand. “I was never going to let him get near you. Baby, I know you want revenge, but…”

  He needed to stop thinking he knew what she was going to do. She leaned over and kissed him for all she was worth, wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t lose you again.”

  “Never.” She smiled up at him, but she still had a few questions. “If I wasn’t going to go and meet him, why did Ian call Alex to pretend to be my driver?”

  There was a knock on the window and Alex stood there frowning, a bag in his hand. “Your lunch, asshole.”

  Ian rolled the window down and took the bag. “Thanks. I was hungry. I have to eat this fast or Boomer’ll show up. He has the sense of smell of a hungry Rottweiler. Thanks, buddy.”

  Alex shook his head and then he was grinning. “Hey, your ex peed himself. I thought Brighton had gotten soft. It’s good to know he can still handle himself in the field.”

  She glanced out the window and the police were snapping cuffs on Brock, who was arguing with them.

  That was when the Taser came out.

  Wade’s phone rang. “Yes? Ash, are you okay? I know. I know, son. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. Me, too. Here, talk to your mom. She needs to hear your voice.”

  She forgot all about Brock as she took the phone. “Baby?”

  “I’m okay,” Ash said, his voice still shaky. “I have seen a lot of things I wish I hadn’t, but I’m good. And I’ll never complain about invasion of privacy again. I want a tracker implanted in my damn butt. I’m sorry I cussed.”

  This was one situation she wouldn’t complain about. “When you’re kidnapped by a madman, you cuss away, baby. You can even say the F word.”

  She sat back, Wade’s arms around her as Ash began to tell his tale. They were all safe and Brock would be gone for a long time.

  It was a good day.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Broken Bend

  Wade looked out over the reception area, a deep sense of satisfaction in his system. He felt someone move in and knew exactly who it was. His son. He put an arm around Ash. “You did good, best man.”

  He had a lot of friends and brothers, but only one son for now. In the year since he’d asked Genny to marry him, a lot had changed, including Ash’s last name. Asher Rycroft had been adopted formally the night before.

  His boy. If they never had another kid, he would be okay, but Genny seemed a bit baby crazy. Between Chelsea Weston’s baby girl and Charlotte Taggart announcing her latest pregnancy, Genny had started talking about it.

  He just hoped a new baby would help Big Tag get through the dark cloud he was under. Wade feared after what happened in Munich that it would take something more violent to put Tag back on the right track.

  That was what pure and utter betrayal could do to a man.

  “It wasn’t hard. I only had to keep track of the ring. Even if I got lost, I know someone’s going to find me.” Ash pulled up his tuxedo pants. “I’m wearing these boots until the end of time.”

  The first night after he’d been rescued had been hard. They’d all ended up sleeping in the same big bed, him wrapped around Genny and her around her son.

  Ash kept seeing Kai Ferguson, Wade kept up with his weekly basketball game that was really therapy, and Genny went to her group. Slowly they’d healed.

  The fact that Brock had been found dead in his prison cell hadn’t hurt. Wade still wasn’t sure Big Tag hadn’t arranged that, but he wasn’t about to ask. It was done and he wouldn’t come back.

  “I still appreciated it, son.” He liked saying that word. A slow song came on and a pretty girl strode up. Wade didn’t recognize her but there was so much family around he wasn’t surprised. His family, their work and club family.

  “Would you like some punch? The kids are all hanging out together,” she said with a shy smile on her face. “I mean the older kids. The younger ones are out on the playground. I’m trying to avoid that. They’re kind of crazy.”

  Ash opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

  It was good to know his son still had a couple of things to learn. He was staring at the poor girl like she was the first he’d ever seen. And he liked what he saw.

  Wade put a hand on his shoulder. “He’d love to.”

  “I would,” Ash said, finally finding his voice. He trailed off after her.

  “I remember being a dumb kid,” a familiar voice said. His brother.

  “Not yet, Clint.” He didn’t look at his oldest brother. He’d agreed to have the wedding on the ranch because it had been Genny’s dream, a nod to their past, and he thought she hoped for some forgiveness for his brother.

  “But someday?” There was no way to miss the sorrow in his brother’s voice.

  “Maybe.” He couldn’t give him what he wanted, but he was softening. Clint and Lori had gone all out for this wedding. “I do thank you for the beautiful ceremony.”

  “Geneva’s a beautiful human being. She deserved a beautiful wedding,” Clint said. “Lori’s pregnant.”

  “Congratulations. I think there’s something in the water. We’ve got a lot of pregnant women here today.” He glanced over where Theo Taggart was gently cupping his wife Erin’s growing belly.

  Damn but that reminded him that nothing was certain. There were no guarantees. They had to hold on to love with everything they had.

  “If it’s a girl we would like your permission to name her Geneva,” Clint said. “Because we wouldn’t be here without her. She saved us all. I know you’re still angry…please think about it.”

  He looked out where his wife was still in her wedding gown, her eyes glowing as she laughed at something Nat said. She would never name a child after herself, but it would be good to have another Genny in his life. His niece. They were standing on the land Genny had saved. “I think that’s a great idea.”

  “Thank you. I’m going to go and see if the car’s on its way. We’ll make sure Ash has a good time while he’s staying out here,” Clint p
romised.

  Ash wanted to hang out at the ranch while they were on their honeymoon. Loa Mali was calling their name. A full two weeks on the beach with his gorgeous wife was made easier by knowing Ash would be taken care of. Clint had promised to show him another side of the town he’d grown up in. “I appreciate it. We’ll be okay one day, brother.”

  “I pray for that day.” Clint nodded and walked off.

  He smiled as he heard the band starting to warm up. Emily and Coop had come. Damn but he’d missed them. Sometimes he was almost certain fate had brought them back into his life. She’d needed a bodyguard and his old friend, Coop, had called him in. Emily had been on the verge of country music stardom at the time, but all Cooper had wanted was the girl he was in love with to be safe. Watching their love story play out had made him ready for his own. He waved at them but made his way to the table he truly belonged at. His groomsmen were sitting together at one table. Once they’d been a team of bodyguards and one by one they’d all fallen—not in the line of duty but into some woman’s arms, and that was the best way to fall.

  Remy Guidry looked up, a smile on his face. “Hey, there’s the man of the hour. I see your old friend is here. Not many people get to say Emily Young was their wedding singer.”

  Wade was fairly certain that Cajun accent had gotten ten times deeper since Remy and Lisa had moved back to Louisiana to take over his family’s business.

  He grinned because he was pretty sure everyone was star struck by Emily. “Ah, you know I’m sure she does that for all her friends. She told me she misses playing small venues now that she does her own stadium tours. I say, hey, Em, gotta barn for you right here.” He chuckled. “I’m happy she and Coop could make it. Did you get to see Sadie and Chase?”

  He missed Sean’s spitfire niece, and he liked the hell out of her new husband.

  “Yeah, she looks great,” Shane said. “I did not tell her that we’ve gone through three receptionists in the year and a half since she left. No one can handle the big guy’s bad temper.”

  “He does not handle transition well,” Declan said.

  “He doesn’t handle transition at all.” Wade had been dealing with the problem for a year and a half. Genny made a million excuses for the boss she’d come to love. “Shane and I have been trying to get him to refill the spots you guys left open. He always finds something wrong with the candidate. Sometimes the candidate walks out in the middle of the interview. One of them actually ran. It’s crazy.”

  “The big guy will come around,” Remy said, though his expression told a different story.

  “Do you think so?” Riley asked. “After what happened with Ezra and his group? I don’t know. He hasn’t been the same since.”

  Munich. It all came back to the Munich op. He hadn’t been on it, but he’d been around for the fallout. It was a miracle any of them survived. The men they’d called the Lost Boys had always had the deck stacked against them. They hadn’t known the true threat would come from within.

  Remy shook his head. “He can’t blame himself. No one saw that coming.”

  “I’ve told him that same thing a hundred times,” Wade replied with a shake of his head. “He’s taking the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

  “No one could have known. He played everyone. We all thought he was…” Shane pushed back from the table. “I don’t want to think about him. I want to forget what happened to those men and focus on the fact that we’re all good. Our team. We were lucky. We’re all whole and here.”

  It was his wedding night. There would be more than enough time to deal with the way the world had changed since Munich. He was going to take this time to be happy.

  Dec slapped Shane on the shoulder. “You’re right. Tonight we celebrate.”

  “The dancing is about to start so grab your girls,” Wade offered with a smile.

  Remy stood, walking off toward the front of the barn. Wade thought he was going to look for the boss. He was grateful someone was going to try to pull Ian back into the group.

  “Hey, y’all,” Emily said, her sweet voice coming over the speaker. “We want to welcome everyone to Broken Bend, Texas, and to the wedding of some special friends of mine. Would Mr. and Mrs. Rycroft like to share their first dance?”

  He looked over and Genny was glancing around, searching for him.

  He moved to her, his eyes never leaving that face he loved.

  He took her hand. They’d kissed for the first time not a hundred yards from here. He’d touched her the first time right here in this barn, his young soul wanting to mesh with hers. Even then he’d known how much he loved her.

  “Will you dance with me, Geneva?”

  The smile she gave him was past brilliant. “I would love to.”

  He took her hand as the slow country music filled the barn, the lights above them twinkling like stars.

  She was in his arms and he was finally home.

  * * * *

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Lexi Blake, discover Arranged, Dungeon Games, Adored, and Devoted.

  Author’s Note

  When I started this book I wasn’t really thinking about domestic abuse. It was a plot line, a way to get these two characters together, but somewhere in the middle of the book, my characters taught me something. Genny had a reaction I didn’t think she would have and I realized this subject was far more than a plot device. There are Gennys out there and I pray they all find their Wades, but my hope with this book is to shine a small light on the women and men living in abusive relationships. There is help and hope. And know that your whole book community stands with you.

  If you are in an abusive relationship, please contact the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at www.thehotline.org. If you are worried that your computer is being monitored, please find a safe way to call 1-800-799-SAFE. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-855-812-1011.

  Even in the darkest night, the stars are there. Clouds might hide them, but they are there, giving us the hope of light.

  Much love,

  Lexi

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  Close Cover by Lexi Blake

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  Remy Guidry doesn’t do relationships. He tried the marriage thing once, back in Louisiana, and learned the hard way that all he really needs in life is a cold beer, some good friends, and the occasional hookup. His job as a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart gives him purpose and lovely perks, like access to Sanctum. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman with stars in her eyes and babies in her future.

  Lisa Daley’s life is going in the right direction. She has graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.

  There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out. Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse.

  As the mob closes in, Remy takes his tempting new charge back to the safest place he knows—his home in the bayou. Surrounded by his past, he can’t help wondering if Lisa is his future. To answer that question, he just has to keep her alive.

  * * * *

  Her
Guardian Angel by Larissa Ione

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  After a difficult childhood and a turbulent stint in the military, Declan Burke finally got his act together. Now he’s a battle-hardened professional bodyguard who takes his job at McKay-Taggart seriously and his playtime – and his playmates – just as seriously. One thing he never does, however, is mix business with pleasure. But when the mysterious, gorgeous Suzanne D’Angelo needs his protection from a stalker, his desire for her burns out of control, tempting him to break all the rules…even as he’s drawn into a dark, dangerous world he didn’t know existed.

  Suzanne is an earthbound angel on her critical first mission: protecting Declan from an emerging supernatural threat at all costs. To keep him close, she hires him as her bodyguard. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that she’s in over her head, defenseless against this devastatingly sexy human who makes her crave his forbidden touch.

  Together they’ll have to draw on every ounce of their collective training to resist each other as the enemy closes in, but soon it becomes apparent that nothing could have prepared them for the menace to their lives…or their hearts.

  * * * *

  Justify Me by J. Kenner

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  McKay-Taggart operative Riley Blade has no intention of returning to Los Angeles after his brief stint as a consultant on mega-star Lyle Tarpin’s latest action flick. Not even for Natasha Black, Tarpin’s sexy personal assistant who’d gotten under his skin. Why would he, when Tasha made it absolutely clear that—attraction or not—she wasn’t interested in a fling, much less a relationship.