His To Protect (Four Seasons Security Book 1)

by Bianca Wynters

  This man is so quickly stealing my heart. He is just so easy to be around. He makes me feel safe.

  I wake up early, and my first thought is damn my back hurts, and I miss my bed! The air mattress is not bad, but I am thankful that I will have my new bed before tonight. I roll off of the air mattress and make my way to the shower. I love that this house has hot water on demand, no more short showers, at least not because of a lack of hot water. After my shower, I check my email on my phone and then lose myself to Facebook. I find myself laughing because there are multiple conversations regarding anal sex and butter. Both books that are being talked about I have read, and I loved both of them. Before I know it there is a knock at the door. Yay, my furniture is here.

  It doesn’t take long for the movers to get my furniture set up and ready to go. I realize that I do not have sheets to fit my new bed and I need a rug for my floors. I have to go out today anyway; I had an email from school saying they have some documents that need a signature before everything can be processed and finalized. So I will just stop while I am out. I will txt Ash and let him know to just send me the address to his dad’s house, and I will meet him there for dinner instead of him picking me up.

  After taking care of the documents at school, I head up to the Northlake Mall so I can hit Macy’s and JC Penny’s to get sheets for my bed. I don’t know where time has gone. I need to be back home already getting ready to have dinner with Ash and his family. There is a TJ Maxx close to the Mall, so I will swing in there and grab something to wear to dinner. I know he said dress for comfort, but that doesn’t mean I can't be cute. I get parked at TJ Maxx and start to walk into the store when I freeze mid-step. My eyes and brain have to be playing tricks on me. Josh is standing next to a car talking to someone. I don’t think he has seen me, so I use the vehicles between us to hide as I make my way back to my truck.

  What the hell is he doing here? Is this why he was gone before I left to come here. Does he know that I am here? It has to be a coincidence. When I climb back into my truck I am shaking so bad, I am not sure I can drive, but I have to get out of here. If nothing else but to leave this parking lot and stop somewhere where I can calm down. As I am backing out of my parking spot, I look back in the direction that Josh was standing and I see him walking down the aisle I am on. He catches my eyes, and he has a genuine look of surprise on his face which quickly turns into a devious grin. I look away and quickly leave the parking lot.

  I set the navigation in my truck to home so that I do not have to try and remember where I am just yet. This is one part about moving that I hate, is not knowing where I am going so I can map out multiple routes. Thankfully, I will have Ash for a little while, and he said he will help teach me my way around the area. Oh no, Ash, I am going to be late. Once, I get down the road a little and know that Josh is not following me, I will reprogram my navigation to take me to meet Ash. What I really want to do is just go on home, but there is no excuse I can tell Ash where the end result doesn’t end up with him at my house. My only other option is to show up and try and act my way through dinner and pretend that I am just tired and need to go home and catch up on sleep. Although that is the only viable option, I do not have high hopes for it to work since I know I suck as an actress and Ash is the most observant person I have ever met.

  I call Ash to let him know that I am on my way and ask if he needs me to stop and pick up anything. I have approximately fifteen to twenty minutes of driving, depending on traffic and construction, to give myself a pep talk so that I have it together when I reach the house.

  Chapter 22

  Ash

  I wanted to pick her up, but she called me earlier today telling me that she would just meet me because she had a few things she needed to take care of and wasn’t sure she would make it back to her house to meet me by four thirty. I knew deep down that she would find a way for me not to pick her up. Having her own car at the house leaves her an exit strategy if she feels like she needs one. This girl of mine is a runner, even if she doesn’t think so. I can see it because I have had the same thought process before. I really don’t like to be anywhere without a known way to get away if I can help it.

  Even with Lana on my mind, today has turned out to be genuinely productive. All they guys made it in safely last night. The team has grown, last I was told was Brad, Xav, and Neil were the only people coming down. However, Eric, Frankie, and Leo all decided that since their ops were over that, they would come down and help us out. I have to say, I am grateful, the more people I have to protect my family the better. Clara and Nicole cooked breakfast for everyone this morning; it is a good thing they fixed enough to feed a small army. Brad and Nicole must have hugged for a solid five minutes this morning when they first saw each other. As far a brother and sister go they are about as close as you can get, they had a rough childhood but they had each other, and it shows in their relationship today. If Brad didn’t know Eric as well as he does, I would have thought I was going to have to break up a fight when Eric hugged Nicole. I saw the moment Brad realized where his thoughts were going because he grinned and shook his head. We know Eric is very happily married to Trina, they have the type of love that is undeniable; the type that we all secretly are hoping to find. Trina is just as much a part of the team as Eric; she is always cooking for us and making sure that we are on task outside of work. When she finds out that the op Eric is on right now is protecting Clara and Nicole, she is going to have all our asses for not letting her know. As far as I know, they didn’t tell her where they were going, which in this line of work is sometimes necessary. This will be Eric’s last op, though; he is retiring so that he can stay home to be close to Trina since they just found out they are expecting a little boy. Even though we hate to lose him from the team, they will both always be family to us.

  After our greetings and a huge breakfast, I lead the team down to the basement so we could set up our computer equipment and start planning what needs to be done next. We reviewed the information in Andrew’s file; we also reviewed the police report from my dad’s wreck. Frankie is going to have a look at what is left of the car. Xavier is going to start recon on Andrew and will feed information on his whereabouts and contacts back here to Neil and Leo so they can work their computer magic. Neil and Leo will also help to keep an eye on dad and Clara. They have both had medical training, so that makes them the perfect fit to be around to watch dad for any late complications from his accident. Brad is going to the hospital with Nicole so he can meet our three doctors, Hunter, Bryan, and Michael. I will spend the day going through reports and piecing information together. I did tell everyone that about Lana coming over for dinner tonight, but I want them to stay scarce if possible so that she doesn’t get overwhelmed by everyone just yet.

  It’s close to four thirty when Lana calls to say she is on her way over. She says she is up by Northlake Mall. I want to ask her what she has been up to all day, but I will wait until she gets here. Even though I have spent the day working, I have still spent much of the day thinking about her. This girl just undoes me, and I cannot figure out how or why. She sounds a little distracted when we talk, but she is driving so I decide to let it go for now. I am just so ready to see her. I did warn Clara and dad to leave the photo albums put up, to at least wait until after dinner before they start trying to embarrass me.

  I hear her pull up to the house and just as I am stepping out the door my phone rings. When I see it is Xav I decide to answer it, even though I know it will have to be a quick call. ‘Xav, what’s up?’

  “Ash, I hate to interrupt your dinner, but you are going to want to see the photos I just took. We definitely have a few new players, and you are not going to be happy. I just sent the files to Neil and Leo so they should be waiting on you. Is Lana there yet? If not prepare yourself, she is going to need you, even if she won’t admit it so stick close. Go look at the pictures, and you will understand. Call if you need anything. Otherwise, we will see you in the morning.”

  We
hang up just as I reach Lana’s truck door. When she steps out, she stumbles a little, and I catch her around her waist. I kiss her on the forehead while I have her close. When we pull apart a little so we can see each other, I notice she is pale. I go to close her truck door, and I notice her gun is sitting out on the console.

  ‘Lana, baby what’s wrong?’

  “Nothing, I’m fine; just a little tired is all.”

  ‘Lana, your gun is out on the console. You usually keep it in the door, so you can’t tell me that nothing is wrong. I know you well enough to know that you don’t move your gun unless you have a reason so please tell me what is going on.’

  “Ash, I really am ok, but I do have something to tell you, but let’s just have dinner first, then we can talk.”

  Well, Clara and dad ran out to the store, but they should be back soon. I need to take care of something for work really quick before dinner.

  “Ash, we can do a raincheck on dinner if you need to work. I am tired anyway, so I really don’t mind if we need to reschedule.”

  ‘Not so fast, you are not getting out of dinner that easy; besides a couple of the guys are downstairs, and I want you to meet them. I promise it won’t take long at all; I just need to look at a couple of surveillance photos that Xav just sent in.”

  She nods her head in agreement and walks into the house with me. I don’t like that she hasn’t told me what scared her enough to move her gun. I know her type her fear is going to turn into anger, and that is when she will lose rational thought about whatever it is that scared her to begin with.

  I give her a partial tour of the house before we head downstairs to see Neil and Leo. When we walk into the basement I greet the guys, but before I can do anything more Leo is out of his chair “Lana, is that really you? It has been too long.” He walks over to us and wraps Lana in a hug which she genuinely returns and starts laughing. “Leo, how have you been?” The hug lasted a little longer than I like, enough that I catch a small growl coming from me. I suppress it, though; I am not a complete Neanderthal. As soon as he sets her back down, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her back into me. Leo takes a step back, and Neil takes a step forward. “well it seems that I am the only one here who has not had the pleasure of meeting you, I’m Neil, computer genius at your service. This makes Lana smile, and she reaches out to shake his hand, which he in turn takes and kisses the back. I’m sure just to get a rise out of me. When Lana gets her hand back, I ask how she and Leo know each other. Apparently, Leo knew her brother and met her one weekend. Then later that year they saw each other in a medical flight training program. As much as the familiarity between Leo and Lana makes me uncomfortable, it is good to know he will care about her safety almost as much as I do.

  ‘Xav said he sent in some photos that we need to look at.’ Neil walks back over to the computer and pulls the pictures up on the screen but also hands me a hard copy that he printed out. Neil starts talking, but I am focused on the picture in my hand. I now know what scared Lana. The picture is of Josh, and he is grinning at someone in a truck. That truck is Lana’s. The very next picture is of Lana’s face. Neil is talking “we are running facial recognition on the guy and the girl in the truck.”

  ‘You don’t need to run facial recognition; I know who it is. His name is Josh.’ About that time, Neil flips pictures to look at the girl in the truck; he is about to ask about running facial recognition on her until he looks up and sees her moving across the room to stand next to me. “Lana you’re the girl in the picture.”

  I turn to her as she steps beside me. “So, I guess I don’t need to tell you why my gun was out on my console anymore huh?” The look she gives me when she says it makes me chuckle. ‘Oh, baby girl, now you have a lot of explaining to do.’ She just sighs and walks over to the couch and plops down with a big sigh.

  “I had just left the mall and was going to run into TJ Maxx before I came here. When I started making my way into the store, I saw him. I hid behind cars and made my way back to my truck before he could see me. Unfortunately, when I was backing out, he rounded the corner just as I turned my head, so he was able to see me. I didn’t stop; I just kept on going. I had my gun out and on the console before I was ever out of the parking lot. I made sure he wasn’t following me then I called you to let you know I was on my way. If he would have been following me I wouldn’t have come here; there is no way I would have led him to you.” When she says that last statement I do not know how to feel. She would face him alone when she doesn’t have too. I’m not sure what look I have on my face, but it apparently upset Lana. “Ash, please tell me you know I wouldn’t have come here if he was following me. There is no way I would lead him to your family, not ever, but especially not now with everything else going on.”

  ‘Lana, sweetie, I know you would not deliberately bring him to my family. What upsets me is that you have been here only a couple of days and he is already here. I wish you would have called me when you saw him.’

  Chapter 23

  Lana

  Ash, I was so surprised to see him that it didn’t cross my mind to tell you he is here. I have been dealing with his shit on my own, so telling someone else that I see him is not a natural reaction for me; I am used to handling things on my own. However, now that I know he is here, I need to stay away from you, because you have enough going on without having to deal with my psycho ex. In fact, I need to go home and start getting things ready for my eventual standoff with him. Before I even finish the thought and get the sentence about leaving out, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye, and Ash grabs my hand.

  “Lana, don’t even think about leaving. If I remember correctly, I inserted myself into your trouble by telling your psycho ex, as you called him, that we were getting married. So, therefore, I am already involved, and I intend to stay involved at the very least until he is no longer a threat to you.”

  When I turn my head, I see that the movement I saw earlier was Leo moving to stand in front of the stairs, as if he is blocking my way out. Before I can say anything in reply to Ash, Leo says “He is right, Lana. Now that I know you are in trouble, there is no way I will let you deal with some psycho ex by yourself. Your brother was too good of a friend to even consider not helping you; he would hand me my ass if I didn’t help. I know you can handle yourself, I know Jake made sure you could. But it never hurts to have a little help in your corner. So basically, your choice is to let us help you, or you can go home alone, and we will still help you without you ever knowing we are there; it is what we are trained to do. Your choice.”

  I turn back to Ash, who has a smirk on his face and I can see he is trying to hide a laugh. Fine, I won’t leave right now. Ash finally laughs as he reaches out and wraps his arms around my waist pulling me into him. When he is done laughing he kisses my forehead, “welcome to the team love.” At this point, all I can do is shake my head.

  Ok, I will let you guy help, as long as no one gets hurt. If someone gets hurt the deal is off, and I am out I will handle it on my own. Not saying that you guys are not good at your jobs, but it can happen, and I will not let that asshole hurt anyone else I care about.

  Ash starts to say something when we hear a crash upstairs, and someone screams for Ash. We all take off running upstairs. When we get to the kitchen, we see who I presume is his dad on the floor with a young woman leaning over him. Ash runs over to them. “Dad, dad, dad. Clara, what happened? While Ash is talking to his sister, I find myself checking for a pulse and breathing. I don’t say anything; I just start CPR. It is like I am on autopilot, I don’t have time to stop and think that this is Ash’s dad. I notice Leo move into position to help with the CPR. I tell him that my jump bag is in my truck and I left it open with the keys in it. He tells me he sent Neil downstairs to get his.

  Neil makes it back upstairs with the bag, and I am almost excited to see that he has an AED machine with him. I hate that we need one at all, but am very glad we have one. Neil puts the pads on while I continue compres
sions. Once the machine is on and checking to see if shock is required Leo and I change places so he can take over compressions. When he takes over compressions I will use the ambu bag for breaths. I look up to see Ash holding a distraught Clara, or whom I presume to be Clara. I catch his eyes. I focus back on what we are doing and ask Neil if he called for an ambulance and he nods that he did. When the AED machine said it recommends shock, I look at Ash and tell him to take his sister to the living room to the front of the house so when the ambulance gets here; they can show them where to go. He nods and pulls her with him.

  Neil, Leo, and I continue to work as we wait for the ambulance. Just as we shock him for the second time, Ash leads the paramedics into the room. I start rattling off report to the paramedic and move out of their way to let them do their job so they can get to the hospital.

  We all follow outside where the paramedics load the gurney into the ambulance. Neil and Leo take Clara and put her in Ash’s truck. Ash and I watch the doors on the ambulance close. I turn to him and tell him that if he knows his dad’s doctor well then, they should call and have him paged on the way in so he can meet them there, it will help since he will know the history. He shakes his head never looking at me and watches the ambulance drive away. “Yea, we will call Hunter on the way, and he will meet the ambulance.” I nod and squeeze his hand. Ash, you need to go; they need you. Call me when you know something, or if you need anything. I am parked behind him, so we stop at my truck, and I hug and kiss him bye. Before I climb in I see Leo move around Ash’s truck; he lets me know that he is driving so that I do not worry about the drive to the hospital. I kiss Ash on the cheek, tasting the salt of his tears, and say goodbye, reminding him to call me if he needs me.

  Chapter 24