Born To Protect

by Christina Tetreault

  “Don’t make this hard and you won’t get hurt.” The creep tried to jerk her back upright.

  Yeah right, buddy. Before he tried pulling her along with him again, she sank her teeth into his palm. When he jerked his hand away, she reached her free arm behind her and grabbed. Becca squeezed for all she was worth and slammed her heel into his shin.

  “You bitch,” the creep snarled, gasping in pain.

  For a brief moment, the arm around her body loosened and Becca bolted.

  She didn’t look to see if anyone was following her. She didn’t have to. She could hear the creep’s heavy breathing and footsteps behind her.

  Somehow she made it to the stairwell door without getting caught. Pushing it open, she ran down the metal steps, expecting that at any moment an arm would yank her off her feet and carry her back up.

  Please don’t let me break anything. She jumped down the last three steps. Stumbling a little, she shoved her body against the door and half fell onto the other side.

  Becca ignored the stares as she sprinted across the glass bridge connecting the garage to the hospital and hopefully to safety.

  “Security.” Barely able to breathe, she leaned into the hospital’s reception desk. “I need,” she paused and tried to take in a decent breath, “security.” She gasped out the word again. “Someone attacked me.”

  “You were attacked?” The hospital employee gave her a skeptical look, but she reached for the phone.

  Taking a deep breath, Becca nodded. “In the garage. Please. I need security.” She looked over her shoulder. She hadn’t seen who grabbed her, but no one around her jumped out as the likely culprit.

  ***

  “Damn it.” Connor stood so quickly his chair toppled over. The sound of it hitting the floor had everyone turning their attention his way. “Are you okay?”

  He shoved a hand through his hair and mentally cursed. He hadn’t wanted to leave her earlier. Since she’d claimed a soak in the hot tub was her only plan while he was gone, he’d decided she’d be fine until he got back. Rather than leave her alone, he should’ve taken her with him tonight. Ax might have insisted Becca stay on the main level in one of the rooms reserved for meetings with clients, but at least she would’ve been safe. Instead, he’d left her unprotected, and she’d nearly been abducted.

  But she wasn’t. The reminder did nothing to ease the anger and fear buzzing around inside him. Anger not only directed at himself but at whoever had tried to hurt her. Anger he could manage. He didn’t know how to deal with the damn fear. The useless emotion had never plagued him. At the moment, it was making up for missed time.

  “Who’s with you?” he asked before she managed to answer his previous question.

  “I’m sitting in the security office with a hospital police officer. There are two officers from the metro police here too, as well as Graham.” Becca’s voice shook just enough for him to notice. Considering what she’d experienced, she seemed to be holding it together well.

  He didn’t know what kind of condition Graham was in. He only knew Becca’s brother had been in a car accident, and she’d gone to the hospital to pick him up. He may or may not be able to protect Becca. Uniformed officers might deter whoever had tried to grab her as long as she stayed put. If she entered the garage, the dude might try again. And this time he might have reinforcements with him.

  “Can you come pick us up?”

  Like she needed to ask. He’d already pulled his keys out. “Stay put. Don’t go anywhere alone. Not even the restroom.”

  Connor righted his chair and headed straight for Ax’s office. “Got to go.”

  Ax’s head shot up. “What happened?”

  “Someone tried to abduct Becca outside Washington General.”

  His boss stood and came around the desk. “Is she okay?”

  He hadn’t given her a chance to answer that question. Since she’d called him, Connor assumed she was physically fine. Her mental state was something else entirely, but he’d deal with it later. “Yeah, but scared.”

  “Bring her back here as soon as possible.”

  “You think this is tied to Kassidy’s disappearance?” Ax wouldn’t tell him to bring Becca back otherwise.

  Leaning against the desk, Ax crossed his arms and nodded. “I was about to give the team an update. I’ll fill you in on the details when you get back.”

  He’d wasted enough time talking. Any other info could wait until he had Becca safely by his side.

  The likelihood that whoever had tried to grab Becca sat inside the hospital’s main atrium was slim. Regardless, Connor checked out every individual he passed as he crossed toward the reception desk. Not a single person sent up any red flags.

  He stopped at the desk and angled his body so he could watch the building’s main entrance. “I’m looking for the security office.”

  The silver-haired granny ran a critical eye over him before she spoke. “We had a little incident earlier.”

  Little? A possible kidnapping was a hell of a lot more than a little incident. Connor guessed she was trying not to worry visitors.

  “Security wants me to ask for identification before calling them. Then they will come and escort any visitors down to the office,” the granny continued, in a voice that could lull a crying baby to sleep.

  The precaution was warranted, even if it did slow him down. Connor pulled out his driver’s license and handed it over.

  She looked at the identification and glanced at him before she handed it back. “Officer McGregor said you’d be arriving. One moment please.” She picked up the phone and dialed. “Mr. Anderson is here.”

  When Becca said a hospital police officer was with her, he’d hoped the dude and the ones from metro were seasoned cops with bulging biceps. He didn’t know about the ones who remained with her, but the cop before him didn’t look like she could stop a mouse.

  “Officer McGregor,” the petite uniformed officer, who couldn’t possibly be a day over twenty-four, said. “I’ll bring you down to the security office, Mr. Anderson.”

  No one, not even his accountant, called him Mr. Anderson. “It’s Connor. And thank you.”

  He followed the young officer down a maze of halls. Despite not being on a floor that contained any patient or treatment rooms, the air around him still reeked of hospital. He didn’t know why, but every hospital he’d ever been in smelled the same. A weird combination of industrial cleaner, concern, and death clung to them all.

  Using her security badge, Officer McGregor entered the office and then led him across to a door marked Conference Room. He found Becca, her brother, and two uniformed police officers who fit the bill of what he wanted around Becca seated at the table.

  “Wish it was under different circumstances, but it’s nice to see you,” Graham said after each of the officers introduced themselves. He stood to shake Connor’s hand.

  Graham had numerous bruises and scratches on his face and arms, as well as a bandage covering a section of his forehead. Otherwise, he appeared in decent shape, considering he’d been in a car accident.

  “Yeah, you too.” He moved past Graham and around the table to Becca. She had no visible marks, but her eyes revealed the hell she’d gone through.

  He wanted to yank her into his arms and hold her. Instead, he crouched in front of her and put a hand on either side of her waist. “How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.” Her voice didn’t reveal the emotions churning inside her, but the trembling hands in her lap did. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Anytime, anywhere.” He cleared his throat as another emotion replaced the fear clawing through his gut. “And for the foreseeable future, I’ll be your shadow.” He didn’t care if she wanted full-time protection or not. After what happened tonight, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

  Rather than disagree, she nodded—a response he welcomed because he hadn’t been looking forward to arguing with her. Especially since, in the end, she’d lose anyway. Some fights he�
��d concede. This wasn’t one of them.

  Connor looked back at the room’s other occupants. “Is it okay for them to leave?” The sooner he got her brother home, the sooner he’d have her safely back at Elite Force, protected by all the security measures they employed.

  The cop who had introduced himself as Sergeant Holderson answered, “They’re free to go. If we locate a suspect, we’ll call. We’ll need her to come to the station for identification.”

  “If you need Becca, I’ll bring her down, Sergeant.”

  He held her hand as the three of them followed Officer McGregor back through the hospital maze and into the busy atrium. He waited until the officer left them before speaking. “Ax wants you to come back to Elite Force with me.”

  “As in the security firm?” Graham asked, sounding surprised. “Do you work for them?”

  Evidently, Becca hadn’t told her brother much, if anything, about him. But now wasn’t the time for catching up. “Yeah. I was there when Becca called me,” Connor answered. “Ax will have someone pick up your car later.” The cost of keeping the vehicle in the garage overnight would be pricey, but it beat jeopardizing her safety.

  “I’ve got a better idea,” Graham said. “Give me the keys and I’ll drive it to my house. When Becca gets around to it, she can pick it up there.”

  She looked at him. “What do you think, Connor?”

  “Up to you.” But you’re sure as hell not getting behind the wheel. In his experience, women didn’t like being told what to do. “But I don’t like the idea. Whoever went after you might be looking for your car. If Graham leaves in it, he might be in danger.” He paused so his words could soak in before he continued. “It’d be safer to leave it here. We can drop Graham off at home before we go to the firm.”

  “What do you think, Graham?”

  “If Connor thinks it’d be better to leave the car, then we’ll leave it.”

  Connor flanked her on the right, so his right hand remained unobstructed in case he needed to grab the 9mm holstered under his shirt. Graham closed in on her left as they exited the elevator on the garage’s third level. They passed a few individuals, but none did any more than cast a quick glance in their direction before going about their business.

  He continued scanning the area as Becca and Graham spoke. Nothing Connor saw concerned him, but he kept his senses on high alert. There were too many damn blind spots in the garage.

  They stopped alongside her car long enough for her to retrieve her sunglasses.

  “I’m on this level too.” He kept his left hand locked around hers as they walked over several rows. Once he had her safely locked in his SUV, he cast another look around as he crossed in front of the vehicle. The area appeared empty of people, but from his experience, there was often more around you than you could see. The sooner he got them away from here, the easier he’d breathe.

  With the traffic light, or about as light as it ever got in the city, it didn’t take them long to reach Graham’s home.

  “Get some rest,” Becca called through her open window after her brother exited the vehicle.

  “I will.” Graham kissed her on the cheek. “It looks like Connor has you well covered, but if you need me for anything, call. I don’t care about the time.”

  Connor waited until Graham entered his house before backing out of the driveway.

  “Ax has new information about Kassidy.” Instead of talking, he wanted to lean across the SUV and kiss her. Until he got her somewhere safe, he needed to keep his attention focused on their surroundings.

  “Has she been located?” She sounded too damn optimistic.

  He hated to kill her hope, but he doubted it was the update Ax planned to deliver. If Becca’s stepsister had been found, his boss would’ve told him before Connor rushed out.

  “Don’t know the specifics. Ax was about to give the team an update when I told him I needed to get you.” He checked the rearview mirror again as he turned right. It didn’t appear as if anyone was following them, but it’d be foolish not to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. “But I don’t think so. He would’ve told me so I could pass along the news to you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  A ten-foot wrought-iron fence surrounded the building housing Elite Force Security as well as the firm’s parking lots. Security cameras were posted along the perimeter of the fence, recording everything that went on in and around the premises. An armed guard resided in the gatehouse just outside the fence during business hours. He or she checked the identification of each visitor before allowing them access to the visitor parking area. Once inside, security guards again greeted all guests. As far as Connor knew, not a single individual had ever made it inside the building unless he or she was expected. He couldn’t think of a safer place to bring Becca tonight.

  “So, this is what the home of Elite Force looks like.” Since leaving the hospital, she hadn’t said much, and he hadn’t pushed. Everyone processed traumatic experiences differently. She might need time to work through it in her mind before reaching out for support.

  Connor passed the gatehouse and turned the corner. Employees had their own entrance and parking area. “Now. They built this building twelve years ago when they developed the Hostile Response Team.”

  He stopped at the employee entrance and punched in his personal access code. Everyone who worked at the firm had their own unique code. When the gates slid open, he drove through.

  “It looks like this place has better security than the U.S. Capitol.”

  He’d never entered the Capitol building, but he’d passed by it, and he had to agree.

  “Seems like overkill for a company that offers personal protection and finds missing people,” she commented.

  Connor parked and killed the engine. “We get visited by a lot of high-profile clients. Government officials will occasionally stop by too.”

  What else could he say? He didn’t have the green light to tell her they also carried out covert operations for the government and sometimes worked alongside the best special ops teams the military had.

  “I’ve heard about the firm’s reputation, so I can imagine the clients who have come through.” She opened her door but didn’t exit the vehicle. “I’m not sure I want to go in and hear what your boss has to say.”

  “The team might have found a promising lead.” Ax wanted him back ASAP, but he wasn’t going to rush Becca. If she needed a minute to talk, he’d give it to her.

  “Or he’s going to tell me they suspect she’s dead in a ditch somewhere.”

  He couldn’t dismiss the possibility and wasn’t going to lie. “Better to know either way.”

  She sighed and picked up her wristlet from the floor. “I guess we should go and get this over with, because not hearing isn’t going to change the facts.”

  My thoughts exactly. He met her around the front of the SUV and took her hand. Although behind the security fence, he kept up a quick pace as they crossed the parking lot. A fence could keep a person from grabbing Becca, but it wouldn’t stop a bullet if someone fired in her direction. Since he didn’t know for certain the reason someone wanted her, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that someone might try to kill her.

  At the building’s side entrance, he typed in his access code.

  His first instinct was to take the elevator up to the fourth floor and Ax’s office. As they waited for the elevator to reach them, he reconsidered. Few nonemployees were allowed up there. In fact, even some of the firm’s employees didn’t have access to the floor. Ax might want to meet with Becca in one of the meeting rooms on this level.

  The doors opened, but instead of walking inside, he pulled out his cell phone.

  “Do you want to meet us downstairs or should we come up?” he asked after Ax answered.

  “Come up.”

  Shit. If Ax was allowing her upstairs, whatever update he had wasn’t good.

  Becca pointed to the unmarked door on her left when they stepped off the elevator. “W
hat’s through there?”

  “Our cyber division. I don’t know how they do what they do, but the people in there are geniuses.” Connor pulled open the door to HRT’s half of the floor.

  Ax sat behind his desk, barking out orders to whoever was on the other end of the phone. When he saw Connor and Becca at his door, he gestured for them to enter. “Do that.” After ending the call, he stood. “Let’s use the team meeting room.” He came around the desk and stopped near Becca. “Ax Germaine.” He held his hand out. “Wish we were meeting under different circumstances, Ms. André.”

  As she reached for Ax’s hand, anyone nearby would’ve noticed how her hand shook. “I’d prefer if you called me Becca.”

  Ax cracked half a smile, an event that rarely happened. “Will do.” He sounded pleased, and Connor wasn’t surprised.

  Many of the clients who hired the firm and traveled in Becca’s social circles walked into the joint expecting preferential treatment. They all but forbade employees from using their first names. Becca’s statement told Ax she wasn’t like her society counterparts, something he could’ve told Ax if he’d asked.

  “Did Connor tell you why he brought you back here?” His boss walked alongside them as they headed for the team meeting room.

  “He mentioned you had an update on Kassidy.”

  “We do, and I’m hoping you can answer a few questions that might help us.”

  “Of course.” She squeezed Connor’s hand, and he returned the gesture.

  When they reached the team meeting room, Ax opened the door and glanced at him. “Get Keith. He’s working as our liaison with Lafayette Labs.”

  He hated to leave her, but when Ax gave a command, you carried it out.

  Connor nodded. “Be right back.” He squeezed her hand again and dropped a kiss on her cheek. He didn’t care if his boss stood only feet away.

  She didn’t know what Connor’s boss had done before coming to Elite Force, but she was glad Ax Germaine worked for the good guys. Several inches taller than Connor, the man was built like a heavyweight boxer. A faded scar ran from the corner of his left eyebrow to his jaw. She didn’t need a demonstration to know he could probably snap a person’s neck with the two giant paws masquerading as hands.