Ruthless Peril_Military Romantic Suspense

by Emily Jane Trent

  “Yeah, yeah…all in a day’s work at Stealth, right, boss?” Tessa said. “Now, what was that about a ride home, and can we hit a drive-thru on the way? I’m craving something greasy and horrible for me.”

  Before leaving, she stepped over to Hunter and put her hand on his cheek. She kissed his lips, and in a conspiratorial whisper said, “I’ll look forward to that date…and don’t screw it up this time.”

  ***

  Hunter dug one hand in her hair and pressed her close, then kissed her like he meant it. He pulled back to look in her eyes. “You did great tonight.”

  Tessa rewarded him with a sexy smile, then followed Travis. The boss held the door open for her, and she climbed in.

  Hunter held his bloodied shirt in one hand. It would go in the garbage. The bandages on his side and shoulder were very visible in the flashing red and blue lights. But the pain was better. The medic had given him something for it.

  With the perpetrator of the night’s excitement cuffed and secured in the back seat, the police cruiser pulled away from the curb then disappeared down the dark street. The curious neighbors began to fade away into their houses. Where were you when that kidnapper pulled her out of the trunk?

  Hunter watched Tessa drive away. Then he walked to his own vehicle and hopped in. Thank God that she was safe.

  ***

  The next day, Tessa slept in until nearly lunch. The sunlight streamed into her apartment windows. Her head ached and her body was bruised. But she was glad to be alive. She hugged her pillow and thought about Hunter.

  Bare-chested, bloody and battered, Hunter had looked like some sort of gladiator. She visualized his broad shoulders and chiseled muscles. “Mmm,” she said, and buried her face in the pillow.

  The next date would surely go much better than the first date. Tessa looked forward to it. By the time the sergeant arrived to interview her, it was after four in the afternoon. She’d managed to shower, dress, and look presentable. Her skin was raw from the duct-tape incident, and she was sore from banging around on sidewalks, car trunks, and countertops. Plus, thudding onto the floor while bound to a chair hadn’t helped.

  Tessa was willing to give the interview, and didn’t want to postpone it. It would help convict Caleb and make sure he didn’t brutalize any other woman. She’d been able to stand up to the guy’s rough handling. But she had the advantage of training and preparation that another might not.

  Aside from the kidnapping, the guy had a rap sheet a mile long, and he was only one strike away from jail time. His recent stunt was all it would take to put him away. When the sergeant left, Tessa closed the door and flipped the deadbolt. She leaned against the door and took a deep breath, digging her toes into the thick carpet.

  A heavy knock vibrated through the door, making her jump. Her nerves were a bit frazzled from last evening’s events. Without checking the peephole, she opened the door.

  “Sergeant Marks, did you forget…” But it wasn’t the sergeant standing outside her door. It was Hunter, and he was holding a small bouquet of orchids, a bottle of wine, and a bag of takeout.

  Tessa was too stunned to speak, and Hunter shifted from one foot to the other. His large frame filled the doorway. The nervous look on his face made her heart melt and her stomach flip.

  “Can I come in? This bag is burning my fingers.”

  Tessa laughed and leaned against the doorframe. “I thought you were going to let me cook this time?”

  Hunter shrugged. “I’m not an old-fashioned guy; I thought I should do the cooking. Come on, Tessa, the soup is really hot.”

  Tessa looked at Hunter, making him wait. Then she smiled and opened the door wide to let him in. He handed her the flowers, then headed for the kitchen with the food and wine.

  The scent of the flowers wafted up, and Tessa buried her nose in them. Then she put them next to the bottle of wine. “I love a guy who brings flowers.”

  Hunter grinned. “I’ll have to remember that.” He took her hand. “I passed the cop in the hall.”

  “Yes, he just finished interviewing me.”

  When Hunter grinned, Tessa tipped her head to the side. “What…you get a kick out of police interviews?”

  “No, not that,” Hunter said. “It just struck me that the kidnapper’s biggest mistake was taking you.”

  Tessa chuckled. “You got that right.”

  Hunter wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, avoiding his injured side. “I’m sure the guy regretted kidnapping you, and wanted to give you back…about the time you broke his nose.”

  “Yeah, well, served him right.” Tessa looked up through her lashes. “It’s not just any man who can handle me.”

  With his lips close to hers, Hunter whispered, “Well…I’d like to try.” Then he kissed her, sweetly at first, then deepened the kiss. Tessa leaned into him, lost in his strong embrace, breathing in his male scent. This date was a lot more like it. The evening would be unforgettable—she could just tell.

  If you enjoyed Ruthless Peril, you’ll love Cold Peril – the first full-length novel in the Stealth Security series. It’s a suspenseful story filled with romance - an all-in-one love story – no cliffhangers.

  Garrett’s past might hold the answer…

  Ex-Navy SEAL Garrett Flynn is employed by Stealth Security to protect celebrity clients. He’d planned to meet Marlene, the younger sister of a marine who died in battle. When he shows up at one of her charity events, a shooter’s sudden attack compels him to be the gorgeous movie star’s bodyguard. Yet a secret haunts him, and he fears it’s the clue to why the killer is after Marlene.

  Cold Peril (Stealth Security Book 1) – a standalone military romantic suspense novel

  Read the first chapter and download your copy: HERE

  BONUS: Click HERE to receive the FREE Military Romantic Suspense:

  Mortal Peril (Stealth Security Prequel) (exclusive content)

  Ex-Navy SEAL Travis faces mortal peril to protect his pregnant wife Melanie.

  Mortal Peril is my gift to new subscribers! Plus, you’ll be the first to hear about new releases, deals and specials!

  And to see all STEALTH SECURITY romances in the series, click: HERE

  A sneak peek at Cold Peril (Stealth Security Book 1)

  Is LOVE worth the risk?

  Ex-Navy SEAL Garrett Flynn is employed by Stealth Security to protect celebrity clients. When he shows up at a charity event, a shooter’s sudden attack compels him to be a gorgeous movie star’s bodyguard. Yet a secret haunts him, and he fears it’s the clue to why the killer is after Marlene Parks.

  Cold Peril: Military Romantic Suspense

  Talking to Garrett was natural, easy. It felt as if Marlene could talk to him all night long. She was comfortable with him, not only because he was there to look out for her. He was a guy that put on no pretense. He was direct, blunt, and seemed interested in her. It was a refreshing combination.

  Dating had been an arduous process for Marlene. Her life was under a microscope, allowing only a minimum of privacy. Any guy she went out with could expect to see his photo plastered across the tabloids, with lots of speculation about his relationship with her.

  What the press didn’t know, they made up. If not outright lies, articles were concoctions of partial truths, implications, or mere guesses. It had taken Marlene a long time to get used to being in the public eye, and really, the things that were said about her still got under her skin.

  One reason Marlene had chosen this restaurant was that it had a no-photos policy. Management didn’t allow the paparazzi inside, and discouraged them from loitering anywhere too close. It was one place that she could go out to eat where there was some semblance of normalcy.

  Garrett was looking at the guests dining around them, and following the motions of waiters. He was on duty. This wasn’t a date, as much as she wished it was. Getting to know him was a slow process. Garrett wasn’t the chatty type, but he didn’t hold back either. He appeared to answer questions hone
stly, although he didn’t elaborate much.

  But everyone had secrets. Marlene had learned that long ago. It was likely that Garrett had more than most, if one added up all the secrecy connected with special ops. Yet she didn’t care to ask about that, knowing he wouldn’t share any details. Her interest was in the man, and what made him tick.

  She understood the motivation of joining the military, but taking on the role of a SEAL was a step beyond. The man’s fortitude, as well as physical strength, had to be superhuman. Garrett was the whole package: physically fit and sexy as hell, handsome, smart, and the best protector a woman could ask for. Marlene’s desire to know him better, to experience intimacy with such a man, was overpowering.

  Garrett looked across the table at her. His blue eyes unnerved her, the way he looked at her, as if he knew…what? It was as if he knew her, understood her better than he should have, after knowing her hardly more than one day. Garrett pushed back from the table.

  Marlene took the last sip of her cappuccino, her indulgence for the evening. She’d already signed the tab. A bonus was that meals with her bodyguard could be expensed—not that money was a concern. “We should probably go,” she said.

  Garrett gave her a nod. Then her phone dinged; it was a text. “Just a sec,” Marlene said. “It’s my mom. She saw the news about yesterday. I should have called her.” Quickly, Marlene responded: I’m fine. Hired a new bodyguard. No need to worry. I’ll call you tomorrow and tell you everything. Love you.

  Garrett leaned forward, with his hands on his knees, prepared to get up. Marlene secured her phone in the small clutch she’d brought with her. She grasped the silk purse in one hand, then remembered her coat was up front and glanced toward the entrance.

  In the next second, the sound of a rifle shot cracked like thunder, and a blinding flash of white scorched her eyes, partially blinding her. It was accompanied by the tinkling of breaking glass, and a vision of glittering crystal exploding through the air. Marlene saw tiny pieces spraying into the room like sparkling stars, and realized the chandelier had burst into thousands of flying shards.

  Marlene heard a loud thud, which could only have been the heavy gold base of the fixture impacting the marble table beneath it. Garrett had his arm around her waist, and had already pulled her under the table. The tablecloth hung down over the sides, providing cover. But he didn’t hesitate. With Marlene in his lap, Garrett was crouched below tabletop level, out of the line of vision to the dining room. He took a couple of powerful strides on bent legs, then was able to thrust one foot out with enough force to kick the emergency door open.

  Once in the back alley, Garrett stood up. As the door closed behind them, Marlene heard shouting from the people still inside. The parking lot was across the alley and Garrett sprinted in that direction with her still in his arms. Samuel opened the door for them, and Garrett ducked inside with her on his lap. “Drive. Now!”

  Faster than she would have thought possible, the limo peeled out of the lot, with tires skidding. “Don’t slow down,” Garrett barked. “We need to get home…out of danger.” He slumped down in the seat so his head wasn’t visible in the windows, and pressed Marlene’s head to his chest.

  Marlene’s heart pounded and she couldn’t get air. Garrett rubbed her arm. “Breathe, Marlene. Breathe.” She gasped, drinking in oxygen, yet still suffocating. “Slow and easy.” Garrett had one strong arm around her, holding her tight. “In and out. In and out.”

  Like a mantra, Marlene repeated the words in her head, trying to focus on breathing. Her heart was pounding so hard it made her ears throb. She was terrorized, but began to calm. Then she was angry. The attacker had returned, scaring her half to death, and she was royally pissed. Between feelings of intimidation and helplessness, Marlene raged at the injustice.

  Glancing up, she could see that Garrett was on high alert. He scanned the scene out the windows, while holding her in a protective embrace. “We’re almost there,” he said. Marlene leaned into him, feeling his strength, imagining how vulnerable she’d be without him.

  The voice of the guard at the gate was a welcome sound. Marlene was home. The place was secured, and she mentally thanked Garrett for posting guards at the perimeter. What had once seemed excessive was now vital. As soon as they were inside the garage, Samuel rolled into a space near the elevator.

  Garrett released Marlene and she sat up, then slid onto the seat beside him. The driver held his phone up as if to read something under the dim garage lights. “What’s this?” He had a piece of paper clutched in his hand, along with his phone.

  “What is it?” Garrett said.

  “You’ll have to take a look.” Samuel handed the folded paper over the seat. “It’s addressed to Marlene.”

  When Marlene reached for the note, her hand trembled. She was still shaken, and the mysterious note didn’t help. She opened it, and Garrett looked over her shoulder as she read it out loud.

  By now, you are aware of what I can do. You should pay attention, Marlene. Your new bodyguard is not welcome. Warn him that he should not interfere. I almost killed him yesterday. Next time, I won’t miss. Heed my words, or you’ll get hurt.

  The message was printed in large letters, but Marlene’s eyes went to the signature scrawled at the bottom, which was the initial B.

  “He signed with his initial. That asshole wants us to know who he is.” Garrett took the note and looked at Samuel, who was visibly shaken. “Where did you get this?”

  “It was just in my pocket,” the driver said, clearly as stunned as they were. “While I waited for you, I’d been leaning against the car, getting some air. I saw a few couples going back to their cars.” He thought for a second. “One guy did brush against me, but I didn’t think anything of it at the time. After that, it was quiet outside, until I heard some kind of explosion. Then you burst out the back of the restaurant.”

  “Goddammit.” Garrett gripped the note in his fist. “The creep managed to slip the note in your pocket without you seeing him. That takes unique skill.” He opened the car door. “Let’s get inside.”

  Low lights shone in the foyer, so they didn’t enter into darkness. But no one else was there. Laura had gone for the evening, and James had the day off. Marlene walked on shaky legs to the library and sank into a leather chair. Garrett typed on his phone, then said, “I let the team know there was an incident at the restaurant but we’re safe. I’ll give them details in a bit.”

  Garrett paced the carpet, still holding the note. “This guy pisses me off.” He lifted the paper, then expelled a breath. “I’m trying to sort this out. It’s of interest that this note was delivered in such a clandestine manner. A man who approaches like a shadow is more than likely ex-military. Or if not, a well-trained professional.”

  Marlene didn’t know what to think of it all. Oddly enough, she thought of calling her mother, worrying over how to explain what had happened. It was alarming that there had been a random shooter at her charity event, but it painted a far worse picture that the man had returned. There was no way to tell her mother that he’d wielded a gun in a restaurant, and her life was in peril, without upsetting her horribly.

  As if realizing her distraught state, Garrett stopped pacing. “I know you must be scared to death.” He walked over to her. “I’ll get this guy. I promise.”

  Then he went to the bar and poured a drink. When Garrett handed her the glass, he said, “Drink this. You’ll feel better.”

  “It’s not white wine.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  Marlene cupped the glass in her hands and took a gulp. It burned on the way down, but seemed to take the edge off her anxiety. She leaned her head against the back of the chair and closed her eyes for a minute. When she opened them, Garrett was sitting on the sofa, looking at her.

  “Better?”

  “A little.” Marlene’s head wasn’t pounding and she could breathe. But she was still severely rattled.

  Garrett hit a button on his phone, then waited.
“Travis, I hope you’re still awake. There was another incident.” He put the phone on the table. “You’re on speakerphone. I’m here with Marlene, back at her place.”

  A gruff man said, “I’m awake now. What happened?”

  “Some idiot shot out the chandelier, some huge French fixture, loaded with crystals. The damn thing exploded in the middle of the restaurant.”

  “At Diamonte’s?”

  “Yes, he was considerate enough to let us eat first, but I heard the rifle shot. He blew out the gold base and the force shattered the crystals. Glass sprayed over the place like fireworks.”

  “Is Marlene hurt?”

  “Shaken up pretty bad,” Garrett said. “We didn’t stick around to see if the perpetrator had any bullets left. I got her the hell out of there. But I’m telling you it’s the same guy.”

  “Has to be.”

  “Expect to hear from the police. See if you can delay them from contacting us. Marlene’s been through enough.”

  Travis growled, “You’re safe at home. So stay there.”

  “We’re not going anywhere tonight. I don’t like being shot at when I can’t get the guy in my sights. He’s a marksman, or he wouldn’t have been able to hit a small target like the base of that chandelier from outside the front of a restaurant.”

  “You didn’t see him inside.”

  “Nope. I was against the back wall, and no one got in the door unseen.”

  “Then we can assume he wasn’t shooting to kill. But he was trying to make a point,” Travis said.

  “Yeah, well, he’s on my bad side. Whatever point he’s trying to make, I’m not interested. It’s time to turn the tables here. He’s taken his last shot at us.”

  “Agreed. I’ll handle things from this end. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Travis paused. “Do what Garrett says, Marlene. I know this is all frightening, but he will keep you safe.”

  “Okay, thanks, Travis.”

  “And one more thing,” Garrett said. “The shooter left a note in the chauffeur’s pocket. I’ll scan it and send it to you, so you can see for yourself. He signed with his initial. See if that sheds light on anything.” Then he ended the call.