Forever Guarded

by Kathleen Brooks

  Tammy let out a long breath and pulled out her phone. “Dylan dear. Your sister is in danger. Can you come home? Is that gunfire?”

  Tammy put the phone on speaker. Piper didn’t know if it was gunfire or not, but by the way Sophie, Nash, and Walker looked at one another, it was confirmation it was in fact gunfire. And a lot of it.

  “Sorry, Ma. I’m a little tied up right now. Call Abby. She can help or will know someone who can,” Piper heard her brother yell out over the sound of yelling in a foreign language. “Love you, sis! I’ll call soon.” And then the line went dead.

  Tammy shook her head. “I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know.”

  “A man who answers his momma’s call during a gun battle. Could your brother get any hotter?” Aniyah asked Piper as she fanned herself. Piper supposed Dylan was hot with his tall, dark, and dangerous vibe, but she’d never thought about it. According to the Keeneston Belles, the young women in town who were supposed to be a charitable organization but really were a group of husband hunters, they certainly thought Dylan was a catch. They were all over him when he showed up in town. And now that Jace, the soon-to-be-doctor, was in town, he was getting his fair share of casseroles, pies, and late night visits to his house closer to Lexington.

  Tammy ignored Aniyah as she called Abby on speakerphone. Abby was the daughter of Ahmed and Bridget Mueez, and proof that two badasses who marry have equally badass children.

  “Hey, Mrs. Davies. What’s up?” Abby asked as she answered the phone.

  “Piper needs a bodyguard. She invented something that can kill tons of people and now someone wants it.”

  “Mom!”

  “Cool,” Abby said at the same time. “Hold on a sec.”

  Piper wanted to cry. This was why she didn’t want people to know what happened. As if she weren’t under enough stress, adding in her mother telling everyone that Piper could be responsible for the next global pandemic made things peachy.

  “Okay,” Abby said, coming back online. “A friend of my dad does security and they can meet you tomorrow morning at eight at the Blossom Café.”

  “Thank you, Abby. When are you coming home again?” Tammy asked as if she’d called Abby for a recipe instead of a bodyguard.

  “I’ll be home at the end of the month for Thanksgiving.”

  “Oh, good. I’m sure your parents will be thrilled to have you back.”

  Piper rolled her eyes as her mother continued the necessary chitchat of asking about family and sharing the latest gossip. Apparently Piper’s failure wasn’t as newsworthy as Nikki trying to date Jace.

  Piper dropped onto the couch and placed her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands. A hand squeezed her shoulder and she felt the couch dip as her father sat next to her.

  “It’s okay to mess up, you know. Every time you mess up, you learn something new. What did Edison say about failing?”

  Piper sat up as she remembered all the lessons her father had taught her about Franklin, Edison, Tesla, and so many of the other great inventors. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

  “That’s right,” her father said, patting her knee. “You know this project better than anyone. One manipulation, one change to the equation, and bam! It works. Just keep trying. I’m always here to talk it out if you want.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Piper said as her mother finished her phone call with Abby.

  “Won’t that be nice?” Tammy said, smiling. “Ahmed and Bridget will have their whole family in town for Thanksgiving. Even Kale is coming home. I’d better warn the town so they can watch out for him on the roads.” Kale drove like a bat out of hell but was ridiculously smart with computers. Enough so that it made up for the terror of encountering him on the road. Especially since the people of Keeneston had a multitude of reasons to hack secure networks.

  “Walker, be a dear and help me up,” Tammy said, holding out her hand. Walker bent and helped her to her feet. “Thank you. Now, we’ll all meet at the café tomorrow morning before whoever takes you to the police station.”

  Wyatt and Jace looked at each other and silently communicated. ”We’ll stay here tonight with Piper,” Wyatt said.

  “No—” Piper began to argue, but her mother began to glare at her and Piper closed her mouth.

  “Thank you, you two.” Tammy patted Wyatt’s cheek and then kissed Jace before glaring at Piper again. “Don’t make me call one of your uncles to put a tracker and listening device on you, and whatever else they do. I want to know where you are at all times.”

  “Mom, I’m almost thirty—” Her mother glared again. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Her mother and father kissed her cheek and her father helped Tammy from the house. Piper turned to find her cousin and her brother already raiding the kitchen. Ugh. It was going to be a very long night. How much more embarrassing could this get?

  4

  Piper didn’t have any trouble finding the person she was supposed to be meeting at the Blossom Café. A tall blonde knockout in a tight, scarlet-red sweater and black skinny jeans sat at a table with Ahmed, Bridget, and Piper’s parents.

  “Ah, here she is now,” Bridget said, motioning for Piper to join them. “Piper, this is Mallory Westin-Simpson; she’s the owner of Westin Security out of Atlanta.”

  The woman stood and Piper had to look up at her. Piper was average height but wore fuzzy Uggs instead of four-inch spiked leather boots like Mallory was wearing. “Mallory, this is Dr. Piper Davies.”

  “It’s such a pleasure to meet you,” Mallory said in her deep Southern accent. It was slow and sweet all at once.

  “You too,” Piper said as she took a seat. Mallory tossed her long, perfectly wavy blonde hair over one shoulder and smiled at Piper. Piper’s cousin Sydney had been a model and Piper had never felt self-conscious, but she did now as the deadly beauty began to talk.

  “As I was saying before you arrived, I’m not able to help you myself. But after talking to your parents, Ahmed, and Bridget, I think I know the perfect person to help you.”

  Piper raised an eyebrow questioningly. “And why aren’t you able to help me?”

  “All my people are booked, and my husband, Reid, and I are only in town to look at an old historic farm that is being sold. We want to keep the horses and the grounds and turn it into a small, elite, luxury resort. He’s in some meetings right now, but I had to come see my friends. It’s been too long.” Mallory reached out a hand to grasp Bridget’s hand and smiled at Ahmed. “But, this is what I do, and when my firm is full, I find clients the perfect fit. I know everyone in the security business and I have the perfect man for you. I’ll call Aiden as soon as we have breakfast to see if he’ll take you on.”

  “He might not take me on as a client?” Piper shook her head. “This is getting too complicated. I’m fine. I’ll have Nash teach me some self-defense.”

  “Oh, no,” Mallory said, her sweet Southern demeanor dropped as she turned into a steel magnolia in a heartbeat. “That’s the worse thing you can do. You need to focus on your project, not worry about someone attacking you at every second. That’s where close protection work comes in.”

  “And you’re a bodyguard?”

  Mallory smiled, her red lips widening to show perfect white teeth. “Yes. I’ve guarded some of the most powerful people in the world. All the way up until I had my children, that is. Now I run the security firm and delegate the close protection work.”

  “How are your girls?” Bridget asked.

  “They’re great. Ten and eight years old already.”

  “They grow so fast,” Tammy said, looking over at Piper. When had Piper lost control of this conversation?

  “And your firm handles people like me?” Piper asked, bringing them back to the topic at hand: her safety.

  “Some. We do a little bit of everything. Celebrities when they’re in Georgia shooting movies or putting on concerts. We handle a lot of politicians
and CEOs. But for what you need, I think Aiden would be perfect. He owns his own company, too. However, he usually doesn’t take on many clients himself. But I think he’ll make an exception for you.” Mallory smiled again as she picked up her sweet tea and took a sip.

  “And why would he do that?” Piper asked. She was starting to feel like the kid no one wanted to babysit.

  “Because you’re fascinating.”

  Piper didn’t know what to say to that. When Poppy came to take her order, Piper let the table do the talking while she thought about the idea of having a bodyguard. Growing up in a large family, she liked her space and her alone time. How would she be able to focus on her work with a big hulking guy standing right behind her constantly?

  As Mallory talked about her sisters-in-law and their children, Piper silently ate her food until Sydney’s name came up. Of course Mallory would know Sydney. They probably modeled together though Mallory did seem to be in her mid-forties, which was about fifteen years older than Syd.

  “The whole Simpson family will be at Sydney and Deacon’s Daughters of Elizabeth Ball for New Year’s Eve. Are y’all going to make it this year? Marshall and Katelyn are always there for their daughter, and sometimes their son makes it. What’s his name?”

  “Wyatt,” Piper told her. Sydney and Deacon owned Sydney’s great-grandmother’s estate in Georgia, even though they lived in Keeneston. Every year, they held a charity ball at the large old estate to raise money to fight against sex trafficking and to help those affected by it.

  “Of course!” Mallory said with a roll of her eyes for forgetting. “You all should come. It’s such a wonderful cause and Sydney and Deacon really go all out. And then you can meet my family.”

  “We’ll be there this year,” Ahmed told her.

  “I doubt I’ll be up for travel. I’m due later this month and traveling with a newborn isn’t my idea of fun,” Tammy said as she looked at her belly and gave it an affectionate rub.

  Mallory pushed back her chair, “Well, I hope you’ll be able to make it next year then. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll step outside and call Aiden. I’ll be right back with more information for you.”

  Mallory strode from the restaurant and Piper noticed the slight bulge at her hip. She was carrying a gun under her sweater and who knew what else. If she was a friend of Ahmed’s, she could have a whole arsenal on her.

  Ahmed and Bridget launched into stories of their dealings with Mallory as Piper watched the woman pace back and forth outside the café. She nodded some, then turned and looked back at Piper and gave her the thumbs up sign. Well, it looked like she had a bodyguard whether she wanted one or not.

  Aiden Creed was in his office in London when his secretary paged him. “Mrs. Mallory Westin-Simpson is on line three for you. Do you want to take it?”

  Mallory? She must have some work for him here in London. “Yes, I’ll take it.” Aiden picked up the phone and hit line three. “Mallory, how are you?”

  “I’m well, thank you. How are you doing?” Mallory was Miss Southern Manners. That is, until things got cocked-up. Then there was no one he’d rather have by his side.

  “I’m doing great. Are you coming to London for a visit?” Aiden asked. They’d have dinner whenever she and her husband came to town to check on one of his hotels or to check in on a client.

  “No, I have a client for you,” she said, and Aiden could hear her smile over the phone.

  Aiden pulled up his firm’s schedule on the computer. “Eddie is available. Who’s the client?”

  “Not Eddie. You,” Mallory said it nicely, but there was no room to question her in her tone either.

  “You know I don’t take on many clients. And no offense, but most of your clients would drive me to kill them instead of protect them,” Aiden reminded her.

  “Not this one. Dr. Piper Davies. Look her up,” Mallory ordered, but there was amusement in her voice that told Aiden she already knew he’d take her as a client.

  Aiden typed her name into his state-of-the-art intelligence database and had results instantly. He clicked on her résumé and read. Impressive. He then clicked on the link to a newspaper article detailing her role in the creation and start-up of the Rahmi International Nanotechnology Laboratory. Again, very impressive. As was the picture of her standing next to Prince Zain of Rahmi, who was apparently a childhood friend from Keeneston. Where the bloody hell was Keeneston, Kentucky? Aiden searched out the city and then sat back in his chair with an amused smile on his lips. Mallory was right. This was intriguing enough to consider taking.

  “There are plenty of people from Keeneston she can have help her. Why does she want me?” Aiden asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “Well, she wanted me, but I’m booked.” Mallory’s voice laughed melodically. “But I knew she’d be perfect for you. She doesn’t want anyone hurt, and she’s afraid her family will be if they help her. She’s already been assaulted once.”

  Aiden’s secure email showed Mallory just sent an email. He clicked it and saw cell phone pictures Dr. Davies probably didn’t know Mallory had taken. His gut clenched as he took in the bruises on her face.

  “From what I’m told, she’s banged up on her body as well.”

  “Why is someone after her?” Aiden asked, already knowing he’d take the case.

  “She’s working on something that could be very dangerous in the wrong hands. And the wrong hands know it. She needs time to finish it. When she does, it’ll save millions of people. They don’t know who is behind the threats or assault, but you can bet that since she was attacked, her family and friends, including close family friend Ahmed Mueez, will look into it.”

  Aiden was already staring at Ahmed’s name in the research he was looking at as he explored the citizens of Keeneston. Everyone in the military knew of the famous soldier. They studied his techniques in training. “So, I’ll have professional backup if I need it?”

  “You’ll have a whole freaking army if you need it. And I’m afraid you might.”

  Mallory knew this was the exact type of client he would take on. And right when he was trying to expand into the United States, too. But he was supposed to be making proposals and talking to lawyers and realtors, not guarding someone twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

  “How long?” Aiden asked even as he pulled up his email to tell his secretary to postpone his meetings and to book him a ticket to Kentucky.

  “Until the threat is neutralized.”

  “Is she going to be a problem?” Aiden hoped not. He’d done his time guarding princesses and divas of all kinds and really didn’t want to have to get back into that.

  “I don’t believe so. But, she does seem to like her privacy and isn’t completely comfortable with the idea of having a bodyguard around all the time. She wanted to take some self-defense and do it herself,” Mallory told him. He could envision her rolling her eyes just like he wanted to. Self-defense was something he’d teach her, but it wouldn’t help her in this situation. Not when she’d already been attacked once. It would only escalate from here.

  His secretary emailed him back. He could be in Keeneston in twelve hours. “Tell her I accept. I’ll be at her house tonight at eight. Until then, she’s to remain with Ahmed—or—I see a Miles Davies and his brothers are there as well. I’m reading they are military. Relatives?”

  “Her father is Pierce Davies, the youngest son of the Davies family. Miles is her uncle. Her cousin Ryan Parker is also an FBI agent. Her cousin-in-law Walker Greene is a retired SEAL. Then there’s the whole Rahmi security force here, too.”

  “All of those are good options. Have someone with her at all times until I get there and send me the FBI cousin’s contact.”

  Aiden hung up with Mallory and stared at the two pictures of Piper Davies side by side. One showed a smiling young woman and the other a haunted and damaged one. Mallory knew him well. He was interested. What was an intelligent woman like Piper Davies working on? It had to be in the field of viral nanotec
h and that interested him even more. Add onto it who her family and friends were and this became a job he’d kill for. And kill to protect. England didn’t like him carrying weapons, but by the articles he was reading about Keeneston, he knew he’d have no issues there. He had agreements with multiple countries to carry concealed and the United States was one of them.

  Aiden closed his laptop and put it in his carry case. He quickly gathered his papers, his passport, and all necessary licenses he might need and walked out of his office ten minutes later. His flat was a short walk from the office and within the hour he was boarding a plane for the United States. As soon as he able, he was on the computer working. He emailed Piper’s cousin Ryan Parker who turned out to be head of the Lexington FBI office, and Matt Walz, the local sheriff, to inform them of his imminent arrival, his intent to carry concealed, his licenses, and requested their assistance if so needed.

  Sometimes local law enforcement could be hard to work with. They saw him coming into their territory and often perceived personal security operators as demanding and overbearing, which could be true when dealing with high-profile principals. But in cases such as Dr. Davies, he’d try to fly under the radar as much as possible. It turned out he needn’t have worried. The sheriff was her cousin-in-law as well. One thing was for sure—he’d never had such a networked principal before.

  Aiden closed his computer once he’d finished reading everything he could find on the town and his principal. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Surely not everything he read was true. First, there was no evidence of a boyfriend and from what he could see, Dr. Piper Davies was a catch. She was brilliant, beautiful, and there were many articles in the Keeneston Journal that talked about her compassion and volunteer work. Second, he had read about the military training center that was being built and would love to hear more about it. Third, and maybe the most intriguing, the archived photo of a Miss Violet Rose holding a crepe pan alongside her sister, Miss Lily Rose, holding a broom and their other sister, Miss Daisy Rose, holding a wooden spoon grabbed his attention. The caption read The Rose Sisters Deliver a Beatdown on Drug Dealers. Keeneston was sounding more and more like his kind of town.