Tough as Nails (COBRA Securities Book 10)

by Velvet Vaughn

  A lone siren cut through the night and then abruptly shut off. She found a switch on the wall and snapped on the overhead light. No need for an overzealous cop to get trigger happy. She had enough bullet holes as it was.

  “Police. Freeze.”

  Hillary held up her hands and ordered Kota to stay at her side. “I’m the one that made the call.”

  A uniformed cop approached slowly, his gun still trained on her. Kota quivered against her leg, itching to remove the threat. She murmured an encouragement to him.

  “Are you armed?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hit the ground. Now. Do it.”

  She rolled her eyes at the Dirty Harry wannabe. When he looked like he was going to help her to the floor, she calmly said, “Touch me and I can guarantee my dog will attack you.” Kota growled menacingly.

  The cop’s eyes widened and he moved the gun from her to Kota. Her brave dog didn’t even blink. But Hillary did. “I’ll do as you ordered but lower your weapon or he will lower it for you. And call Detective Polizzi while you’re at it. Explain to him why you let the perp get away while you detained me.”

  She eased to the ground on her stomach. Kota dropped down beside her, his body a solid weight butted up against hers.

  “Kipling? What the hell are you doing?”

  Hillary glanced up in relief to see Kellan Polizzi stride through the door with a pissed-off look.

  “We had a call about a break in,” the cop explained. “When we arrived, she was inside.”

  Hillary pushed to her feet. “I tried to tell him that I called it in and that the perp was getting away but he didn’t listen.”

  “She’s armed,” the cop rationalized.

  “She’s licensed,” Kellan replied, bending down to pet Kota.

  “That’s an attack dog,” the cop rushed out.

  “Only if he doesn’t know you.” Kellan scratched Kota’s head. Her dog closed his eyes in doggy ecstasy and shuddered out a sigh.

  “Good boy, Kota,” she murmured, rubbing his back. She didn’t have a treat to give him for a job well done.

  “Tell me what happened,” Kellan said.

  “I just arrived home from visiting Mr. Steele in the hospital. I saw a light flickering on in here. I called it in and then grabbed Kota to check it out.”

  “You should’ve waited for us,” Kipling admonished. “If the perp was armed, you could’ve been hurt.”

  “Kipling, she’s better trained than you and I combined. She works for the top security firm in the country.” Kipling’s brows raised but he still looked like he didn’t think she could take care of herself.

  “Anyway,” Hillary continued. “I ordered the perp to freeze but he took off. I sent Kota after him to capture without injury. The man jumped out the window just as he arrived.” She indicated the cop.

  “Did you see anything?” Kellan asked Kipling.

  The cop nodded his head. “Yeah, her. I saw the light snap on in here so I ran for the door.”

  Kellan turned back to her. “You keep calling the perp a ‘he.’ Did you get a look at him this time?”

  “This time?” Kipling repeated. “There’ve been other break-ins?”

  “Earlier tonight. A man was injured. Hillary?”

  “I didn’t get a look at his face. He wore a mask again. But the width and size were male and he made a noise when I informed him that my attack dog was coming after him. It was a very masculine shriek.”

  Kellan laughed. “Damn, I need to get a service dog. Do all of your agents use them?”

  “No, my brother worked with canines in the Army and he’s training dogs now. Kota is one of his first graduates.”

  “Well, he did a great job.” Kellan walked to the window and glanced at the hole. “I assume the perp wore gloves?”

  “Yes.”

  He studied the glass closer. “I hoped he’d cut himself, but I don’t see blood on any of these shards.” He turned to face her. “Does this mean you’re taking the job?”

  Hillary’s brows lifted. “What job?”

  “Providing security while the show is filmed.”

  “How do you know about that?”

  “Connie.”

  Hillary smiled. “She’s a force of nature. I haven’t decided yet.” But she had. Reed’s attack could’ve been a fluke. But the perp returning to the scene of the crime meant something more was going on. Until they figured out what it was, no one would be safe.

  “Well, let me know if you do,” Kellan said. “We don’t have the manpower or budget to offer dedicated support, but I’ll see what I can work out with the chief.”

  “I’ll let you know.”

  Chapter Nine

  Hillary only managed a few hours of sleep after the events of last night. She had a hard time shutting off her brain. If the attack had been random, the perp wouldn’t have returned after injuring Reed. There was a reason he was back at the house. Until they determined what it was, Connie was right—they needed protection.

  Looked like she would be taking the job after all.

  She glanced at the clock and dialed Luke’s direct line, surprised when he picked up on the second ring. Both her bosses were early risers, but they had families to attend to now.

  “Hey, Hillbilly, how’s it going over there on the coast?”

  “Good…well, maybe not so good.”

  Luke was instantly alert. “What’s up?”

  “I need to discuss something with you and Logan.”

  “Hold on, he’s here. I’ll put you on speaker.”

  “Hey, Hillary,” Logan said. “What’s up?”

  “There was a little excitement here yesterday. I was running on the beach about sunset and as I was heading back to the cottage, I glanced at the house next door. A man was standing on the deck, looking out at the water. Then a figure crept behind him holding a shovel.”

  “My God,” Luke uttered. “What happened?”

  “I was able to alert Reed to the impending attack. He turned at the last minute and blunted the impact with his arm, cracking his radius. He also suffered a concussion.”

  “What happened to the perp?”

  “He took off when I yelled. I was too far away to stop him and when I reached Reed, he was in distress. I stayed to help him instead of pursuing.”

  “The cops weren’t able to find him?” Logan asked.

  “No. He got away. But when I was coming back from the hospital—”

  “Wait a minute,” Luke broke in, surprise evident in his tone. “You went to a hospital? Voluntarily?”

  “I did. I needed to make sure Reed was okay. He was drifting in and out of consciousness and head injuries can be deadly.”

  “Are you okay?”

  Luke’s tone was gentle and she had to take a deep breath. “Yes. But when I was driving home, I saw a light on inside the house where Reed was attacked. It’s currently vacant, but it’s scheduled to be completely renovated next week by a crew from HGTV.”

  “Wait a minute.” Logan stopped her. “You keep calling the injured man Reed. Are you talking about Reed Steele, the baseball player? Host of Home Run Homes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Damn,” Logan muttered. “I can’t let my wife know you’ve met him. She lusts after him.”

  “So does Layla,” Luke chuckled. “She even DVR’s his shows, hoping to get a glance at his abs.”

  Hillary smiled. She did the same thing. And she knew there was no way Oscar-winning actress Jade Bradley lusted after any man but her adored husband. The same thing for international singing superstar Layla Brooks, soon to be Layla Colton. Luke was the love of her life. “I met the producer of his show and after she found out where I worked, she asked if she could hire me to provide security while they filmed the show.”

  When her statement was met with silence, Hillary’s stomach dropped to her feet. At one time, her bosses wouldn’t have hesitated for her to take a job. But after you fail a mission, and so spectacularly, it apparently
made them wary. She could just picture Luke and Logan looking at each other with pity in their eyes as they shook their heads. “Look, it doesn’t have to be me. Any other agent—”

  “Hillary.” Luke’s tone was harsh.

  She swallowed down the lump in her throat. “What?”

  “We’ve been trying to get you back in the field for months.”

  Her mouth dropped open and then snapped closed. “You have?”

  “You’ve been physically ready for a long time,” Logan told her. “Dante informed us weeks ago that you were back in top form. Mentally, you weren’t there yet. We’ve let you heal at your own pace, with little nudges here and there. It was about to the point where drastic measures would’ve been taken.”

  Hillary’s heart pounded. She had no idea. “Aren’t you worried that I can’t do the job?”

  “Hillary, you would not be on our staff if we had any questions about your ability. Simple as that.”

  “But I failed the last mission.”

  She winced at Luke’s harsh curse…or was that Logan? “How many times do we have to tell you that you did not fail? Do you hear me?” Logan demanded.

  She grimaced. “Yes.”

  “Then you better start believing it,” Luke added, his tone just as harsh. “We have complete faith in you. Always have. Always will.”

  Tears pricked her eyes at their vehement support. She could not work for better bosses. She never wanted to let them down.

  “Do you want to take the job,” Logan asked gently.

  Her response was immediate. “Yes.”

  “Why don’t you have the producer call us today so we can work out the details. Luke and I should both be around all day.”

  “I will. Her name is Connie Ellis.”

  “You only have the house you’re staying in for a week, don’t you?” Luke asked.

  Hillary froze. She hadn’t even thought about that. Where would she stay if she had to move out? “Yes.”

  “I’ll talk to Sawyer, get his friend’s contact information. We’ll rent it for as long as you need it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Logan added, “Look over the site and then put in a request for the equipment you’ll need. We’ll get it to you ASAP. Do you have a vest with you?”

  “Always.”

  “Good. Make sure you wear it. We’ll be in touch as soon as contracts are signed.”

  She finished the conversation trying to hold it together. Her bosses believed in her. Now all she had to do was believe in herself.

  Chapter Ten

  Reed wanted to ignore the annoying voice insisting he wake up. It was drilling into his brain like a persistent woodpecker. Hadn’t his eyes just been open. Why wouldn’t they let him sleep in peace? When he cracked his lids, a light flashed, blinding him. “I’m awake,” he groused. As soon as the nurse finished checking his pupils he glanced around the room, happy to notice the pain in his head had dulled, making movement easier. “Hillary?”

  “She left a little while ago,” the nurse told him. “She looked like she was about to fall asleep.”

  “Did she say if she was coming back?” He hated how needy he sounded, but he wanted to see her again. Needed to see her.

  “No. Sorry.” She adjusted the drip on his IV and pushed a button on the monitor next to his head, jotting numbers on his chart. “But you’re doing great. I feel confident the doctor will release you in a few hours so you can go home.”

  Home right now was a sleeping bag on the floor of the reno house. He’d planned on crashing there until taping began next week. He knew Connie would try to convince him to stay at the rental house with her family, but as much as he loved them, he didn’t think his head could take her rambunctious ruffians at the moment, even if he was feeling better.

  “You’ll need to have someone stay with you the next twenty-four hours or so,” the nurse added. “In case there are lingering effects from the concussion.”

  Reed closed his eyes. If they refused to release him without supervision, that meant he would have to put up with Connie’s twins. Unless…maybe he could talk Hillary into being his private nurse. He drifted off again with a smile on his face, picturing her playing doctor, wearing a stethoscope…and nothing else.

  #

  It felt as if a weight had been lifted from Hillary’s shoulders after talking with her bosses. Knowing they trusted her went a long way in shoring up her confidence. She pulled on her running clothes and slid into her sneakers. She was feeling more like her old self, BG. Before Greece. That woman had been sure of her strengths and had never doubted her abilities. Hillary missed that woman and wanted her back.

  As she and Kota jogged along the sand, she thought back to the events of the early morning. She hadn’t hesitated to run into the house, even knowing the perp was inside and might be armed. Having Kota at her side gave her an added boost of confidence but she would’ve gone inside on her own. Maybe she truly was ready to get back to work.

  She added an extra two miles to the run, her steps feeling lighter. Kota didn’t mind the additional exercise. After a quick shower and a check of the time, she dialed the number Connie had given her last night. Reed’s producer was vacationing with her family before taping started. She answered on the third ring and judging by the noise in the background, her kids were up and ready for the day.

  “Hello?”

  “Mrs. Ellis, it’s Hillary Billings.”

  “Hi, Hillary. And please, call me Connie. I was just thinking about you. Hang on.” Connie murmured something and then the background noise was gone. “Sorry about that. The kids are excited to go to the beach. Please tell me you’re calling to take the job.”

  “I am.”

  “Excellent,” Connie exclaimed. “You’ve eased my mind. I’m probably being overprotective, as Reed often accuses me of, but I will feel safer with you there.”

  “Actually, you may have causes for concern. Someone broke into the house again last night.” She explained about seeing the light when she returned from the hospital and chasing off the perp.

  “One time is a fluke, two is not. What could he be after?” Connie wondered.

  “I’ll do a thorough search of the house and with your approval, I’ll get it wired for a security system. That will take a couple of days so I’ll hire someone to guard during the nights.”

  “That makes me feel better already. Get whatever you need. The network will pick up the tab.”

  “If you’re serious about hiring me, my bosses would like to speak with you.” She rattled off Luke and Logan’s contact information.

  “I’ll call them right now to work out the details. Are you going back to the hospital?”

  “I hadn’t planned on it.”

  “I have a huge favor to ask. I spoke with Reed a few minutes ago and it looks like he’ll be released soon. I’ll be there to sign him out, but I’ll have my family with me. I don’t think he’ll feel up to riding along with my lively rascals. If you don’t have anything to do, would you mind driving him home?”

  Hillary’s heart rate increased. “Uh…”

  “You would be doing me a huge favor—Simone, put your brother down now. Sorry, my sweet angels are driving me a wee bit crazy. Do you mind?”

  “I guess not.” She’d have to step inside a hospital again but she did so last night and nothing happened. Surely, she could do it again. As for seeing Reed, she wanted that a little too much.

  #

  Reed was chomping at the bit to get out of the hospital. After another scan of his head injury, the doctor gave him the all-clear and he was waiting for Connie to pick him up. She promised she’d come as soon as possible, but she had something to take care of first. He thought about calling Hillary but one, he didn’t have her number, and two, she had no reason to come back for him. She didn’t even know him, nor he her. But, oh, he wanted to know her. Intimately.

  “Hey, sexy,” a nurse purred as she sashayed in his room. “Looks like you’re leaving us.”


  “No offense, but I’m ready to get out of here.”

  “So…” she glanced at him coquettishly. “Do you have someone to look after you? Because I get off soon.” She batted her eyelashes. At one time, he might’ve taken her up on the offer. There were always women waiting outside of the locker rooms when he’d been playing ball, cleat chasers, as they were called. He wasn’t proud to admit he’d hooked up with more than a few of them when he’d been young and wild and stupid. After his very public break-up with Daniella, the one-named supermodel, he’d reevaluated his priorities. One night stands no longer held any appeal and it would be a long time before he trusted his heart with a woman again, if ever.

  He smiled at the woman and let her down easy. “I do have someone coming for me, but thank you for the offer.”

  “It’s good anytime,” she murmured, slipping a note in his hand, no doubt her phone number. He took it with a smile and when she waved and left the room, he tossed it in the trash can.

  The door opened again. “Finally,” Reed grumped when Connie breezed through the door. He stood, ignoring the dull thumping in his head. “It took you—” His tirade stopped abruptly when Hillary entered behind his producer. Damn, it wasn’t the drugs. She was as dazzling as he remembered. He hadn’t expected to see her again. Her smile was tentative.

  Connie stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Sorry I’m late. I had something to take care of first.” She motioned Hillary forward. “Hillary has agreed to work for us.”

  While that sent a burst of joy through his veins, it was closely followed by irritation. “I told you I don’t need a bodyguard.”

  “It’s not for you…or not just for you. She’ll be providing security for the worksite. Someone broke in again last night.”

  “What?”

  Hillary spoke for the first time. “I saw a light inside when I drove home and went to check it out.”

  “By yourself? Without any backup?”

  The look she leveled at him could only be described as arctic. “It’s what I do. And I had Kota.”