“You brought the police?” Emma rubbed at her wrists where Carter had had her bound with rope. If the senator hadn’t already been rolling on the dock from a bullet to the leg, Max would’ve made sure the son of a bitch never came after her again. “Thank you.”
“Our pleasure. We work with a number of agencies when our clients are concerned. Whatever it takes to bring them home safely.” Holden’s gaze flickered to Max’s hand, then to his eyes, his expression guarded. Max had broken Blackhawk Security’s single rule when it came to taking on a case: no emotional ties to a client, but after everything he and Emma had been through, he didn’t give a damn about the rules. He’d started over once. He could do it again, with or without Blackhawk. Because he wasn’t leaving Emma unguarded again. “Looks like Senator Hudson here is going to need an ambulance, and that cut on your arm looks deep, Ms. Chastaine. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable with EMTs checking you out—”
“I’m staying with Max,” Emma said over Carter’s groans.
“She stays.” Max tightened his hand around Emma’s. There was no way he was letting her go that easily. “We’ve been through hell, man. So unless you brought a couple granola bars or something else to eat with you, make it fast.”
An amused smile tugged at Holden’s mouth, but Max wasn’t fooled. The man was dangerous when forced, especially if a threat came near the search and rescue team. “You’ve done a lot of good for the firm, saved a lot of lives. Sienna and the rest of the division know that. You’re one of the best investigators I’ve had the pleasure of working with, but this job brings danger into the lives of the people we love. And if you can’t live with that risk…” Holden shifted his attention to Emma, his expression more guarded as though he were speaking from experience. “Just be careful. Good work here, Max.”
With that, the former FBI agent turned his back on them, heading toward the officers at the other end of the dock.
“Is there a decision to be made, Max?” Her voice melted through him, reaching deep past muscle and into bone. Hell, what his name on her lips could do to him. She pressed her hand over his heart as she closed the small distance between them. “Can you live with that kind of risk?”
Max brought the back of her hand to his mouth, planting a soft kiss over the thin skin there. The rain lightened, gave him a clear view of those impossibly blue eyes. Although, her sweater no longer matched in color due to the blood stains and murky water clinging to her. He’d made his decision almost the minute he’d seen her take down that attacker with a knife without ever really knowing he’d been searching for an answer. And having her here, alive, in his arms, only solidified his path. “Every damn minute for the rest of my life, beautiful.”
That brilliant smile of hers flashed right before she crushed her mouth to his. Wrapping her uninjured arm around his neck, Emma fit against him perfectly. Whether they stayed here in Charleston or went back home to Anchorage, he didn’t care. He’d spend the rest of his life protecting her and the clients who hired him. Whatever happened, they’d figure it out. Together. “Good answer.”
“We can give our statements later,” he said. “Let’s get your arm checked out then I can take you home.”
EMTs hefted Carter Hudson to his feet before laying him out of the stretcher. Officers secured him to the bars with cuffs. “This isn’t over, Emma. Enjoy this feeling while you can.” Carter groaned as EMTs rolled him up the docks. “You’ll never be safe. Not from me.”
Battle-ready tension tightened the muscles down his spine. Max took a step toward the son of a bitch, but Emma’s hand on his chest held him back.
“He’s not worth it.” She smoothed her hand down his arm. “And he’s digging himself a deeper hole by threatening me in front of all these police officers. He’ll get what’s coming to him. One way or another.”
She was right. Wasn’t worth it, but if the senator or any of his men ever came near her again, Max wouldn’t hesitate to make sure it was the last time.
“Will you excuse me a minute?” She feathered her fingers down his jaw, planting a soft kiss on his mouth before following in the EMTs’ footsteps toward the parking lot. They slowed, stopped, listened intently to whatever last words she had for the man who’d set out to kill her.
Right before Emma launched her fist into the senator’s face.
Max closed in as Charleston PD, Holden Marsten, and EMTs worked to increase the space between her and the senator. Shouts filtered through the laugh reverberating through him. He slid his arms around her waist from behind, holding her against him as officials rushed Carter Hudson to a waiting ambulance. “He’s not worth it, huh?”
“Maybe not for you.” She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. Holding up her bloody knuckles, she shrugged. “For me, that was everything. I told him I’d be testifying against him during the trial. Guess he didn’t appreciate the heads up.”
“Good thing you didn’t have a weapon.” He brushed his nose up the cartilage of her ear as he held her, unable to control the laugh fighting to escape as the senator howled from the parking lot. “Just remind me never to get on your bad side.”
****
About the Author
Nichole Severn writes explosive romantic suspense with strong heroines, heroes who dare challenge them, and a hell of a lot of guns. She graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Psychology and from Nevada State College with a degree in English Literature. She's a member of Romance Writers of America.
She resides with her very supportive and patient husband, as well as her demon spawn, in Utah. When she’s not writing, she’s constantly injuring herself running, rock climbing, practicing yoga, and snowboarding.
Also by Nichole Severn
BLACKHAWK SECURITY: SEARCH AND RESCUE
Search and Rescue
Search and Protect
Search and Defend
Search and Pursue (2020)
Search and Destroy (2020)
Search and Acquire (2021)
BLACKHAWK SECURITY SERIES
Rules in Blackmail
Rules in Rescue
Rules in Revenge
Rules in Deceit
Rules in Defiance
Caught in the Crossfire (2020)
The Line of Duty (2020)
STAND ALONE TITLES
Let Me Out
In the Enemy’s Arms
Thank you for reading Search and Protect! Keep falling in love while the bullets are flying with the next book in the Blackhawk Security: Search and Rescue series, Search and Defend (Holden’s story)!
And don’t forget to grab your free Blackhawk Security book while you’re at it. Get access here: http://nicholesevern.com/newsletter
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