Dangerous Protector (Aegis Group Book 5)

by Sidney Bristol

  “Looks like a hotel,” she said.

  “It works.” He set her things on the coffee table.

  “What now?” she asked.

  He stood there, taking all of her in.

  She wasn’t the corporate drone anymore. Her clothes were funky, more her. The way she looked at him though… That just about broke his heart.

  “That’s up to you,” he finally said.

  “I don’t know what comes next.” She shrugged and bit her lower lip.

  Marco took several, slow steps toward her. He wasn’t that drunk.

  “What do you want, right now?” he asked.

  Fiona jigged her knee and stared up at the ceiling.

  She wasn’t looking at him. Because she couldn’t? Because he was—

  “You. I want you,” she said.

  He should shower first, sober up, but she’d pulled him into her orbit and there was no going back. He took two slow steps until he could cup her cheek.

  “I’m yours,” he whispered.

  She stared up at him. He knew that look. She’d looked at him like this before.

  “I don’t mean for just now.” Her voice broke under the weight of so much feeling.

  “Sweetheart, I will always be yours. There’s no one else for me, and I’m sorry I’m a pathetic son of a bitch. You deserve better than me.”

  “You are not pathetic.” She swatted his arm.

  “Without you? I sure as hell am. I love you, Fiona. Is it still Fiona?”

  “Yeah.” She flashed a smile. “Fiona…feels right.”

  “I think she feels right, too.”

  “Marco—I love you, and that scares me.”

  “You think this doesn’t scare me, too? The moment I realized…” He bent his head, resting his forehead against hers. “That was the most terrifying moment of my life. I realized I was in love with you…and that you were going to hate me. I just kept thinking…if I can get her safe, she can hate me as long as she’s alive. That was pretty dumb.”

  “What? Why?” She swiped at her cheeks, damp with tears. Only this time they were the right kind. The happy kind.

  “Because…I’m nothing without you. I didn’t know how to feel until you were here and now…I don’t feel anything. I’m worthless.”

  “You are not worthless.” She poked his chest with a finger.

  He wrapped his hand around her finger and kissed her knuckles. Okay, so maybe he was a little drunk if he was going to go that far, but it was the truth. For the last few weeks he’d walked around in a daze, because nothing else mattered.

  “I love you, Marco, and…can we make this work?”

  “I don’t know, sweetheart, but I want to try.”

  Epilogue.

  Fiona shoved one box over on top of the next and pulled the lid off the second.

  There it was!

  She lifted out the new sheet set she’d been saving for the last few weeks. Marco had laughed at her when she refused to use it on the apartment bed, but she’d held firm. She unfolded the sheets and tried wrestling them onto their brand new bed.

  This—all of it—was their new home.

  Together.

  Well, it was their home away from Moab. All the doors and knobs worked, the windows shut, and her future mother-in-law didn’t announce breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the intercom at the most inopportune moments.

  Arms wrapped around her from behind.

  “Need a hand?” Marco asked.

  She grinned and leaned into his warm embrace. It was freakishly cold outside, worse than Denver, but he had body heat to spare. Something she greatly appreciated, especially at night.

  “You just want to mess the bed up before I can make it.” She elbowed him in the stomach.

  “Hey, we need to break this puppy in.” He toed the box spring.

  “After I get the sheets on.” She wiggled out of his grasp and tossed one corner of the fitted sheet at him.

  He grabbed it and helped her make the bed, even though the way he stared at her let her know that very soon…that bed would be very un-made. She welcomed the warm, fuzzy feelings.

  To think, she’d almost shut the door on this, on them. But they were making things work. It wasn’t perfect, but they had each other. And deep down that was what mattered. Marco might not be the perfect Prince Charming, but he was the man her heart had chosen and he didn’t take that lightly.

  She set the pillows in place and stepped back to admire the set-up.

  New bed.

  New sheets.

  New blanket.

  New nightstands.

  New them.

  Marco scooped her up and though she’d expected it, she still yelped. He grinned and carried her to the bed, dumping her unceremoniously in the middle.

  She loved this wild, crazy man, and he loved her.

  It was her new reality. Her new life. And very soon, she’d have a new name.

  Fiona Benally.

  She liked the sound of that.

  Marco watched the sway of Fiona’s hips. She was wearing that damn skirt again. The one with the pinstripes and slit up the back. He sipped his beer and contemplated the when and how he would remove the garment. He’d ripped the zipper out the first time she’d worn it. His mistake.

  Maybe on that padded coffee table cushion thing in front of the Christmas tree? All those lights on her skin…

  Yeah, he liked that idea.

  “Hey, man.”

  “Zain.” Marco cleared his throat and shifted. Damn inconvenient time to spring a boner.

  “I take it you made a decision?” Zain had one hand in his pocket, the other around his cell phone. This close to the holidays it was a wonder the guy was even there. He’d all but moved to Seattle in the last week.

  “Yeah, sorry, I meant to talk to you about that.” Marco tore his gaze from Fiona’s ass and focused on Zain. “We’re going to stay here.”

  “You know Crawford has you earmarked to take over training someday?”

  Marco nodded. He’d figured as much.

  “Fiona and Abigail get along well.” Zain nodded at the woman who was his replacement.

  “Yup.” Marco hadn’t volunteered much information on Fiona, both at her request and also because it was none of their fucking business. “You ever need me for a job, you know where to find me.”

  They slapped shoulders and Zain moved off, no doubt saying goodbye to the guys who were staying.

  Though the Seattle office was simply a different set of offices, it did feel like they were saying goodbye to a lot of great guys. Still, it was a new opportunity to explore business. Marco had glazed over listening to Zain and Mason discuss things. He was far happier in th trenches doing the dirty work.

  His phone buzzed deep in his pocket.

  Probably Mom wondering when the hell her new daughter was coming home.

  Christ.

  Marco had half a mind to cancel their trip back to Moab. Once they got to the homestead, he wouldn’t see her. Fiona was the family hero. The woman who’d put NueEnergy down, like the sick animal it was. None of them knew how it’d happened, but they knew Fiona was involved and that Marco had protected her. They had no idea the mess was entirely Marco’s making.

  He stared at the text.

  The number was unknown, but he didn’t need a name to identify that message.

  He could hear Ghost’s deadpan voice in his head.

  Merry fucking Christmas. You owe me.

  The picture was of a woman with tanned skin and dark hair. The image was blurry, but he’d seen that profile before. Where?

  Where r u?

  Marco stared at Fiona’s smiling face. He’d never met anyone so…happy. So alive. Until her. And he did owe Ghost. For helping him. For making shit happen. They would have all been dead if it weren’t for him.

  Wherever he was, Marco hoped Ghost wasn’t alone.

  Marco stared at the text.

  DC. OMW to India. Standby.

  Shit.

&n
bsp; The girl.

  Zain’s girl’s friend or something. The sister of someone’s boyfriend. Lost in India while on…vacation? A trip?

  If someone took Fiona from him, Marco would move heaven and earth to get her back. He knew the pain of losing her, and hedidn’t wish that on anyone.

  10-4

  If he had to head to India at the drop of a hat the last place he wanted to be was at some, damn party.

  Marco crossed the room, sliding up behind Fiona, and wrapped his hands around her waist. Being with her had taught him to appreciate the moments they had, and he sure as hell wanted to spend a few more with her.

  “Let’s go home,” he said against her ear.

  “Marco—”

  “I might have to leave for a little while.”

  Her body stilled, then she turned in his arms, her eyes searching his face.

  “Ghost?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Looks like he’s going to call in the favor.”

  “Let’s go home.”

  “I can’t wait to peel that skirt off you.”

  She swatted his arm and glanced around, her cheeks turning the slightest bit pink, but no one was watching. They were too engrossed in their own significant others or tossing back a few beers to pay them any mind.

  He led her to the front door and helped her put on her coat. Someone had salted the walk outside so it wasn’t as slippery on their way out. He started his new truck by the fancy remote key and held the door for her.

  “I feel like I’m climbing a mountain getting into this thing.” Fiona sighed.

  He grabbed her by her hips and lifted her into the cab. She squawked and sputtered, but it was for show. He knew how much she liked his caveman antics.

  Marco leaned into the cab, reveling in this sense of rightness he’d found only with her.

  “I love you, Fiona Benally.”

  “We aren’t married yet.” She prodded his shoulder.

  “I don’t need a God damn piece of paper to tell me you’re mine.”

  Fiona pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes. The look was probably supposed to be disproving, but he knew she felt the same way. They belonged to each other in a way that went beyond marriage and ceremonies, and he’d spend every day for the rest of her life showing her just how well they fit. Together. Forever.

  You can stay up to date on the whole Aegis Group team in Dangerous Attraction, Dangerous in Training, Dangerous Games and Dangerous Assignment.

  Stay tuned for Ghost in 2017!

  Sign up for the New Release Newsletter at

  www.SidneyBristol.com

  to get inside scoops and free books.

  See where it all started…

  Blind: Killer Instincts

  Available Now

  He recognizes the darkness in her. It’s in him, too.

  Detective Jacob Payton knows the clock is ticking down. Someone is about to die, and his best suspect is also his only source of information. He’s known Emma Ration’s story for years—after all, a brutal serial killer left his mark on both their lives when they were still young. Meeting her is another experience altogether. She challenges his control and entices him in ways no other woman has.

  But is she the killer? As the bodies pile up and their passion ignite, Jacob runs the risk of losing his control. Falling for Emma was never in his plan, but now that she’s part of his life he’s not about to give her up. Not even to the FBI on the trail of the very same killer.

  Jacob must figure out if it’s Emma in danger, or himself. If he can’t uncover the identity of the copycat killer, it could be the end for both him and the woman who has fast become the center of his life.

  Blind, a new romantic suspense book for fans of Criminal Minds and The Following, from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol.

  Dangerous Attraction: The Complete Serial

  Ex-Navy SEAL Travis Ration is an expert hunter. Whether his prey is criminal or victim, he always gets his mark. He's no hero, just a man doing his job. It’s all he has after a felony conviction after a bad judgment call. When the FBI call in a favor and ask him to look into a serial killer over the holiday break, he jumps at the opportunity to fill the long, cold days with something besides regret and bad movies. In Las Vegas, he's on the hunt for a prolific serial killer no one wants to admit exists. The leads are dry and the evidence gone, until she walks into his life. Bliss Giles—curvy, sassy and everything he can't have.

  What’s worse, Travis knows Bliss’ sister is the killer's latest victim. She fits the profile. Time is running out and the fastest way to retrace the killer's path is with Bliss at Travis' side. In the seat of danger. He vows to keep Bliss safe and his hands to himself, after all, a nice girl like her doesn't need a guy like him in her life. Too bad no one told Bliss Travis was off-limits. She tests his boundaries and pushes his control every minute they're together until he can't remember why wanting her is a bad idea.

  The hunters become the hunted in this tale of serial killers and SEALs for hire. One broken man must unpack his baggage, a woman has make a leap of faith and a sister chooses to live in this new, romantic suspense serial by NYT & USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Bristol.

  Warning: Hold onto your panties, because nothing is safe.

  Dangerous in Training

  Disgraced Navy SEAL Mason Clark knows how to track his prey. He is an expert operative with a history of wrong-place-wrong-time luck. Landing a gig as a vacation bodyguard should have been an easy job—if he wasn't supposed to be protecting her body.

  Hannah Stevens. His boss's virgin daughter. Their lust is forbidden and a relationship is out of the question--but what happens in Mexico is their secret. Getting lost between the sheets is their one and only goal, until Hannah's friends are brutally kidnapped by a human-trafficking ring. Things quickly spiral out of control when the kidnappers put Hannah in their cross hairs.

  Mason is a man ready to put it all on the line to rescue the woman he loves. Love and honor are put to the test in this new, romantic suspense series by NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Bristol.

  Warning: Deflowering virgins doesn't come with volume control.

  Dangerous Games

  Ex-Navy SEAL Zain Lloyd is good with his hands and even better with his head. As the chief intelligence officer for the private security firm, Aegis Group, it's his job to tackle problems before they costs his friend's their lives. Which is why R&R time away from the high-stress environment is always a top priority, and a week at ComicCon is just what this closet-geek wants most, until a fateful elevator ride with the woman of his internet fantasies.

  Andrea Clark can't trust anyone, least of all the mysteriously sexy man she meets outside of her trashed hotel room. But Zain might be her only hope of making it through the convention and home alive. He's her very own superhero, made of all the stuff to make her fall fast and hard. With no safety net in place, she can only pray that Zain will catch her when she falls.

  A web of lies and deceit ensnare two lovers. Zain must use more than his brain and quick fingers to put a stop to the doxxing and death threats before a killer emerges from the ranks of Andrea's friends.

  Warning: The geeks do it better.

  Dangerous Assignment

  Veteran Navy SEAL Luke Briar has a solution for every problem, except when his latest job goes sideways. Things were so much simpler when all he had to worry about was how to put a smile on Abigail's face, though nothing he does chases the shadows from her eyes. Now Luke and his lovely new partner must protect a pair of criminals from people trying to kill them.

  Abigail is a lie. Everything about her is false, but keeping the truth from her partner is becoming increasingly difficult. Her mission was simple, kill two internationally wanted criminals and get out. But she wasn't counting on him. Luke. He awakens parts of her she long thought were dead. But people like her don’t get second chances at life, and her betrayal will crush any happiness they might have had. Falling for L
uke can't happen.

  When the tables are turned and someone else gets to Abigail's targets before she can, all hell breaks loose. Luke doesn’t know if the woman he’s fallen for is a terrorist or something worse. Explosive desire isn't a license for murder, but he can’t live without her. With the authorities closing in, Luke must decide who to trust—law or love.

  Warning: Explosive chemistry ahead.

  Book List

  Aegis Group

  Blind: Killer Instincts

  Dangerous Attraction, parts 1, 2 and 3

  Dangerous in Training

  Dangerous Games

  Dangerous Assignment

  Dangerous Protector

  Hot Rides

  Drive

  Shift

  Chase

  Bayou Bound

  Picture Her Bound

  Duty Bound

  Bound Memories

  Bound & Tamed

  Other BDSM Titles

  Committed

  Bound with Pearls

  Collar Me in Paris

  Festive Seduction

  Electric Engagement

  So Inked

  Under His Skin

  The Harder He Falls

  His Marriage Bargain

  Standalone Titles

  Falling for His Best Friend

  Dream Vacation (free read)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  It can never be said that NYT & USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and fostering cats.