She hasn’t always exuded serene calmness. There was a time when I saw pain and betrayal in her eyes, and deep sadness too. We shared an unspoken bond over tragic pasts, and at that moment I knew if Talia ever needed me, I’d help her. She’s one of those rare people who sees the good in all those around her. I rub my jaw, wondering how she’d label our unique relationship. Despite the paycheck I receive from BLACK Security, she and I have never had a traditional employer/employee dynamic. Talia’s like my smart-as-a-whip younger sister, who knows I have flaws I’ll never share and she accepts me anyway. We exchange a look as Gavin tries one last time to argue against the timeframe Sebastian suggested.
I lower my fingers from my jaw: three, two, one just as Sebastian ends the discussion in a final tone.
“Six months, Gavin. If you buck it, I guarantee I’ll be called in a meeting later where you’ll have to explain to Adam why you thought three months was plenty of time.”
While Gavin backs down, Talia smiles her amusement that I nailed it. I’ll never tell her that I consider her family, but I think deep down she knows.
From a pure entertainment perspective, watching the oldest Blake siblings interact amuses me, but I’m still unclear as to why Talia asked me to attend this meeting. As her bodyguard, I’m not usually involved in the day-to-day BLACK Security business she runs with her husband. And attending a meeting at Sebastian’s father’s business, Blake Industries, is definitely not the norm. My job is to watch Talia’s back, so I only get involved when there’s a security-related issue. Doesn’t mean I don’t notice a hell of a lot going on around me at both companies. When you’re an observer for a living, it comes with the territory.
After Gavin leaves, Sebastian glances at his watch. “Guess Mina’s running a bit late.”
Talia shakes her head. “She has got to stop being late for meetings, Sebastian. She knows we won’t be back here until next week. There’s too much going on at BLACK Security.”
Sebastian rubs the back of his neck. “After Josi was born, Mina figured out how to handle the single mom thing, but I think Regan’s betrayal, on top of losing her mom, is taking longer for her to adjust.”
Talia lifts her eyebrows. “I know she’s been through a lot. Maybe she came back to work too soon and should consider only coming back part-time for now, but if she’s going to set up meetings, she should be here on time. This is the fourth instance this month. There’s no excuse.”
I silently applaud Talia for not giving Mina a pass like the Blake men in her family tend to do. Mina is brilliant and a savvy marketer. I’ve seen her work a boardroom with deftness and class as effectively as she does a party. Yes, her life has turned to shite recently, but work is often the best way to help a person buffer themselves from tragedies they don’t want to face. Regan, her best friend, embezzled millions from Blake Industries before she disappeared into thin air. That probably played a part in Mina’s erratic behavior, but that doesn’t give her an excuse to leave everyone hanging. Life is hard. When it beats you down, you fight back. Deal with it, don’t avoid it.
Talia starts to hit the button on the conference room speaker when an email alert pops up on her phone. As she looks down, her all-business expression shifts to a sympathetic one. “James Martin’s wife thanked us for the get-well flowers we sent, but she just passed on the sad news that he died of unexpected complications after a successful surgery last night.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Sebastian’s brow furrows as he buttons his suit jacket. “Now I’m really glad you suggested we set up that scholarship fund for his kids’ college. At least that’s one less thing his wife has to worry about.”
“Me too.” Talia nods solemnly as she types on her phone. “I’m making a note to send flowers for the funeral.”
Frowning, I glance Sebastian’s way. “Was he the chap driving the limousine that blew up during your wedding rehearsal?” At his slight nod, I continue, “If you hadn’t pulled him out of that burning car, he might not have survived at all.”
Sebastian shakes his head, his mouth downturned. “If only we could’ve saved Isabel too. James had a long road to recovery. He was finally doing better. It’s a damn shame that later complications took his life.”
The room goes silent for a moment, and I can tell the last thing Talia wants to do is continue her earlier discussion about Mina’s absence on the tail of such gloomy news. Clearing her throat, she pushes the speaker button and dials an extension.
When Mina’s phone goes straight to voicemail, Talia looks at her husband and slides the speaker phone his way. “Buzz Sarah’s extension.”
“Mina Blake’s office,” the admin says in a cheery tone.
“Sarah, it’s Sebastian. We’re waiting in the main conference room for Mina. Can you please ask her to join us for this meeting?”
“I would be happy to, Mr. Blake, but Mina just left the office a couple minutes ago.”
His gaze narrows with irritation. “My sister called this meeting. Did she say where she was going?”
“I’m sorry, she didn’t. She received a call, then a few minutes later hurried out of the office. To be honest she seemed pretty distracted.”
“Is my niece okay?” Sebastian immediately asks, his brow furrowing with concern.
“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the daycare. They know to call my number during office hours if they need to get in touch with Mina.”
“Thanks, Sarah.” Hanging up, Sebastian retrieves his phone from his pocket and dials a number. Listening, he looks at Talia. “It’s going straight to voicemail.”
Talia exhales a sigh and looks at me. “Den, I’d like you to discretely follow Mina and find out what’s going on—”
“Talia—” Sebastian begins.
“You know Mina hasn’t been herself for a while now.” Auburn eyebrows elevating over determined green eyes, Talia ignores her husband’s warning look. “Whatever is going on with her seems to be escalating. I’d like to make sure she’s okay. If there’s something that we can do to help her, we should.”
Sebastian and Talia are usually in sync about most issues, but he definitely has a blind spot when it comes to his little sister. And now I know why Talia asked me to attend this meeting. As I stand, Sebastian scowls at me. “You should at least pretend to wait for my ‘okay’ on this.”
The last thing I want is to chase after an heiress who’s been pampered to the point that moments like this are even necessary, but I agree with Talia. Buttoning my suit jacket around my gun holster, I meet his challenging gaze. “Have Elijah send me your sister’s location.”
Walking out, I smirk as he calls after me, “You’re fired!”
Chapter Three
Den
This is Mina’s last location.
As I log the street and general direction she’s heading into my phone, another text comes through from Sebastian.
From now on, each time I fire you, I’m docking your pay.
A new text comes through from Talia.
Ignore him.
Not this bloody time. I send Sebastian a text back.
This is a favor for Talia. Next time, I’ll send you my bill.
After I hit Send, I pull out of the parking lot. If my BLACK Security employment status was a relationship, it would absolutely fall in the on again/off again category. Considering I only told Sebastian as a courtesy that I was Talia’s new bodyguard, I’m not sure why he thinks he can fire me.
Arrogant Brit! Just keep an eye on my sister and report back.
My gaze flicks over Sebastian’s quick response before the text disappears from my phone’s screen. The fact I don’t need this job seems to go right over his head, yet I know my association with BLACK Security will only last as long as I successfully continue to protect the Blakes.
Mina’s family might shelter her from life’s hard knocks more than they should, but my loyalty to Talia extends to the whole Blake family. As long as I can accommodate, I will.
Even if thos
e family members make questionable life choices.
My jaw sets as I pull to a stop across the street from the dodgy hotel, Eastend, just in time to see Mina stride toward its main door with determined steps. As I stare in disbelief, she walks inside, her head held high.
She might not appear coerced or tense, but my gaze automatically skims the few cars in the parking lot near hers for possible threats. I can’t believe she would ditch her family and work responsibilities for a tryst in a cheap hotel. She’s attractive and smart. With long, honey-blond hair and warm brown eyes, she attracts men’s attention like bees to the brightest flower. Regardless of the wealthy Blake family name, she could easily have any guy she wanted. So what the hell kind of low-class wanker is she hooking up with?
My first instinct is to walk in there, kick open the room door, and punch the guy for not having more respect for her. Then I’d yank her pampered, self-absorbed arse out of the hotel. And after resisting the urge to spank her for not having more respect for herself, I’d tell her to “grow the hell up and become the formidable Blake I know she’s capable of being” before I took her home.
I keep my hands on the steering wheel to hold myself in place. Acting on those instincts would definitely get me fired. Permanently this time.
Rational thoughts prevail and I focus on memorizing every vehicle’s make and model around the hotel and in the parking lot, along with any visible cameras. I’m not surprised I don’t see any cameras. A hotel like this would make sure not to have any.
A sudden shadow in my right periphery has me quickly pulling my gun. Finger right next to the trigger, I narrow my gaze on the man standing on the other side of the passenger window’s glass. The stubborn set of his jawline makes the two-inch scar on his chin stand out. He taps the glass and nods toward the window.
I lower my hand, but keep my gun trained on him as I hit the button to crack the window. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too, Den.” Hugh’s dark eyebrows elevate, his gaze dropping to my gun. “Right cagey, aren’t ya?”
The last eight years have taken their toll on my old MI6 comrade. Gray peppers the temples of his buzzed dark hair. He looks leaner, his face a craggy display of sharp angles and mission-experience grooves. Even his blue gaze has grown darker. No matter his motivation for seeking me out—just seeing him twists the hot poker in my chest, stirring the embers of regret and guilt into a new level of pain—I sure as hell don’t want him to see Mina. “I’m working,” I grate. “You need to go. Now.”
“Surveillance on cheating wives? What has America done to you, mate?” He gestures to the seedy hotel and snorts. “I’m sure she’ll be busy for a bit. You can spare a minute or two.”
Why is he purposefully ignoring my I’m-going-to-end-you-in-two-seconds expression? The fact that he’s seen Mina is bad enough, but his assumption about her infuriates me. “Piss off. We have nothing to discuss.”
He scowls. “You need to listen to—”
All I can think about is the past, when I’m supposed to be focusing on Mina. I don’t know what the hell he wants, but I won’t risk him learning who she is. Or anything about her. I lift my gun again, my tone deadly. “Walk away. Right. Fucking. Now.”
Hugh always was a stubborn bastard, but he steps away from my car, his hands lifted in “calm down” mode. “Fine. I’m leaving.”
I track his every step and watch him get into a car down the street. It’s too far for me to see the license plate, but I register the make and model. After he drives away, I let up on my clenched jaw and tuck my gun away, mulling over why he’s here in the US. He didn’t mention a case, so what’s his angle? The moment I turn my attention back toward the hotel, I see Mina driving out of the parking lot, her foot heavy on the gas.
Bloody hell! I start my engine and put the car into gear, grumbling, “He lasted like, what? Twenty minutes max? Doesn’t seem worth her trip here.” What was she thinking?
Just as I turn my wheel, a line of city buses drive past at a snail’s pace, cutting me off.
Once the seven buses finally clear, I rev my engine and veer into the lane, dialing Elijah’s number.
“Hey, Den. What’s up?”
“I need you to track Mina’s location.”
“Sebastian pulled it earlier. Buzz him for the info.”
Annoyed, I keep my voice even. “Ping it again.”
“Lost her already? That’s got to be a record.” Elijah chuckles. “I know Sebastian wanted to keep tabs, so I’ll have him pull the data and text you. Two birds, one stone and all that.”
“You’ll be the dead bird in this scenario if you don’t get me the info right bloody now!”
“Someone skipped their morning coffee,” he mutters as typing sounds in the background for several seconds. “Okay, she appears to have stopped moving. I’m sending the location to your phone now.”
“Thanks,” I say in a calmer tone.
“Will Sebastian want this too?”
“No, I’ll update him later.” Ending the call, I shake my head and mumble, “I’ll probably be working for free by next week.”
Chapter Four
Mina
How am I supposed to move forward when ghosts from my past won’t let me? I lift my phone up and my hands shake as I hover my finger over the name. Derrick’s number.
He said he wants to be involved, Mina. Now’s your chance to find out. Can you trust him?
Swallowing my nerves, I scrub at my face, hoping the tear stains are mostly gone. I don’t know where I finally found my calm state. I must be in shock right now. Otherwise, normal me would be screaming through my emotions. Instead, I gnaw on my bottom lip and set the phone down once more to take a long sip of my wine. I can’t believe this is happening.
The female bartender in a slick black ponytail calls to me as she passes by with a tray of beers for a half dozen guys at the end of the bar. “Just let me know when you’re ready for another.”
The game has drawn a crowd. Loads of men are standing in and around the bar, watching the TV on the back corner wall, which is fine by me. It’s easier to get overlooked in the excitement and less likely guys will think I’m there to be hit on. I’ve got enough going on in my life right now. I take another sip and savor the taste. Wow, this wine is good, stronger than I expected, but good.
God knows I haven’t been myself lately, but how could I have hit rock bottom like this? I stare at my clean hands and think about how dirty they became overnight. All it took was walking into that hotel. I knew better. I knew I shouldn’t have gone, but I had to know. So I went. As the memory washes over me, my body starts to shake and my stomach twists into knots. I swallow a few times to settle the nauseous churning. Holding up my half-empty glass, I reply to the bartender on her way back, “I’ll just order another now.”
The moment she nods her understanding, I down the rest of the contents. Liquid courage, don’t fail me now.
My stomach buzzes and my head suddenly feels all warm and fuzzy, making it a bit easier to pick up my phone and hit the dial button.
“Hey, Mina. It’s good to hear from you. I knew you’d eventually call.”
His smugness annoys the crap out of me, but for now I need him. “Hey, Derrick. I’m going out on a limb here, but if you were serious about wanting to be involved, then I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure, what can I do for you?”
“Can you pick up Josi at daycare today? I’ll have to call them and update the permissions listing—I still haven’t even taken my mom off since she passed away—but if you could—”
My phone is unceremoniously swiped from my hand. I frown to see Den speaking into it in a low, authoritative tone. “Miss Blake no longer requires your help.”
Before I can counter his statement, he hangs up. “Off you go.”
“Give that back,” I snap. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving you from yourself.”
As he slips my phone into his inside ja
cket pocket, the bartender approaches, grinning at his imposing size. “What’ll you have, handsome?”
Any other day, I would have been intrigued to be the subject of Den’s sudden undivided attention. The six-foot-five, well-dressed, self-contained man with striking lion-colored eyes has always secretly fascinated me. He’s so steadfast in his loyalty, not just to Talia, but to our family as a whole. His work ethic has kept him at an unapproachable distance, only allowing me glimpses of his sexy accent and rock-solid presence from afar.
Until now.
Now, this Brit is being a royal pain in my ass. I think I liked it better when he ignored me.
“Go away, Noble Brit. I’m not going anywhere. And give me my phone before you leave,” I finish, holding out my hand.
“I’m only here for Lady Mina,” he answers the bartender’s question at the same time he leans over and scoops me off the stool, straight up into muscular arms.
“Put me down, Den,” I say, squirming to be free of his steel hold.
The bartender’s eyes widen in alarm and she picks up the bar’s phone. “If you don’t release her this instant, I’m calling the police!”
Despite the fact that every eye in the room is watching us, Den looks at me, his tone unconcerned. “Do you want her to call the police?”
Quickly shaking my head, I wave my hands. “No, it’s fine. He’s just my…driver, trying to take care of me.” I don’t want my father to find out Den had to haul me out of a bar in the middle of the day, let alone on a workday. God, my head is so woozy. How did I get so buzzed off one glass of wine? It’s bad enough Den is staring at me with a judgmental gaze, I don’t need my body wimping out on me like this.
Wait…why is Den here?
The bartender’s brown eyes dart between Den and me, her expression tense. “If you’re suuure,” she says slowly, phone still held aloft.
Noble Brit Page 2
