Guarding Lauren: Brotherhood Protectors World (Texas Guardians Book 1)

by Barb Han

  He mentally slapped himself. Distraction could get them both killed.

  They were safe for now. He tried to reach Gunner again. Nothing. Wasn’t like him to go off the grid like that. Damn. Jaden hoped like hell his boss was all right.

  His body ached, but not as much as before.

  Lauren was snuggled up to him, her face against his chest. There was a slight pout to her lips, and his body instantly reacted to her. He was growing hard nestled this close.

  This was not the time for rogue hormones.

  Besides, he’d had enough rest to think clearly. His second though? Bryce. The third operative to be killed in a month.

  At first blush, Jaden had figured the situation blew up back at the beach because he’d been spotted. If that were true, shouldn’t Jaden be dead and not his buddy? Unless Bryce accidently stepped in the way of a bullet marked for Jaden. Guilt knifed his chest. If Bryce was killed because of Jaden’s actions, he’d never forgive himself. He shook his head. Stick to the facts.

  Lauren had brought serious cash to the beach. The cartel had shown up ready and armed to stage war. Brought serious metal, AR-15s, and enough ammo to wipe out a small island. Why?

  Sure, his agency had been putting quite a bit of heat on the cartels recently. His mind snapped to Camila and her deception that had cost ManTech lives. Max might lead Jaden to her and he could deal with her once and for all.

  No one else was going to die on his watch. Keeping Lauren safe until this ordeal was over became his number one priority. He told himself that was the only reason he cared and not because she stirred feelings inside he didn’t want to acknowledge. Couldn’t acknowledge. If he acknowledged those she’d be dead, too. Jaden had no plans to tempt fate again.

  Nursing his sore shoulder, he slipped off the couch and moved to the window as rain pounded the pane. Thunder cracked overhead sounding like it was literally ripping the earth in two. If he were lucky, this would be the worst of the storm, but luck wasn’t something experience had taught him to depend on.

  He flipped on the kitchen switch. The electricity worked. Light was good. Then again, he could think of a few intriguing ideas involving the woman on the couch and a dark room. He shook off the thought and refocused.

  Gregory was set up in the second bedroom monitoring the weather situation.

  Crossing to the bathroom, Jaden peeled off both his wetsuit and jockeys. His new cell rang. He answered it, hoping like hell it was Gunner.

  “What’s the plan?” Her voice was undeniable.

  “Helena, I told you we’ve got this. I have Gregory right here if I need backup.” She must’ve leaned on all her contacts to get his number. She was smart. How the hell was he going to keep her out of this fight? Jaden had no idea if the men who’d killed Smith or Bryce had anything to do with Tim’s death.

  “You already know how I feel about letting others fight my battles,” she said.

  He didn’t like the sound in her voice. He wished he’d been able to see her, check on her for himself after the funeral. She had every right to be upset. He hadn’t been there for her in the way he should. He’d been shot and agency protocol required he be tucked away. He hated the way it felt like he’d turned his back on her when she needed his support most. Support? He stifled a laugh. Helena would see support as charity. She accepted charity from no one. “You heard from Gunner?”

  “No.”

  He paused. “We’ll get the guy who killed Tim.”

  “No, I will.” The resignation in her voice said she’d die trying.

  “How’d you con someone into giving you this number?” he asked.

  “I didn’t.”

  Click.

  She must’ve hacked into the system and started calling random cell numbers until she located him. She was determined, and he couldn’t blame her. On a primal level, he totally understood her need for revenge.

  He checked his wounds. They amounted to a handful of scrapes and bruises, except for the golf ball sitting on top of his shoulder from the dislocation. He rotated his arm outward slowly and steadily. He gripped the sink basin. With a grunt, he pushed up on his feet until his muscles and tendons stretched enough for the joint to slide into his shoulder socket.

  Relief came instantly. He moved to the shower. The warm water eased his weather-torn body. Closing his eyes, he let the heat penetrate his sore muscles.

  Bryce. Someone from the agency would have to tell his girlfriend. Thinking about him tightened the muscles in Jaden’s back and neck. His fists clenched.

  If he could get Lauren and himself to the primary checkpoint safely, sophisticated communication equipment would be there. He could guarantee her safety. But when? How? The weather sure as hell wasn’t cooperating.

  This condo was far better than being somewhere out there dodging bullets. He could protect Lauren here. An image of the two of them, swimsuit clad, vacationing at the condo popped into his mind. And kids.

  Losing his friends played tricks with his psyche. Jaden shook water out of his hair. Not once had he considered having children. His job was his life, and he was a damn good soldier. And yet, hadn’t he been feeling like something was missing lately?

  A minute later, he toweled off, wiping the thought from his brain. A toothbrush and toothpaste were heaven about now. Lip balm was next.

  “What do you have for us to wear?” he asked, poking his head into Gregory’s room.

  “In the room. On the bed. I laid out clothes for both of you.”

  “What’s the weather doing?” Jaden asked.

  “Stable for now. We’re cut off out here from the worst of it. But if this monster turns, we’re in bad shape.” Gregory twisted his face in a look of concern.

  “Still no word from Gunner?”

  Gregory shook his head.

  “Keep trying to locate him. Use whatever means necessary.” He’d tell him to put a trace on Helena’s cell if it wouldn’t create a backdoor a smart hacker could breach. He needed to keep a closer eye on her. Her blind fury could cause her to rush into a situation when patience was called for. It could cost her life.

  Jaden found a white t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and fresh boxers laid out on the bed in the master. There were dry socks and tennis shoes, too. His version of Christmas morning.

  He slipped them on.

  They only clothes he found on the other side of the bed were horrible, sack-looking dresses. He stifled a laugh. He seriously doubted he could force one of those on Lauren. She’d look hot in anything she put on, but she wouldn’t think so.

  Suddenly, the image of her standing in the boat wearing nothing but a white lace bra and panties flashed in his brain. His earlier erection tried to revive itself. Traitor.

  Lauren awakened his emotions. Brought a glimpse of light into the darkest corners of his heart. He cancelled the thought, reminding himself that she was an asset.

  Jaden seriously needed to control his hormones.

  He shuffled through drawers until he found something suitable for her. A pair of jeans and t-shirt.

  Sizing them up, he grinned. She’d fit.

  After folding the outfit and placing it on a chair in the living room, he dug around in the kitchen. They needed food. He was hungry, tired and beaten. His shoulder still ached. All in all, a hell of a lot better than he’d been half an hour ago.

  Surprisingly, none of it mattered. Jaden felt alive being back in the field. Even though the woman sleeping in the next room played tricks on his emotions. He couldn’t ignore the simple fact that she picked at the chinks in his armor. She threatened to bring parts of him back to the light that had long since been buried…and were better left dormant.

  Lauren stirred. He glanced over and then moved to her side. He took a knee.

  She was so close his fingers tensed from wanting to go rogue and trail the curves of her back, get lost in that fiery mane. He swallowed hard as he strained painfully inside his shorts. The traitor was back.

  “Wake up, sweetheart. Not sure ho
w much longer we’ll be able to stick around here.” He wanted her to eat.

  She looked groggy and small as she sat up. He smiled. Small was the furthest word from his mind when it came to describing her personality.

  “Has to be safer than out there, right?” she asked through a sleepy yawn.

  She stretched those long, lean runners legs, looking sexy as hell.

  A sudden urge to kiss the small freckle above her lip overcame him. Not the time, soldier. Pointing to clothes neatly stacked on a side chair, he said, “Wasn’t sure about your size. Looks like they’ll fit.”

  Her focus bounced from the pile of clothes back to meet his. Hurt darkened her eyes. “They’ll be fine. At least they’re dry.”

  Jaden rest an elbow on his knee. He didn’t blame her for looking at him like that. Especially when they were back on the rocks and he’d all but accused her of working with the cartel. The pain of his accusation had sizzled in her eyes ever since.

  Regret formed a lump in his throat. Why was it easier to push her away than to face the rogue feelings inside him?

  He stood and moved into the kitchen, filling a plate for her.

  “Eat something.” He walked to her and handed over the items.

  “Those windows don’t look safe,” she said taking a bite of the roll as if it were a steak dinner. “Think they’ll hold?”

  “I honestly don’t know.”

  “Guess we’ll figure it out soon enough,” she said.

  Her gaze appraised him suspiciously. He didn’t like it. But he couldn’t deny he deserved it. If he’d trusted her, he would’ve told her the truth already about her brother.

  Gaining her trust was mission-critical but he couldn’t bring himself to trick her into talking. He’d had no problem using whatever means at his disposal to turn an asset before. So why all of a sudden was he developing a conscience?

  “I was honest with you before,” he said. “I really don’t know who ultimately hired me. I don’t always know.”

  “Then how can you be sure you’re working for one of the good guys?” she asked after taking a sip of the water her brought over for her.

  “That much I can tell you. We take assignments from the government and large corporations. We bring down cartels, terrorists, governments, and bad guys.”

  She repositioned herself, sitting a bit straighter against the couch as she stopped chewing.

  “Criminals like my brother?”

  “Yes. Like Max. And a lot of other types of evil.”

  She dropped the roll, didn’t speak.

  “I’m sorry. You might be related, but he’s one of them,” he said.

  “I know. Believe me, I know. I hate what he’s become. I do. It’s just hard to hear. I’ve turned my back on it for so long now. Pretended it wasn’t happening. And look where that got me.” She glanced around, wincing when thunder clapped loudly. “I’d still rather not know, to be honest.”

  “Look. There’s something else I need to tell you about Max.”

  Chapter 10

  Lauren sat up, rigid, her back ramrod straight now, her brown-gold eyes wide. “Which is?”

  “He was planning to testify against a dangerous criminal group.” Why did he feel the need to tell her this? He’d always played his hand close to his chest.

  A look of pure disbelief darkened her features. “And you didn’t tell me that before?”

  “I had to know that I could trust you first.” Her reaction couldn’t have hurt more than a knife to Jaden’s heart. “Which bothers me because it makes even less sense why they kidnapped him.”

  He resisted the urge to wrap her in his arms and take her confusion away. She’d probably fight back. And he deserved it. He momentarily forgot she was part of a case again, which wasn’t like him at all. He’d never compromised an assignment by getting emotional with an asset.

  “Can you actually get away from bad men like these?”

  He nodded. “It’s rare though and not without consequences.”

  Lauren set the plate down beside her and got to her feet quickly. She paced as thunder rolled in the distance. “He called a couple of times recent. I ignored him. I should’ve—”

  “Look. Don’t do this. I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want you to blame yourself.”

  “We both know you didn’t tell me because you didn’t trust me. Even so, I had a right to know,” she said, her eyes practically shooting daggers at him.

  Jaden didn’t speak. A slip of conscience niggled at him. She was right on both counts.

  “Then why? Why did they take him?”

  “That’s the game-show-winning question. It wasn’t to kill him. They would have done that already.”

  Her pace quickened, and she chewed on her thumbnail. “Is it because of the money? They wanted more. Maybe he owed them or had to buy his way out?”

  These guys didn’t usually kidnap for cash owed. Ordinarily, they chopped men up and buried the pieces deep in a South American jungle. That information he would keep to himself. “Not their usual style of collection.”

  “So there’s more to it.”

  “Which could be tied to my agency,” he admitted.

  “When they called, they put him on the phone. He begged me not to come. Said they’d just kill me too.” Large round droplets were spilling from her eyes now. “He sounded resigned to dying and thought I would, too.”

  “That couldn’t have been easy to hear.” Damn. She’d been through enough already and here Jaden was piling on more. He didn’t like being the one to tell her this. He wanted to be her protector, blocking out everything bad or threatening. He told himself she’d think more clearly without distractions and not because he was developing feelings for her. The kiss on the rocky island had imprinted him. He could still taste her sweet lips.

  Find her brother and they’d have answers. Jaden was almost certain that one of Menendez’s boys had killed Tim. Camila was responsible for Smith’s death.

  A gust of wind slammed the windows.

  Lauren gasped.

  Jaden popped to his feet. “Better grab a shower while we still have hot water. I have no idea if the generator will hold. Toothbrush is on the counter. Found some new ones in the cabinet. Everything you need is in there.”

  Nodding, she grabbed the clothes stack and darted toward the bathroom.

  Jaden waited outside the door, debating his next move. Their safe house was an old military compound. The condo, being a makeshift location, was therefore more vulnerable. The storm tripled the threat. Also made it more difficult to leave.

  The lights dimmed, and then Jaden found himself standing inside a black hallway.

  Lauren screamed.

  Jaden opened the door so fast it smacked against the wall.

  “What is it?”

  “C-c-cold.”

  The faucet turned off and a few moments later Lauren appeared wrapped in a towel. Lightning lit up the small hallway. She stood there shivering.

  “How about that generator?” Jaden shouted to Gregory.

  “Sorry. I’m working on it. For now, power’s gone,” Gregory called from the other room.

  Jaden retrieved another towel and moved to her. It took all his energy to cover her with the cloth and look away from the soft curve of her bare shoulder, which glistened with tiny beads of water.

  “You ever been through anything like this before?” Lauren asked as Jaden led her into the living room.

  The volume rose on the radio in the other room, cutting through the winds.

  “Trust me. We’ll get through this. You know that, right?” He lowered his voice.

  She didn’t respond or budge. Panic must’ve caused her to freeze. Losing self-control wasn’t good. She’d been through a lot already. If she slipped into shock…game over.

  Jaden took her in his arms to warm her. Pulling her close did little else but cause her lilac scent to fill his senses. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Her long lashes
swept up, and her golden eyes stared into his. “I know,” she said softly.

  Jaden sighed sharply, unsure of why he felt compelled to offer reassurance, to tell her what he’d never spoken aloud before when all he wanted to do was cover her mouth with his kisses. “Believe me when I say I know how important finding your brother is to you.”

  She broke eye contact. “You can’t possibly know what this is like. Not when you go around saving people all the time.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I had a brother once, too.”

  Her gaze came up to meet his. “What happened?”

  “He was four years older than me. Got involved in the wrong crowd in high school. Drugs. He was small time. Got shot and killed when a deal went bad.” His voice caught. His fists clenched and released. “He was just a kid. Didn’t know what he was doing. He died for forty dollars. That’s what they took from him as they stepped over him and left him for dead.”

  She lifted her gaze to study his face, examining every curve, as though his confession explained a lot. “It’s the real reason you do this job, isn’t it? Because you couldn’t save him.”

  He shrugged, non-committal. He didn’t want to examine his actions any more than he wanted to face the shaft of light to his heart brought on by her smile.

  “Why’re you telling me this now?”

  He rolled his shoulders, winced. Damned if he knew. He wanted, no needed, her to know she was different. “I wanted to be honest. With you. With myself. Show you I’d never fight this hard for the wrong side.”

  She paused, looking everywhere but at him. Clearing his throat, he tried to break free from the fog clouding his judgment. He should walk away. He should fight the instinct he had to hold her, touch her, and tell her everything she wanted to hear.

  Should have. Would have. Could have.

  But didn’t.

  So he kissed her.

  Sanity must’ve taken over a few seconds after their lips touched because Jaden pulled back. But for a moment, Lauren got lost. Lost in the strong and dangerous man’s arms. Lost in the fleeting feeling of comfort he provided. Lost in the hope that this whole situation would magically work out.