Anubis (Guardian Security Shadow World Book 1)

by Kris Michaels

  Anubis closed the cover over the paperwork and leaned back in his chair, waiting for someone to tell him what the fuck was going on. Alpha popped another piece of chocolate into his mouth and pointed to the folder. "I want to know if you would be interested in heading up the personnel and logistics section of the Shadow World. I can't do it all anymore. Zane was brought on to CCS and has made a case for the need for better management of the assets we have assigned. You'd be here at the complex. He'd be in D.C. You'd travel as needed."

  Anubis glanced at Bengal and then to his woman. She was busy scrolling through her tablet, ignoring the entire conversation. Bengal leveled his gaze and waited. Anubis leaned forward and placed his forearms on the table. "Why me?"

  Alpha reached for another piece of candy. "You are one of the most experienced Shadow Operatives I have. I've never worked in the shadows. I'll be the first to admit I run a blind operation in several areas and that shit needs to stop now." He waved a finger between Bengal and Anubis. "Having you two available will streamline the red tape of building dossiers and assigning them to the correct skillset after they are coded. Gabriel, Archangel and I have been considering the benefits of teaming up our assets. For certain cases, joining the assets makes the most sense. You would be responsible for making that work."

  "You'd be able to stay in the shadows, but walk in the light." Bengal tossed the final salvo over the bow.

  Anubis shook his head. "I'd like to say yes, but I need to take care of something first." He shifted his eyes to his boss.

  "Thank fuck, finally. Jewell?" Alpha looked at his sister.

  "I can find her. She has Keelee Cassidy's truck. It could take a while and one hell of an algorithm, but in reality, a nation-wide system to link all the traffic cameras so law enforcement can track scum from municipality to interstate to municipality, is long overdue. The parameters and inclusionary data are overwhelming. Some systems are incompatible with our hosting platform so there will be gaps, but the concept is exciting, and the applications for law enforcement will enhance current capabilities exponentially. Fortunately, I won't need any of that because Keelee Cassidy put a tracking device in the SUV."

  Anubis cut his eyes to Bengal. The big guy smiled indulgently at the woman who didn't even seem to register anyone else was in the room. Her fingers flew over the tablet, and she mumbled something before she grabbed one of the many pencils that stuck out of her messy up-do.

  "Do you think she'll go back to California?" Bengal's question redirected his attention from the man's hot mess of a fiancée. Thank god he didn't have to understand what the woman said.

  Anubis considered Bengal's question for a moment. "Maybe, but other than a house, there is nothing left for her there. If she hasn't been fired, she will be. She was trying to track me down and used the DA's assets without approval. I need to call in some favors to get any charges against her dropped."

  "I'll call Jared and Nic. They can clear that up with one call." Alpha grabbed another piece of candy.

  "Thank you. I know she'd probably want to make a fresh start, but I have no idea where she'd go."

  "Family?" Bengal pulled out his tablet, and he and his woman tapped away at the faces of their electronics.

  "Mother's dead. She's been estranged from her father. No other relatives." At least none that he knew about.

  "Okay." Jewell glanced up at her brother. "Permission to cross a few boundaries in the name of the greater good?"

  Jacob snorted. "Like you've ever asked before. Just don't get me fired."

  "Again." Jewell and Zane both commented at the same time.

  Jacob flipped them off, stood up and stretched. "Go check in and get a bunk. They'll figure out where your family is located."

  "Hey, it could take a hot minute. This program is massive. Don't get me wrong, we're good, but dude, we are talking about an effort that could take months." Jewell looked up from her tablet when she spoke. "We can't trace the truck. I checked that already. It is too old, and doesn't have GPS tracking. Of course, I'll be running every other program I can think of to find her, we'll monitor financials, social media, cell phone contracts, law enforcement, hospital, and social security numbers… we won't just wait until we get this program done."

  Anubis nodded and gave the woman a genuine smile. "I know you are very good at what you do. Thank you for the effort you're about to expend on my behalf."

  Bengal's woman blushed and dipped her head. "You're welcome."

  Alpha gathered the wrappers off the table. "Get on Doctor Wheeler's calendar; tell him I want your evaluation done ASAP."

  "Roger that, sir." Anubis stood as he spoke.

  Alpha reached out his hand. Anubis clasped it. "Welcome to the back office."

  "Thank you, sir. For everything."

  "Meh, I'll make sure to make you pay for it… eventually." Alpha cuffed him on the shoulder and headed out the door. "Oh, dinner is at six thirty, sharp. Main ranch house. Don't be late or my stepfather will have a cow. That is something you don't want to see. Bring Asp. I want to see the man explode when he tries to out eat Double D." The door closed behind the man as he laughed.

  Anubis turned to Bengal. "Who or what in the hell is a Double D?"

  "The guys that run the training side of this complex. Dixon and Drake. They're called the Wonder Twins or Double D. They fly anything that has wings or a rotary blade, are experts in demolitions, and are the brains behind the solar and turbine power that keep this entire facility off the grid."

  "Damn. That's impressive." Was he in over his head, or what?

  "They've been with Alpha since the beginning. You'll get to know the main players. Chief runs the complex from a management and logistical standpoint. Adam Cassidy runs the medical facilities, although he has a large staff of experts working with him. You'll have three facilities here, and we'll get into that tomorrow. For now, go get bunked, find Asp before he eats his way through South Dakota, and both of you get on the doctor's calendar. We have one hell of a lot of work to do and a dossier that we believe the combined council will drop within the next twenty-four hours. I'm going to need your help until we find your lady."

  Anubis nodded, trying to take in the major league shift his world had taken in the last fifteen minutes. "I'm not sure I'm the person you need for this job."

  "Why's that?"

  "Those people in the field depend on Guardian to keep them safe. Their very existence is on the line every day they are hunting a dossier. The smallest thing could jeopardize their lives." Things that would seem inconsequential to most people. The wrong intel on known associates, a lapse in the Shadow's background or even a change to the target's inner circle could start ripple effects that could be deadly to the Shadow working the dossier.

  "How many administrative types in this organization would know what those small things are?" Zane leaned back in his chair and put his arm around his woman's shoulders. She didn't even acknowledge he was there but just kept working on her tablet, apparently oblivious to the conversation around her.

  Anubis pushed his chair in and leaned on the back of it as he regarded Bengal and his woman. Since Alpha had asked, and Bengal thought he could do the job, he'd go all in and fucking work his ass off to be what they needed. Although he still wasn't convinced he'd make the impact they seemed to expect.

  "Alright."

  A shit eating grin spread across Bengal's face as his fingers threaded through the hair that had fallen across his woman's shoulder. She glanced over at him and smiled before her electronics once again consumed her attention.

  Anubis felt a rush of longing. He wanted what they had. He wanted to be able to have a relationship with Sky, to share a simple look, a touch, or even a smile. The question was would she want that with him? He extended his hand to Bengal. "I'm still not calling you Zane."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sky hit the emp
loyee breakroom and immediately kicked her heels off.

  "They are fucking animals tonight." Sky jumped and looked up. She hadn't notice Beatrix in the far corner of the room. Her new friend had been a lifesaver, showing her the ropes and even helping her find childcare so she could work the later shifts.

  "Two bachelor parties on the same night. It's insane out there." Sky padded across the floor and flopped onto an old fold-out chair next to Beatrix. The 'gentleman's club' was the best gig she could find when she moved out here. She'd attempted to contact her father, but the man wanted nothing to do with her, so Sky used the money Keelee had given her and rented a tiny one bedroom apartment. Beatrix's son was about the same age as Kadey so she knew of pre-school options that Sky could afford. Beatrix's mom was willing to watch Kadey at night while she worked since she was already watching Bea's son.

  "Sean cut me loose. The crowd is dwindling." Sky rubbed the arch of her foot. She needed a better set of heels. Heck, she needed a better job. They'd been in Phoenix for just over a month, but she was still looking for an office job. A receptionist, secretary…anything would be better than what she was doing now, but she had rent to make, and while the tips here were great, the groping, propositions and outright lewd and disgusting behavior of some of the customers was reason to keep looking.

  "Yep, he cut me too, but I'm so damn tired I've just been sitting here." Bea dropped her head back against the wall with a thud.

  "Come on. We can walk out together. It's safer that way." Sky was only partially joking. She had a regular that was very persistent and had followed her to the employee parking lot twice. The guy gave her the creeps, but so far, he'd listened when she said no. The small spray container of mace in her purse was for the day he didn't. She prayed it would never happen, but she carried her keys in one hand and the mace in the other.

  Sky got up and walked across the room to the small lockers to retrieve her purse and sweater. It got cold in the desert at night. "Come on, girl, time to go home."

  Bea stood and stretched her hands over her head stretching. "Mason has T-ball in the morning." She glanced up at the old clock on the wall. "Check that, Mason has T-ball in seven hours. Uggg… does it make me a bad mom to wish he didn't like sports?" Bea pulled her purse and coat out of her locker.

  "No. You're tired. Get some sleep, and you'll enjoy the game." Sky put on a pair of ballet slippers and swooped up her heels, shoving them into her purse. She slung it over her shoulder. The keys went into her right hand, the mace into her left.

  "God, don't tell me Jordan is still following you out when you leave?" Bea looked over her shoulder as they exited the employee lounge. They turned right, heading to the back of the building toward the employee parking lot. They both swiped their employee IDs and exited the club.

  "He's followed me twice. He creeps me out." Sky whispered the comment. The customer parking lot was between the club and the small graveled lot used by the employees. There were always men in the lot, which meant lewd comments and propositions as the servers walked to their vehicles. Management refused to take action unless there was unwanted physical contact. Bea assured her that she'd never heard of anyone being assaulted, but Sky hated being vulnerable. Working for the DA for five years, she knew what could happen. Maybe that was why she was so nervous.

  "Hey, sweet cheeks! Want to come party with us?" A group of men gathered around a clump of cars near the entrance to the employee parking lot.

  "Just keep walking," Sky whispered and put her arm through Bea's, and they ignored the catcalls.

  "Hey pretty momma, don't be like that. We'll make it worth your while!" A loud chorus of laughter sent a shiver up Sky's back.

  "I'm here." Bea pointed to her beat up Toyota.

  "I'll walk you over." Sky stood beside the car while Bea opened the door and got in. The darn thing was notorious for not starting. She turned the key, and it jumped to life. Sky waived and headed across the parking lot. The headlights of Bea's car illuminated the rear of her vehicle. Sky stopped so suddenly she slipped in the gravel. A lone figure leaned against the rear of her SUV.

  Bea pulled up and rolled down the window. "Do you want me to call Sean or the cops?"

  Sky shook her head but didn't take her eyes off the man in front of her. "No, I'm fine. I know him."

  "Are you sure?"

  The wariness in Bea's voice pulled Sky out of her shock. She turned and nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. Tell your mom I'll be there in just a couple minutes."

  "Sky…" Bea obviously didn't want to leave her alone.

  "He's Kadey's daddy. I'm fine. I'll be over to pick her up in just a few minutes." Sky tugged the strap of her purse further up on her shoulder and headed to her truck. Her back stiffened with resolve. She wasn't going to fall into the trap again. Not this time. He was bad for her, and she wasn't going to live waiting for him to decide to drop into her life again.

  Bea's headlights arced around the parking lot, leaving the dull yellow light of a distant streetlight to illuminate her way. Sky stopped about four feet from him. He shifted off the back of the vehicle where he was leaning. "Why did you leave?"

  Sky crossed her arm, still clutching her keys and mace. "Because I had to protect myself and Kadey."

  His body went stiff. "From what?" He growled the question as if he didn't know.

  "That would be you." Sky walked past him and unlocked the truck. She threw her purse up on the center console.

  "You think I'd hurt you? Again?" The disbelief in his voice lit a fuse that took less than a second to ignite.

  She turned and stared at him. The words she wanted to say were vicious and cutting, but he wasn't responsible for her weakness when it came to him. She was, and she was responsible for stopping her irresponsible longing for something she could never have.

  "Kaeden, you were honest with me. Now it's my turn to be honest with you. You told me you were leaving, that you couldn't stay. I'm not living in denial here. I get that I'm nothing more than a hook up to you, but for some reason, even though I know that, I still come running when you want a convenient fuck. And still, every time I wake up, and you're gone, a small piece of my heart dies. Can't you see what you are doing to me? You can't keep doing this. It isn't fair." Sky's voice shook with emotion. "I will be forever grateful that you saved Kadey for me. She's my world, but Kaeden, you're killing me. I can't do this anymore. You can't love me. Okay, I get that, but for God's sake leave me alone because as much as I've tried, I can't stop loving you!"

  Kaeden lowered his head and looked at the ground. "You were never a convenient fuck."

  Sky looked up at the sky and tried to stifle a sob. "Great, nice to know you had to go out of your way to fuck me. I've got to go." She reached for the door handle only to have his hand cover hers. "For God's sake, Kaeden. Let me go." She whispered the plea. She'd bared her soul to him, and all he had for her was that she wasn't convenient. How appropriate. She gave, and he took.

  "I can't let you go, Sky. I'll never let you go."

  The heat of his body behind her made her curl in on herself. "I don't care if you will let me go because I have already gone." The tears she'd been holding fell down her cheeks, and her shoulders shook with her suppressed sobs. His hands ran up her arms and pulled her back to him. Sky tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let go.

  "I can't let you go because I need you. I've never been able to stay away because you are my soul and my humanity. The only happiness I had in my life were the memories of us together. I won't let the warmth of my life leave me. I can't." Sky spun in his arms. The stricken look on her face was sharper than a knife and cut him deeper than any blade. "But you can't stay. You've told me that countless times. Don't you see that I can't live like this anymore? It's killing me, Kaeden and what about Kadey? You can't ask me to do this anymore. If you care anything for me, for us… please, let me go."

 
Anubis lowered his forehead down to hers and wrapped her in his arms. "Sky, I'm not leaving. I mean, we're leaving, but I'm not leaving you."

  "Wh… what?" Her body shook with sobs that she was trying to stop. He pulled her into him, holding to his chest. "I want you and Kadey to come live with me."

  Sky pushed him back and bowed backward to look up at him. "What?" The suspicion in her eyes was enough to make him ill. He'd done that to her. She didn't believe that he was telling the truth.

  "I'm not doing the job I used to do. I've taken a desk job. I'll be working from the complex in South Dakota. I may have to leave occasionally, but I'll be with you and Kadey every day. I want us to be a family." He held her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. The utter sadness that emanated from her entire being confused him.

  She shook her head and pushed him away. "I can't."

  Fuck, his heart stopped in his chest, and he dropped his hands in shock. "Why?"

  "Because you don't love us."

  She started to turn, but Kaeden stopped her. "Haven't you been listening to me? What more do I have to do?" Fuck, he'd do whatever it took. He'd move the continents and rearranged the oceans if that would make her happy.

  Sky turned and shook her head, defeated. "I'm a lot of things Kaeden, but I'm not stupid. Eventually, the sex wouldn't be enough for you." She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. "I can't live with someone who doesn't love me."

  His head snapped back as if he'd been slapped. "Sky, why do you think I've done all of this?"

  She dropped her hand and lowered her head. "Because you feel guilty, but you don't have to, Kaeden. I love my little girl, and she doesn't need a daddy who is there just to make up for the difficulty I've been through."