Gabriel (Guardian Defenders Book 1)

by Kris Michaels

  Anna sat on the back porch with a cup of coffee. He padded out wrapped in the sheet. Her laughter was almost as delicious as the smell of fresh bread and cinnamon. To her credit, she tried to stop laughing, sipping her coffee and saying good morning between giggles.

  “Good morning.” He plopped into the rocker next to her after kissing her soundly. “Mmm… do you drug me? I have never slept so deeply. Not good in my line of work.”

  “Nope, no drugs, just good old fashion fresh air, fantastically fun sex, and your sleep deprivation from work and travel.”

  “I am relieved to be done with that. I really don’t want to see another airplane for a while.”

  “Yeah, about that. That could be a problem.”

  Gabriel’s eyes narrowed at her. He needed coffee and food before he could decode her hidden meanings. “What could be a problem?”

  “Deacon and Jackie are getting married in three days. I took the week off and have a ticket to fly to New Orleans. I leave this afternoon.”

  “Shit. Fuck me.” Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his head back. He did not want to do anything today except roll Anna back into bed. After food. And coffee.

  Anna batted her long lashes at him. “Well, yes, sir, I will.” She drawled in her best southern accent. “But that will not preclude the fact I am Jackie’s Maid of Honor, and I need to be in New Orleans.”

  He stood up and stretched, grabbing the sheet before it fell, and he exposed himself to any neighbor that may or may not be looking out their back windows. He headed toward the door. “That comment was not meant as an invitation, although now you have accepted, I will amend my original intent.”

  Her throaty laugh followed him as he went back into the house. “Where are you going? Do you want coffee? The cinnamon rolls will be done in about five minutes,” Anna called after him.

  “Yes, to coffee, many, many rolls, and I'll be right back.” He lifted his voice so she could hear him and hiked up the trailing sheet again, sending her into another giggling fit.

  Gabriel walked back to the bedroom and retrieved his cell from the nightstand. He dropped the sheet on the bed and slipped into his jeans before he headed back out to the porch.

  With a dramatic flair, he produced his damn cell phone. He turned the thing on and placed it on the porch rail. As soon as it received a signal, the phone started vibrating ferociously. He sat down beside her, and they both watched the thing worm irregular patterns across the flat railing.

  “Is it going to explode?” Anna whispered, not taking her eyes off the device.

  “It could. I've never turned it off before.”

  The little piece of metal continued to shake and make pinging noises. “When did you turn it off? Last year?”

  “Nope. When I landed.”

  “Damn.”

  “Yeah.”

  Anna went into the house and refreshed her coffee and brought him a huge cup of the steaming brew. When the phone finally stopped vibrating, he picked it up and reviewed the text messages which were primarily sitreps on ongoing operations and updates on other business concerns. None were flagged as urgent. Three of the messages were from Craig, time-stamped last night. He responded to the two that pertained to business and told him to go fuck himself on the third that asked if his attitude was any better now that he’d gotten laid.

  He sighed deeply, “Are you sure you have to be there?”

  Anna snorted. “She's one of my best friends. I don’t want to miss her wedding. It's going to be a small event, just a few people. You don't have to be my plus one, but...”

  Gabriel smiled at her pouty face. Damn it, she knew how to work him. He dialed the phone. “This is Alpha. I need my jet at Denver International at six tonight. The destination is Louis Armstrong, New Orleans. Two souls, no cargo, just luggage.” He waited as the voice at the other end of the line confirmed his orders. “Out.”

  Anna paused on her way in to retrieve the cinnamon rolls from the oven. “Holy Shit! Did you just say you had a jet?”

  Gabriel grabbed her and pulled her into the chair with him. “I have a Bombardier Challenger 600 which definitely qualifies as a jet, four C-130’s, a 757, and a half dozen or so helicopters.”

  Anna laughed again. “Okay, sport! I think we need to get your head examined. I believe you are having delusions of grandeur! Now, let me go before your breakfast burns!”

  “I'm serious!” he shouted after her.

  “And I'm Daddy Warbucks!” she shouted back.

  Gabriel blinked from the screen door to his phone. Somehow, in the all the conversations they’d had, he’d neglected to tell her he owned Guardian. He didn’t just work there. Well, this was going to be fun.

  Gabriel watched Anna’s face as they pulled up to the aircraft. Two other vehicles that had accompanied them on the drive from her house to the airport flanked the black Bronco he drove. Her eyes widened as the convoy was directed through the private security gates.

  The ground crew unloaded and loaded their luggage as Gabriel threw the Bronco keys to one of the team members who’d been assigned to watch Anna.

  “Hey, I know that guy.” She pointed at the man. He gave her a two-finger salute and ducked into the cab of the truck. “I've seen him before. Who is he?” Anna put her hands on her hips. “What's going on?”

  “Nothing. Come on, we're heading to New Orleans.”

  “In what?” Anna lifted her arms from her sides and spun around, looking at the empty tarmac.

  “In that.” Gabriel pointed to the hanger behind them. Three men pushed the door open. His jet's gleaming black paint shone in Colorado's setting sun. The Guardian International logo was blazed in gold.

  “What do you have to do with Guardian International? I thought you worked for a security company?”

  Throwing his head back, he laughed. She was priceless and perfect. He grabbed her tightly and whispered, “Sweetheart, I am Guardian International.”

  Chapter 31

  Anna felt her gut cramp. Everyone knew of Guardian International’s power and reach. She had recently read a Newsweek article on the company’s global impact, including the substantial humanitarian aid it had contributed to a war-torn African nation. Kathy had made fun of an article Time Magazine ran on the elusive billionaire D. Xavier, who owned Guardian.

  Anna remembered joking around with the nurses and agreeing they needed to find the man and convince him to be their sugar daddy. Her body froze in place as her mind performed a mental marathon in record time. D. Xavier. An old school, Twilight Zone sense of déjà vu coursed through her as she lifted her ring and gazed at the letters entwined on her finger, then the jet’s logo, and finally, to Gabriel.

  Gabriel draped his arm around her waist. “You really had no idea, even after I told you my first name and gave you this ring?”

  She shook her head. “How could you think I would make that leap? Who could? Crap, I still can't.” She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly very cold.

  Gabriel put his hand on the small of her back and walked with her to the jet. She tripped, paying more attention to the thoughts in her head then the steps of the plane. He helped her up the shallow steps and kissed her temple.

  “It will be all right. I know it is a lot to take in, but I’ll explain everything.”

  She dropped into a huge leather chair he indicated and gazed at the opulence that surrounded her.

  “I'm going to go talk to the pilots. I'll be right back.” He walked to the front of the cabin and leaned into the cockpit. Anna shook her head and stared in awe at the private jet.

  A stewardess appeared beside her. Anna’s head swiveled to view the rear of the plane and what looked like a miniature kitchen area. She’d totally missed that. Totally. She cranked her jaw down in irritation.

  “May I bring you a drink? We have a fully stocked bar.”

  Thank God. “Red wine and a glass of ice, please. Oh, and could you make that a home pour?”

  The waitress stood up straig
ht and blinked at her. “Home pour?”

  Anna lifted her fingers and spread them to about an inch. “Fill your biggest glass with wine. Leave this much room at the top of the glass.”

  “One home pour coming up.” The woman’s voice held laughter in it.

  Gabriel came back to the cabin and helped her fasten her seatbelt, asking for a whiskey as the stewardess brought Anna her wine and ice.

  The plane taxied and took off with absolutely no delay or wait on the tarmac. The roar of the engine stopped her asking the questions that whirled around her head. Instead, she concentrated on power-sipping her wine. She glanced at the almost empty glass. Power sipping should be an Olympic sport. Like power walking. Wait. Was it power walking or race walking? Race sipping? That could be a thing, too. Whatever, nobody actually understood why it was in the Olympics, the walking thing, not the sipping thing, but race sipping could totally be an event. Like, seriously.

  Anna rolled her eyes and turned in her seat to look at Gabriel—who leaned back in the cushy leather chair with his eyes closed? How could he be so relaxed? She glanced at his empty whiskey glass. Oh. She tipped her glass, and sipped, and stared at him. Okay, well at least his moment of relaxation gave her time to think. He was rich. Like billionaire rich. Anna glanced around the aircraft. You’re not in economy class anymore, Dorothy. Her wandering gaze fell on her worn boots, her old faded jeans, and JC Penny shirt. She released a long sigh. It was pretty dang apparent she was K-Mart, and he was… well hell, what was he? Macy’s? That was a real classy store, right? Oh, no, wait, what was the name of that street in Hollywood? Rodeo Drive. She’d read that all the rich and famous actors shopped there.

  Wiggling her toes in her worn, comfortable boots, she wondered how she could ever earn the love of the man who owned all of this? She shivered and gulped the rest of her wine.

  “You’re going to have a headache in the morning if you don’t eat something with that.” He must have heard the remaining ice hit the bottom of her glass because he spoke without opening his eyes.

  “I don't suppose you have any peanuts?”

  Gabriel opened one eye and held out a hand, curling a finger, beckoning her toward him. She unbuckled her seatbelt and moved from her seat to his lap. “I think we can arrange something.” He pushed the stewardess call signal, and the same woman appeared quickly. “Dinner, please.”

  “Yes, sir,” was the instant reply. She turned and smiled at Anna. “Another home pour?”

  “Ah, no, thank you. I think I’ll slow down.”

  “Just let me know if you change your mind.” She smiled before she headed back to the rear of the plane.

  Anna laid her head on Gabriel’s shoulder. She drew a fortifying breath and whispered, “Can we talk here? I have about as many questions as you have dollars.”

  “We could, but I’d rather talk when no one is around. My employees are discrete, but I’d prefer we talk when we get to the apartment. This conversation isn’t one that can be overheard.” Gabriel reclined the massive chair, his feet rising as they lay back together. Anna snuggled down beside him. He scooched over a bit for her and let her settle and get comfortable. His breathing regulated within minutes as sleep overtook him.

  Why was he so secretive? Why did he go by Gabriel and not David? Was he going to actually explain anything or was she going to be pacified and pushed off?

  Okay, so she had a billion and three questions. None of which she could answer without waking Gabriel. Anna shook her head when the waitress appeared with a tray. The woman smiled, nodded, and reversed her direction. Anna wiggled further into the recliner with Gabriel, snuggled closer, and with the aid of a perfect home pour, she fell asleep.

  The stewardess gently woke Anna as the plane started its initial approach into New Orleans. “We'll be landing soon. Regulations require you have your seatbelt on.”

  “Thank you.” Anna mouthed the words and glanced at Gabriel. She reached up and caressed his cheek.

  With his eyes still closed, he grabbed her hand, kissing the palm. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did. Did you?”

  “Mmm… we missed dinner.” Gabriel's stomach rumbled under her.

  “Hmm… true, but we could always hit a drive-thru on the way to the apartment.”

  Gabriel’s laugh was unbridled and completely contagious. Anna started laughing, too, but she had no idea why. He almost crushed her with a hug.

  “Um... What did I say that was so funny?” She smiled up at him as she asked.

  “Woman, you are probably the only person on the face of the earth who would suggest—upon disembarking from a fifty-million-dollar aircraft—that the occupants cruise through the local drive-thru.”

  Anna’s lightheartedness was short-lived as the reality of how true that statement was registered. Her small-town roots were definitely showing. Tears of embarrassment filled her eyes. She pulled away from him and slid out of his chair.

  She sensed more than saw Gabriel stand up, walk over to her, and kneel down in front of her. “Hey, it is because you are that woman, the one who is unphased by all of this, that I adore you. Don’t ever change.”

  She sniffed back tears, as she half laughed and half sobbed, “Good, because I don't know how to be anyone else, and damn it, I really want a double cheeseburger with extra cheese and a large fries.”

  Anna padded out to the kitchen from the bedroom. She grabbed a french fry from the take-out bag on the counter.

  Gabriel bent over the counter and watched as Anna busied herself, looking for something in the fridge. He loved the way she was who she was, regardless of the circumstances. She popped the top on a soda and glanced at him. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Water is fine.” He waited until she sat down beside him and divided the meal.

  “So, I guess I should fill in the blanks.” He took a bite of his cheeseburger. Damn, it was good.

  She picked up a french fry and dragged it through a pile of catsup she’d squirted on the hamburger wrapper. She shrugged. “Only if you want to.” She popped the fries into her mouth and unwrapped her cheeseburger. “I decided that I shouldn’t make you share if you’re not ready.”

  “Really?” He lifted an eyebrow. He had no doubt his little firecracker was bursting at the seams with questions.

  She nodded as she chewed her food. Speaking around her fries, she added, “Yeah. I mean, while we were driving here, it kinda hit me. You don’t trust people. That’s why you don’t tell people about yourself. If you don’t trust me enough to tell me, I’ll wait until you do.” She swallowed her food and lifted the soda can to take a sip.

  Gabriel took another bite of his cheeseburger and chewed it slowly, giving himself a few more moments to decide how to tackle releasing information that hadn't seen the light of day in many, many years.

  He took a drink of water and picked up a french fry. He drew a circle around his burger as he spoke. “I’m very selective as to whom I grant information. Three people, including myself, know my entire story. You’ll make the fourth.”

  She sat her soda down and stared at him, waiting. It was now or never. He rolled his head, cracking his neck before he spoke, “I own a vast array of companies. Guardian is a hybrid of the company my father started. Its umbrella encompasses the totality of my assets. Dad was extremely wealthy, but he was also smart. He invested heavily in electronics and technology when it was scorned by most people as a fad. Dad had quadrupled his father's wealth by the time I was a young boy. My mother, God bless her, has always suffered from mental issues and became almost pathologically paranoid after several high profile kidnappings targeted young children of the wealthy and famous.” Gabriel tossed the fry down and took another bite of his burger. He was no longer hungry, but it gave him time to corral the emotion talking about his mom always called forth.

  “Are your parents still alive?”

  “My dad has passed. My mom... she's alive, but only in her own mind. She hasn't recognized anyone in years a
nd sits staring out the window all day, every day.”

  Anna dropped her hand on his arm. “I'm so sorry. That has to be excruciatingly hard for you. Loving her and having a history with her, but her not being able to acknowledge that relationship.”

  Gabriel lifted his eyes to hers. “Not many understand.” His mom was alive and healthy, but she'd left him years ago. He mourned her loss every time he visited her.

  “And I'm sorry about that, too.”

  “Thank you.” He cleared his throat and wiped his hands on a cheap drive-thru napkin. “It was because of her paranoia that she sought out and commissioned a forger. She worked through so many different tax shelters and shell companies that there was no way to trace who was purchasing the documentation. She had experts add small portions to the documentation she needed without allowing any of them to know what the other had done. With Dad’s money and connections, the fake documents were filed, legally, and the insertion of my new identity became untraceable. David Xavier became Gabriel Alexander. Two people who existed at the same time but were the same entity.

  “There was nothing to be found to connect me to my family. I am, of course, David Xavier, and as that person, I run my companies. But I am allowed freedom as Gabriel Alexander that I couldn’t have as David Xavier. I've led this dual life since I was ten years old. I was able to attend public school, and apply and be accepted to college on my merit, not my parents’ influence. I graduated from college and joined the CIA on a whim.”

  Anna cocked her head at him. “A whim?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I wanted to see how well my cover would hold up. Nobody has found the connection. So, I claim that I work for David Xavier.”

  “Nobody at work knows?”

  “Craig knows. We were in the CIA together and partnered during a desperate situation overseas. If something happened to me, I didn't want my mom, who was still cognizant at the time, not to know what had happened to me, so I told Craig. Long story short, we both made it out.”