Ryker

by Trent, Emily Jane

  The Black Swan team had learned to be alert for the unexpected, events like the appearance of black swans—the events they cared about only involved danger. There was one rule for taking on new teammates and it was stated in the application: Must Love Danger.

  That described Ryker, as well as Hawke and other former military who had joined the team. The company had grown, as executive protection was in demand.

  Leaning back in his chair, Ryker studied a photograph of a woman—a very beautiful and famous woman.

  Hawke strolled by the desk. “I see you got the profile data on the new case.”

  “This is the client, Mia Scott…the owner of Mental Magic?” Ryker stared at the picture. “This is going to be a bitch. Haven’t you read about her? She’s a prima donna, difficult to deal with.”

  “It’s our job,” Hawke said. “Besides, I think she has a right to be demanding, considering her position.”

  “You take the client, then.”

  “No can do,” Hawke said. “The client is expecting us this afternoon, so she’s all yours. It’s the weekend. Emilia has been working long hours at the lab, and I promised her a day alone…movies, dinner.”

  “You sound like a married man.”

  “Almost,” Hawke said. “Maddie got all the preliminaries on the intake form, and Jake has researched the background, including details of her former security team’s actions. He’ll go over it with you.”

  Ryker clicked to the file on his computer and scanned the background report. Then he went to have a chat with Jake to gain more insight. He had a feeling he was going to need all the support he could get. But he’d deal with the case. There was no way he couldn’t handle a woman, no matter her high opinion of herself.

  Jake Holland was in charge of digital security. The guy was a pro and had years of experience from his Navy career. Often, what he was able to uncover was impressive. But Jake wasn’t at his desk.

  Ryker waved the photo in front of Amanda, Jake’s co-conspirator in computer hacking. “You know about this?” He could tell from the gleam in her eye that she not only knew, but had contributed to the revelatory information in the report.

  Amanda had her fiery red hair twisted up on her head. Her blue eyes flared. “You got a problem with that?” It was just like her to attack first. She was ex-military with attitude, had been in the Air Force.

  Ryker didn’t know what the chip on her shoulder was, but he was about to get a piece of her mind. He could tell by the look in her eyes. “I’ve seen that expression before. Go ahead, spit it out.”

  “Mia Scott started her company from her own savings. She’s a visionary, focused and passionate,” Amanda said.

  “You sound like a groupie.”

  “Don’t get smart. I’m serious here,” Amanda said. “She’s trying to do a good thing, and I suggest that before you meet with her, you take five minutes of your precious time to find out what Mental Magic is all about.”

  “Is that an order?”

  Amanda smirked. “Call it a suggestion. Anyway, her security screwed up big time, as I’m sure you could tell from my report.”

  Now it was her report. “I got that much,” Ryker said. “I read what Jake found out when he spoke to her manager. With all the mistakes her security made, I can’t fathom how they got hired in the first place.”

  Amanda proceeded to give him an earful. She enlightened him on her knowledge of the new tech company, what was going on, and what was involved. She ended, “Mia Scott’s security matters. Don’t blow it.” Then she went back to work.

  *****

  Mental Magic’s headquarters was in one of the state-of-the-art buildings in downtown Philly. It towered above Penn Landing with a view of the Delaware River. In Ryker’s opinion, it was pretentious. And what kind of a name was that, anyway? No serious investor would plunk down money for a start-up that sounded like a child’s game.

  Inside, the building was all glass and chrome, with expansive windows offering views of the city’s skyscrapers. The polished floors gleamed, and the employees were dressed as if ready for a photoshoot. Ryker had worn a clean shirt with slacks, not jeans.

  But no way was he showing up in a suit and tie. The job didn’t require it. If Ms. Scott wanted security, she’d have the best—dress codes aside. He confidently strode toward the elevator bay, prepared to take charge of security in the most efficient way possible.

  Ryker was expected, so the receptionist buzzed him in right away. He’d anticipated meeting with her manager, but was told that Ms. Scott wished to make her own decisions concerning security. He tapped on the door.

  “Please come in.”

  It took Ryker a moment to take in the scene. He’d known what to expect, since he’d seen her photograph. But Mia Scott was more stunning in person. She exuded charisma that didn’t show in a picture. Her smile was warm, but the look in her eyes was wary.

  “Ryker,” she said, and shook his hand. “Please have a seat. I believe we have some matters to discuss.” The way she spoke told him that she was up to speed. She knew who he was and most likely had looked into his company.

  Mia’s dark blond hair was shaped in a trendy cut. Her brown eyes were large and expressive, revealing more knowledge and experience than he’d expected. She was the prominent owner of a tech company, and a woman at that.

  As if that wasn’t enough, Mia was the poster child for sexiness. She had beautiful, perfect lips, with flawless skin and a fit, toned body. Ryker noted how her filmy top and pencil skirt clung to her curves. The blouse was flesh-toned, revealing little but encouraging the imagination to conjure up much more.

  “I see that you work out,” Ryker said, then kicked himself. What a lame thing to say.

  Mia smiled, without faltering or losing her cool. “I’ve been known to.” Her gaze roamed over his muscled physique, making Ryker glad that he stayed in shape. “I’m sure you do too. But then, you’re ex-military, so I’d expect no less.”

  It was time to change the dynamics. Ryker sat across from her, shoulders squared, back straight. “It seems that you require a new protection team.”

  Mia studied him, apparently in no rush to agree. She narrowed her eyes. “And why should I trust you?”

  Ryker wasn’t in the habit of defending himself or his team. He didn’t intend to start now. The way Mia carried herself, her attitude, and even how she looked spoke volumes. She was ego-driven, a personality type that he was familiar with.

  Mia struck him as an ungrateful woman. For all her success, she persisted in looking down on others. Her question didn’t deserve an answer. “If you expect us to handle you with kid gloves, then this won’t work.”

  Ryker would gladly dump her and move on to his next assignment. All she had to do was say the word. But he couldn’t walk away unless she did; that would violate his code. He wouldn’t abandon an innocent, or a woman in need of protection.

  To her credit, Mia didn’t flinch at his challenge. “Tell me your take on this situation.”

  “Your security was faulty,” Ryker said.

  “So I discovered.”

  “And not just that.” Ryker leaned forward. “New security measures are needed to ensure your safety.”

  Mia listened without interrupting.

  “I’ll inspect your circle of influence, meaning those closest to you,” Ryker said. “It’s clear that there was a lack of vetting before hiring. It’s imprudent to allow untested individuals to have access to you or your company. In a crisis, such individuals might fail in their duties…or worse.”

  “And you are better?”

  “If I wasn’t and I didn’t have the team to back me up, I wouldn’t accept the responsibility.” Ryker sensed that she was open to what he had to say. “For starters, taking your laptop and phone with you to a public hotel isn’t advisable.”

  Mia’s nostrils flared. “I’m not stupid. My security guards may have been bumbling idiots, but I’m not. The laptop I had with me was merely for convenience. It h
ad been cleaned out and purged of all password information. And the phone was a burner.”

  It was good to know he was dealing with a woman who had some brains. “You locked yourself in the bathroom when the attackers forced their way in?”

  “Yes, I had to do something.”

  “Actually, that’s pretty good,” Ryker said. “But the intruders were still in the other room. How did you plan to defend yourself?”

  Mia didn’t reply, but she had a sheepish expression.

  “That’s what I thought,” Ryker said. “Self-defense measures can save your life. Security won’t always be nearby. I’ll arrange some practice sessions for you.”

  Ryker was used to being assertive and taking control. It was his nature, and it was how he’d been trained. Clients usually appreciated that attitude and preferred to be taken care of.

  Mia pointed her finger at him. “You’re bossy, and that doesn’t work with me. You’re on my team, not the other way around.”

  What was going on? Ryker was expected to protect her but not take charge. He flashed to his marriage. His young wife had died while he was away on deployment. He’d loved her beyond comprehension. Had he been bossy…controlling? She hadn’t complained about it if he had.

  A fist tightened around his heart at thoughts of his young love. Ryker wasn’t sure he’d ever get over losing her. He wasn’t sure he wanted to. He shoved the memories back down.

  “How did the attackers know where I was staying?” Mia said, pulling his attention back to the present.

  “Social media, messages your team sent to each other.”

  “But those are private,” Mia said.

  “Guess not.” Ryker noted the surprised look she gave him. “We live in the information age. It’s best not to text on a phone connected to a public network. And for privacy, I recommend using a fake email address. Digital security is a big deal and is key to keeping you safe.”

  Mia offered no argument, apparently impressed with his knowledge and expertise. Maybe Ryker could instill confidence in his company after all. “My team will protect you. We have two digital security experts on our staff, and are prepared for any eventuality.” Ryker gave her a moment to consider that. “We can do our job, but only if you cooperate.”

  For some reason, Mia didn’t look cooperative. But Ryker intended to establish her security the right way this time. No more buddy guards; it was professional protection all the way. He’d gone over what he needed to in the first meeting.

  Ryker got up to leave. “And for the record, it’s a bad idea to use security hired by your ex-husband.” He knew that Hawke would give him hell for antagonizing the client. But he couldn’t help it; the woman was infuriating.

  “Anything else?” Mia said curtly.

  When Ryker shook his head, she motioned toward the door—his cue to leave.

  Chapter 3

  Mia stared at the door after it shut behind Ryker. As if she didn’t have enough problems, she had to deal with an arrogant alpha type. He thought he could run the show, order her about, and knew more than she did.

  It was frustrating to have to depend on others for her safety. In her youth, she’d had no one to count on, so had learned to do things herself. Iris had been Mia’s only friend through the toughest challenges, and still was the best friend a woman could ask for.

  But as far as male role models, Mia’s parents had died when she was a toddler—from drug overdoses, she later learned. It hadn’t been the best way to start life, having addicts for parents.

  Mia had been so young when they died that their lack of parenting skills hadn’t affected her. But she certainly had no father figure. Foster care had involved moving from one home to another, and she hadn’t had the chance to bond.

  Her only solace had been staying over with Iris sometimes, whose parents were gems. If only Mia had been that lucky. She didn’t feel sorry for herself; there hadn’t been time for that. To survive she’d had to hustle, in one way or another.

  If Ryker thought he could prance into her office and tell her how to manage things, he was wrong. Mia might allow him to handle her protection as long as he didn’t overstep boundaries—which she’d soon make clear to him.

  That Ryker was eye candy didn’t help matters. Mia reflected on the memory of his chiseled form. He was muscled and honed to perfection. When he’d entered and looked at her, Mia nearly melted.

  So what if his blue-gray eyes had penetrated deep to her soul? So what if he had short hair that she itched to run her palm over? And it didn’t make a bit of difference that he looked drool-worthy in that dress shirt that fit like it had been tailored to his Adonis body.

  One thing that absolutely wasn’t going to happen was giving in to the powerful attraction. Mia was a warm-blooded woman. There was no way to notice Ryker’s good looks and not be affected. But she wouldn’t act on it—not on her life.

  It hadn’t been that many years ago that she’d swooned for a handsome man, only to end up marrying him. James Walsh was attractive, but mean-tempered. He was seven years older than she was, and his age had promised maturity and experience.

  Mia had been wrong. After a whirlwind courtship, and a wedding before she’d known him a year, his real personality had been revealed. In the beginning, he’d appeared romantic, and did all the right things. But it was a façade.

  In reality, James lacked social skills. He was controlling and possessive. What started as heated arguments rapidly became mental and physical abuse. Mia was familiar with abuse, having suffered much during her growing years.

  She couldn’t believe that she’d stepped into such a relationship. She chastised herself for being naïve, which seemed impossible, considering that she’d been mistreated so often before.

  James would build her up, just to tear her down. It was done in a manner that had been difficult to spot. But when he felt safe enough to physically enforce his will, Mia put a stop to it. She divorced him and didn’t look back.

  There was no way in hell that she was going to hook up with another controlling male. It just wasn’t going to happen. She was still trying to escape from the last man who’d swept her off her feet with his take-charge attitude.

  There was a knock at her door, then Iris walked in. “Wow, was that buff guy your new security detail?”

  “Iris, don’t start,” Mia said. “You know I’ve sworn off men. I don’t care if he’s the heartthrob of the century—all I want is for him to do his job.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Iris ran her fingertips through her short, dark hair, then plopped into the chair. She was petite, and sometimes in business environments she was underestimated. But Mia had known her since she was a kid. Iris was one person to rely on, and when she looked at a person with those lovely brown eyes of hers, she saw right through any pretense.

  “Okay, so I noticed Ryker’s good looks, but that’s where it ends.”

  “You’ve hired Black Swan to handle your protection?” Iris said. “According to Griffen, the employees are ex-military and have a stellar reputation.”

  “We’ll see,” Mia said. “I’ve hired the company, but I have my eye on them. Any screwups and they’ll be gone.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Were you able to snuff out that robbery story?” Mia said. “I’d rather not have that leak to the media.”

  Iris shook her head. “I couldn’t do it. It seems whoever orchestrated that incident wants to make a point…virally.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding? It went viral already?”

  “You are a celebrity, you know,” Iris said. “You’re like a diva or something. The public hangs on every word you say, everything you do.”

  “I wanted my software to catch on, but I don’t get the allure about my private life,” Mia said.

  “That’s how it works. You do something noteworthy and word spreads,” Iris said. “And if you happen to be a gorgeous young woman who is the owner of a multimillion-dollar tech company, then your privacy is a thing of the past.�
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  “Next I’ll be checking out at the grocery store and see my picture plastered on one of those gossip rags.”

  Iris shrugged. “It already is.”

  “Can we change the subject?” Mia was nervous. Large investments had been made in her company and it all rested on her shoulders. But she hadn’t been able to trust her own security. The more famous she became, the more vulnerable she was.

  Iris went to get a glass of water from the side table. “What are those?” She motioned toward a huge flower arrangement.

  “Flowers.”

  “Yeah, I can see that. But how did they get here?”

  Mia sighed. “It seems my ex-husband is making a plea to get back together.”

  Iris plucked a red rose from the vase and put it up to her nose. “Has he lost his mind?”

  “I’m sure that happened a long time ago,” Mia said. “James has been after me ever since the day I kicked him out.”

  “I can hear him saying, I’m sorry, we can work it out…like you’d really fall for that.”

  “You know about the emails, love letters, texts, and even the begging for dinner dates, but…”

  “Let me guess,” Iris said. “The divorce is final next month, so this is his last-ditch effort to get you back.”

  “I think so,” Mia said. “It’s annoying. I just want him to go away. I have too much to deal with.”

  “Speaking of which…I’m afraid our investors will be shaken to hear that you were threatened at gunpoint,” Iris said. “I’ll set up a meeting with Griffen and the team. We need to strategize.”

  “I’d like to know who wanted my laptop.”

  “Could be someone who isn’t anxious for Mental Magic to succeed,” Iris said. “But it’s difficult to imagine who would be against developing the software. It will change education for the better. Who wouldn’t want that?”

  “The world isn’t like that,” Mia said. “You’ve known me longer than anyone. You know what I’ve been through, and even what you’ve been through as part of my team. Not everyone is on our side.”