by Beth Abbott
“Niko?” Hollywood shook her hand to get her attention. “They’re offering you a job here in London, sweetheart. You’ll be working from the same offices as Kellen and I.”
Niko tried to steady her breathing, embarrassed at her mini panic attack.
“What about Roman? He’s still a baby.” She whispered.
“The Guardians’ offices are two floors above our original Alpha Company offices.” The man called JT smiled at her. “We have a creche there, where all of our younger children are cared for during office hours, or whenever we need them looked after.”
“Our daughter Amelia attended the creche, and our wife, Vicky, actually helped set it up.” The blonde haired of the two Dixon men smiled reassuringly. “Roman would love having other children to play with, and you wouldn’t have to worry that he was far away.”
“Besides that, you would only be asked to work as many hours as suits you.” Hannah smiled. “And of course, the cherry on the top would be that you get to work with me every day. What more could a girl want?”
Niko listened to all their reasons why working for the Guardians would be a great idea, and she had to admit, it sounded fantastic. But what none of them had mentioned was whether she would actually get paid.
Did they expect her to work for them voluntarily? Maybe in recompense for all the money it had cost them to rescue her and Roman from Budapest?
“I need to be able to pay for Roman’s food and clothes.” She blurted out.
Hannah frowned at her.
“Of course, you do, sweetheart.” She looked at Niko strangely.
“I need to be paid at least a hundred pounds a week.” Niko bit her lip, wondering whether she sounded greedy. She didn’t want them to rescind their offer.
The silence in the room was deafening.
Tears pricked the back of her eyes.
What if Hollywood thought she was after his money? What if he thought that was all she was after.
Hannah climbed off her husband’s lap and came and sat next to her, taking Niko’s free hand in her own much smaller ones.
“Sweetheart, Hollywood has explained to us how you lived when you were working for your brother. He described the conditions, and how you were treated.” Hannah squeezed her hands. “The Guardians may not be your average employer, thanks mainly to what we do, but we pay our staff a rate commensurate with their contribution.”
Niko nodded. That sounded promising, right?
“I know you have Roman’s grandparents coming to visit with you this week, excited to meet their grandson for the first time. Maybe, if you’d like to come along to the office the following Monday, and have a chat with David, JT, and I, we can reach an agreement on pay and hours that will suit us all.” Hannah leaned forward to whisper in Niko’s ear. “I think you can add a zero to that figure you asked for.”
Niko sat straighter and looked at the diminutive woman.
A thousand pounds a week? Was she serious?
“Also, I don’t know if Hollywood has mentioned it yet, but Abbey, one of our other Guardians, is an expert in forensic accounting, among other things.” Hannah continued. “Anyway, she’s already tracked down your parents’ lawyer, and we believe we’ve found your inheritance. It looks like the money your parents left behind was split into two accounts, and the lawyers have been sitting on your share, waiting for you to claim it.”
“Really?” Niko whispered, shocked that there would be anything left.
“I don’t know how much it is.” Hannah cautioned. “It might be next to nothing, but whatever it is, we’ll make sure you receive it.”
“Thank you.” She whispered.
“So, do I take it that you’re interested in working with us?” Tuck asked.
Niko looked around the room at the expectant faces.
“I think I might be.” She nodded. “If I can help you stop someone taking over where my brother left off, then I’d be happy to help you.”
“Here we go, ladies and gentlemen.” CJ walked in from the kitchen carrying a tray of glasses, while the men carried trays of finger food and several bottles of champagne.
“Are we celebrating the Guardian’s first success, or the addition of a new team member?” CJ looked straight at Niko for confirmation.
Niko looked at Hollywood and noticed he seemed to be holding his breath.
Kellen was giving her two thumbs up, nodding in encouragement.
“Both?” She suggested.
Before she could react, Hollywood wrapped her in his arms and pulled her in for a kiss.
Champagne corks were popping behind them, and she could hear glasses clinking as the drinks were poured.
When Hollywood let her up for air, a glass was pushed into her hand and she looked up to see CJ grinning at her.
“To the Guardians and their latest recruits. Long may their missions be successful.” CJ held up her drink, and soon they were all clinking glasses, smiles all around.
Niko stared at the woman curiously.
“I’m sorry, but why do I think I’ve seen you somewhere before?” She said politely, sure that she recognised the woman’s face.
Hearing a noise, Niko turned around to find Hannah doubled over, and snorting with laughter.
“Oh, mom! I think we’d better get some more wine.” Hannah grinned. “I have a feeling this is gonna turn into a three-bottle night!”
The End
Don’t go just yet….
A message from the author.
Hi there,
If you’ve just read Angels, then I’m guessing you’re already familiar with the Alpha-Stalwart family, and if that’s the case, then a warm welcome back.
I hope you enjoyed the first book in the new Guardians series and I honestly can’t wait to get your feedback on the new characters. It’s always important to me that you can relate to them, and that’s no less true about my new family members.
So, if you’d like to get in touch with me to let me know what you thought, I would love to hear from you. (I really do write back!)
Or if you loved the stories and want to encourage others to read the Alpha-Stalwart-Guardians books, why don’t you go and leave a review? It’s more important for prospective readers to hear about the books from you, than from me.
Finally, if you want to be added to my mailing list to know when I have new books being released or even offers (freebies!) on different sites, just e-mail ‘List’ to the address below.
You can find me here;
Website; http://www.bethabbottbooks.com
Friend me here;
http://www.facebook.com/bethabbott2016
Or E-mail me here;
[email protected]
Or check out my Author pages on Amazon.
Only people on my mailing list or those who have contacted me directly are invited to check out the latest info on the secret page on my website, where I sometimes post a teaser from an unreleased book.
So, what are you waiting for?
I really hope to hear from you soon.
Take care,
Beth
xx
Cast of Characters
Male Characters
(All male ages given relate to age when they have their own story, even though we may have met them in an earlier book. Female ages given when we first meet them in their own book.)
Name: JT or Jon Thornton (former Captain Alpha Company and CEO of Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’3” tall, dark brown hair, royal blue eyes (age 36 in own story) Born leader. Close friends with Ryan Tucker having saved his life.
Romantically involved with: Alice Bailey, age 28, 5’5”, black hair, dark brown eyes (mother from Philippines, father Colonel Joseph Bailey - Alpha & Bravo Company Commander)
Appears in: All books – own story - Concealed
Name: Luke Roberts (Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’4” tall, dark brown hair, one blue eye one split eye blue/black
(age 32 in own book) (Parents Sally & Carl make regular appearances) Serious and thoughtful following murder of his twin Casey.
Romantically involved with: Ellen Thomas, age 28, 5’6”, blonde hair, blue eyes (expert at languages)
Appears in: All books – own story - Invisible
Name: Danny Simons (Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’5” tall, brown hair, blue eyes, cheeky grin (age 30 in own book) Crazy, funny, competitive (with Matt)
Romantically involved with: Hannah Jordan, age 23, 5’0” blonde hair, green eyes (daughter of Carolina Jordan – CJ) (expert on anything computer related)
Appears in: All books – own story - Anonymous
Name: Matt Johnson (Sniper, Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’6” tall, dark hair, brown eyes – larger than life in every way (age 30 in own book) Adores his wife and son. Issues with PTSD.
Romantically involved with: Suzy Johnson, age 24, blonde hair, blue eyes (Outspoken extrovert) (Son Charlie 6 months old at start of Book One Invisible)
Appears in: All books – own story - Healing
Name: Drew Dixon (Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’3” tall, dark hair, brown eyes (age 32 in own book) Physiotherapist and counsellor, always willing to help. More serious of the Dixon men. Bisexual.
Romantically involved with: Tony Dixon (see below) and Vicky Morris, age 30, 5’11”, Red hair, lost foot in helicopter crash (former helicopter pilot)
Appears in: Concealed, Healing, Living, Impossible & Relentless – own story - Healing
Name: Tony Dixon (briefly Captain, Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’3” tall, blond, blue eyes, lost foot in Afghanistan (age 32 in own book) Cheerful and light-hearted. Bisexual.
Romantically involved with: Drew Dixon and Vicky Morris (as above)
Appears in: Concealed, Healing, Living, Impossible & Relentless – own story - Healing
Name: Thomas Payne (Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’2” tall, brown hair, hazel eyes (age 40 in own book). Older and wiser and more serious. Regularly referred to by Marcus as ‘the miserable old fart!’.
Romantically involved with: CJ or Carolina Jordan, age 43, 5’2”, blonde hair, blue eyes
Appears in: Anonymous, Concealed, Healing, Living, Impossible & Relentless – own story - Living
Name: Marcus Adams (Alpha Company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’2” tall, dark brown hair, golden eyes (age 34 in own book) Close platonic friendship with CJ, flirty, likes winding Thomas up.
Romantically involved with: Dr Sara Winston age 28, 5’6”, dark brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, (almost deaf – wears hearing aids) (daughter of British Foreign Secretary)
Appears in: Anonymous, Concealed, Healing, Living, Impossible & Relentless – own story - Impossible
Name: Tuck or Ryan Tucker (Former Major in US Marine Corps now owner Stalwart Security Services)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’2” tall, light brown hair, light grey eyes (age 45 in own book) Owner of Stalwart, serious and responsible, close friends with JT.
Romantically involved with: Candeda or Candy Morales, 36, 5’6”, black hair, dark brown eyes, (formerly Naval Intelligence & FBI & Krav Maga Instructor level)
Appears in: Anonymous, Concealed, Healing, Living, Impossible & Relentless – own story - Relentless
Name: Zach Tucker (US Army Ranger)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’7” tall, white blond hair, ice blue eyes, (AKA Gigantor) (age 36 in own book). Suffers with PTSD. Prone to opening mouth and inserting foot!
Romantically involved with: Sacha deMarco, 25, 5’5” tall, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, Italian heritage
Appears in: Impossible & Relentless - own story - Relentless
Name: Brandon Campbell (US Army Ranger)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’4” tall, auburn hair, hazel eyes (age 40 in own book) (widowed father of Hayley) Newly widowed and devoted to his daughter, has close friendship and shares house with Sara and Marcus.
Romantically involved with: Bella Hammond, Age 38, 5’6”, dark brown hair and eyes, Spanish heritage. Widow with two kids.
Appears in: Impossible & Relentless – own story - Deceived
Name: Jordan Kenny (US Army Ranger)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’6” tall, African American twin (think young cross between Denzel & Idris) (age 31 in own book)
Romantically involved with: Abbey Russell, age 26, 5’5”, father African American, mother British, stunning blue eyes, single mom to Baxter.
Appears in: Relentless - own story - Retribution
Name: Sam Kenny (US Army Ranger)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’4” tall, African American twin (think young cross between Denzel & Idris) (age 31 in own book)
Romantically involved with: Aisha Raman, age 28, 5’10”, Chicago born Pakistani/Irish supermodel.
Appears in: Relentless - own story – Shattered
Alex Morales – Son of Candy – age 23
Physical appearance/personality: 6’1” tall, Spanish heritage, black hair and dark brown eyes. Gentle soul, polite and respectful, with a hint of mischief. Adores his mother and Nana, and has joined the Marines to follow in Tuck’s footsteps.
Romantically involved with: Sophia Diminov, age 24 – doctor and daughter of billionaire Gregor Diminov. 5’7. Strawberry-blonde hair with stunning green eyes.
Appears from Impossible onwards – Own book – Allegiance
Name: Gregor Diminov – Russian Billionaire based in Philadelphia
Physical appearance/personality: 6’2” tall, Dark brown hair, blue eyes (age 44 in own book). Father of Sophia and Serge. Philanthropist and businessman (with a soft spot for rabbits!)
Romantically involved with: Tulli Mazur, 5’6”, auburn hair, grey eyes, age 28. Polish by birth, emigrated to US as a teenager with her parents, sisters, and brother.
Appears from Allegiance on. Own book – Breathless.
Name: Hollywood AKA Don Hillwood (US Marine Corps)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’6” tall, dark brown hair, hazel eyes. Age 38 in own book. Good looking ladies’ man.
Romantically involved with: Nikita (Niko) Federova, 5’10”, blonde, blue eyes, age 24. Russian, single mother to Roman, aged 3.
Appears from Deceived on. Own book – Angel.
Name: Kellen Davis (US Marine Corps)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’6” tall, dark brown hair, steel grey eyes. Age 32 in own book. Funny and caring.
Romantically involved with:
Appears from Deceived on. Own book –
Name: Kristian Bellikov (formerly Russian special forces (Spetsgruppa A – counter terrorism))
Physical appearance/personality: 6’4” tall, shaved head, blue eyes. Age 37 in own book. Qualified helicopter pilot – worked for Gregor Diminov before joining the Guardians.
Romantically involved with:
Appears from Allegiance on. Own book –
Name: Yuri Bellikov (formerly Russian special forces (Spetsgruppa A – counter terrorism))
Physical appearance/personality: 6’3” tall, shaved head, blue eyes. Age 39 in own book. More serious of the brothers. Worked for Gregor Diminov before joining the Guardians.
Romantically involved with:
Appears from Deceived on. Own book –
Name: Logan McDonald (formerly Delta company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’3” tall, dark copper hair, blue eyes. Age 33 in own book. Dour Scot, loyal to team-mates.
Romantically involved with:
Appears from Angels on. Own book –
Name: Evan Williams (formerly Charlie company)
Physical appearance/personality: 6’4” tall, dark brown wavy hair, brown eyes. Age 32 in own book. Welsh joker, takes very little seriously.
Romantically invo
lved with:
Appears from Deceived on. Own book –
Other Characters of note from the Alpha Company Women Series –
Claire, JT’s secretary
Colonel Joseph Bailey, Alice’s father, formerly in charge of Alpha and Bravo teams
Joey (Joanna) and Andrew, Alice & JT’s children
Jonathan and Casey, Cara and Louise, Luke and Ellen’s twin boys and twin girls
Lilly, Rose and Adam, Danny and Hannah’s children
Charlie and Taylor, Matt and Suzie’s son and daughter
Cameron, CJ and Thomas’s son
Dylan, Candy and Tuck’s son
Kelly, Tuck’s daughter from his first marriage
Rocco Tucker, Sacha and Zach’s son
Casey Roberts, Luke’s murdered twin brother
Hayley, Brandon’s daughter
Jenny Winston, Sara’s mother and Luke’s aunt
Douglas Winston, Sara’s father, the British Foreign Secretary
Connor O’Shea, Stalwart Senior Operator
Clive Davis, Stalwart Senior Operator
David Roan, British Police Officer, London Metropolitan Police Force
Cole Arthurs, FBI Bureau Chief, Philadelphia
Ashleigh, CJ’s Personal Assistant
Nina Llewellyn, Abbey’s friend who tries to help her escape
Corey and Catharina Hammond, Bella’s children.
Stuart Mullally, Ranch hand working for Bella Hammond
Tulli, Lara and Mischa Mazur, kidnapped/held captive by Rafael Castille
Niels Larssen and Kazumi (Kaz) Ito, Interpol agents
Drago, Ilya Federov’s lieutenant
Roman Federov, Niko’s son