Silver Fire (Guardians)

by Victoria Paige

  “Derek, where are you?” Laurie asked when he answered.

  “I’m at AGS, didn’t Jack tell you?”

  “No. Jack didn’t. What the hell happened last night?” Laurie demanded. “All Jack said was that Maia and Sophie nearly got toasted in a fire. Now they’re in Richmond, and you were supposed to be here. I’m just calling to remind you that you have a meeting with the design engineers in an hour.”

  “I’ll give you the details later. Last night is a long story,” Derek replied and glanced at his watch. “I’ll be there in half-an-hour.”

  As he made his way back to the meeting room, Derek tried to recall what he knew of Braden Connelly. He was a relatively new recruit. Maybe six months. Ex-Army Ranger. Jack had mentioned him a couple of times, his friend becoming more pissed each time. The first time, Jack had watched Maia and Braden grappling on the mat on the AGS’s CCTV. Jack had not told his wife that the scene had bothered him, but he had plenty to say to Derek. Derek thought his friend was overreacting (as he always did when it came to Maia), but after meeting Braden Connelly, now he wasn’t so sure. That young pup was definitely cocky, like he was some hot shot new recruit—so what was Derek, an old fart?

  He rapped quickly on the door before he walked in. Braden was leaning over Sophie closely, showing her something on the tablet. Yes, he did not like this guy one bit.

  “Angel,” Derek said as he spun her swivel chair toward him, deliberately shifting Sophie away from the Guardian and noting with satisfaction how Braden had stiffened at his pet name for the blonde physicist. “I need to head back to MDI, but I’ll call you later about your plans this afternoon.”

  “Mr. Lockwood, we need to limit Sophie’s social activities,” Braden began abruptly.

  “I am not about to change my routines for those assholes,” Sophie said tartly to the two Guardians. “Do what you need to do to keep me safe but do not think for a minute that I will be hiding.” Shifting her attention to Derek. “I’m busy all day.”

  Derek angled closer, Sophie had to lean back, but her eyes looked at him challengingly. “Don’t you need to shop for clothes?” he asked softly.

  “I do but—”

  “We’ll be taking her to do what she needs,” Braden cut in tersely.

  Derek had had enough and took a step toward the Guardian and got in his face. “You have a problem with me, Connelly?”

  “Derek!” This from Sophie.

  “Guys, what the hell?” Thalia exclaimed and stood up.

  “You are compromising our assignment.”

  “The fuck I am,” Derek shot back. “Back off Connelly. You are trying too hard, take it from me, this is not the shit you spend your time on. I am not the enemy.”

  “Derek,” Sophie said softly.

  Her voice had a calming effect on him. He turned to her and said, “Two p.m., Sophie. I’ll pick you up and we’ll get the stuff you need.”

  “But—”

  “Later, Angel.” He kissed her lightly on her lips. Straightening up, he shot Braden a scathing look before he nodded to Thalia and left.

  ***

  Jack sat back lazily on a barstool as he watched his wife rolling out the pie dough. The first time they had had sex, it was after eating apple pie. Maia had pissed him off, and he was so turned on at the same time, he just grabbed her and the moment his mouth touched hers, it was over. He was gone for her. He watched her nimble fingers curl over the French rolling pin and imagined those same fingers on him, on his cock specifically, and just like that he was getting hard. Fuck. He would never get enough of her. She was such a combination of sass, badass and wit and was so fucking beautiful, he would do anything to keep her from harm. His jaw clenched. Last night was a nightmare. But he was getting better at handling what he called “Maia-crisis.” She had told him before to trust her to be OK no matter how dire the situation looked, and he had held on to that thought. His wife was one kick-ass paramilitary operative, and he felt guilty for curtailing her skills with his overprotectiveness, but damn it, he was trying to be reasonable. And failing miserably. Maybe in time when she informed him that she would be taking down a ruthless dictator, he wouldn’t even blink. Yeah, like in 100 years.

  “Don’t you have anything better to do than stare at me, Jack?” Maia teased.

  “Nope. Best seat in the house.”

  Frances, Jack’s mom, walked in with a basket of peaches. “These just came in from the farmer’s market. They smell so fragrant, I bet they’ll taste so good in the pie.”

  As Maia and his mom discussed what to do with the peaches, Jack decided to check in to the office. He walked out to the patio and called Derek.

  “Hey man, how’s Richmond?” his friend asked.

  “Mom’s happy we’re here for her birthday, hot as hell though. How was the meeting? How did it go with Sophie? Did you hand her off to AGS?”

  Derek filled Jack in on the minutes of the meeting which covered what the engineers thought on the latest technical data on the zee —they were ecstatic. Also on the agenda was their latest design upgrade on their very popular MD-Bandit drones.

  “I’m taking Sophie shopping this afternoon,” Derek informed him.

  Jack gripped his phone tighter. Damn, his friend worked fast. What should he say to that?

  “Jack?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Say something, man.”

  “Are you going to stop seeing other women. Because I don’t think Sophie is the type to have non-exclusive relationships.”

  “Have I ever taken my women shopping?”

  Jack chuckled. “I’ll be damned. I think I’ve rubbed off on you.”

  “Shut it, McCord.”

  “No, this is good. I’m happy for you, man.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Well—”

  “I’m taking her shopping, not planning a damn wedding,” Derek said irritably. “You know who’s heading up her security?”

  “No.”

  “Braden Connelly.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “Nope.”

  “I don’t know why Maia likes him so much. I’ve seen how he looks at her—pisses me off.”

  “Well, that makes two of us now.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out from Maia.”

  After he ended the call with Derek, he made his way back to the kitchen.

  “Everything fine at MDI?” Maia asked.

  “Derek is pussy-whipped.”

  “Jack McCord! Language!” Frances exclaimed sternly.

  “With Dr. Leroux?” Maia’s eyes widened. “He better not include her in his harem, I’ll kick his ass.”

  Frances sighed and said, “I don’t want to hear this. I’ll see you kids later.”

  When his mom had exited the kitchen, both Jack and Maia burst out laughing.

  “I bet your mom now wished she had a daughter-in-law who did prim and proper.”

  Jack got behind her and pulled her to him, lowering his mouth behind her ear, he said, “Prim and proper is boring. How much longer are you gonna take?”

  “You behave, baby. You act like you’re a sex-starved man.”

  She had no idea, Jack thought salaciously, running his hands down her sides, brushing her breasts and nipping her ear.

  “Jack,” Maia hissed, her breath hitching. She shoved her ass into his front to shake him off, but the contact only made his arousal harder. “Make yourself useful and boil some water so we can blanch the skin off these peaches.”

  “Coward.” He grinned at the glare Maia shot him but did as he was told.

  “I sure hope Sophie likes her security team, Braden should get her all set in no time,” Maia said, not noticing the scowl that darkened her husband’s face. “I’ve got several houses picked for her that have good security installed.”

  “Maia, about Braden Connelly,” Jack spelled his name out through grit teeth. Since when did she call Guardians by their first name? “Derek doesn’t like him.
”

  Maia cocked her head to the side and frowned. “Hmm, I wonder why? I know he’s been with AGS for only six months, but Derek can be assured he’s very competent.” She transferred the rolled out dough to a pie plate, covered it with plastic and put it into the refrigerator. Her tone had finality in it. She started rolling out another disk of dough. Jack watched her for a beat before saying, “Derek said Connelly was antagonistic from the get go.”

  Maia sighed. “Braden can be territorial sometimes, that’s why I paired him with Thalia. We can’t have too much testosterone going on.”

  Jack didn’t like what he had heard one bit. “He doesn’t sound like a team player. Why did AGS hire him?”

  Maia narrowed her eyes at his vehement tone. “Six months ago, Viktor started a new program to train operatives that can work alone. So he changed his psych evaluations and Braden came out on top. He’s got an extreme type-A personality. He’s proficient in weapons and mixed martial arts, he’s got excellent tactical skills. He’s trying to teach me Krav-Maga. Why are you looking pissed off?”

  “I don’t think he’s the right guy to head security for Dr. Leroux.” Jack knew his explanation was lame, so he added, “She’s an extremely important business partner for MDI.”

  Maia smiled. “And Derek himself is feeling territorial around our dear physicist. If it’ll make you feel better I’ll call Braden later and—”

  “No!” Jack cut her off. He knew jealousy was propelling his behavior, and the little episodes that festered over the past few weeks just broke through the surface.

  “What the hell, Jack?” Maia whispered. “You’re acting really strange. Is it Derek or you that’s having a problem with Braden?”

  Damn his wife for her perception. “Both. I just don’t like him around you.”

  Maia rolled her eyes. “Suck it up. You already messed up my German assignment, you’ve had your quota of interference for the year.”

  “Not my interference as a husband,” Jack growled. “He lays one hand on you inappropriately, I—Will—Kill—Him.”

  “I’ll do you one better,” Maia replied. “If he does act inappropriately toward me, I’ll kill him for you.”

  Jack grinned. “Water is boiling.”

  ***

  Sophie’s heart lurched when she spied Derek’s SUV parked in front of the Tudor-style bungalow she had selected from the choices Braden had shown her. It was already past 8:00 p.m., and she figured Derek was not too pleased with her because she ultimately outwitted him in his plans to take her shopping. She had roped Stephen into helping her avoid Derek, having her assistant call him and inform him that his escort was not necessary for the planned shopping excursion.

  “You’re in trouble, sweetie,” Stephen murmured into her ear. They were in an AGS-issued vehicle. Braden was driving, Thalia was in the front passenger seat. “You do not trifle with men like Lockwood.”

  “I’m not trifling with him,” Sophie whispered. “It just did not make sense for him to accompany me. He’d be bored out of his mind while I tried on shoes and clothes. Besides, you and I go shopping all the time.”

  Their Ford Explorer pulled into the driveway and as Sophie got out of the car, she saw Derek walking nonchalantly toward them, his expression inscrutable.

  “You got all you need, Angel?” Derek leaned in to kiss her forehead; Sophie stood there and let him. Stephen had his mouth open, shocked at the intimate gesture and endearment.

  “Um, yeah.” She wanted to bash her head against the side of the car. She had little social interaction with men except to discuss her research. She could rattle off numbers and equations confidently, but she was behaving like a thirteen-year old with braces right now.

  “I got this, Dr. Leroux,” Braden told her regarding the packages. “The house was swept clean by our agents earlier. Why don’t you go on in with Agent Guerrero?”

  Thankful for the reprieve from having to deal with Derek, she quickly made her way toward the house. She noticed Derek had hung back to help Braden with the packages but judging from the scowl both of them were wearing, they were having words once she was out of earshot.

  Sophie walked into the house and was immediately struck by the Spartan look of the furniture. Nothing fancy, just the essentials. Nothing like her beautiful home that just went up in flames. Sophie felt extreme sorrow at the loss of her grandmother’s beloved house. The county engineers should be taking a look at it the next day to assess if any of the structure could be salvaged and rebuilt.

  “I have Christopher Blackstone on hold,” Stephen informed her. “I told him you were in a huddle with your security right now, do you want to speak to him?”

  Sophie nodded and reached out to receive the phone from Stephen. Christopher Blackstone had been a friend and colleague of her father. She looked up to him like an uncle, which was why Maia’s revelations about him had unnerved her and kept her from contacting him for protection after the fire.

  “Hello Christopher,” she spoke into the smartphone.

  “Sophie, sweetheart,” his deep gravelly voice replied. “I’m so sorry to hear about the fire at your grandmother’s house. Why didn’t you call me immediately? You know I have plenty of room at my house in DC. I’d be happy to have you.”

  “Thank you, Christopher,” Sophie replied. How should she answer that? “I’m fine. I’ve hired security.”

  “Security? Are you in danger, Sophie?” Christopher’s voice was laced with concern.

  “The fire was—”

  “What the fuck?” A voice thundered off to her side and a furious Braden Connelly yanked the phone out of her hands and smashed it under his boot. “What part of do not use a cell phone do you not understand?” Braden stalked off to the kitchen and reprimanded Thalia for not keeping an eye on Sophie.

  Sophie looked at Derek who had the same expression as Braden.

  “Seriously. Did you have to smash it, Braden?” Stephen grumbled.

  “Yes, he did,” Derek replied evenly, looking at Sophie. “That was a dumb move, Angel. Didn’t Connelly explain to you to use only the secure SAT phone when in the house?”

  Nobody calls her dumb, but yes that was a stupid lapse of judgment on her part. Braden walked back, a dark scowl still on his face. “Who was that on the phone?”

  “Christopher Blackstone.”

  The curses of both men blistered her ears.

  “Do you know he is under surveillance right now?” Braden demanded.

  “Yes. But he is an old family friend, I can hardly ignore him.”

  “What did he want?” Derek asked.

  “He was offering me a place to stay.”

  Derek and Braden exchanged glances.

  “Look, speculate all you want. It’s no secret he wants my father’s research. He’ll have no access to it if I’m dead. So strike him of your list of suspects. You’re wasting your time,” Sophie said and added sarcastically, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.”

  She stormed away and headed to her assigned room. Stephen followed her and grabbed her arm. “That was harsh.” His voice brimmed with mirth and pride.

  “If they think they can order me around, they have another think coming,” Sophie said. “They may have all the brawn, but I hired AGS; I can also fire them.”

  Thalia knocked on the door.

  “Sorry for getting you yelled at,” Sophie told the female Guardian.

  “Don’t worry. It was my fault really,” Thalia smiled, handed her the SAT phone and left the room.

  Sophie sat on the bed and took off her shoes. Her feet were killing her from all that shopping. She called Christopher back.

  “Sophie! What the hell was that all about?” Christopher demanded over the phone.

  “An over-vigilant security team,” Sophie explained.

  “Do you want me to come get you,” he offered. “Sweetheart, I have an army to keep you safe. Just say the word.”

  Alarm bells sounded in her head, but she shook it of
f.

  “Why don’t I take you out to dinner, sweetheart? You can bring Stephen and Beth if you like.”

  “That sounds wonderful, Christopher,” Sophie replied. “I’ll have to clear it with my security team. Why don’t you call me tomorrow at the office?”

  They spoke for a few more minutes before she hung up.

  When she turned around, Derek was leaning against the doorjamb, observing her with a predatory gaze. Stephen had deserted her, that traitor.

  “Alone at last,” Derek murmured.

  “I don’t have time for your sexual innuendos, Lockwood.”

  “I told you to call me, Derek.” He walked into the room, took the phone from her and pulled her up from the bed, holding her about six inches from his body, which was radiating serious heat. She could feel herself getting uncomfortably flushed—sexually aroused. “You know, Angel, that bed is so tempting right now, but I want to take it slow with you.”

  “There’s no taking anything with me. Why can’t you accept that?” Sophie said angrily.

  “I’ve told you I’ve had a taste of you, I want more,” Derek muttered, his eyes dropping to her mouth. Her lips involuntarily parted. “So here’s how it’s going to go. I know you’re clean. You haven’t had sex in thirteen years, am I right?”

  “Of course I’m clean!” Sophie retorted indignantly.

  Derek grinned. “You’re going on birth control.”

  “Excuse me? I’ve already been since I was fourteen, but what gives you the right to dictate to me? Are you even listening to me? Nothing is happening between us.”

  The infuriating man’s grin got wider as he continued talking over her. “I’m going to have myself checked out tomorrow to prove I’m clean. I never have unprotected sex, however, in this big town, there seems to be a misconception that I have the plague.”

  “Doesn’t seem to prevent you from having a harem.”

  “You’re beginning to sound like Maia,” Derek said with a trace of exasperation. “We got that straight, Angel, I want to bury myself inside you with no fucking condom between us. And that’s after I eat you until you scream.”