Protected: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

by Lexi Blake

  “I thought the company had a whole unit of bodyguards.” She was nervous. Really nervous. The last week had been nothing less than fabulous. Wade had been by her side for everything. He’d sat with her and Ash when they’d met the principal of the junior high. He’d gone with them as they’d bought clothes. He’d introduced her to his friend Shane and his wife Talia. They’d had dinner one night and everything had felt so normal. He’d started to teach her self-defense techniques.

  Sometimes when they were close during those sessions, she felt something physical she hadn’t for years. Arousal.

  She needed to remind herself that she wasn’t Wade’s girlfriend. She was the woman displacing him from his bedroom. She was the reason his lower back was seizing at odd times.

  And it was getting harder and harder to not suggest that the bed was big enough, and it wasn’t like they hadn’t slept together before. She wasn’t looking for sex. Except maybe she needed a reminder that sex could be good. That it could be miraculous. Or she would find out that her memory was faulty and sex was nothing special.

  It was getting harder and harder.

  “We had a mass exodus a couple of months back. Everyone seemed to find what they needed and moved on around the same time. Shane stayed here in Dallas. We’re the last men standing since Big Tag can’t seem to find anyone he’s interested in hiring. My boss can be hard to take at times, but you shouldn’t have to deal with him much. His wife, Charlotte, runs the actual office and she’s a sweetheart. Once you learn the system, it’ll be smooth sailing,” he said. “Though you should be ready because sometimes things get a little crazy. If you think the office is about to get raided by a CIA team, really any armed team, you should send out a signal and then dive under the desk. Also, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to fend off an attacker with a couple of cups of coffee…well, try not to. It happened to the last receptionist. Maybe I should get you another job. Now that I think about it, this one might be dangerous.”

  But it was also secure. The way he’d described it, apart from the occasional misunderstanding with CIA strike forces, no one got in or out without either a key card or being buzzed in by the receptionist. She would have a monitor on her desk showing everyone coming and going. She would have control, and if something bad happened, she would also be surrounded by trained men and women who could take care of the problem. She wouldn’t get that as a barista somewhere. “I think I’ll be okay with this one.”

  A job. How sad was it that she’d once wanted to go to medical school and now she was worried she wouldn’t be able to handle the phones?

  Wade stopped her, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking into her eyes. “You’re going to be amazing, Genny. You can do this. You can do anything.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “Because you managed to raise that kid in an environment that was toxic. Ash could have gone a lot of ways, but you made sure he knew he was loved and had someone who would never let him down, and now he’s going to thrive and you are, too.” He took a deep breath. “Because I’m going to make sure that you know you’re loved and you have someone who will never let you down again. If Taggart gives you hell, kick him in the balls. He’ll likely stop you before you get there, but he’ll respect you for trying. And if you need anything, I’m one floor down.”

  “You aren’t on assignment?” She’d wondered because she knew his job often took him on the road. It was one of the reasons she’d hesitated to call on him.

  She knew she should say something to him about the other thing he’d said. About the knowing she was loved thing, but it was easier to ignore it. It was easier to pretend she had a right to hear it.

  “I’m here in Dallas for a while. Shane and I are interviewing candidates for the new team, and then more than likely one of us will always be in the office. We’ll let the younger men take the long assignments. There’s plenty to do here. We run a training program. Next week we’ve got new hires for the Loa Mali royal guard coming in. Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

  She wished that didn’t make her insanely relieved. Though she was still planning on being on her own when she could, she wasn’t ready for Wade to be anywhere but at her side. “That’s good to know.”

  He winked at her as the door unlocked. “You’re going to be great. When this is done, I think we should talk about you going back to school.”

  “What?”

  Any further conversation was interrupted by the young woman with tears in her eyes who pushed through them in her haste to get out the door.

  “Are you all right?” Genny turned, watching the woman as she pressed the elevator button urgently.

  She turned and shook her head. “No. He’s an asshole. I have no idea why anyone would put up with him. That paycheck is not worth it.”

  A lovely woman with strawberry blonde hair raced up to the door. “Hey, I can talk to him. Please. I don’t think the temp agency will send anyone else. I’ll double the salary.”

  The woman simply shook her head and stepped inside the elevator.

  Holy crap. What was she getting into?

  “You okay, Charlotte?” Wade asked.

  Charlotte’s eyes narrowed as she turned. “No, I’m not. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  When Genny turned to the office, a massive, badass-looking blond man was standing in the reception area, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. He wore black slacks and a matching black T-shirt, as though this was a man who preferred the shadows. He was extremely intimidating.

  Though apparently not to the woman named Charlotte, who pointed a finger at him. “You are in so much trouble.”

  Wade leaned over, whispering in her ear. “That’s Charlotte Taggart and her husband, Ian. This should be good. Their fights are usually extremely entertaining. The old receptionist kept a supply of popcorn for times like this.”

  The big guy shook his head. “She didn’t pass the test. You know I’m not hiring anyone who doesn’t pass the test. I’m not letting the Agency get another one past me. If Ten wanted a spy in here, I can’t imagine how much that fuck Levi Green wants one. You know I would think you would be happy I’m trying to protect the office. Phoebe got past me because she did that whole ‘I’m too tender and sweet for the world’ thing. I went easier on her and it’s not happening again.”

  “You’re such a moron. Phoebe took all your crap because she was a plant. That’s the third assistant you’ve scared off. If they run, they’re clearly not Agency.” It was obvious Charlotte was ready to pull out her own hair.

  “I will admit there might be a few flaws in my plan, but you won’t let me put the candidates all through lie detector tests and full-time surveillance for the first six months of employment,” Ian replied as though that was a normal thing to say.

  Charlotte’s hands were fists at her sides. “You know, I would let you live in your own disorganized mayhem if it wasn’t affecting the rest of us. I can’t find files. You have to scan them and put them online.”

  “So all our enemies can hop in and read everything we’ve done?” Ian argued. “You won’t even let me redact important information.”

  “Because we’re not the damn US government,” Charlotte argued. She took a deep breath. “Babe, I know you hate change and you’ve had a lot of it lately. But Alex and I can’t run this company if everything is chaos. Hutch isn’t Adam, but he’s damn good, and you know he’s going to run everything he does by Chelsea and Adam until he’s totally up to speed.”

  “Hutch did the background check on Phoebe,” Ian shot back, absolutely not moving from his position at all.

  “You know she’s part of the family now,” Charlotte pointed out.

  “Part of the downstairs family,” Ian replied. “When I really think about it, half my company probably doesn’t walk out if Phoebe hadn’t shown up. I’ll do things my way from now on. You know it’s only paranoia if they’re not out to get you. We’ve got about twenty different groups from a
round the world who would love to get in here and gather intelligence on a certain group of men we’re trying to protect.”

  Charlotte sighed as though she had nothing to counter that point. She turned to them. “Wade, is this your friend?”

  Wade nodded. “Yes, this is Genny. We went to high school together.”

  “Do you believe a foreign government planted her in your hometown fifteen years ago in the hopes that she could one day maybe, maybe get a job at a company that didn’t even exist back then and report back on our billing procedures?” Charlotte asked, utterly exasperated.

  “I don’t think so,” Wade replied.

  Ian pointed at him. “You don’t think so but you’re not one hundred percent sure.”

  “Do I get the doubled salary?” Genny heard herself ask. Holy crap. She hadn’t even started the job and here she was asking for a raise. Who did she think she was?

  She was Geneva Harris. She’d survived for years when she’d had to. She didn’t have to play quiet anymore. It was time to stand up and be proud. She’d survived Brock Howard the third. She could handle Ian Taggart.

  Charlotte’s eyes went wide. “Yeah. It’s a more complex job than receptionist, but I can still get a temp to fill in on that job. You would do it? You would be Ian’s assistant? He can be obnoxious.”

  Ian had a mulish expression on his face as though he was already planning on how to get rid of her.

  Well, she wouldn’t be gotten rid of easily. She needed this job and the benefits that went with it. “I can handle obnoxious.”

  “I think she should answer the phones,” Wade began, his eyes wide. “It’s way more relaxing. You haven’t actually worked in years. Maybe we should start slow.”

  “Double the pay and you get to start with three paid weeks off a year instead of the normal two.” Charlotte was looking at her. “And your benefits start immediately, not in six weeks.”

  “I get two hours for lunch every day, but I still leave at five.” Was she negotiating?

  Charlotte put a hand out. “You’ll need it. Done. I’ll start your paperwork right away. Let me show you to your office. Well, it’s a cubicle, but it’s larger than the others and pretty comfy if you ask me.”

  She had an office? “Okay.”

  She had an office. Holy crap. She was making twice what she’d thought she would, had all kinds of benefits, and all she had to do was put up with a bully? Bring it on.

  A light happiness bubbled up inside her. It had been years since she’d stood up for herself. Hell, maybe she never really had. But she was worth this. She could do this.

  “Genny?” Wade said her name like he was totally unsure this was a good idea.

  She gave him a thumbs-up. “I’m good, babe.” She shouldn’t have said that. “I mean, I can handle this, Wade. Thanks for the chance, Mrs. Taggart.”

  “Do I get a say in this?” Ian asked.

  “No,” she managed to say in precise time with Charlotte.

  Ian frowned. “We’ll see about that. You know I might be older but I’m more obnoxious than ever.”

  Charlotte’s hand came up, flipping her husband off.

  Genny followed Charlotte down the hall, eager to start her new job.

  * * * *

  Wade turned on his boss. “I swear to god if you put her through hell, I’ll come after you myself.”

  Big Tag watched as the women strode down the hallway toward his office. “Is that the one you told me about? The one who saved your ass?”

  “The one my family used to save their asses,” Wade shot back.

  “Adam called. He’s got an assessment for you,” Big Tag said.

  “An assessment?” His stomach dropped. “Ian, I can’t afford Adam.”

  Big Tag put a hand on his shoulder. “I asked for it. You care about this woman. You need to know everything. She likely won’t tell you all of it. Pride and shit. I don’t care about her pride. I care about making sure her asshole ex doesn’t get his hands on her or her kid. I think you’ll find Adam is charging you the friends and family rate.”

  The friends and family rate was zero. His boss was a massive ass, but he was also one of the most generous human beings Wade had ever met. “Thank you.”

  “I don’t like thinking about young women being used. I never liked it, but now that I have girls, I really can’t stand it. Are you sure I can’t murder your brother?”

  Oh, he’d thought about it. “Genny would be mad.”

  Big Tag shook his head. “Women. I don’t get them. Don’t they understand how much better we would feel if we were allowed to slaughter our enemies and wear their entrails like jewelry? But no. Ian, you can’t put out a hit on a CIA agent. Ian, don’t slide a knife inside the doctor who gave you a prostate exam. No one ever lets me have any fun.”

  He bit back a chuckle and wondered at the doctor who would dare to check out Ian Taggart’s prostate. He was a brave dude. “Thank you. I appreciate any information Adam can give me.”

  “Enough to help me cover up a murder?”

  He thought about that one. “Are we killing Green or your doctor?”

  “Can’t find Green, but I swear that doc put a whole fist up there. And he didn’t use enough lube. Apparently he didn’t appreciate all the advice I gave him about how to do it. Getting old sucks. But I’ll feel better when I’ve gotten some revenge.”

  He chuckled. His boss was always a good time. “I’m afraid you’re on your own there.” He backed up. He wanted that report from Adam. He’d been careful all week not to ask too many questions. He hadn’t wanted to upset her more than he had to. This gave him all the information and none of the pain for Genny. “But when you’re ready to go after Levi Green, I am with you, brother.”

  Big Tag sighed. “All right then. Go on. At least I think you’ll stay here when you get your girl.”

  Charlotte was right. Change was hard on Big Tag. “I’m not going anywhere. I need this job. If I play my cards right, I’m going to have a family to support.”

  “Hey, have you been down there yet?” Big Tag asked.

  Wade shook his head. “Nah, I missed out on the party they threw. I was in DC on a job.”

  A smile curled up Big Tag’s mouth. “They let Adam decorate. Take a look at it. Maybe in lieu of murdering someone we can send the new guys a welcome to the building present. Think about it, man. I need a partner in crime. Alex turned old man on me.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” The truth was he missed the pranks all the bodyguards used to play on each other. The Man Cave, as they called the bodyguard office and training facility, had been a fun place. Oh, sure sometimes one of the guys thought it was funny to rig his gym locker with flying condoms, but he’d gotten revenge for that.

  He took the stairs and soon found himself standing outside of Miles-Dean, Weston and Murdoch – An Investigative Agency. The name of the firm was marked with very prestigious-looking gold plating. He pressed the button to release the door. Apparently though Adam, Jake, Simon, Chelsea, Jesse, and Phoebe had flown from the McKay-Taggart nest, they’d taken some of Big Tag’s paranoia with them.

  “Welcome, Wade Rycroft,” a soft, odd feminine voice said. “Prepare yourself for an investigative service like none you have known. We welcome you to Miles-Dean, Weston and Murdoch, the future is in…”

  The door came open and Chelsea Weston stood in the doorway, her eyes rolling. “Come on in. Adam is testing out our brand-new robot receptionist. If I could figure out where he put the damn hardware I would take an axe to it.”

  “Which is precisely why you’ll never find her,” a familiar voice said. “You leave Tess alone. She’s a remarkable piece of software.”

  Chelsea turned on him. “Like her creator, she’s an overblown windbag. It takes her ten minutes to greet someone. The freaking delivery guy doesn’t need a rundown of how magnificent we are every time he wants to bring me Kung Pao chicken. And it freaks them out when she knows their real names. I have to have lunch delivered upstair
s. Oh, I throw it all up right now because someone talked me into keeping the British monarchy strong, but I want my lunch, damn it. Do you hear me, Tess? If you run the pizza guy off, I’ll come into cyberspace and murder you.”

  “Chelsea Weston.” The computerized voice came over the sound system. “Perhaps it’s time for your meds. Your voice indicates an anger I can see no valid cause for. Let me play you some soothing jazz.”

  “Not smooth jazz! Not smooth jazz,” Chelsea shouted at the ceiling.

  But it came on, the sound of a saxophone being played by a man who had probably never played with an actual jazz band in his life. It was elevator music. A lot of loud elevator music.

  “Darling, come along. I’ve got croissants for you.” Simon Weston walked in, carrying a bag in his hand. “Come here, love. Don’t let the robot get to you.”

  Adam frowned. “She’s not a robot. She’s an AI and I programmed her to properly speak to everyone. If she’s rude, it’s Chelsea’s fault. Look. Hey, Tess. How are you today?”

  The music stopped and a long sigh seemed to come from every wall. “I’m wonderful, Master Adam. The world is a beautiful place as long as you are in it. And have I mentioned how brilliant you are lately?”

  Wade stared at Adam. “Does Serena know you have a girlfriend?”

  Simon put an arm around his wife’s shoulder and led her away while Adam shook his head.

  “She’s got some kinks to work out,” Adam admitted.

  “Yes, she has a thing for you.” He wasn’t about to let that one go. He might have some ideas for where Ian could hit Adam hard.

  The whole office was gorgeous and peaceful. A massive fountain dominated one wall, the sound soothing to his ears. The lighting was dim and there were several seating spaces.

  Adam held out a hand. “Anyway, welcome to Miles-Dean, Weston and Murdoch. Don’t mind the Westons. They’re busy procreating, and pregnancy does not make Chelsea happier. I wish like hell Simon had been able to carry that child because we’re all in for another six months of hell. God, I pray Phoebe and Jesse decide to wait a while for their second because I can’t handle another overly hormonal alpha female.”