aHunter4Trust

by Cynthia A. Clement

  aHunter4Trust

  By

  Cynthia A Clement

  Text copyright © 2016 Cynthia A Clement

  Kindle Edition

  ISBN: 978-1-988019-11-6

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the copyright owner and publisher. For the purposes of a reviewer, brief passages may be quoted in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters and incidents are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual incidents or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and unintentional.

  Cover designed by RomCon® www.romcon.com

  Cover Image: Deposit Photo,

  www.depositphotos.com

  Dedication

  To my Readers.

  Thank you for your patience and support of the aHunter4Hire series.

  A special thanks to Jan Carol Abney, Kim Barrows, and John for editing, proofreading, and inspiration.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Thank You

  Books Available

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Darrogh was caught between two worlds, Cygnus, where he had been bred, and Earth, the planet he was stranded on. Order and rules were a necessary part of his existence and now they were gone. It was a struggle to live in a place where the tenets that he followed were contrary to the laws of Earth. Despite this, he would never betray his training.

  It meant that he was a fugitive on both planets.

  Darrogh was a Hunter.

  Hunters were an elite race of warriors that had been bred and genetically modified to fight and obey the Kaladin. Civil war had ripped his planet apart. When the ruling class of the Kaladin had been defeated by the Holman, an extinction order had been issued to eradicate all Hunters. Darrogh had been aboard the last prison ship to leave Cygnus.

  All other Hunters had gone obediently to their death. It had almost been a complete genocide until the leader of their unit, Ardal, had allowed them to fight so that they could die with honor. They had overtaken the ship, killed their captors, and crash-landed on Earth.

  That had been a year ago.

  Now, instead of fighting for the Kaladin, Hunters fought for justice on Earth. That often meant they were at odds with the laws of this planet and were fugitives. It was a world that had no respect for honor or the Sacred Code that a Hunter lived by. Earth’s atmosphere also played havoc with their perception and body. They were stronger, faster, and their senses were heightened.

  Darrogh did not trust Earth’s influence on him.

  He remained vigilant against the temptations of this planet.

  Hunters might carry the same genes as humans, but genetic manipulation and training made them different. Humans were often seduced by pleasure and power. They did not understand the need for caution or believe that their lives might be in danger. Instead, they blindly pursued money and the luxury it bought. The room that he and his team had been led into was a good example of the seductive lure of wealth.

  Black leather chairs and couches were placed in front of a silvery marble fireplace. White cabinets and shelves lined the wall surrounding the hearth, and a luxurious Persian rug was centered on a dark oak floor. At the far end was a large bay window that looked across the road to a private park for the owners of the houses in this block. At the other end was a mahogany baby grand piano.

  It was the quiet elegance that only the very rich could afford.

  Wealth had brought danger, though.

  There was a need for a security team to protect the owner of this beautiful townhouse in the very exclusive Chelsea district of London, England. Darrogh had been sent with a team of five to provide that protection. Their client was Sir Robert Creighton, the owner of Creighton’s Bank. The bank had been in existence since the sixteenth century and catered almost exclusively to the very rich and elite of the world.

  Sir Robert wanted his daughter guarded.

  Miss Creighton, had other ideas.

  Sir Robert’s daughter had ushered them into her reception room. She was looking at her father with raised eyebrows and an expression of impatience. Sir Robert wasn’t deterred from his mission. He brought his daughter close for a hug and then stepped back and motioned for Darrogh to join him.

  “This is my daughter, Tamsin.” Sir Robert made the introduction. “Tamsin, this is Darrogh. I’ve hired his team to stay here and keep you safe.”

  “I don’t need bodyguards.” Tamsin’s voice was melodious and low.

  “I have received threats and I want to be certain you are safe.” Her father was persistent.

  “We agreed that I would live my own life.” Tamsin flipped her long dark brown hair over her shoulder. “This is my house. You can’t insist that these men stay here.”

  Her father scowled down at her. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was necessary.”

  Tamsin shook her head. “No one is interested in me. I keep a low profile and I mind my own business.”

  “Everything has changed since the fiasco with your wedding. People know who you are.” Her father sat and pulled her down beside him. “Do this for me.”

  “I don’t want someone living with me or following me around.”

  Tamsin looked at Darrogh and a shock of awareness went through him. For a second, he was paralyzed by it. It was as if everything he believed had been turned upside down. Before landing on Earth, he’d never been around women. That had changed and for the past year, he’d met several. He did not think it was right for a Hunter to associate with women, but he had learned to accept their presence.

  No woman had affected him like this.

  Tamsin was gorgeous. She was petite with dark-brown, shoulder-length hair and deep blue eyes. It was not the first time he had met a beautiful woman. When she looked up at him, he felt as if his world had suddenly narrowed so that she was the only person who existed. The room faded until all he could see was her face. He forced his eyes to look away and the spell was broken.

  He would have to keep his distance from this woman.

  He did not understand what had just happened. He certainly didn’t intend for it to happen again. He did not trust the strange sensation he felt when he looked at Tamsin Creighton. Hunters were forbidden to be with a woman and even though some of his brotherhood had found pair bonds on this planet, he refused to accept it. He was a warrior who’d spent his life fighting on the frontlines and on prison planets. Women had never been a part of his life.

  “I’m certain this man is very capable of being my bodyguard.” Tamsin’s voice had a slight waver. “I just don’t want him or his team in my house.”

  “He’s staying.” Her father clasped one of her hands in his. “This is the only thing that will ease my mind. I would never forgive myself if something happ
ened to you.”

  Tamsin shook her head. “There are too many of them. Where would they stay?”

  “You have more than enough room.” Her father’s voice was coaxing. “I don’t ask for much, but this is something I won’t budge on. From what I’ve read, these men are the best.”

  Tamsin sighed and looked back at Darrogh. “I don’t want you here.”

  Darrogh nodded. “We will leave.”

  “No.” Sir Robert’s voice was sharp. “I’m the one employing you and I insist you stay. If Tamsin won’t have you in her house, then you’ll have to do it from outside. I want my daughter protected day and night.”

  Darrogh had learned that humans loved to be contrary. If Sir Robert wanted them to watch her from afar, then they would do so. It would be easier if they could be beside her at all times, yet protection from a distance was not impossible. He had succeeded on far more complicated missions.

  “We will start immediately.”

  “You can’t have these men trailing after me and it would look ridiculous if they camped outside of my house.” Tamsin’s voice rose in protest. “The neighbors would never understand.”

  “Then let them stay with you.” Her father’s voice was low. “This is the only way that I’ll be at peace.”

  Tamsin looked at her father and then back at Darrogh. She looked him up and down before glancing over at the rest of his team. Darrogh considered all of them excellent warriors, with skills varied enough to be effective on a mission such as this.

  “Do you promise to stay out of my way?”

  “As much as possible.”

  “I don’t want you telling me that I can’t go places either.”

  Darrogh nodded. “As you wish.”

  “And if I decide that I don’t want your services anymore, you will leave?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll expect you to tell me though,” Sir Robert interjected. “I want a daily report on my daughter’s safety also.”

  Darrogh nodded.

  “I’ll let them stay Dad, but this is the last time.” Tamsin turned to her father. “I’m old enough to take care of myself. You can’t control my life anymore.”

  “You need protection.” Sir Robert stood and pulled his daughter up beside him. “I wouldn’t insist otherwise.”

  Tamsin sighed. “That doesn’t make it any easier. Let me walk you out. It’s going to take a bit of juggling to get these men settled in here.”

  Her father chuckled. “Your house is big enough for a family of eight. When you bought it I had hopes you meant to fill it with children. Now I just want to make certain you are safe.”

  Their voice faded away as they walked out of the room and down the hall to the front door. Darrogh looked around and started to assess the security needs. The large windows would make it difficult to secure. Shutting the drapes would help. It was a townhouse, so there were only windows at the ends of the house. He could see the rear where the kitchen and dining room were. That would be a security nightmare. Those rooms were floor to ceiling glass.

  Tamsin came back a few minutes later.

  She scowled at Darrogh. “My father is overly protective. I’m not happy about having you here.”

  “You have made that clear.” Darrogh gave a slight bow of the head. “I am the team leader and I will be making all of the decisions concerning your security.”

  “As long as I agree.” Tamsin looked at the other men. “You’d better introduce your team.”

  Darrogh motioned for the men to step forward one at a time. “This is Firbin. He is our explosive’s expert.”

  “Surely we won’t be needing his expertise?” Tamsin’s eyes widened.

  “He has many other skills.” Darrogh moved on to the next man. “This is Jehon. He is adept with equipment and weapons. Next is Breanon. He is an expert marksman. Kerm has the most experience with this area of the world and last is Savis. He is our computer’s expert.”

  Tamsin frowned after the men had been introduced. “You all look similar with your dark hair and eyes. You could be brothers.”

  “We are brothers in the sense that we are all Hunters.”

  Darrogh’s respect for Tamsin grew. She was observant and that would help with their protection. She was also a woman who understood how to command and negotiate. This was the first woman he’d been assigned to guard. He was impressed with her abilities.

  “So you’re ex-military.” Tamsin shook her head. “I must be crazy to have let my father talk me into this. Follow me and I’ll show you where you can sleep. Did you bring a vehicle?”

  “No.” Darrogh motioned to Jehon. “We will get what we need today. Is there a place to park it?”

  “I have parking on the street behind the house. I only have my car, so there is room for one more vehicle.”

  “Good. Jehon will take care of that now.” Darrogh nodded to Jehon, who left the room. “I would also like to set up surveillance outside.”

  “Is that necessary?”

  “Your father insisted that your life was in danger. We need to be thorough.”

  “My father overreacts.” Tamsin’s voice was dry. “He also likes to spy on me. I won’t tolerate you feeding him any information about me.”

  Darrogh gave her a searching look. She was serious about fearing her father’s motives. He did not know the exact nature of the threat against her, only that her father was paying a lot of money for them to provide protection. Darrogh intended to make certain that she was safe.

  “I have no intention of spying on you.” Darrogh’s voice was low. “It is my duty to protect you and I will do that with my life.”

  Chapter 2

  “I would never expect someone to die for me.”

  A shiver of awareness went through Tamsin as she focused her gaze on the giant standing in front of her. She looked away and ignored the sensation. She didn’t need a man in her life, especially not one that her father was employing.

  “Nevertheless, I will.” Darrogh’s sincerity resonated in his voice. “As will all of my team. It will be an honor to serve you.”

  Tamsin glanced at the rest of the men in the room. They didn’t deny Darrogh’s words. She inhaled a sharp breath and turned back to their leader. Stopping her father’s interference in her life was going to be more difficult than she’d imagined. Usually he came up with some innocuous excuse to visit, or have his assistant, Henry, accompany her somewhere.

  Hiring bodyguards was new.

  And what bodyguards.

  They all stood over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and muscles bulging beneath their brown camo military-styled jackets and tight-fitting jeans. These men looked prepared to battle an army. Darrogh, their leader, looked tougher than the rest. She would hate to face him in a battle. She didn’t know where her father had found these men, but they would instil fear and respect wherever they went.

  “What did my father tell you was the threat against me?”

  “He did not say.” Darrogh looked to the man he’d introduced as Savis. “Show Miss Creighton the video we received.”

  Savis opened a computer and clicked on a site. It was an email with a video attachment. It was sent from her father’s private email address and the video opened onto her father’s face. He was leaning close to the computer screen and his voice was low.

  “I need help protecting my daughter. I don’t know who is threatening her. She isn’t safe and your website said that you would help as long as my concerns were sincere and true. I understand the penalty if I lie, but I swear I am telling you the truth. I will pay you whatever you need. Please protect my daughter.”

  Tamsin was shocked by the intense fear in her father’s voice. “What happens if he lied?”

  “He will die.” Darrogh spoke without hesitation.

  Tamsin gasped. “You can’t kill him for lying.”

  “He knew the risks when he contacted us.” Darrogh’s gaze didn’t waver from her. “I believe Sir Robert thinks your life is in danger.
It would be foolish to ignore his concerns.”

  Her father had done some outrageous things in the past, but never something like this. To risk death so that he could control her life was extreme. If she knew her father, he had a backup plan. He’d probably hired a lawyer to get him out of the deal. She would have loved to see the lawyer’s face when he found out the penalty for breaking the contract was death.

  Tamsin forced herself to be serious. If it was a matter of her father’s life, she could put up with these men for a while. First, she wanted to insure that he would be safe.

  “If I let you guard me, my father won’t be killed?”

  Darrogh hesitated a second before he replied. “We must be certain that there is a danger.”

  “Isn’t it enough that my father believes that my life is at risk?”

  Darrogh nodded. “I believe your father is sincere.”

  “I’ll bet this is tied up with Creighton’s.” Tamsin tried to keep the bitterness from her voice. “He’d do anything to make certain his precious bank was safe.”

  “It is you he wants protected.” Savis clicked on another email. “He is paying a lot of money to hire our services.”

  Tamsin looked at the figure.

  It was one million pounds.

  Her father easily had that much money and plenty more. To pay that to a security team was ludicrous, though. She considered the possibility that there was a real threat against her and then she dismissed it. Her father wanted only one thing and that was for Tamsin to reconcile with Winchester Nethercott.

  “He wants me to marry my ex-fiancé.” Tamsin didn’t hide her contempt. “I’ve already refused. I won’t have you trying to change my mind.”

  “A woman makes her own decisions about her mate.” Darrogh frowned. “A man has no say in this. Why would we force you to marry someone?”

  “Because you’re working for my father.” Tamsin threw the challenge out. “With the kind of money he has paid you, you’d be obligated to do what he wanted.”