Table of Contents
Title Page
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
Scarlett
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
Scarlett
CHAPTER 10
Scarlett
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
Scarlett
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
Travis
Scarlett
Travis
CHAPTER 26
Travis
Scarlett
Travis
CHAPTER 27
Travis
Scarlett
Travis
CHAPTER 28
Travis
Scarlett
Travis
Scarlett
CHAPTER 29
Scarlett
Travis
Scarlett
Travis
COPYRIGHT PAGE
Ruthless Hero
Savage Soldiers Book Six
By Nicole Elliot
CHAPTER 1
Scarlett
“For the last time, Scarlett, it’s not going to happen! Please, just drop it so we can eat in peace. I’ve had a horrible day at work, and I just want to drink this wine, eat, and slump in front of the TV.”
I clenched my fists under the table and glared at him, giving him the slight frown that I had practiced in the mirror earlier. Normally it was effective, but at the moment, he wasn’t having it.
“Don’t even try it, sweetheart. It’s just not gonna work today. I said no, and I mean no. That’s the end of it.”
I sighed but wasn’t ready to give up just yet on what had been a week-long argument. “Dad, I know you don’t like it, but I’m not a little girl anymore. All I constantly see on Instagram are pictures of my friends all over the world, and believe me, there isn’t a chaperone in sight! They’re just having fun and living life. Safely. No issues!”
Dad wistfully glanced up from his glass of wine. “You can’t see the chaperones,” he said slowly, “because they’re damn good at staying out of sight. That’s why the good ones cost so much. I’m not insisting on this just because I think you’re some special little snowflake, believe me. I have my reasons.”
And now we’ve reached the brick wall again, I thought to myself, knowing we would soon start skirting around the issue of why I needed protection, although Dad would never actually answer the question.
I decided to take the chance and engage the argument anyway. “Why do I need a bodyguard then?”
If my psychology degree had taught me anything about body language—which it had, considering that I’d graduated Summa Cum Laude—it was that my dad wouldn’t be swayed. Regardless, I refused to give anything away, despite the fact that I was nearing the end of my patience.
He sighed, tearing his eyes away from the TV for a moment and pinching the bridge of his nose. “You know I can’t explain. I’ve told you that. I’ve signed confidentiality agreements that would put me in jail if I even told you what kind of paper they were written on.” He picked up his glass of wine again and tossed back what remained.
“Look, I’ll tell you what. Let’s make a deal,” I offered.
Dad sat up and put on what I called his ‘business-mode’ face, his head slightly raised and his shoulders back with his hands crossed in front of him. “I’ll tell you what I can do, even though it’ll still get me in trouble,” he said. “I might be able to talk my way out of it, but only on the condition that you agree to my terms.” He paused for a moment. “Oh, I almost forgot—as a sweetener, I’ll cover all your travel expenses, not just the flights and accommodation.”
I sat up, my eyes widening. My dad was a very wealthy man, but the money he had put aside for me when I was younger was being held in trust in the form of shares in his company; I couldn’t spend a penny of it until the trust matured in just under two years.
The problem was—I wanted to go on vacation now. I needed to get out of Savage, Colorado. I’d been in the small town my whole life and it felt beyond stifling at this point. It’s only claim-to-fame was the well-known military base, home of the infamous Savage Soldiers.
While Savage residents always took so much pride in our town’s military history, I knew there were more interesting things to see in the world.
“What’s with the sudden generosity, Daddy?” I asked suspiciously. “Did someone slip something into your wine?”
He laughed. “No. My company’s share price has risen rather considerably in the last few days, thanks to the positive media reaction over the completion of our last contract. Front page news, you know. And following the news article, the companies are now queuing up to get us to sign more software development contracts.”
Dad still referred to the company as his even though he’d sold the majority stake to a large multinational software and hardware development conglomerate when I was young. The share price had risen sharply, making him a billionaire on paper almost overnight, and it seemed he was even richer now. Not much of that mattered to me though, at least not until my shares matured.
At the moment though, I just wanted to enjoy the last few years of my early twenties before I had to start worrying about the rest of my life. I may have been the daughter of a rich man, but that didn’t mean I wanted to take things for granted. I knew I didn’t have much longer before it was time for me to make a living on my own. By no means did I plan to just live off my dad for the rest of my life. I wanted to be my own woman, not an eternal spoiled pampered Daddy’s-girl.
But as for now, I just wanted to have a little fun first. To go traveling, partying, sightseeing…
And maybe even find a little carefree summer romance. Something I could tell my grandkids about someday when I wanted to relive my youth.
“Deal?” Dad said, bringing me out of my daydream.
I blinked. This was it—time to concede defeat on favorable terms. I nodded. “Okay, Daddy. If it really means that much to you, I’ll let you hire someone to look after me. As long as they don’t get in the way.”
“Well, here’s what I can tell you.” Dad leaned forward, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial tone. “You know I manage the software development of part of the company, right? A position I was given when I returned to work after your mom passed away. Let’s just say that I manage the development of software that either helps kill people or helps to stop people from being killed. And not just for companies, but for the Savage Soldiers and government too. There’re lots of nasty bastards out there who would do anything to get their hands on it.”
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant for a second. He rarely spoke about Mom. She had died after a brave but short battle with an aggressive form of cancer when I was just three years old. Dad later told me that he had sold the majority of his company at the time of her diagnosis so that he could be there to support her and look after me. I could tell that he still wasn't over her death and probably never would be. The loss had made him even more protective of me.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I’ve already told you more than I’ve ever told anyone outside of work ab
out what I do. But hopefully you understand that I’m not just being overprotective without reason. I want you to have fun and do your own thing, but I want someone there, just in case, you know?”
“I know,” I said, no longer even fathoming arguing with him. Excitement started to build up inside of me. After almost two years of planning and re-planning, chatting over the details with friends, and a week of arguing with my father, I was finally going travelling! And with Dad covering my expenses, travel, and hotel, I’d have nothing to worry about.
It was already more than I had ever hoped for.
CHAPTER 2
Travis
I looked up from my whiskey glass, my cold blue eyes fixing the older businessman sitting opposite of me with an intense stare. “How much?” I said in a soft but deep monotone.
“You heard me. Listen, I’ve had a look at your previous work with the Savage Soldiers and I’ve spoken to your...references. I know this isn’t the type of contract you usually take. And honestly, I almost settled on your cousin, Tucker, for the job. I know he was a Savage Soldier too, and he also had a pretty damned good record. But he’s left this line of work entirely, I hear. Studying to be a lawyer or something, right? Anyway, maybe I’m being paranoid, but I can’t shake the feeling that the risk is greater than you or anyone else suspects. So I need someone to take this job seriously.”
I nodded. “Right. This isn’t simple babysitting or knocking some sense into some over-friendly jocks. I know, Phillip.”
My potential future employer flinched. “How the fuck…?” The older man leaned forward, his hand reaching for the panic button under his desk. “I never told you my name.”
I leaned back, trying to relax my muscular frame into as non-intimidating of a position as possible for someone standing 6’ 5” and weighing 260 lbs. “You don’t need to press that. I’m on your side. Plus, your name is on that certificate over there.” I gestured with my glass towards the faded yellowing certificate on the wall a good ten feet away.
If I was being completely honest—which I never was, especially when trying to impress or intimidate—my eyes weren’t that good. I’d heard of the heat this guy was facing through some old contacts. The sort of contacts you needed when you were a former soldier, ex-vigilante slash criminal-turned-gun for hire, mercenary, bodyguard. Hell, I’d do a dog protection service if the money was right.
I had even managed to find out his address and had a good idea of what his pretty daughter looked like from squinting at her almost-private social media pages. From what I could see, she was about an eight. Maybe a nine after a few drinks. I had fleetingly found myself wishing I was a few years younger, but immediately stopped those thoughts right in their tracks. I knew what happened when I got involved with women—trouble. So I vowed to keep this one strictly professional.
Besides, I knew this man’s daughter was probably way out of my league.
“Truth is, Phillip, I’m good. I’m really fucking good. That’s why I’m expensive, right?” I took another gulp of whiskey.
Nice stuff, I found myself thinking. If this is what he keeps in his office to offer thugs, I wonder what he keeps in his private collection? Probably fucking gold-plated bottles.
I leaned forward on my elbows, my t-shirt barely containing my bulging biceps and chest. I raised my left eyebrow, knowing it accentuated the scar running along it. “I know the heat you’ve been getting. I know the type of hardcore criminals who want in on what you develop. Those guys don’t fuck around. Good thing is, neither do I. I shoot first and ask questions later. And I ain’t bad in a fistfight either, meaning I ain’t never found no one who can beat me.”
I drained the rest of my whiskey and Phillip poured me another, his gaze never leaving my face. I knew he was either impressed, intimidated, or slightly jealous. Probably all three.
“Thanks,” I said, raising the glass. “Last one for me. If I drink more than three, bad shit seems to happen even if I ain’t looking for it.”
I took a smaller gulp and continued my sales pitch, not that it was needed. I just enjoyed attention—especially the kind this guy’s dolled-up secretary with the nice butt and tight top had given me in the waiting room. I wasn’t looking at her, but I knew she kept looking at me.
“So, let me backtrack some,” I continued. “I took the liberty of doing some research and called in some favors. I’m a step ahead of these bad guys. And let me tell you, nine out of ten of them won’t even come close ‘cause I still got favors I ain’t called in yet. I helped a lot of people out in the past, see?” I winked. “And I’ve done this shit before. Tangled with the sort of bad dudes breathing down your neck, and I won.”
Phillip averted his gaze, composing himself. “Very impressive,” he muttered.
Yet, my charm hadn’t worked long. He sat back up straight, resuming his businesslike demeanor more quickly than I’d expected. Clearly, he was tougher than he looked. But then again, you’d have to be to sit in an office all day, year after year.
“Like I said earlier, I did my research too. Not, uh, in the same way as you, but still. I thought you were good before you walked in here. Now I know you’re the man for the job.” He stood slowly and held his arm out, his palm slightly facing upward. Passive, but not to be ignored.
I stood with a motion that was particularly graceful for a big man who’d just had three whiskeys. As I towered over the businessman, I grabbed his hand firmly, but not in a bone-breaking way. “All right,” I said. “Consider me hired. Now, you probably don’t have me down as the type of guy, but I’m legit these days. So I’m gonna need a contract and 10% upfront. Expenses, right? Ain’t putting that shit on plastic.”
I gave him what likely appeared to be a smile, grimace, and smirk all in one, trying to break the ice but probably looking like I had indigestion. Smiling didn’t come easy for me since—not since my wife ran out with the Fed-Ex guy. Or milkman. The details didn’t matter much. Last I heard, he didn’t walk too good these days, whoever the fuck he was.
But it wasn’t time to dwell on the past.
“I’ll swing by tomorrow afternoon to get the contract,” I said. “I don’t do snail mail, email, or text messages, for that matter. Like to stay under the radar. Makes my job a damn sight easier. I trust that’ll be enough time for your pretty secretary to type something up?”
Phillip laughed. “Her? I pay her to answer the phones, look pretty, and flirt with any old businessman who might be trouble. Works as well as you’d imagine. So no—I’ll do this one myself.”
I barked a short laugh. “Fair enough. ‘Least you know it’s done right the first time. I know exactly what you mean. Don’t get far in my line of work unless you trust number one, and those handful who have proved they ain’t either corrupt as fuck or morons. Those are the worst.”
He half turned on the way back to his desk, pausing to pass me a parting gaze. “You know what? I think our jobs might be more similar than you think. You just described high level corporate bullshit in one sentence! I’ll have to remember that line.” He sat back down in his plush leather armchair and nodded. “Until tomorrow, then.”
I nodded, understanding he meant, ‘Fuck off now, we’re done here.’
I left quietly, feeling the secretary’s gaze on me as I passed through the outer office. Probably a sight for sore eyes, all the stiff sleazy old business types that usually came through there.
I gave her something to look at, slowly walking past her, brushing my slick hair back with my left arm and flexing my bicep in the process. The sleeve of my tight black t-shirt ripped. I paused at the door on the way out, bending down to re-tie a shoelace which didn’t need retying.
After all, it would have been rude not to give her something to fantasize about later.
CHAPTER 3
Scarlett
Since the reluctant deal I’d come to with my dad a few days earlier, I’d been frantically trying to organize my trip. With money no longer being an issue, I didn’t really have
to plan the whole four months travel in one go. Consequently, I decided to just get to Europe, graciously knowing Daddy’s Amex Black card would handle the rest.
The first thing I did was determine which of my friends weren’t still studying, knocked-up, or already working full-time. Surprisingly, even with the promise of a no-expense spared luxury trip, only a few showed interest. I tended to forget that considering the expensive schools I’d attended, many of my friends came from families even richer than mine. So naturally, they weren’t nearly as impressed or excited about the little getaway I was so thrilled about. They’d been there and done that already.
Luckily, I’d managed to find two who were at least somewhat interested in joining me on my adventure—Raven and Lonette. I’d managed to persuade them by promising it would be a chance to meet some handsome foreign men who’d undoubtedly be willing to show us a good time.
That caught their attention, as I knew it would.
In reality though, I mainly wanted to experience new cultures, see the sights, and try the food. If a little romance happened along the way, that would just be an added bonus.
“Shit,” I muttered at my huge suitcase. I slumped down on my bed in defeat, wearing nothing but underwear and an annoyed expression. I’d been daydreaming while packing and hadn’t realized my suitcase was already stuffed to capacity.
Resting my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands, I contemplated whether it would be acceptable to pack a second suitcase.
I’ll be gone for months, I reasoned. Certainly, that warrants a second suitcase. After all, I’d hate to be away from home and discover that I’d forgotten something…
Deciding another suitcase was the only logical answer, I got up, feeling better. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I smiled.
“This is going to be fun,” I told my reflection.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts and reminding me that I wasn’t dressed.
Great timing, I thought.
I’d done quite a bit of online shopping in preparation for the trip, so I figured it was one of my deliveries coming in. Not many people other than mail carriers made it past the guards at the front gate.
Ruthless Hero: A Military Bodyguard Romance (Savage Soldiers Book 6) Page 1