Page 84 of Protecting his Secrets

“Maybe he hates the royal family, and that’s where the connection is with Malachi,” Colt said from behind them. “You mentioned a note saying he was two-faced and not telling the truth about his feelings? Maybe he’s annoyed because he thought he found an ally in Malachi but realised he’d been duped, and that was why he’s focused on him.”

Nick glanced at his lover. “Have you had any new connections or sources lately?”

Malachi exhaled. “I get new sources weekly sometimes. Let me grab my laptop.”

While he did that, Nick turned back to Brett. “So, we’re thinking this is someone with a hatred for the royal family?” Brett nodded slowly but didn’t seem convinced. “Where’s your head at Brett?”

Brett crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his ass on the desk. He stared at the floor, and everyone let him think it through as he usually did before voicing his thoughts. During that time, Malachi came back, settling beside him with his laptop.

Brett sighed. “It makes sense, but if the plan had been to remove bodyguards to get to the royal family, it failed dismally. It always would. Because when one guard goes, another takes his place. What is he going to do? Take out a hundred, a thousand guards before he even has the chance at the Sutcliffes? As much as I hate to state the obvious, there are easier ways to get to them, as many others have proven.”

“So, if we take the royal family out of the equation, that leaves the bodyguards. But why go after us? Is it someone who has an issue with us or a disgruntled former employee?” Felix asked.

Brett scoffed. “There are far too many disgruntled employees, unfortunately. It goes with the territory.”

“You must have a list, though.”

“Oh, I do, but I’ve been through it a hundred times. Those that stood out all have alibis and confirmed proof that they aren’t involved.”

“Could they be hiring someone? That would give them an alibi, but not an alibi for the one actively involved,” Felix said.

Nick watched the back and forth between them, Felix having come to stand closer to Brett, and now that he knew there might be something between them, it was plain to see. The look in Felix’s eyes as he spoke to their boss was unmistakable.

“I suppose it’s possible. I’ll look into them again.”

“Remember to add in the military aspect, too,” Malachi said.

“A lot of bodyguards have military experience…” Brett trailed off and then turned and faced the board they had set up with information, much like what the police did on TV shows. “But none of you,” he muttered.

Nick rose. “What do you mean?”

Brett pointed at him. “You don’t have military experience, you have regular security experience. Owen doesn’t have military experience. Dominic doesn’t have military experience. Who else doesn’t among us?”

It was a rhetorical question because Brett was the one with that information. He leaned over his laptop and typed away at it for a moment before lifting his head, his gaze immediately going to Felix. “Only two others.”

“Who?” Nick asked when his boss fell silent.

Felix answered. “Me and Brett,” he whispered.

“I thought you had been in the Army?” Nick asked Brett.

Brett shook his head. “It was expected that I would because my entire family has been at some point, but the family business wasn’t for me.”

Maybe that was the underlying tension between him and his sister.

“Do you think we’re next?” Felix asked.

Brett didn’t answer, which was answer enough. Nick stood. “Okay, let’s go through this again with fresh eyes. This is someone who seems to target those who haven’t been in the military but holds a role where they might think we should have. Someone who knows our pasts or has access to it, and the people who were involved at the time. Someone with technical abilities or access to people with those abilities. Someone who’s cocky and willing to take risks.”

“That’s a long list of people,” Owen said, entering the conversation.

“But is it, really?” Nick said. “It might seem like it if you take each one separately, but putting them all together narrows the field a lot.”

“Anyone in the military could have all of this,” Owen said.

“Yes, but where’s the link to us?”

Everyone fell silent, undoubtedly trying to find the connection.

---