Page 13 of Her Delta Force Protector

On returning, he’d learned that she’d died, the victim of a mugging gone wrong on a visit home to see her father. Her absence had left a hole in his heart, and not a day had passed that he hadn’t thought about her, hadn’t missed this girl who’d become his best friend. Now, seeing her alive and breathing, the relief that she wasn’t dead was profound, but there was anger, too. She’d let him grieve for her when she could have come to him for help.

“I need to make a phone call. There’s a bathroom around the corner to your left if you need one.”

“Oh, thanks. I would like to freshen up a little.” She opened her duffel and took out a toiletry bag.

“You want coffee?”

“That would be great, thanks. Be right back.”

Coffee started, he called Chase Talon. Nothing like canceling an interview twenty minutes before it was supposed to happen. When Chase answered his phone, Kade walked outside, not wanting Harper to hear the conversation and realize he was missing an interview because of her.

“Chase, it’s Kade Church.”

“Hey, man. You’re in town already? Come on over. I’ll grab Nick, and we’ll go talk over breakfast.”

“I’m not in Charlotte. That’s why I’m calling.” Damn, he hated having to make this call. “Something’s come up. I’m going to have to reschedule.” Hopefully the brothers wouldn’t write him off as unreliable.

“You want to tell me what’s more important than your future?”

Yeah, the man’s friendly voice had icicles in it now. “A friend’s in trouble, the life-or-death kind. The kind I can’t turn my back on. Look, I want this job, but—”

“You’re hired.”

“Just like that?”

“Yep. You risked losing a job you wanted because a friend needs you, and if you’re telling the truth about it being a life-or-death situation—”

“I am.”

“That’s loyalty, and the kind of man we want on our team. But there’s one condition. How long do you think it will take to deal with the situation?”

“Not really sure.” He hoped only a few days. “What’s the condition?”

“I need you on board no later than two weeks from today. If you can’t make that happen, I’ll have to bring someone else in.”

“Thanks for understanding. I’ll keep in touch.”

“You do that, and if Talon Security can be of any help, all you need to do is ask.”

“Thanks. I might just do that.” As soon as he learned exactly what the situation was. He was glad Chase hadn’t asked since Kade wouldn’t have had an answer for him.

He’d been on a joint operation with Chase’s team a few years past, and they’d hit it off. When Chase learned that Kade was returning to civilian life, he’d called and asked if Kade might be interested in coming on board. He was, and with Chase’s reaction to the missed interview, he was more certain than ever that it was going to be a good fit.

He hadn’t met Chase’s brother yet, but Nick had called him after he’d scheduled an interview, and they’d had a good conversation. Chase was the CEO, and Nick, former military intelligence, was the operations vice president. According to Nick, Talon Security had their fingers in a variety of things from providing bodyguards for the rich and famous to government jobs that he couldn’t talk about until Kade was officially on the team.

The item that most appealed to Kade, though, was Talon Security’s involvement in rescuing people who found themselves in danger, especially abducted children. That might not have interested him as much as it did before Parker returned from France with his baby girl. Kade would hunt down anyone who dared to hurt his niece, and the results wouldn’t be pretty. The thought of any parent having their child taken from them, the fear and heartache that he would feel if it was Everly...yeah, he wanted in on those missions.

It was a weight off his mind that he hadn’t ruined the opportunity to work for Talon Security. It was an ideal situation in that not only did the company appeal to him, but Charlotte was only about an hour from Marsville. He wouldn’t have to move. The job wasn’t nine-to-five, and he didn’t need to be there every day, so the commute wasn’t a problem.

What he needed to do now was find out what kind of danger Harper was in, take care of it, then she could get back to her life, and he could get on with his. The little tug of regret in the back of his mind at the thought of not having Harper in his life was annoying, so he ignored it.

Tristan and Skylar walked in a few minutes after he finished his phone call, both holding cups from Sweet Tooth Bakery. Duke bounded in behind them, and when he saw Kade, he gave an excited yelp and tripped over his feet trying to get to him. He got his feet back under him, then skidded across the floor to Kade.

“You’re a doofus.” He kneeled, letting the silly dog jump around him, barking his happiness. “I was only gone overnight.”

“To a dog, that’s eternity,” Tristan said.

Suddenly, Duke stilled and lifted his nose in the air. He looked at Kade and gave an excited bark, then he raced in circles with his nose to the floor. Kade stood. “I think he just picked up Harper’s scent.”

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