Page 3 of Her Bossy Bodyguards

Chapter 2

Kingston

“My daughter,” Mr. Hanson started, pacing back and forth in the safe room. He then turned to look over at me, a seriousness taking over his expression. “Please, tell me that your team was able to keep my daughter out of harm’s way.”

Zeke and I had been called in to help with Mr. Hanson’ssituation, the one where it seemed like someone was hellbent on extorting him for lots of cash. The extortionists were still unidentified, but I knew if Zeke and I kept on it, we’d be able to figure it out sooner rather than later—because Bolin and Trapperalwayscame out on top.

Zeke and I had been the best in the business for years now. It was the result of our training as Texas Rangers and, even more, our training as snipers in Afghanistan. Still, even with all of our knowledge and experience with firearms, I knew better than to ever underestimate the enemy. There was always a chance that the guys we’d be up against would be able to get one over on us, especially if we came in way too cocky.

“She’s in the front room with Zeke right now, sir,” I answered.

“Why is she still in the front room?” Mr. Hanson snapped. “Why isn’t she back here with us?”

“We have to make sure she wasn’t followed, sir,” I explained. “Of course, once we’ve swept the outside of the building, we’ll place you both in the same room. But until we can guarantee everyone’s safety, it’s better to keep you two separated—”

“Dad!” A young woman’s voice interrupted our conversation as she sprinted into the room. “Oh my God!”

Fuck.

‘Oh my God’ was right.

I could hardly believe what I was seeing when I looked over at her. Her beautiful black hair was strewn all around her shoulders, her green eyes shining, seeming to catch all the light in the room. Her body was perfect, too, her jeans molding her in just the right way, the slim curve of her waist and fullness of her chest almost making my mouth water on the spot.

Is this really Mr. Hanson’s daughter?

I didn’t know what I’d been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t one of the most gorgeous women I’d ever seen. I also hadn’t expected to be so easily distracted now, since I’d so rarely lost focus while working on a mission before. If one of us ever got distracted it was Zeke, not me.

I was always the one who took things more seriously, regardless of the situation.

“Natalie!” Mr. Hanson shouted back at her, and he crossed the room, wrapping her tightly in his arms. “Oh, sweetie. I’m so happy you’re safe.”

“What’s going on, Dad?” Natalie asked with tears in her eyes. “I think someone tried to shoot me when I was at Lincoln’s with Kelly.”

“Some bad men are trying to extort your father,” I cut in. “They’ve been sending threats to his office, but nothing seemed credible until very recently.”

“Yeah, I’m guessing they seemed credible after a bullet whizzed right by my ear,” Natalie replied.

And I forced myself to suppress the urge to laugh.

Fuck.

She was beautifulandwitty, too?

This was going to be a much rougher case than I’d thought. “We’re still assessing the situation, trying to gauge the best actions to take.”

“What do you mean?” Natalie pressed. “Are you saying there are different options here or something?”

“There’s always options,” Zeke said, stepping into the room now, too. “Running is always an option. Fighting is always an option.”

“We’re not running,” Mr. Hanson replied, his tone firm. “I refuse to let some band of thugs try to force me out of a position I worked so hard for.”

“I would’ve never suggested it.” Zeke chuckled as he shook his head. “Running makes you look guilty, and since this is an extortion case, people might start to wonder if you actually owe these assholes something.”

“What are the other options, then?” Natalie asked.

“Around-the-clock supervision,” I answered. “For you. For your father. And anyone else we think these guys might be trying to make a move against. At least until we figure out what their angle is.”

“So, what? One of you guards my dad and the other one guards me?”

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