Page 1 of Protecting His Girl

Chapter One

DUKE

I swaggerinto the Hunt Security office, a black duffel bag slung over my shoulder.

Dex, a hulking figure with a face that's seen its fair share of scrapes, grins from behind the battered security desk.

"I thought you were supposed to be on vacation." His gruff voice sounds like a cement mixer.

"Hunt just called.” I drop the duffel bag to the floor with a thud. "Said he had an urgent job."

Dex chuckles, shaking his head. “Figures he’d pick you.”

I quirk a brow at him. “Pick me for what?”

"Sorry, Duke. Probably best to let him tell you. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

Now it's my turn to chuckle. "Fair enough."

“But now that you’re here, mind holding down the fort for a bit?” Dex grunts and gets up from his chair. “Nature's calling."

Then, without waiting for my response, he turns and heads towards the restroom at the back of the office.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm about to walk into.

Rich Hunt isn’t exactly your average boss. He’s an ex-mobster who got out of prison a few years ago after spending a decade behind bars for racketeering.

He's turned his life around since then. His connections in the criminal world helped him build one of the most successful security companies in the country. But there are times when his past still catches up with him.

And when it does, I'm usually the one he sends to handle it.

His company, Hunt Security, is a haven for ex-Marines and former black ops like me. Its headquarters is tucked away on the second floor above a bowling alley.

Why Rich chose to set up shop here in my hometown of Cooper Hills, Wyoming, I'll never know. But I’m grateful for the job anyway.

The warehouse is buzzing with activity, the clatter of pool balls and rough laughter echoing off the metal walls.

My fingers tap out an impatient rhythm on the threadbare armrest. Waiting has never been my strong suit, especially when there's a new job on the line.

Rich always has something up his sleeve. And I can't help but be intrigued by whatever it is this time.

"Arf! Arf!" A sudden yapping catches my attention.

From the corner of my eye, I spot a small French Bulldog sprinting across the dingy carpet. She skids to a stop in front of me, panting heavily.

In a split second, I snatch her up before she can slip away. "Easy, sweetheart."

Her tiny legs kick in the air, but she doesn't struggle for long. She looks into my eyes, her gaze softening and tail wagging. I gently spin the collar around her neck until the little bone-shaped name tag faces me.

"Mimi, huh?” I murmur as I rub her gently behind the ears. “That’s a pretty name.”

She pants happily, her pink tongue peeking out from between her teeth.I look around to the back of the lobby.

"Where's your owner, baby girl?” I ask, but there’s no one in sight.

I shrug and continue to pet Mimi as I wait for Rich to appear. It's a bit of an odd situation, but not entirely out of the ordinary here at Hunt Security.

A voice from behind startles me. “Oh, thank goodness!”

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