Undercover Guardian (Brotherhood Protectors World)
Available now ~ Exclusively at Amazon
When hope is lost, truth is blurred, and your life is on the line, it’s time to call in the Guardian Agency…
A thrilling new Guardian Agency adventure sends a protection agent undercover to save a sheriff with a target on his back…
Former Navy SEAL, Theo Tannehill, moved to the rural Black Hills of South Dakota for a fresh start. Becoming the sheriff wasn’t part of the plan, but the job suits him and there’s comfort in knowing the people in the community. When he discovers a totaled car packed with drugs and a dead body, he’s determined to prevent the encroaching criminal threat from intruding on his town. That means vetting every new face, including a beautiful new mechanic.
Anna Lopez, a Guardian Agency protector who specializes in short-term urban assignments, is venturing away from her beloved Chicago to go undercover in the Black Hills. Posing as a mechanic, her role is to keep the sexy sheriff safe from the criminals wanting to take him out–without letting him know she’s covering his six.
Theo has questions and an increasing desire for the woman who always seems to be close when trouble strikes. But as the danger mounts, he must choose to trust Anna and her unique expertise or lose everything–including an unexpected chance at lasting love.
If you like action-packed suspense and sizzling romance with an undercover twist, you’ll love the Undercover Guardian!
~Enjoy an Excerpt~
Chapter 1
Moody narcissist.
With a shake of her head, Anna Lopez tapped the backspace key and erased the inappropriate assessment of her latest client. Never smart to put derogatory opinions in writing.
She wasn’t a psychiatrist, after all, just a bodyguard. Her bosses at the Guardian Agency were pros about discretion and privacy. Anna would have a chance to share her honest opinion during the in-person debrief. For the official paper trail, she needed to be more circumspect.
Client seemed preoccupied.
There, that was better. “Preoccupied with himself,” she added under her breath.
The genius billionaire-of-the-day had been one of her less pleasant assignments. Arrogant and entitled, from her up-close vantage point he’d treated everyone in his path as a lesser being, barely worthy of his time and attention. Thank goodness he’d only requested local protection for his three days of meetings in Chicago. She would not want to be assigned to him fulltime.
Of course, Anna wasn’t the protector they assigned long term. Her skills as a driver and her extensive knowledge of the Windy City made her invaluable, especially for transportation details.
That was one of her favorite aspects of this job. Not just loads of driving which she enjoyed in all its forms, but she never ran the risk of getting attached to the client. She never felt invested in one particular person beyond the moment. She wasn’t built for that kind of connection anymore.
In the back pocket of her slacks, her phone vibrated. She hit save on the report and then checked the message.
Protect
The single-word text surprised her. Usually there was at least a day of downtime between assignments. Time to catch up on her laundry or—far more fun—grab lunch or a spa day with a friend. She finished her after-action report as swiftly as possible so she could go into the next job with a clear mind.
While she worked, she expected the string of messages that typically followed a protect order. Name and location and details about the client, but her phone remained eerily silent. After a speedy final read-through of her report, she submitted it.
Her phone hummed an instant later with a text message directing her to report to Patrick Gamble’s office immediately.
She glanced around the empty office. Of course, the place was wired for security, but the timing felt like next-level supervision. With a mental head shake, she signed out of the program and shut down the computer. Picking up her purse and the coffee she hadn’t quite finished, she headed for the elevator.
Gamble’s office was one floor up in the posh building on Michigan Avenue. Gamble was one half of the law firm that managed the Guardian Agency. His partner, Nolan Swann, handled most of the protection assignments and Gamble spent more time recruiting personnel.
Of course, both men could hold their own in the field as well as they could in the court room. A fact some criminals had learned the hard way recently when Billie Hamilton, Gamble’s ex-wife, had been targeted by a terrible enemy.
Anna had been part of the rescue and protection team and she’d loved every minute of the challenging case. She always got a thrill out of seeing justice served and this time around the crisis ended on a happier personal note as Billie and Patrick were planning to remarry soon.
Anna admired that kind of emotional courage.
With her purse over her shoulder and the cup of coffee in one hand, she was surprised to see Gamble’s door wide open. She tapped her knuckles lightly on the glossy wood, waiting for his signal.
“Come in, Anna.” His gaze was on his computer monitor. “Have a seat.”
She did as he asked, setting her purse on the floor.
A moment later, Gamble turned, giving her his full attention and a wide smile. “Just skimmed your report. What did you really think of your last client?”
“Can’t say I’m a fan,” she replied. Gamble arched a dark eyebrow. “Fine. I found him to be a moody narcissist.” She pressed her lips together to smother her amusement. “I rephrased for the official report.”
He laughed. “Thanks for that. He’s made some noise about something more like a full-time detail and I want to match him with the right team if that does happen.” His amusement faded in the next moment. “Your next assignment, if you’re interested, will likely be the polar opposite.” He rested his folded hands on the desktop. “There are several factors in play and before I share details, I want to be sure you’re up for it.”
Since when was she not up for an assignment? “What kind of factors?”
“First, it’s not in Chicago. It’s a small-town placement and it’s completely undercover. You’ll be protecting a man who has resisted previous offers of help. His friends want to be sure someone is watching his back.”
Her palms went damp. Small towns were nothing but social minefields and gossip mills in her experience. Not enough people and too much quiet. She ran her thumb over the cool hammered metal of the heirloom ring on her left index finger. “You’re saying the man I’ll be watching has no idea he’s been overruled?”
“Correct. Ideally, you won’t reveal your true purpose in the area.”
Uh-huh. That could get dicey in a hurry. A new face in a small town would bring all kinds of attention. Not the greatest recipe for undercover success. “And?” She wanted the rest of the story, starting with why this guy was being overruled by his friends.
“Should you agree, I’ll send all the details to your phone. If it helps, you’ll be sent to the Black Hills of South Dakota, a few miles north of Sturgis. The timeline has room for you to drive yourself.”
He knew how to push her buttons. She loved to drive and the travel would be the perfect break. Considered one of the best in the Guardian Agency, she actually trained new bodyguards on defensive driving. The Black Hills would be gorgeous this time of year with spring giving way to summer.
“What’s the cover story? Or is that up to me?”
Gamble shook his head. “We have a couple of options, but I’m not getting into it until you’re all-in. There’s one dead body already and we’ve decided to work this solely on a need-to-know level.”
“You think it will become a long-term thing.” She took a slow breath. Her bosses had no reason to doubt her abilities on anything but staying power. Short and sweet was her wheelhouse.
“That’s right. I’m sure it will go longer than a few days. I’m aware small towns aren’t your preference.”
She sat back in the chair and sipped her coffee. Did she really want this kind of a challenge? “So why even call me in?”
“Because the cover story plays better with a female protector.”
An uncomfortable thought flitted through her mind. They wanted her to develop a relationship with the man who didn’t want help. She’d rather walk a tightrope over a pool of hungry sharks. She forced a smile. “As long as you’re not actually putting me out to pasture.”
“No.” He chuckled. “Not even close. Hank Patterson brought this to us. The person you’ll be guarding is a friend of his, but he doesn’t have any available women on his security team who can move into this role immediately.”
“At least tell me the role.”
Gamble gave a subtle nod. “You’ll be fresh out of the Army on a cross country drive. You’ll find a job and keep an eye on the client.”
Find a job in a small town that was sure to distrust outsiders. Better and better. “The client who doesn’t want protection.”
“That’s right.” He gave her a hopeful look. “Think of it as an opportunity to get creative.”
“And see the world.” She sighed. “They gave me that same song and dance when I joined the Army,” she joked. “Can I ask how Hank Patterson knows the client?”
“They worked special operations together.”
Naturally. That did clear up a few things. Patterson had been a Navy SEAL and when he transitioned to civilian life again, he founded the Brotherhood Protectors, an elite personal security service. “You’re telling me some former Spec Ops guy is hip-deep in trouble and Hank thinks a female bodyguard will be less noticeable.”
“Pretty much. Hank is convinced his friend needs someone watching his back, whether he wants to admit it or not. He needs someone good who won’t be recognized.”
“All right.” It definitely qualified as a challenge. She could manage a small town in the short term. “I’ll do it. As long as I get to come back to my comfy urban life as soon as the situation is stable.”