was more knives to cut the sudden tension in the room.
But Bart’s laughter did that.
“Gentlemen, this isn’t a funeral, so there’s no need to act like it’s one.” Bart turned that friendly gaze on Parker. “How’s your son, Captain McKenna?”
It took Parker a moment to answer. It’d been five years since anyone had addressed him by his army rank. And as for his son, Zach, it surprised him that this billionaire would even know his son’s name, much less bother to ask about the thirteen-year-old. Of course, Bart was probably aware of every last detail of Parker’s life.
Bart no doubt knew about Amy, her death and the unborn daughter who’d been buried with her.
Parker pushed those memories aside, or rather tried. Five years of practice hadn’t helped much with that. “My son’s doing good,” he lied.
Bart nodded and seemed a little disappointed that Parker hadn’t attempted the truth.
“We’ll talk more about that later,” Bart said practically in a whisper. “Maybe a change of scenery will make things better for both of you.” With that cryptic remark dangling in the air, Bart looked back at the others. “First though, I should probably tell you why I invited you here. Plain and simple, I need your help.”
“Help?” That came from Harlan, the assassin, and he practically growled it.
“Help,” Bart cheerfully clarified. “Actually, this is a job offer. I want all of you to work for me at Corps Security and Investigations. I’ll double whatever salary you’re getting now and will pay for all relocation costs for you and your families.”
No one said a word, but Parker could almost hear the mental mumbles. If it sounded too good to be true, it usually was.
“Yes, I did say double the pay,” Bart continued. “But it’s my guess that money isn’t what brought you here. And it’s not what will make you accept my offer. This is a chance to be part of a brotherhood again. A fresh start. An opportunity to help others and yourself.”
“Freedom,” Parker mumbled a little louder than he’d intended.
“That, too,” Bart assured him. He made eye contact not just with Parker but with every man at the table. “Each of you has a particular set of skills that will come in handy in your first assignment.”
“The assignment information is on your PDA,” the right-hand man, Nolan, provided.
Parker hesitated but finally picked up the device, turned it on and saw a picture of the Texas governor, Lila Lockhart.
“Lila’s an old friend,” Bart continued. He grinned, and even though the gesture bunched up his wrinkles, his face also lit up. “And with her second term in office winding down, she’s mulling over whether or not she’ll make a run for the White House. Imagine that, gentleman. You could be looking at the next president of the United States.”
“What does she have to do with us?” Wade asked.
“Everything,” Bart answered. What was left of his smile faded. “Governor Lockhart and her family have been receiving threats. Nothing violent. Not yet anyway. But there has been some escalation. She’s getting several letters a week with the same handwriting. Same tone. The person isn’t happy with her current policies. Lila wasn’t too concerned until recently, when someone slashed the tires on her daughter’s car.”
“Go to the next picture,” Nolan instructed.
Parker did and saw the photo of the attractive blonde. The governor’s daughter, no doubt. She had her mother’s blue eyes.
“The governor’s security couldn’t stop the tire slashing?” Parker wanted to know.
Bart shook his head. “Her daughter, Bailey, doesn’t live in Austin at the governor’s mansion. She lives in a small town up in the Texas Panhandle where the Lockharts have a family ranch. Bailey owns a day care there.” He paused, gathered his breath. “Lila is concerned for her children, for her hometown and for anyone who might be in the path of those who wish her harm. She asked me to provide security and lots of it.”
“That’s the job?” Nick challenged. “To protect an entire town and a possible presidential candidate?”
“It is. This won’t be a short and sweet assignment. All of you are looking at a long-term commitment that won’t end until the threats end. The job will also require all of you to relocate to Freedom, Texas.”
Parker was sure he blinked.
“Yes, Freedom,” Bart verified though Parker didn’t say a word. “Interesting name for a town, huh?”
Parker made a sound that could have meant anything, or nothing. But yes, it was interesting and so was that face in the picture. Bailey Lockhart. She looked wholesome. Beautiful.
Vulnerable.
“Mull it over,” Bart insisted. And he repeated that to the others: Matteo Soarez, Wade Coltrane, Harlan McClain and Nick Cavanaugh. “If you want the job, be in Freedom in two days to start work. Until then, enjoy the hotel’s amenities on the house. Since I own the place, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Bart chuckled, snapped his fingers and the waiters began to pour into the room. There were at least a dozen, and all were carrying silver trays or pushing serving carts.
Parker couldn’t take his attention off the picture on the PDA screen. “She’s in danger?” Parker asked Bart.
Bart nodded. “Very likely.” He didn’t say anything else for several seconds. “I failed at protecting my own family, so Lila and her kids are like my family now. I can’t fail again. Do you understand that, Captain McKenna?”
Hell. He more than understood. He was living with that kind of failure and knew how it cut right to the bone.
Parker glanced around the table and wondered if every single one of them knew that kind of pain.
Was that why they had been brought here?
Parker didn’t know the answer to that, but he did know one thing. He already had enough blood on his hands. He was moving his son and himself to Freedom.
And this time, Parker hoped like hell he could stop another woman from dying.
Chapter One
Someone was following her.
Bailey Lockhart was sure of it.
She glanced around the parking lot of Cradles to Crayons Day Care and Preschool. No other vehicles were there yet, but that would soon change. In the next forty-five minutes, her staff and teachers would arrive. The kids, too. And the quiet parking lot would no longer be so quiet.
But for now, it was just her.
And her stalker, of course.
Bailey huffed. She was so tired of this nonsense. The hang-up calls. Her slashed tires. The worry all of this was causing her mother, a woman with enough on her mind since she was governor and had a
