It’s hard for me to step aside. I’m a Guardian. Dedicated to saving those in need. If I can’t fight her battles for her, I will stand by her side, lending what support I can.
Feeling better after a brief nap, restless energy surges within me. I need to get up and check in with my teammates, but I’m loathe to slip out of bed. I don’t want to leave her, even for a second.
Miss Maria Rossi, my princess, somehow you worked yourself into my heart.
I don’t regret taking a break from the mission. We both needed sleep, but it’s getting late. Later than I’d like, but probably best for our little act. Marco Rossi is watching every move we make, trying to assess what kind of threat I pose and how much Maria knows about the kidnapping of her friend.
They’re going to see nothing but the truth. We’re two lovebirds spending the day in bed. Funny how our fake engagement doesn’t feel that fake anymore.
I never understood why my teammates fell for their women. It always felt rushed, like they dove headfirst into the abyss, mindless of the jagged rocks waiting below—oblivious, or uncaring, of the danger they faced.
There’s a reason I don’t do relationships … or didn’t. Maria got to me. She tunneled right into my heart, where she filled in all the empty bits inside. She’s a part of me now.
I understand why Axel fell for his girl. He and Zoe share a history. Not a good one. Axel was a royal asshole to Zoe growing up. He thought her infatuation nothing but an annoyance, never realizing his true feelings.
Her abduction released whatever needed to be knocked loose in Axel’s head. The man was driven to rescue his childhood friend, then realized Zoe stole his heart somewhere along the way.
The same can be said for Griff. Moira is a fighter, a survivor. She knows how to take care of herself. He was with us when we rescued Moira in the Philippines, then trained her at The Facility in the art of self-defense. She had no idea who her Guardian trainer was, but Griff always made sure he was paired with her. I think he’s been soft for her since her first rescue. It hurts to think that Moira suffered so much for so long. She still fights those demons. But Griff’s love is exactly what she needs to heal.
When Max found Eve, he thought she was the enemy. She was taken by Benefield, held hostage for months, and did what she needed to survive. During her captivity, she never gave up hope of rescue. And not just for herself.
It’s due to Eve’s foresight that the Guardians are as close as we are now to bringing down the Rossi’s human-trafficking operation. She found the ledgers with the lists of client names and the women who were purchased. That list ultimately led us to the Belvedere and the Rossi’s.
Knox and Lily started off as adversaries. She thought he worked for criminals bringing drugs into the USA. When she learned the truth, the two of them became partners, then lovers.
Wolfe and Jinx decoded the ledgers Eve discovered, working brilliantly together once they stopped fighting their attraction for each other. They uncovered the names of six girls who were slated to be taken and sold.
Sybil’s name was on that list.
The Guardians came to that information late, and we nearly lost those women. Alpha team, augmented by two of our new Protectors, rescued Sybil and the other two women, while Wolfe and I, along with Jinx and Lily, rescued the remaining three. That brought me face to face with Maria and the barrel of her gun pointed at my chest.
Looking down at Maria, I want endless moments like this. I can’t help myself from kissing her shoulder, a light touch, which doesn’t wake her. She looks so fragile and innocent. I wish I could hold her in my arms forever, but I can’t. There’s work to do.
I slip out of bed, without disturbing her, and take a quick shower. Rather than put on the clothes I wore last night, I head out into the living room with a towel wrapped around my waist.
Wolfe looks up at me from a recliner but says nothing. Brady stretches out on the couch. Thick blankets cover his face. I get it. They split the shifts. Brady’s on the night shift.
My buddy points to the dining room. I stroll over, happy to see clothing was provided while I slept. With my back to Wolfe, I drop the towel and slowly get dressed. He says nothing, although I expect some kind of dig from him. Maria and I weren’t exactly quiet earlier, but if he says anything to disrespect Maria, I will take him out.
“What’s the status on Mitzy’s drones?” I zip my pants and move to the buttons of my shirt. With Brady sleeping in the other room, I keep my voice low. The drones we launched into the air ducts have had a couple of hours to do their thing.
“Nothing to report.” Wolfe places his hands behind his back and widens his stance. “No servers for her to scour. No hidden rooms with other victims.”
“Seems too clean.”
“I agree.”
“He can’t hide from Mitzy.”
“I’d say your gut is true as far as Marco Rossi goes, but whatever dirt he’s hiding, it’s not at the Belvedere.”
“Anything I need to know?”
“Mitzy’s recalling the drones come morning. She wants as much time as possible in case there’s something she missed. Is brunch still on for tomorrow? Or did you get yourself disinvited the way you dressed down her mother?”
“I’m not sure, but I doubt it. Her mother’s scrambling, trying to find out everything she can about Liam Cartwright.” I fasten the cuffs on my sleeves and tuck in my shirt. “Maria’s still sleeping. We’ll have to wait and see when she wakes up.”
“What are your plans for tonight?” Wolfe arches a brow.
A quick glance at my watch reveals we have an evening to kill.
“What do you think? Safer to stay here and eat in? Should we dine in one of the hotel restaurants? Or should we go out?”
“Mitzy has an idea about that.”
“She does?”
“She wants you to play at the tables.”
“I’m not much of a gambler.”
“No, but you’ve got the best eyes to help you out.”
“Too risky. I don’t want to get caught cheating. That’s a sure-fire way to cut this operation off at the knees.”
“Then play to lose. Winning or losing isn’t really the point.”
“Then what is?”
“That you are too fucking rich to care if you drop a hundred grand at the tables.”
“Hate to lose that much cash.”
“You might win.” Wolfe doesn’t give a damn one way or the other. Easy for him to blow through Guardian cash. He won’t be the one everyone’s laughing at. “What are you best at? Poker? Blackjack?”
Poker is more Max’s thing. He fooled all of us, making us think he had a gambling addiction. The truth is far different and sobering.
Me?
Not so much.
“How about craps or roulette?” Wolfe doesn’t let up.
“Suck and suck some more. Why not go out?”
I was thinking of doing something extravagant.
“Mitzy suggested we stay in the hotel, limit our excursions outside where we have less coverage. If you want to play craps or spin the wheel, it’s up to you. Shit, you can feed quarters into a slot machine for all I care.”
“Slots aren’t a Liam Cartwright worthy endeavor.” I roll my shoulders back and sniff with indignation. It’s time to get serious and fully embrace the persona Mitzy built for Liam Cartwright.