Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I force myself to focus, mentally kicking myself for not grabbing a coffee before the meeting. If only I had gotten up a bit earlier, I might have had the chance.
“Ranger, let’s start with you,” Dean says, sliding a thick file across the polished wooden desk. “The G-Summit Meeting is this weekend, and this is Tory Ann.”
Ranger picks up the file and begins flipping through the papers, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Is she attending the summit?”
“No, she’s not,” Dean replies, shaking his head. “Her father, the world-renowned scientist Frederick Malser, will be a keynote speaker. He’ll be there, and he’ll have his own personal security detail looking after him.”
Ranger looks up, curiosity piqued. “Why not have his own security team watch over his daughter as well?”
“Frederick has received several threats regarding his speech at the Summit,” Dean explains, his voice steady. “He’s adamant about keeping his daughter’s presence in town a secret. He wants everything to remain under the radar and is even hesitant about some members of his own security team.”
The room falls silent as everyone absorbs the information. I shift in my seat, mentally reviewing my to-do list. This is going to be a long day, but at least it’s starting to take shape.
“That sucks,” Ranger mutters, glancing down at the file in his hands with a frown.
“You’ll take her to the safe house: SEASHELL, and keep her there until the Summit is over,” Dean instructs, his tone allowing no room for an argument.
I let my gaze drift out of the conference room window, where the morning sun casts shimmering reflections over the ocean. The rhythmic pull of the waves lulls me into a semi-trance, momentarily pulling me away from the meeting’s intensity.
“Orion,” Dean continues, snapping me back to attention, “Briar Green’s the daughter of socialite Minnie Green. Briar’s been dealing with a persistent ex-boyfriend who’s been stalking her. Her mother insists on having security for her while we work on getting a restraining order.”
I shake my head, trying to clear the fog that seems to be enveloping my brain. I wish I could just shake off the exhaustion and focus.
“Ex-boyfriend?” I ask, my voice tinged with frustration. “Can’t I just take him out back, scare him half to death, and call it a day?” I reach for the file Dean slides toward me.
“It’s not that simple,” Dean replies, his expression serious.
I flip open the folder, and my breath catches. The photo inside nearly leaves me speechless. “It never is,” I mutter under my breath, staring at the striking green eyes gazing up at me from the picture. Damn. I’ve never seen anyone so stunningly beautiful in all my life. Her eyes are a mesmerizing shade of emerald, framed by thick lashes that curl just right, almost too perfect to be real. They seem to shimmer with a life of their own, pulling me in, and for a second, I forget where I am.
Her face is a dream, delicately sculpted like something out of a Renaissance painting. Full lips are perfectly balanced in shape and color, curving into a subtle, confident smile that seems to challenge the world around her. She’s magnetic, radiant, and the kind of woman who’d turn heads wherever she goes without even trying.
Despite my best efforts to focus on Dean as he assigns the next task to Boone, my gaze keeps drifting back to Briar Green’s photo. There’s something about her that’s impossible to ignore, a quiet intensity in her beauty that leaves a fucking mark.
Listen, I love a pretty lady, sure, but there’s something about Briar that’s different. Dating women isn’t really high on my priority list of things to do. Relationships are something I never indulge in. Ever. Now fucking women, whole other story, however, looking at Briar’s picture right now has me rethinking my fucking priorities.
I hate to admit it, but I can understand why her ex-boyfriend can’t let go. She’s a fucking knockout.
Dean’s voice cuts through my thoughts, “I want everyone to know I’m here if you need anything.” His words pull me abruptly from my fixation on Briar.
I force myself to refocus on her file, skimming through details about her job at the Saint Pierce Zoo, where she works in the aviary.
I’m not the type to fall for someone at the mere sight of a photograph. Yet, as I stare at Briar, something within me shifts. A primal urge begins to stir. A rush of molten lava surges through my veins. A fierce, possessive rage ignites in my gut, compelling me to protect this woman with every ounce of my being. It’s as if my body has decided on its own that her safety is now my only responsibility, no matter what.
I glance at the name of the ex-boyfriend, Jason Baker, and an intense wave of hatred washes over me. It’s not just dislike; I feel a deep, visceral anger, and I silently hope that by the end of this job, I’ll have the chance to confront him one-on-one and make him understand just how much I despise him.