Page 4 of Guarded from Corruption

And finally, finally, I reach someone who might be able to help me.

It’s a woman, and she answers the phone in a friendly tone. “Blade and Arrow Security. This is Rhiannon. Can I help you?”

A sob bursts out before I can say, “Yes. Please. I’m looking for Niall Walsh. It’s really important. Can you please tell him Jade Bell is calling?”

CHAPTER TWO

NIALL

It feels good to be part of a team again.

In the three years since I left the Army, that’s been the thing I missed most. I still keep in touch with my old teammates; we text and call and get together when we can, but it’s not the same.

For years, I saw the same six people on my Green Beret split team all the time. Not just when we were training at the base or on a mission overseas, but hanging out at one of our apartments or our favorite local bar during the rare times we were home.

As part of the ODA5131, or A-Team, we were sent on some of the most treacherous missions throughout the Middle East. And working together in those conditions for weeks at a time brought us together like nothing else could. I trusted my teammates with my life, and I would have gladly given mine for theirs.

They were more than just teammates. They were my sister and brothers.

So it was a blow to leave them; not to re-up when my contract expired. But they all understood I was needed more at home.

I don’t regret my decision, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss my team. So when a friend of mine from the Army—he was another Green Beret stationed at Fort Campbell, but discharged several years before me—asked me about helping him start up a second branch of his security company, I was interested right away.

It was back in March when Cole first called, saying he had a proposal for me. He wanted to expand his company, Blade and Arrow Security, to a second location. “We can’t take half the clients who contact us,” he explained, “and the demand for our pro-bono services just keeps growing. I hate turning down people who need us, but we simply can’t take them all.”

After three unrewarding years of working security for special events in Manhattan, I was aching to do something more meaningful. And I knew the types of pro-bono cases Cole was talking about—stalking cases, attempted abductions, people being blackmailed, and even a virtual attack that turned physically dangerous.

“It’s a ways from New York,” Cole continued, “and I know you have family here. But I’d like to start this branch in San Antonio. I’ve got a lot of contacts out there, which I think will be a benefit to us. To you, if you agree to join.”

We talked about his plan several more times over the next month, but I knew I wanted to go from that first conversation. My only worry was Shea.

But she pushed me to go as soon as I brought it up. She hugged me and said, “Niall. You’re an amazing brother, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you came home when I needed you. But I know how much you gave up. I’m okay now. Truly. Go to Texas. Do something you love again.”

After extracting sworn promises from Shea to call and text every week and to come visit as soon as I got settled, I gave Cole my answer.

And six months later, I’m here. At a newly renovated ranch thirty miles northwest of San Antonio. Working to complete the finishing touches on our new headquarters. Only weeks from officially opening the Blade and Arrow Bravo Team branch. Ready to start a new and exciting adventure with my new team.

Although they aren’t all new. I have Xavier and Rhiannon—two of my former Green Beret teammates—here with me.

And in fact, Xavier is literally here, running on the treadmill beside me. We’re getting in our daily workout in the newly constructed gym before starting another day of painting and putting together furniture using instructions that look like they’ve been written by an alien.

“Hey. Niall.” Xavier glances over at me, not looking the least bit tired after forty minutes of running. “I’m thinking I’ll work on putting together the conference room furniture after this. You want to help, or do you have something else planned?”

The program on my treadmill shifts to cooldown mode, and I slow my pace to match. “Sure, I can help. After painting the reception area yesterday, I wouldn’t mind doing something different.”

Xavier lifts his chin at me. “Nice. I should be done here in another half-hour, then shower and coffee, so maybe eight-ish?”

“Works for me.” I give him a quick nod in return. “Hopefully these instructions won’t be as bad as the bookshelves the other day.”

He snorts. “I thought Matt was going to lose it, and he’s the most patient guy I know.”

“I don’t know who writes those instructions. They don’t make any sense. And the diagrams…”

“AI, probably,” Xavier replies. “Companies are using it for everything these days. In fact?—”

“Niall.” It’s spoken urgently as Rhiannon comes jogging into the gym, her features tense with worry. As she nears me, I spot the phone clutched in her hand, her knuckles white around it.

My heart drops.

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