Page 51 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

“Of course. You’re all combat veterans, correct?”

Oliver nods. “Most of us, yes. We hire outside the military as well, particularly from law enforcement and other federal agencies, provided they have some field-related training. We’ve also trained a few green employees ourselves.”

“That sounds fantastic,” Kara says, smiling appreciatively. There’s not a hair out of place on this woman and her calmness unnerves me. There’s a hint of the psychopath somewhere beneath that pristine surface. “I brought a couple of my own men from Chicago to accompany me for the trip, but they’re not familiar with the area, the terrain, or the people. I’m hoping your agency can provide me with some local muscle. Once we have that worked out, my men will head back home.”

“Can I ask why they need to be local?” I inquire. “We can provide them, of course, but the more you tell us about your intentions, the better service we can provide.”

She takes a deep breath and leans back into her chair. “I need people who can take me away from danger, no matter where the danger finds us,” she says, “people who know a safe spot nearby where if an incident were to occur, they could get me to safety quickly. My boys wouldn’t be able to do that in unfamiliar territory. The last thing I want is to get lost while fleeing for my life.”

“You expect it to be that bad?” Oliver inquires.

Tori gives him a nudge under the table. Kara spots it and laughs lightly.

“It could get that bad, yes. I like to prepare for any possibility and/or worst-case scenario. Besides, I need locals for more personal reasons as well, not just my physical safety and business endeavors.”

“The more you tell us, Kara, the better we can tailor our security package for you,” I say.

She gives me a long, drilling look and, for a brief second, I feel a tingling sensation in the back of my neck as if Kara Konstantinova has somehow figured out a way to scan my brain and read my thoughts.

It’s not a feeling I enjoy. It makes me feel vulnerable.

“I’m looking for someone,” Kara says, “someone whom I need alive.”

“We can provide investigative support,” I say. “What is this about?”

“A family member. I cannot give you all the details at this point as I’m still trying to ascertain a possible location and a way to reach them before somebody else does. Let’s just say I’m going off the books here. I must be able to rely on your discretion.”

Tori nods vehemently. “Ma’am, I can assure you, discretion is at the forefront of our principles as an agency. We sign iron-clad NDAs with each of our employees, contractors, collaborators, and clients.”

“Good. As I’ve already mentioned, I will require a crew to escort me around Boulder and a couple of other locations. A dozen men should do, though, if I were you, I’d keep a backup crew to jump in at a moment’s notice,” she says, never taking her eyes off me. “Your men must understand that they could lose their lives in the process.”

“Is there a mob war coming?” Oliver asks.

He’s trying to sound as unimpressed as possible, and I totally get his nonchalant angle, but I think we both know that Kara Konstantinova is one of our highest-paying—and highest-risk clients—to date.

“There might be if your men fail to protect me,” she responds with zero emotion.

“We’ll need to do a risk assessment,” I cut in. “My colleague Tori will go through that with you after you sign the prospective NDA. Then, once I’m satisfied that we’ve gathered all the appropriate details—including a brief history of incidents you’ve dealt with over the past three to six years—I’ll personally handpick your team: a dozen agents, and another dozen on standby, always at the ready.”

Kara seems pleased with my conclusion. She glances around the table, measuring each of us carefully before she goes on to analyze the rest of the conference room.

“Where are you gentlemen living these days?” she asks almost out of the blue.

“Why do you want to know?” Oliver replies cautiously.

“I’m curious. Word on the wire has you among the most powerful men in the private security sector, yet you moved your central operations here to Boulder. The rumor mill says you have taken up residence elsewhere in a very remote small town. I’m trying to understand why.”

“Boulder is less conspicuous,” I begin. “Our staff enjoyed the move, especially since there are so many places to go for training and leisure. The Rockies aren’t just for sightseeing, Kara. They’re an optimal training ground for a number of specializations within our agency. Once they’re prepped, our agents can handle any environment across the country and even abroad.”

“We also wanted the peace, quiet, and anonymity that the big city couldn’t offer,” Oliver adds.

“That’s fascinating,” Kara says. “I’d never leave Chicago for a smaller world.”

“I said the same thing until I moved,” I reply, smiling. “You’d be surprised by how easily we were able to leave it all behind, how eager we became to let it all go for the sake of peace and quiet.”

Kara nods slowly. “So, I’ll ask again, where do you live now?”

“A small town on the north side of the Rockies.” It’s a lie, but I know there’s an ulterior motive for her line of questioning. I’mnot about to disclose our personal residence to her, not even if she offers to pay triple the usual fee.

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