Page 22 of Guarding Bristol

Both men stood.Beckett offered his hand.“TJ.Thanks for coming out.”

“No problem.”He shook with him, then with the other man across the table.

“I’m Mac,” the second guy told him in a clear Scottish accent.

TJ nodded, set his ruck on the floor, and took the padded bench seat across from them.Even though having his back to the rest of the room made his spine tingle with unease.Combat and needing to stay vigilant on the street left an indelible mark.He liked being able to see what was coming at him.

“You want anything else to drink before we get started?”Beckett said.

“No, the water’s good.”There were already three glasses of it on the table.

Beckett rested his forearms on the scarred, dark wood table and started the conversation.“So, I hear you served with Bristol’s brother.You and her close?”

“No.”

Surprise flickered in the other man’s deep brown eyes.“Really.She’s been so insistent about me meeting you, I thought you guys must be friends.”

TJ shook his head.“I met her for the first time when she showed up at the jobsite in Portland on Saturday.”

Beckett exchanged a puzzled glance with Mac before looking back at him.“You were a Ranger?”

He nodded.

“I was Army too.”

He was being modest.TJ had done some research.Beckett had been Special Forces.And an A-Team leader at that.“I heard.”

“Mac served with the Royal Marines.We try to hire veterans exclusively when we can.”

He nodded again, not knowing what else to say.

“Honestly, given what Bristol told me about your background, I was surprised you were interested in interviewing for our company.Crimson Point Security might be a better fit for you.”

He appreciated Beckett’s honesty.“I prefer construction.”His background made getting security clearances messy.

“Why’s that?”

He lifted a shoulder.“I like physical work, being able to do my shift and then be off the clock.”It gave him time for his other...pursuits.

“Fair enough.”Beckett paused.“There’s just one thing that’s bothering me.”

He held Beckett’s gaze, braced himself for what he already knew was coming.“What’s that?”

“We did a standard, preliminary background check on the name listed on your paperwork with the construction firm in Portland.Barros.”Beckett’s gaze was unwavering.“It didn’t turn up any work history.”

He’d been ready for this since agreeing to the meeting.“No.I got paid under the table when I worked.And I moved around a lot.”They knew he was homeless.He didn’t need to spell it out.

“Is TJ a new identity?”

“I needed a fresh start after I left the military.So I officially changed my name to Tiago Joaquin.TJ for short.”

Beckett seemed to weigh that for a long moment.TJ glanced between him and Mac before continuing.“I don’t have a criminal record.And I received an honorable discharge when I left the service.”

“Under what name?”

“Tomás Cordoba.”

Mac nodded and jotted it down.“Got it.Though Bristol’s already vouched for you, of course.”He looked up at him.“We’ve hired plenty of lads with black marks in their pasts.But we’d rather know ahead of time if there are any surprises we should be aware of.”

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