Page 3 of ELITE Protection
Isaac couldn’t lie under his friend’s scrutiny. “Yes, but I won’t be going there.” He hoped they both understood the double meaning of his words. He had no intention of returning to the hell he’d lived in before escaping into the Navy, nor would he be discussing his father, stepmother, and half-siblings with the two of them.
Just before his tenth birthday, his father had shown up on their large Montana ranch with a young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed bitch who treated Isaac like a house servant. She’d popped out three little girls before finally giving his father a second son during Isaac’s senior year in high school.
He was embarrassed at the seventeen-year difference. No teenage boy wanted to think of his parents still having sex while he was discovering the ecstasy of orgasms with girls. Some had accused Isaac of knocking up a girl he dated his entire junior year—whose family had moved away over the summer—claiming his father and step-mother were raising the baby as their own.
Just another reason to leave small-town life.
Isaac couldn’t wait to graduate and get the hell out of the Montana mountains.
But now he was back, temporarily, and working because he had a unique knowledge of the area.
Deep in his pocket, Isaac’s phone vibrated. Voicemail or email, either way, he knew it was from his office. Digging out his phone, he glanced at the email showing it had an attachment.
Holding up his phone, Isaac declared, “Sorry, guys, duty calls.”
All three men stood.
“We need to get back across the mountains,” Pete announced. “Take care of yourself. I understand we’re about to get dumped on.”
“Yeah, they’re calling for another three feet starting tomorrow afternoon.” Mark grabbed the jacket from the back of his chair and stuffed his arms down the sleeves.
“It’s been a while since you’ve lived in high country.” Pete slipped on his parka. “I know you went to cold-weather training like we all did, but you’ve been away from life in the snow for several years.”
Before he would allow the lecture he knew was coming, Isaac said, “I haven’t forgotten anything I learned growing up here.”
Pete nodded. “Stay safe.”
It had taken a few minutes for the three of them to pay their bills and say their final farewells. Isaac had just turned the key in the ignition when his phone rang. All the caller ID showed was Guardian Security.
“Isaac Snow,” he announced to the caller.
“Good afternoon, Isaac. This is Alex Wolf.”
Isaac sat up straighter in his seat. Although he’d met the owner and managing partner of Guardian Security once before, he was the last man Isaac expected on the other end of the line.
“Sir, what can I do for you?” Isaac couldn’t imagine what the man at the top of the multimillion-dollar company wanted.
“Have you had an opportunity to look at the files on Hannah Kader?”
Well, hell. He’d only received them about five minutes ago. “No, sir. I was not alone when I received the email, but I intend to study them once I am back in my hotel room.” And what a room it was. Guardian Security had arranged for a suite for him to stay in while at Big Sky. He’d never been in such a fancy hotel room in his life. The large living room had a wet bar tucked into one corner with crystal highball and wine glasses. It was separated from the bedroom by double doors. There was a full kitchen, not that Isaac was expected to cook because room service was available 24/7. The flatscreen TV was about the same size as his at home, huge by most standards, but he didn’t have a gas fireplace that turned on with a remote, or a jetted tub next to a shower big enough for three. To top it off, he could ski from the patio onto the slopes. He was living the luxurious life he’d only seen from a distance as a Montana rancher’s kid.
“Let me fill you in on what has happened since those reports were compiled.” Alex’s tone was direct and to the point.
Isaac wondered if the parents of the pampered princess were best friends with the owner of the company.
Deciding he needed to see the information sooner rather than later, Isaac headed toward the hotel.
“What do you know about Hannah Kader?” Alex asked.
“Absolutely nothing, except I’m here to protect her,” Isaac admitted. Then, to reassure his boss, he added, “But I will know everything in that file as soon as I get back to my room. Should her name ring a bell?”
Alex paused for a long minute before he answered. “No, but for some reason, ISIS wants her dead.”
CHAPTER2
Hannah Kader knewhe was headed her way a full minute before the tall man with the scraggly brown mustache and beard started up the sidewalk. Standing back several feet from the window, hiding in the shadows of the house, she focused the long camera lens. His skin tone was wrong to be Middle Eastern, but it wouldn’t be the first time ISIS had recruited an all-American-looking young man.
Click. Click.
