Page 26 of Single Mom's Undoing
I follow her gaze to where Damon and Jace are delivering their onboarding speech to a line of new recruits. I know every word that’s coming out of their mouths. I can only hope the candidates register everything that is being said and are able to rise to our level of excellence.
“We worked hard to build this place and to be able to deliver the services we provide,” I tell Clara. “We expect a high level of distinction from our recruits.”
“Private security, right? Like glorified bodyguards?”
I can’t help but smile. It’s her way of teasing. Her gaze is warm as she looks at me, but there’s a subtle coolness in her voice, an attempt to keep her distance.
The push.
“Glorified bodyguards for some, ethically sound mercenaries for others,” I reply. “We’re recruiting from the VA’s rosters, mostly men and women who don’t want to wage wars in the interests of others anymore, but who still feel like they would be able to make a difference, to protect and defend.”
“What kind of difference are we talking about here?”
“We tend to avoid crossing paths with the government, though we do have contracts with them, albeit of a more covert nature; intelligence experts, analysts, that sort of thing. Jace helped us bring our portfolio into a balance thatallows us to steer clear of most potential conflicts of interest.”
“It’s all a game played in the shadows, isn’t it?” Clara shakes her head slowly.
I nod in agreement. “But it matters if you know how to play it right. And that’s what our recruits must understand. We’re not sending them to force democracy down anybody’s throat. We’re not sending them to kill innocent people either. Most of our missions revolve around protecting key figures on the world’s political stage.
“In some cases, those key figures also happen to be highly valued by the CIA, so we get a bit more access to otherwise unattainable intelligence in order to keep our targets safe,” I add. “In other cases, our clients are hunted by guerillas and violent militia leaders in parts of the globe where we don’t have easy access. In those particular cases, we have to fly under the radar. Yet in other scenarios, we simply send crews in to protect specific locations or people at the behest of the ridiculously rich and well-connected.”
“Do you like what you do?” Clara asks.
“I do. Very much. We handpick our clients and assignments. We reject those that do not align with our ethos. It may cost us a bit in the short term, but we’ve built a strong reputation over the past couple of years. We’re attracting the right kind of people now, mostly human rights and green energy advocates who pissed off the establishment in their countries.”
“The world is quickly changing, isn’t it?” she mumbles, gazing out the window.
I move close enough to catch a whiff of her floral perfume. “Change doesn’t come with songs and white flags, though.Unfortunately, there’s a less savory part, as much as we despise violence.”
“Does that strategy work?”
“For the most part.”
“And when it doesn’t?”
I take another step toward her. Clara turns around just in time to see me coming. She holds her breath, eyes wide with anticipation, lips parted, waiting, perhaps hoping.
“When it doesn’t, we bring in the big guns, the weathered soldiers, those of us who are able to get the greater point across. That strategy always works, whether we like it or not. Fortunately, we’ve only had to resort to such extreme measures a handful of times over the years.”
“And now, you’re expanding,” Clara replies.
“We are. More and more veterans have seen what we do and how we do it. Many of them are interested in adding value to their lives and their service to this country. What we do isn’t as hardcore or as intense as regular military service.”
“What are you doing?” Clara asks as she sees my hand slowly come up, reaching for her warm pink cheek.
I smile. “Nothing.”
“I disagree.”
“Am I not allowed to touch you, Clara?” She pulls back, a frown shadowing her features.
“I told you and Damon that what happened that night can’t happen again, and certainly not here. I came here, Carter, to work. Not to?—”
Before she can finish, I catch her by the back of the neck and pull her to me. She gasps and stills, yet she doesn’t pull away. I can almost hear her frantic heart beats echoing mine.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep things professional while we’re out here,” I whisper in her ear, nibbling on her lobe for good measure. She shudders, and I know I’ve got her right where I want her, right where she truly wants to be.
“Carter, we can’t do this.”
