Page 57 of Broken (Powertools: The Shields 4)

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Karolena’s gaze darted around the lobby of the Shields Security Services lobby as she waited for the office manager to collect her for her interview. When she’d spoken to him on the phone he’d seemed friendly and easy going, chipper, and entirely non-threatening. However as she sat, crossing and recrossing her legs, back straight, trying not to fidget with the hem of the black skirt she’d picked up from a thrift store nearby, a gaggle of colossal men and intense women crisscrossed the space.

Maybe this had been a horrible idea.

The hairs on her arms stood on end and her survival instincts went on high alert being near so many folks that reminded her of Vladimir’s men. Unofficial soldiers. People who made their own rules and enforced them by whatever means necessary. She knew their type too damn well.

Karolena flipped her long platinum hair over her shoulder and clutched the folder keeping her resume wrinkle-free. She needed this job. One she could actually do with her very limited skill set. Plus it came with a place to stay. A very convenient spot to hide.

Besides, there were some differences between the cold mercenaries she’d grown up around and the Shields. Laughter rang down the hallway. People actually looked her in the eye and said hello when they discovered her perched on the chair in the high-traffic area. One man—the one with red hair who wore a kilt of all things, which showed off legs sexier than a man had a right to—had even held the door for her. Not because of how powerful her ex was, but because he had at least some manners. When she’d thanked him, he’d grinned and said you’re welcome with an accent that outstripped even his legs.

Karolena should have turned around and left right then.

Especially since the giant, dark-haired guy right behind him had grinned and elbowed the Scottish door-holder as if he had noticed his colleague lingering too long, as she had herself. The very last thing she needed in her life was more complications or love affairs with dangerous men.

Look how that had worked out. Not that she’d exactly had a choice when it came to Vladimir. After her father had essentially traded her to the kingpin in exchange for his own life, it wasn’t like she could tell Vladimir to fuck off in the years that had followed.

She swallowed hard, debating bolting. But what options did she have?

Exactly none.

A man with sandy hair and a compact build practically skipped out of an office wearing a neon-yellow polo, matching sneakers, and a pair of extraordinarily well-tailored, if ass-and-bulge-hugging trousers. He was nothing like the rest of them, thank God. “Karolena? I’m James.”

He held out his hand to her as she stood and didn’t try to win a pissing match or intimidate her with the crush of his fingers when they shook. Her nerves settled some as he ushered her into a quieter space filled with pictures of a group of nine people that most often featured him at their center.

“Have a seat. So sorry to keep you waiting. As you can see, everyone’s running around last minute getting ready for the party that’s about to start. I probably should have had you come in tomorrow instead of squeezing in your interview at the end of the day, but…I’m not going to lie…I’m kind of desperate to find someone to help us out.”

Well, that made two of them. “It’s no trouble at all. Thank you for inviting me to speak to you about the position.”

James grinned and waved her off. “It’s okay to relax. We’re not especially formal around here and whoever we bring onboard will pretty much end up as part of our family. Since we all live and work here, and it’s literally our job to find stuff out about people…well, our professional boundaries aren’t very clear. How does that make you feel?”

Horrified. Karolena schooled her expression, though. If she could smile politely at public functions after being mistreated in private, lying to the man she was determined to turn into her boss was no trouble at all. She would have to be careful to keep them from discovering too much about her past. How hard could that be?

“It’s fine.” She shrugged. “I tend to keep to myself. So other than making sure this place is spotless—which seems like plenty to occupy me—you won’t have to worry about me getting tangled up with anyone.”

Karolena got the feeling that her answers were much less important than whatever vibe James was trying to pick up from her as he studied her a little too intently for her own comfort. He surprised her when he asked, “You know this is a shitty job, right? There’s a lot of us and we’re often distracted by important stuff. The whole reason I’m hiring someone is because they’re driving me nuts with how sloppy they are. They don’t mean to be gross, but they have other priorities and you’re going to have to put up with what I can’t stand anymore.”

She chuckled at his bluntness. Karolena couldn’t accuse him of being dishonest or sugarcoating things, and somehow that made her feel much better. She shrugged one shoulder. “One man’s trash is another woman’s employment.”

When James simply sat and let the silence linger, she filled it in with a hint of her own truth. “You’ve seen my resume. It’s sparse. I never went to college. Don’t have any experience. But I want to stand on my own and that means working my way up from the very bottom. If you give me this job, I will do my best to make sure you never trip over another dirty towel in the gym you said is onsite or have to deal with stacks of pizza boxes like that enormous one I spied outside the kitchen doorway.”

“They eat so fucking much.” James rubbed his temples.

As if on cue, a box van with the logo of the restaurant and pastry shop down the street pulled into the lot outside James’s office window. Tables were set up in the grass, draped with cheery cloths and covered by white tents. It looked like children’s games were off to one corner and there were enough folding chairs scattered around to accommodate at least fifty people.

“I’m sorry, I’m going to have to cut our talk short.” James looked over his shoulder at the chaos unfolding around the picturesque pond out back.

Karolena frowned. She’d hoped to lock this in. “What can I do to convince you I’m the right person for this position?”

“Oh, I’m already sold.” James beamed at her as he turned around. “You had me at hard work and low drama. And being unafraid of these assholes and their mess. Besides, you were the only person who applied. The job is yours if you’re sure you want it.”

Karolena couldn’t help it. She grinned right back at him. It had been so long since she’d had reason to do that, the motion felt rusty but she didn’t care.

After all, surrounding herself with a gaggle of security goons might be the only way to keep herself safe. For the first time in a long time, Karolena took a deep breath. She stuck out her hand and shook James’s once more. “I’ll take it.

“Great. When can you start?” James leaned in. “If you want, you’re welcome to join us for the party. It’s kind of a big night here. We received a commission from a very large job we completed recently and everyone made it through in one piece. There’s going to be food, and music by our own resident band, and even fireworks later. Afterward…well…you can just keep staying. Your apartment is emptied of personal belongings but furnished as the position description said, since one of our female agents decided to move in with her boyfriends.”

“Boyfriends?” Had she heard wrong?

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