Chantal escorted the elderly gentleman out of the treatment room and directed him to the exit. Happy with the spinal adjustment, he pressed his palms together and bowed. Chantal did the same.
“He’s here!” Alexis called from down the passage. “Sunil is outside.”
“You saw Sunny?” Chantal turned to the excited blonde, her spirits rising.
“He’s waiting in line. He has to be in pain to turn up now.”
“Is his sister with him?”
Alexis shook her head as they both headed for the front door. Wyatt and Dishan fell in from behind once they saw where the women were heading. Chantal pushed open the doors and followed the line of patrons alongside the building. She hated that patients had to wait for treatment and wished that they had additional staff. Although, the center had more therapists than ever before—there was still such a great need.
“Whoa!” Gage moved to her side. “Where are you going?”
“Not far.” Chantal turned her back on the large operator and scanned the line, hoping Sunny hadn’t pulled another disappearing act.
Alexis nudged and pointed near the door, at a skinny kid leaning against the wall. Damn, the fourteen-year-old had lost weight since they’d last seen him. Last she’d heard, the kid worked in a sweatshop as a sewing machine operator, earning only a hundred dollars a month.
“You’re exposed out here.” Gage touched her arm and Chantal tamped down on irritation.
“Leave me alone—I’m doing my job.” Feeling claustrophobic, Chantal stepped away from her generous security detail. Sunny had spotted them, and looked like he’d bolt. Damn, Chantal couldn’t lose the teenager again.
“Dishan, send your team inside,” She ordered.
“The hell he will.” Gage bit out the words.
“You’re getting in my way—I need to talk to a patient. Thanks to PTSD, he’s not comfortable around guns and soldiers. I need you to back off.”
“Not gonna happen.” Gage widened his stance as two of his MSD teammates walked over. “I’m anchored to your side.”
Wyatt agreed and her local team scanned their surroundings.
“Anchor your cocky ass ten feet away. You’re getting on my last nerve.” Chantal shoved past and pasted on a reassuring smile as she approached Sunny. He’d pushed off the wall and now watched her entourage like they were vipers about to strike. She’d love to shepherd him inside, but the rest of the patients would protest if he jumped the line.
“Sunny, it’s good to see you. Is the prosthesis giving you problems?”
He didn’t answer, just watched Gage’s team behind her.
“Where’s your sister today?”
“Safe. With a friend.”
“Good.”
Sunny pointed at his leg. “Doctor, I need more of the…” He searched for the right word.
“Chafe ointment? Do you have blisters?”
Sunny nodded. “I can’t wait long. I need to get back.”
Chantal knew he’d traveled a long way, but needed to talk to him in her office. There were seven patients ahead of Sunny and Chantal hoped that he’d stay.
“Chantal. A moment?” Gage moved into her line of sight and Sunny tensed.
Goddammit.
“I’ll see you in a minute.” She smiled at the wary kid and stepped away.
Gage’s body heat felt intimate as his arm brushed hers. “I’ve noted two suspicious vehicles doing drive-bys. We’re not comfortable with you milling around on the street.”
“And I’m not comfortable with your interference.” Chantal marched back to the reception area. “I’ve been waiting for months to see that child. He’s an orphan who’s trying to take care of his little sister. A church bombing killed his parents and took his leg when he was just seven.”
“Your safety comes first.” Gage pushed open the door and allowed her through.
“My patients come first.” Chantal headed for the desk and grabbed the next file.
“Look, all I’m asking—”
Reaching her limit, Chantal swung around to face her tough nemesis. “Don’t interfere with my job. I won’t ignore a patient for the sake of security and if you’re concerned about cagey vehicles in the vicinity, then work harder. That’s your mission, not mine.” He stood too close and she had to look up to glare into his harsh face.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “There’s a difference between loitering on the street and being minimally exposed when we walk you to a vehicle. We briefed you this morning on what to expect and how to be a cooperating principal.”
Gage was correct. They’d even run through scenarios if the clinic were attacked.
“Let me make this clear.” He pinned her with a flat stare. “Your clinic is under surveillance by unknown targets. We’ve spotted a cell of informants—a large cell. What would we prefer if we’re attacked?”
Chantal rolled her eyes and looked away.
“What do we prefer?”
“A defensible space.” She ground out between tight lips.
“Is that busy street an ideal location for a showdown?”
Chantal shook her head.
“I’d love to have a happy principal all of the time, but that doesn’t always equate to a safe principal.”
“What if I gave you a thirty-minute heads-up next time I exit the building?”
Gage grinned. “Not ideal, but sure. You can ask…”
“And you’d say no.”
He shrugged and stepped back. “Carry on… you have that lunch date to worry about.”
Shooting him a glare, Chantal headed for a treatment room. Gage took up too much space—both in her clinic and in her head. What an arrogant jackass… with that confident swagger. Acting all tough in his MSD gear which looked to be heavy. The bullet-proof vest alone looked like it weighed a ton. Chantal wondered when last he’d had a spinal adjustment. It helped that he was in peak physical condition. Shoving aside thoughts of MSD agents, Chantal focused on her next patient, hoping to soon see Sunny and to make a difference in his young life.
Chantal didn’t have much time. After his therapy session, Sunny slid into the seat and looked around the office. Alexis sat nearby and offered him a reassuring smile.“Thank you, Miss Chantal. My leg feels better.” He clutched the jar of lotion on his lap as he stretched out his sore thigh. The amputation was just above the knee and Chantal hated seeing those blisters from the prosthetic rub. He needed a better artificial limb.He needed everything she hoped she could give him. His worn clothes looked gray and hung off his thin frame. A bruised cheek spoke of a rough life on the streets. He mentioned recently finding accommodation in a hostel, but worried about his sister’s safety.“You look tired, Sunny. How many hours do you work?”He shrugged a thin shoulder. “Too many. I won’t go back to that orphanage. They tried to take my sister away—spli
Fredrik raised his brows at the two large men at the adjacent table. “Do they have to sit on top of us?”Chantal wondered the same thing and forced a smile. Gage insisted on practically sitting by her side and watched Fredrik like he was the Unabomber. Unlike Chantal, her date didn’t seem fazed and flashed a white grin. Fredrik certainly didn’t lack in confidence and wore a well put together suit, which made her feel underdressed in a white t-shirt and jeans. In her defense, she’d added a black blazer, gold earrings, and applied careful make-up that morning. They sat in a fancy Indian restaurant—Chantal had hoped for a casual lunch at a beach café, needing to get back to work. She wondered how Sunny had settled in and took a slow breath to slow her racing heart. The agent beside her flustered her composure which rarely happened. Getting used to her large protective detail was proving to be a big challenge. Perhaps
That evening, Chantal saw to her mom. After massaging the tight muscles behind her mother’s scapula, and shoulder, Chantal walked to the quiet kitchen and made herself a jelly sandwich. After pouring a glass of milk, she walked over to her small residence. Chantal needed privacy and when they’d first moved into the Jefferson House, she’d been pleased to see the small cottage tucked at the back of the yard. Choosing the quaint lodgings over an elaborate bedroom in the main house, was first met with resistance from her mother. But, as much as Chantal loved helping her mother out, at twenty-eight years old, she needed her own space. Many nights, her mom turned clingy, especially when the nightmares came. She’d call and wake Chantal, asking her to come to her room. Chantal would then doze in a chair as her mother either paced restlessly or rambled on about politics.As she walked past the pool, Chantal glanced at the inviting water, and decided to eat her
The rain drummed against the rehab center’s windows, indicating that the southwest monsoon hadn’t yet finished its five-month deluge. Chantal stepped around Alexis, who swiped at a dirty patch with a balding mop. They’d need a new supply after the long rainy season. The muddy parking lot caused issues. Dishan and some of her loitering guards helped to replace an elderly patient’s flat tire in the sludge. Lucius and Kohen escorted a drunk panhandler out of the center, and his shouts grew faint as they walked him down the street. Pausing to straighten a picture frame on the wall, Chantal scanned the packed waiting room. Forgetting about Gage turned out to be an impossible challenge, especially when he knelt to play with a toddler in the corner. The warrior’s shoulder flexed as he reached back to ensure that his weapon sat out of reach, and Chantal paused to stare at his amiable expression as he handed the girl a packet of gummies. God, Gage was good
This was the worst day of his career. The first time that a principal under his watch had gotten hurt. Gage didn’t care about the implications of his vocational fuck-up. All that mattered was Chantal—an individual who he cared for. An innocent woman cornered by a savage hireling.When he’d turned and seen her on the ground, shattered and hurt…Gage wiped a hand over his face as he pieced together what happened. He sat by Chantal’s side in a sectioned off area of the emergency room. She wouldn’t let go of his hand and knowing it might get him into trouble, he still held on. He’d removed his helmet and ran his other hand through his hair.At some point, he’d need to let go and step back. Slip back into an MSD team leader mode. But she wouldn’t allow anyone else near her. And damn, if he didn’t feel as possessive as all hell. Gage should shut down t
Jona walked by the waiting room and smiled at Gage’s raised voice. Team Five had been kicked to the curb and the men looked pissed. The sun had dropped from the sky by the time Jona stepped out onto the rough pavement.Rajin Bandara had made his move. An aggressive and risky move that should make the daughter’s killing a little easier. Easier did not necessarily mean quicker. Twelve years was a long time to stew over a job, and Jona wanted the satisfaction of a personal and drawn-out kill. Would that happen? Anger from that fucked-up day slowly turned to bitterness. Cheated out of the right goodbye with Papa, had Jona blaming the targets. It should have been a glorious win, and Jona should have had the guts to go to the killing grounds alone. It was all about timing and drawing out their demise. Never again would Jona fail on the job. A partnership would result in the required carnage necessary for payback. Rajin hid from the world, but Jona kne
“You can’t squat inside like a caged animal. Come with us to the beach—night swimming.” Kohen tapped Gage on the back. “By the way, you look like shit.”He felt like shit. Gage ignored the medic and focused on the screen. Shifting the laptop away from the prick, he scanned the article looking for seeds of intel on Chantal’s father. By all accounts, the man had been a generous philanthropist who’d raced around the globe helping disadvantaged communities. Henri Durant made his money as a shipping magnate, not a whisper of controversy surrounding his livelihood or charity pursuits.Gage stretched. The dining chair felt as uncomfortable as all hell. “Where did I put that photo of the asshole?”“You mean on this bird’s nest you’ve weaved?” Gannon shifted a pile of papers, and Gage scowled.“I know where
“Don’t shoot!” Hands raised, Alexis emerged through the beams of sunlight and shadow. She looked as tired as Gage felt. Dried blood coated the side of Alexis’s face, and her hands trembled as she stepped around darkened foliage. Her mud-caked clothing looked stiff and damp.Stepping over a gnarled root, Chantal moved to her friend, and Gage blocked her with his broad frame.“What are you doing? Lower the gun.”“She may not be alone—this could be a trap.”“I haven’t been kidnapped,” Alexis called. “I’m just relieved to see you both. I’ve felt disorientated since being dragged down the hillside in a wall of mud.”“The landslide got you too?” Gage asked.“Yeah! I shouldn’t have gone ahead. I heard your shout and it was too late. How many were swept down the hill?”Gage lowered his weapon, and Chantal hurried over