ELITE Redemption: Guardian Elite

By KaLyn Cooper

Have they set her up to fail as the first female field agent at Guardian Security's New York City Center?

 

Ryleigh Davenport was trained in SpecOps, equally as qualified as any man who works for Guardian Security. Her first job—guarding a billionaire and his wife on a fix-it or forget-it vacation, at a highly exclusive resort on a remote tropical island—was exactly why Alex had hired her. Had the NYC Center manager purposely partnered her with her former lover?

 

Blake Albright was shocked when introduced to Guardian Security's newest employee. Stationed together in the desert, they'd been lovers until the night she disappeared without a trace…or a word.

 

Will they be able to work together in paradise while protecting the CEO and his wife when threats turn into murder attempts?

 

ELITE Redemption is Guardian ELITE book #1 that includes characters from KaLyn Cooper's popular Black Swan series.

Buy this high-action, second chance, contemporary military romance today.

 

Note: This book was previously published as Double Jeopardy. It has been deeply edited and expanded to become part of KaLyn Cooper's rebranded Guardian ELITE series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Swan Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Mar 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201623357

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper is a USA Today Bestselling author whose romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense. Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she's not writing, she's at the shooting range or on the river. www.KaLynCooper.com 

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I wouldn’t mind protecting that client...very personally. Blake Albright glanced across the busy room filled with powerfully toned men at every workstation, to the curvy woman in a navy business suit with her back to them. She tossed long brunette hair over one shoulder as she looked away from his boss to the company’s managing partner, Alex Wolf, obviously answering the man’s question. For the manager of the Guardian Security New York City Center to give a private tour to a client was a bit unusual, but for an owner of the corporation to be involved meant this curvaceous woman was someone extremely important.

There was something familiar about the way she shifted her stance that stirred an old memory, although Blake couldn’t place it. She was most likely some movie star, or the pampered wife of a CEO he’d seen at one of the many social events he’d attended as a bodyguard. She’d gain the attention of any red-blooded man and Blake was all man.

When his cock twitched it surprised him. That never happened at work or while on the job. He paused to remember his most recent date. Okay, in truth, when he’d last gotten laid. Nancy. No. He’d scraped her off the minute she started talking about babies. Shit. That was almost a year ago. He’d had several hookups since then and before he’d been promoted to assistant manager. One, he’d dated a couple of times; supper and her for dessert. What the hell was her name? He thought of her as candy because she had the sweetest⁠—

You haven’t heard? Garrett Diehl looked at him with incredulity written all over his cocoa face. She’s not a new client; she’s a new team member.

What the fuck? Guardian Security, Inc. didn’t have any women employees, not in a single one in the ten offices across the U.S.A. Although the company was partially owned by Katlin Callahan, she was a silent partner when it came to managing the business. What is she going to do here? We certainly don’t need a receptionist or secretary.

Garrett raised an eyebrow. Sexist much?

Blake chuckled. I can see it now. That little slip of a woman trying to protect a six-foot two, two-hundred thirty-pound CEO. Yeah, right. She could blend in as arm candy and act as backup for his real bodyguards. What’s she really gonna be doing here?

You really are a sexist ass, aren’t you? I wouldn’t talk that way around Ms. Callahan if I were you. She’d kick your ass from here into tomorrow. Garrett nodded toward the conference room than his slow grin preceded Blake’s greatest fear. She’ll be working the field.

No fucking way. Blake glanced through the glass walls of the small conference room. As she sat down, her dark brown hair curtained her profile. Once situated, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear revealing delicate facial features.

An angelic face he’d looked into many times as she’d screamed his name in ecstasy.

Pain shot to his stomach as though Garrett had punched him in the gut.

No fucking way. This time, Blake’s repeated words were a whisper.

As though she’d heard him, she looked directly at Blake with eyes so hard he almost took a step back. Her solid gaze was so similar to that of every man in management at Guardian Security, a steel forged on battlefields half a world away. She gave him a barely perceptible shake of her head, a warning, like those passed between them four years ago when they had to keep their budding relationship away from the eyes of senior Army officers.

It was obvious that standard operating procedure was going to continue at this job, as well. Blake wondered if they might pick up where they’d left off, but then anger rose within him as he remembered returning to base camp and finding her gone. No note. No voicemail on his phone. Not a single fucking word. To make matters worse, no one would tell him where she’d been transferred. She had simply disappeared, taking a piece of his heart with her.

Her gaze flicked to Alex. The smile she gave him was genuine and reached her crystalline amber eyes. He’d seen those eyes turn molten gold when she was aroused. He longed for those days. Not for the 115-degree weather and one-hundred-pound pack he carried on every mission his Special Forces team was sent on, but for the hours he and Ryleigh had spent together. Not just in bed, although the sex had been absolutely fantastic, Blake enjoyed being around her.

Sometimes they would find a quiet place in camp and simply read while sitting side-by-side.

He smirked. She’d downloaded hundreds of romance novels onto her tablet knowing full well those books were banned in Afghanistan. The defiant rebel attitude was one of many things that had attracted him to her.

Merely being close to her seemed to soothe him in a way he’d never found with any other woman. Discovering that kind of inner peace was a miracle in the midst of a war. She’d grounded him.

And then she’d disappeared.

Now, she was thirty feet away, and it looked like the New York City office of Guardian Security would be the guinea pig for adding women into its ranks. With all the women in the world, why did it have to be her? This time the situation was considerably different. Overseas, they had worked for different commands. Although they had both been captains at the time, fraternization in theater was prohibited. Unless Alex was going to make her an assistant manager—which Blake highly doubted since he, Garrett, and Clay filled those three slots—Ryleigh would be working for him this time.

The company’s human resources manual didn’t address workplace relationships because it hadn’t been necessary. Besides, Alex couldn’t be hypocritical given his relationship with Ms. Callahan. If rumors were to be believed—and the men at all ten guardian centers knew each other so well they gossiped like old neighbor ladies over a fence—Alex and Katlin practically lived together when she was in the states.

Movement from the conference room caught his eye when everyone stood. As they started to exit, Wyatt signaled for Blake and Garrett to join them.

Pretty little thing, Garrett murmured just above a whisper as they crossed through the low hum of deep voices and the clicking of computer keys.

Blake scanned the room, checking the reaction of the other men. Several slid furtive glances toward the threesome in the conference room but their attention quickly returned to their work. They had no idea that the woman from his past was about to invade their testosterone-rich environment.

Blake. Garrett. Alex shook hands with each man. I’d like you to meet Ryleigh Davenport, your newest team member.

With a pasted-on smile—that was more a baring of gritted teeth—Blake held out his hand and forced the single word, Welcome. Oh, he had so much more to say to this woman. Now was not the time, nor was this the place.

As though they were strangers, she took his hand in a brief shake, but gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go.

What the hell did that mean? Nice to see you again? Thanks for not revealing our past? Great to see you? Meet me later for make-up sex?

Their eyes caught for a millisecond before she moved on.

Nice to meet you, Ryleigh Davenport. Garrett laid on the Southern charm as thick as the peanut butter made in his home state of Georgia. He continued to hold her hand in his huge one as he gushed, I look forward to working with you. Have you been to New York before? I’d be happy to show you the city.

What the hell was his co-worker up to? He had no right to flirt with her. She was Blake’s woman. Or at least she had been.

Ryleigh smiled up at the man who used to be a wide receiver for Georgia Tech before joining the Navy and becoming a SEAL. I’d like that. I’ve spent most of my life on the west coast and although I’ve flown through New York a few times, I’ve only seen the sites from a plane.

Wyatt, the center’s manager, stepped closer to her, and lifted his hand toward the small of her back, as though to guide her away. The unconscious gesture sent a thin stream of green through Blake’s pounding heart. His boss obviously thought better of the move and snapped his hand away. We’ll see to it you get a complete tour, immediately. It’s important that you know the city like a local.

Ryleigh deftly slid her hand from Garrett’s, her smile never faltering. Thank you. That would be fantastic.

How about you settle into your apartment upstairs while Alex and I finish the center’s review, Wyatt suggested. He turned his attention to Blake. Will you help Ryleigh get her gear to her room? You can meet us at the range in thirty minutes for the weekly training session.

Yes, sir. Blake’s right hand twitched to salute, but he caught it before he made a fool of himself. He’d left all that behind when he got out of the Army two years ago. Everyone who worked for Guardian Security was former military, most from the special operations field, but the company wasn’t regimented. Everyone respected the chain of command, but no one saluted. Sir was expected and given.

Even though I don’t actually start until tomorrow, I’d like to join you at the range if I may. Ryleigh looked first at Wyatt then glanced to Alex for permission.

Fine by me, Wyatt said with a smile. Blake will wait for you while you change. Uniforms are hanging in your closet. On your way down from the apartment floor, Blake can give you a tour of the building.

I’d be happy to, Blake replied. At least they’d have a benign subject to discuss. He looked to Ryleigh. Where are your suitcases?

Still in the car. She strode out the conference door toward the elevator, exuding confidence in every step.

Blake followed her to the subterranean parking level, neither saying a word in the elevator. She seemed to know their Operations Center monitored every square inch of the building with both audio and visual except the private apartments and community bathrooms.

After opening the rear door to the Guardian SUV, Ryleigh leaned in and started handing out duffel bags. Just above a whisper she said, I had no idea you worked here. I wouldn’t have accepted the job had I known.

Well, I do. Blake took a heavy bag from her and set it on the concrete floor. He could smell her light perfume and a scent that he would always know as Ryleigh. His cock stiffened in reaction. Damn it. He couldn’t walk around with a hard on for their new employee. He had to tread lightly here before he got fired for sexual harassment, or the company got fined for mistreating women. He suddenly remembered his management position. This time I’m your boss.

Ryleigh flipped her head around to look at him over her shoulder. I was told Wyatt is the manager.

He is. Blake stifled a grin at her look of bafflement. It wasn’t often he’d seen Ryleigh confused. I’m one of the three assistant managers. Guardian Security has to be manned twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week which requires all four of us.

She turned away and grabbed the next bag. As soon as I can, I’ll apply for a transfer to one of the other locations, she said quietly, her words muffled inside the SUV. Hopefully no one in the Ops Center was listening to them.

Transfer? No. That wouldn’t work. She was the first woman in the company, and it would look as though the men in the New York City office ran her off. On a purely professional level, Blake didn’t want her to leave.

He liked Ryleigh. She’d been a good soldier. Personally, though, he had questions about her abrupt disappearance. The more he thought about eating lunch with her again, their heated political debates…and the make-up sex afterwards…he warmed to the idea of her being around. He couldn’t let her leave.

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