Zola: Mastiff Security, #4

By Glenna Sinclair

This is the fourth book of Mastiff Security Volume One, with over 50,000 words of romantic suspense. 

 

Zola doesn't trust men after her ex lied to her and screwed up all the carefully made plans she had laid out for her future. Having to take a job as a private security operative adds insult to injury. On top of that, she had to insert herself into a reality television show where participants were stuck together in a house for weeks, and she was absolutely miserable. After just a week in the house, she finds herself getting into the game. Maybe it was the competitive nature of it. Or maybe it was Gunner Pratt, the hot forerunner who refused to pay her any attention...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glenna Sinclair
• Release date: Sep 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9798224570164

Glenna Sinclair

Experience the heart-racing novels of Glenna Sinclair, the master of romantic suspense. Sinclair's books feature strong male protagonists, many with a military background, who face real-world challenges that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Books2read.com/GlennaSinclair Facebook.com/AuthorGlennaSinclair GlennaSinclairAuthor at Gmail dot com

Book preview

Chapter 1

Springfield, Illinois

––––––––

Mastiff Security Headquarters

––––––––

Durango Masters led a small group into his office, gesturing for them to take a seat on the couch pushed against a far wall.

I thought it would be best if we came back here, so I could include my head of operations in the discussion, Durango explained.

No problem, brother.

Billy Chamberlain, Durango’s stepbrother, patted him on the shoulder as he passed him to join his friends. They were the executive producers of a new reality show that was currently drawing the highest ratings of any reality show of its type in the history of the network. They were at Mastiff hoping that Durango and his operatives could ensure that it stayed that way.

Durango picked up the phone and called down to Axel Kinkaid’s office, instructing the man to join them. It was a little bittersweet, talking to Axel this morning. Durango found himself the subject of a murder investigation—a multiple murder investigation—and Axel was investigating it with the help of another operative to help protect the firm. He wasn’t interested in protecting Durango. In fact, Durango was pretty sure that Axel and probably most of the people here at Mastiff thought he was guilty. And that was disappointing, to say the least.

But this case . . . Maybe it would be a last hurrah before he had to face what he was sure was coming next.

He’s on his way, Durango announced.

Billy moved over a little to make room for Durango on the couch, but he chose to grab one of the chairs in front of his desk and carry it over. That couch made him think of intimate things he’d rather not focus on at the moment.

While we wait, if you could explain again what the show is about.

Felicity Meeks, the one who seemed to be in control, leaned forward a little, her hands pressed between her knees. "Stranger’s Retreat is a show that combines some of the elements of Big Brother with elements of The Bachelor."

"There’s a little Survivor in there, too," her partner, Cillian Christy, added.

Yes. Felicity looked down at her hands, her face flooded with the passion she felt for this show. We start with eight men and eight women. They live together in a house we’ve designed and set up with cameras in every room, even the bathrooms. For the first week, they simply get to know each other and compete in a couple of simple competitions to showcase their skills. When the first week is over, we place them in teams of two, one man, one woman, because the goal of the entire show is for a couple to win and split a million dollars. And then, unlike other shows, we bring our contestants back and allow all the couples who managed to remain together after the game to play for another million dollars.

Including the winning couple?

Yes.

Durango fought a smile of incredulity from slipping out. And people watch this?

People are eating it up! Billy announced with his own bit of enthusiasm. We’re going to make money hand over fist on this one if things keep going the way it’s been going!

Durango tilted his head and studied his brother. And you’re a producer on the show?

Just a silent partner of sorts, Felicity said.

Durango nodded. So these couples work together to win competitions and try to get other couples voted out, right?

Yes. But we’ve added a little twist. We allow the viewers to have a minority vote in the whole thing. They get to vote on who leaves the house at the end of a week. They also get to weigh in on which teams they believe work better together and which need to be broken apart and reassigned partners.

Then the couples aren’t always the same?

No. The viewers, the producers, and the contestants themselves are allowed to weigh in and make suggestions on how the teams should progress. Like this past week, we had two couples split apart because they weren’t working well together, but no one was ready to see the players go home.

Interesting.

We think so.

Axel joined them now, curiosity written all over his face at the sight of Durango’s guests. Durango stood to introduce everyone.

"You’re the producers of Stranger’s Retreat?" Axel asked, clearly aware of what the show was.

You watch? Durango asked, not bothering to hide the surprise in his voice.

Abigail likes it.

Somehow, that didn’t surprise him. Abigail was an intelligent woman, but when you spend 90 percent of your time out on an isolated farm, a little reality television is probably a nice break from the mundane.

They all sat in their seats again, Axel pulling up the other chair from the front of the desk. Durango sat back and crossed his legs, studying the room.

I guess we should explain why we’re here, Felicity said.

Billy nodded, suddenly growing grave even though it was completely out of his character. Durango found himself wondering if it was a genuine emotion, or if he was being dramatic the way Billy always tended to be in situations he found dramatic.

We’ve had a few incidents on set. Safety equipment that’s failed. Stunts that didn’t go as planned. Contestant’s injured. We just had a woman leave the house because she broke her ankle.

We think, her partner continued, it’s someone on our staff or one of the contestants, trying to shut us down for reasons we don’t understand yet.

What is the thought on set? Axel asked.

Our safety coordinator thinks it’s the production staff. Our production staff thinks we’re overreacting. And we . . .Well we’re not sure who to think it might be.

Then you need someone on set.

Felicity and Cillian exchanged a look. We’d actually like someone we can pass off as a replacement for the girl who broke her ankle. And someone we could pass off as a producer.

Two operatives? Axel glanced at Durango.

I was thinking Zola would be perfect.

Zola. Axel tilted his head. She’s only done one job for us. We haven’t really had a chance to check her out.

So her face isn’t that recognizable here in town as a Mastiff operative.

Zola? Billy asked.

Zola’s a new operative we hired just a few weeks ago. She’s former military, Marines. And she has a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice.

Sounds perfect, Felicity said. If she can act a little, she might be exactly what we need.

I don’t know, Axel said, still dragging his feet on the idea. What if she’s not ready? What if she cracks? It wouldn’t just be in front of a client, but in front of the whole country.

We delay the live shows by several seconds. If something goes wrong, we can stop the broadcast before it goes out over the airwaves.

And I could go in on the production team, Durango announced. I’ll be there to help her if she runs into trouble.

Axel seemed alarmed by the mere suggestion. He immediately stood and gestured for Durango to follow him to the other side of the room. Durango went even though it was a slight in front of clients. Durango owned this firm. Axel had a lot of nerve pretending he was in charge!

They film in Chicago, Axel said. Are you sure you want to go back to Chicago with your past looming over you?

I’m not wanted here. Besides, we both know my presence here has become a complication.

It was a challenge to see if Axel would stand on his side. Of course, he didn’t.

Getting you out of here isn’t the problem. Appearing like you’re running from something is.

I’m doing my job. How could that look suspicious?

The thing was, Durango was a former cop. He knew what Axel was saying, but he needed this, needed the distraction of doing something other than sitting around waiting for the cops to knock on his door. He already had one detective gunning for him. And he had evidence in his hands that could save, or destroy Durango. If he left town . . . But he didn’t care anymore. He knew this wasn’t going his way. If his own staff, people he considered friends, didn’t believe in his innocence, why would anyone else?

He wanted one last case before the worst happened. Was that so much to ask?

I’m taking the case, and I’m going in as Zola’s backup. You can either support this, or take yourself off this case, but this is how it’s going down.

Axel was quiet for a moment; then he nodded his head. All right.

All right? Durango leaned into him. I run this case.

All right.

Durango inclined his head. Call Zola.

Chapter 2

––––––––

Springfield, Illinois

––––––––

Mastiff Security Headquarters

––––––––

Zola hated this job, hated the cell phone that kept her prisoner to it and hated living in Springfield, Illinois of all places. She hated that she had to live a life that had absolutely nothing to do with the plans and dreams she’d laid out for herself when she decided to enlist in the Marines. She hated that Mitchell had gone and destroyed everything for her, and now she had to rely on a group of men, ignorant men who couldn’t see that the woman in human resources was running things from the shadows, for her livelihood.

Damn men! If not for a man . . .

But she wasn’t going to let herself go there. Not today. No, today she was heeding the call of men to hear about a new job they wanted her to take. She needed to pay her rent, so she had to at least hear them out. She was on salary, so she got paid no matter how many jobs she took, but she was also on probation, so she had to be willing to do just about anything they asked for the next six months.

Wasn’t that just dandy?

She’d never wanted to do something as cliché as private security. She wanted to be a real cop, to hunt down real criminals. Instead, her first job at Mastiff had her follow a real estate executive’s husband to find out if he was selling her corporate secrets to her enemies. It turned out he was, turned out she didn’t want to press charges. She just filed for divorce. It was a pointless assignment that did nothing but ruin a marriage that was already bad. No criminals got taken off the street, no crimes were stopped. Pointless.

If this was what all her future assignments were going to be like, she might seriously consider another line of work. She just wasn’t sure what that might be. Thanks to Mitchell, her choices were severely limited.

She stepped off the elevator on the executive floor and headed for Durango’s office. She’d never been in his office before. The last assignment had been sent to her desk via email with concise instructions. This one was different. She was hoping the difference meant that it would have a little more meat to it.

There was no one sitting at the secretary’s desk outside the double doors of his office. She tapped on the door that was already partially open, a little surprised to find a whole group of people inside, including a tall, blond guy she was pretty sure she recognized from somewhere. She knew Axel Kinkaid and Durango Masters, of course. They’d both participated in her final interviews. But there were several other people she’d never met.

Zola, Axel said, coming toward her with his hand outstretched, thank you for joining us.

Thank you.

He smiled, gesturing for her to join the group in a cozy corner of the office. Durango stood and offered her his chair. She stepped in front of it as Axel introduced the other three people in the room: Felicity Meeks, Cillian Christy, and Billy Chamberlain. She recognized that last name immediately. Billy was the star of a detective show some of her buddies in the Marines used to watch; they had never missed it when possible.

Hollywood in Springfield. Who would have guessed?

Everyone sat down except for Durango who leaned against a nearby wall.

Should we start from the beginning again? the one called Felicity asked.

Axel shook his head. All you really need to know, Zola, is that Felicity, Cillian, and Billy are producers on a reality show that is currently filming in Chicago. Someone on set is sabotaging the challenges that they have their contestants participate in, and they need to find out who’s doing it.

Zola glanced at Billy, drawn by his celebrity status despite herself. He smiled politely, his eyes moving almost disinterestedly over her, moving instead to Durango. She found herself wondering if his sexual interests leaned toward the male persuasion rather than the female.

You want me to go to the set and investigate?

We want you to take the place of one of the contestants.

Felicity’s words hung in the air, causing Zola to sit back and cross her arms over her chest. Her first thought was that what they were asking was impossible.

I thought the show had already begun.

It has. But we’ve had to remove one of the female contestants because she was injured. We have the leeway to introduce a new contestant if we wish.

But won’t that mess up the dynamics of the show?

Felicity glanced at Cillian. Cillian shook his head. I think it’ll actually add some interest to the show, make it more interesting for the viewers to see how our contestants react to an outsider.

What are the dynamics of the show? Zola asked.

They mentioned the name of the show then, Stranger’s Retreat. She’d never heard of it, but she wasn’t really into those kinds of shows. But when they said that it was like Big Brother, she began to understand. That was another show her buddies loved to watch. She used to sit in the bunks or Humvees and listen to them debate the relationships on that show until she wanted to scream.

You want me to join the show halfway through and join a partnership that’s three days from elimination?

We’ll add another week to the elimination because of the change, Felicity assured her.

Do you think it’s one of the contestants sabotaging the show?

Felicity and Cillian exchanged another look. We’re not sure, Felicity said. We think it could be just about anyone who has access to the house or the competition props.

How did the last girl get hurt?

Again, they exchanged looks as if they weren’t sure how much they were allowed to express about their suspicions. That alone made Zola a little suspicious of them. What were they hiding? And why were they hiding it?

"She was participating in a competition that required players to navigate an obstacle course. She was under a rope trap—you know, one of those