Alex: Campbell Agency, #2

By Clara Kendrick

This is the second book in the Campbell Agency series, with over 50,000 words of romantic suspense.

 

Bridget Barden's greatest joy in her life is her son, Wyatt, despite the fact that his father died suspiciously after getting involved in the wrong investigation. The last thing she ever expects to do is get involved with another private investigator. But when her connection to Gwen Grange puts her in danger, and her home is set on fire as a message to the Campbell Agency men, she finds herself relying on the head of the organization, Alex Campbell, to keep her and her son safe. But she might be the one who thwarts all of his efforts to do so.

 

Alex Campbell came into a lot of money when his father died, but his inheritance has caused problems with his family. When his aunt summons him, demanding a huge payout, Alex discovers that it's actually his troubled sister, Juliette, who needs saving from her own bad habits and a dangerous man. Though at first, Alex brings Bridget with him to visit his family to keep her and her son safe, he discovers that she's an invaluable partner and the kind of woman who can soften all his hard edges. The only problem is that he's not sure he can survive losing her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clara Kendrick
• Release date: Nov 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9798223688549

Clara Kendrick

Discover the captivating world of Clara Kendrick's romantic suspense. With her masterful storytelling and skillful blend of intrigue, romance, and passion, Kendrick draws readers in and keeps them hooked until the very end. Get ready to be swept away by her thrilling and steamy tales of love and suspense. Signup and follow at: Books2read.com/ClaraKendrick Facebook.com/AuthorClaraKendrick

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Vince Ward stood in front of the Napoleon House, looking around at the New Orleans French Quarter. It had been a long time—too long—since he had stood in this spot, in front of his favorite restaurant in the town where he had built his career as an assassin for hire. Everything about New Orleans meant home to him, from the tourist hot spot that was Jackson Square to the lesser-known, darker, more dangerous streets that wound around the city’s perimeter. He loved the seafood, the spices, the culture, the people, the smell of the ocean, and the rich history of crime, religion, conflict, poverty, and triumph.

He had missed this place in the six years since he’d been forced to leave New Orleans, when his chosen career path had created too much heat. His persona as a boring, simple college professor had started to crumble. There were too many people narrowing in on him, and he’d had to pull the trigger—figuratively this time—and frame his partner of sorts, William Grange. It had worked for a while, until William’s daughter, Gwen, and her private detectives had hunted him down and put him in danger of exposure all over again.

His jaw tightened with the memory of his near-exposure, and he knew exactly the person that he blamed for it all. Alex Campbell. He was the brains and the financier behind the whole operation, and he had to pay. But not with his life—not yet anyway. There was time for toying with him first, just like he’d toyed with William for so many years.

Turning, Vince looked at the slight woman beside him, his cruel mouth twisting up into a smirk. How do you like being home, Nora?

Gwen’s mother remained silent, her spirit defeated long ago. She blinked at him, then turned away, nothing about her familiar surroundings drawing her out of the silence that had followed her for years now.

Vince chuckled, grabbing her elbow and steering her to the left as they walked back toward the apartment he’d rented under a fake name—the name of the man he’d most recently killed. Oh, Nora, he sighed, almost affectionately. I’m so going to enjoy destroying everything about these people’s lives, piece by piece. I’ll start with Gwen’s friends. That stupid agency. Her boyfriend. Oh, I won’t break my promise to you, he assured her, reading her expression in spite of her silence. I won’t take Gwen or William’s life. But I never promised not to ruin them.

CHAPTER ONE

ALEX

Come on, girl, Alex murmured coaxingly, reaching out to stroke the long, lean torso that lay on his bed. I know you’re tired, but you have one more left in you, don’t you? He smiled at the only girl he’d ever loved, outside of his family, scratching her behind the ears.

Ruby picked her head up, nudged his hand with her nose, and gave a non-committal whine. They’d been training for over an hour, and she was letting him know that she was ready for some TLC.

One more, he urged her again, giving her the hand signal to get down off the bed. Like the little soldier she was, Ruby jumped down and sat at his feet, her head tilted up toward him as she waited for his next command. Alex nodded at her approvingly. Good girl, Ruby. Okay. Seek.

He gestured out toward the room as he said the word, and Ruby immediately began searching the perimeter of his bedroom, her sensitive nose picking up every hint of scent in the room. As he watched her, Alex wondered if she could still smell Nicole, the woman he’d dated casually a few months ago. Or if she could smell the Chinese takeout he’d eaten in bed the previous Sunday. Or maybe she wondered why he was stalling on doing the laundry, when it was quite obvious that he needed to empty the hamper. He often wondered what was going on in the head of his gorgeous, purebred comrade in arms. He’d adopted her from a military K9 training program a few years ago. She was fully trained and able, but she didn’t react well to the sound of gunfire, meaning there was no way the military could trust her overseas.

It was the military’s loss and his gain. She reminded him in so many ways of Benedict, his own K9 companion when he was in Afghanistan. They had the same razor-sharp senses, impressive intelligence, and undying loyalty. He had lost Benedict in a bomb explosion while they were in the field, and it had been every bit as hard—if not harder—than losing one of his fellow soldiers. He and Benedict had worked side by side in mission after mission, and it had been Alex’s job to keep his dog safe. The explosion wasn’t his fault, but it had left a hole inside of him that only Ruby had come close to filling.

She brought him the toy he’d hidden from her, sitting at his feet and dropping it there. He praised her, scratching her ears and the spot just behind her left shoulder that she liked. Good girl, Ruby. Good girl. With a gesture, he released her from duty and she trotted away happily to her food dish, finding her reward there.

Alex sat down on his bed and ran a hand through his thick, blonde hair. His shoulders, back, and biceps were pleasantly sore from the workout he’d done after dinner. He was a big guy, by anyone’s standards—even in the military. And he should be. He worked out religiously, loving the way his body felt when it was in top-condition. There was nothing better than knowing he could face down whatever physical challenge lay in front of him with just the power in his arms and the strength in his legs. That’s what he missed most about being in the Marines—the constant physical challenges.

Not that he was living the easy life now, by any means. After deciding not to re-up three years ago, he and four of his buddies from his troop in Afghanistan had started a Search and Rescue Detective Agency together. Well, he had started it, he supposed. His family had money, and he’d inherited most of it when his father had died. The millions of dollars would have gone to waste on him, had he not begun some kind of business. His lifestyle was simple. He at simply, he dressed simply, and he spent his time simply. Aside from travel, there was nothing to spend the eighteen million dollars on ...until he’d had the idea to reunite his Marine brothers with jobs that they all loved and were excellent at.

He hadn’t regretted it a day since, even when Jason, his right-hand-man of sorts, had gotten involved with a woman with a complicated past, putting all their lives in danger. They had almost lost Gwen in the process, something Alex knew Jason would never have recovered from. But they’d come out of it all right, with Jason and Gwen safely returned home and loved up in Jason’s apartment. Gwen had even regained her father, a man who she had believed, for years, to be a deadly, trained assassin on the run. Now they were trying to rebuild their relationship, though in secret, since her father was still a wanted man.

It did Alex good to see Gwen, whom he had come to view as a sister, reconnecting with her father. He missed his own every day. He and his old man hadn’t always seen eye to eye, but they were family, and they backed each other. Always.

Just as Alex was contemplating whether he should watch TV or read a book before dozing off, his cell phone lit up with a call from Caleb, another of his Marine brothers who now worked at Campbell Search and Rescue.

He answered without a typical greeting. Caught a case? It was Caleb’s night to be on call with the agency.

Nah, but you’re missing the party.

What party?

We’re all down here at the office, Caleb told him, and Alex could hear a ruckus in the background. Jason and Gwen came in tonight to do more research on that Vince guy, then Mark dropped by, and Bridget decided to stay late, so ...

Alex smiled slightly. The advantage of working with people who were basically your family is that there was no telling when a normal evening at work could turn into a Friday-night-style get together. So what you’re saying is, you’re all having fun without me.

Pretty much. So get your ass down here, huh? Spence set up a sound system—

Because that’s what we need at work, Alex interjected drolly.

Yeah, well. There was no apology in Caleb’s voice. Anyway. Spence set that up and Bridget ordered pizzas ...

Alex rolled his eyes. It’s almost 11:00. I’m supposed to be at the gym in seven hours.

You’re so lame, Caleb groaned. Old man.

He was only six years older than the other guys, but they never let him forget it. Alex chuckled and shook his head. Save me a slice of Hawaiian.

Gross. Caleb disconnected the call.

Alex got up from the bed and grabbed a t-shirt, pulling it over his head and smoothing it down his muscled chest. If he was honest with himself, there was only one reason he was interrupting his nightly routine, leaving Ruby without a bed companion, and venturing out into the warm, night air.

Bridget Barden. She was Gwen’s high school history teacher from years ago, and after Gwen had come out of hiding, she and Bridget had reconnected. Bridget had become a good friend to all of the Campbell agency guys, and since it was summer and she wasn’t teaching, they’d given her a temporary gig as the agency administrative assistant. It was easy work, and they let her bring her son, Wyatt, in whenever she needed to. She was overqualified and good worker, so it worked out in everyone’s favor.

It just so happened that Alex enjoyed her on a personal level, though he rarely spoke to her at the office. Even though he definitely wasn’t the boss at the agency, sometimes he was still viewed that way. He seemed to make her nervous, and she did the same to him. He wasn’t good at chatting with women, the way Caleb was. But he liked listening to Bridget talk to the others and watching her work. She was efficient, capable, and very pretty.

On one too many occasions, he had found himself looking too long at her strawberry blonde hair that fell in soft waves just at her shoulders. She had a tiny frame. She was no more than 5’2, if he had to guess, and surely no bigger than a size two. Everything about her was delicate, feminine, and soft—the opposite of everything about him. Standing at 6’3, he towered over her, and one of his arms was probably bigger than her leg. It was possible that if he touched her, he might break her.

Not that touching her would be appropriate at all. Even if he wasn’t the guys’ boss, he was definitely hers, and that would be inappropriate. Besides, she had a son, and he was bad at relationships, and ...

He shook his head, flustered in the privacy of his own home by his silent thoughts. Relationships? Who was he kidding? He barely knew the woman, and she seemed more skittish around him than anything else. She’d probably laugh if she knew that he found her laugh infectious and her eyes captivating.

Ruby, would you keep me in line better? Alex asked, slipping on a pair of shoes. This old guy is getting delusional.

Ruby lifted her head from the foot of the bed and looked at him sideways, her dark eyes watchful.

Don’t give me that look, he teased her, scratching her head and motioning for her to follow him. He let her out the back door briefly, then called her back in and told her to go to bed for the night. Like I should be doing, he muttered dryly as he headed out the front door, leaving her behind. Won’t be gone long, girl.

Once out in the night air, still warm and humid despite the late hour, he walked down the familiar streets of New Orleans. The office building was only a mile from his house, and it was a walk he was quite familiar with. He nodded to Jim, the homeless man who often camped out in the area, and tossed a few bills down beside the man as he always did. Jim nodded his thanks and went back to whistling his same old song.

Alex was whistling it too by the time he got to the office building, unlocked the door, and let himself in. He was immediately greeted with a chorus of warm hellos, and Jason put a drink in his hand. Alex accepted it gratefully and glanced around the room.

Hard at work, I see.

It’s our fault, Gwen told him, moving to stand beside Jason, her hand slipping into his. We got caught up in researching Vince, and then ...

Alex smiled fondly at her. Yeah, I know how it goes. He glanced over toward Bridget, who was chatting away with Caleb. She was still in the same periwinkle dress she’d had on earlier that day when he’d been at the office, and it set off the violet-blue of her eyes. As she glanced toward him, she gave him a slight smile and a wave that he returned while mentally chastising himself for getting caught looking at her.

He cleared his throat and turned toward Mark, who held out a box of pizza for him. Pineapple, boss man.

I’m not your boss, Alex said, out of habit. Then he took two slices, sat down, and put his feet up on one of the desks, laughing with his friends as he watched Gwen and Jason dance in the reception area. Caleb soon got up and joined, stealing Gwen away from Jason, who gallantly offered his hand to Bridget.

They were all making so much noise, that they almost didn’t hear the phone ring. Spencer, always the grounded one, grabbed it on the sixth ring and answered, gesturing for Mark to turn the music down.

The group got quiet as Spencer talked to whoever was on the other line, then hung up and looked around at them, all the relaxation gone from his face. Well, party’s over, guys.

CHAPTER TWO

BRIDGET

Working at Campbell Search and Rescue never got boring. Bridget had learned that well in the last few weeks, since summer had begun and she had started spending her days in the big, masculine office. Aside from Gwen’s recent abduction by the man who had been framing her father as an assassin and keeping her mother captive for the past six years, there was the constant development of other search and rescue cases, some of which were desperately urgent. Just the week before, the men and their dogs had been called out to help the police locate an armed, violent man who had escaped from Angola, one of Louisiana’s highest security prisons. Alex had been the one to