Page 1 of Bennett (HC Heroes #15)

I f Harland was anything like the last half dozen places Bennett Vaughn had passed through, it wouldn’t take long for him to realize he didn’t belong here either.

That was fine by him.

The closest thing he’d ever had to roots was back in Wyoming, where his family name had once meant something, before his father had gone to prison and died there, paying the price for a crime he hadn’t committed.

That was the kind of thing a man didn’t just move on from.

So, no, Harland wasn’t about to work some small-town magic on him. He was here for one reason—Mac had offered him a job. It was a good gig, a place where he could do what he was trained for and not think too hard about the past and the fact that the only family he had left went AWOL.

Levi “Mac” McCall was a leader Bennett respected. One who didn’t need to bark orders to convince others to follow him. He carried authority the way some men carried weapons—naturally, with complete control, like it was an extension of who he was.

Dark hair, sharp brown eyes that didn’t miss a damn thing, and a presence that filled a room without trying, Mac wasn’t the loudest, the flashiest, or the most intimidating guy in the building, but he didn’t have to be.

He led by example, was calm under pressure, decisive, the type of man who’d never ask you to do something he wouldn’t do himself.

Bennett had served under him before, when Mac had been his Delta C.O.

, running ops that most people would never hear about.

And if there was one thing Bennett knew for certain, it was that Mac didn’t just tell you he had your back.

The guy proved it. In the field, in life, in whatever hellhole in which you found yourself.

That’s why ESI worked. It wasn’t just a job for Mac. He built this place the way he’d built his teams, handpicking the right men, knowing exactly how to balance personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.

He was the kind of leader that didn’t just command respect—he earned it. And once he had it, you’d follow him anywhere.

It was the very reason Bennett had accepted the job. Mac was one of the few people he trusted.

And so far, Harland was exactly what he’d expected…tight-knit, slower-paced, and people actually smiled at strangers instead of ignoring them.

Bennett didn’t trust it.

But he trusted Mac. The guy ran ESI like a well-oiled machine, employing mostly former Delta Force and SEALs. It felt familiar. Loyalty mattered.

And, damn, he needed that in his life.

Pushing thoughts of his past aside, Bennett leaned against the wall in the ESI boardroom, arms crossed as he listened to the usual morning chatter. It was a small crew today, only four left due to the dozen employees already out on jobs.

Two other guys stood, coffee in hand, waiting for Mac to start the briefing.

The room itself was bare-bones and practical. A long table, a whiteboard covered in security assignments, and brick walls that had probably seen their fair share of history over the years.

Mac flipped through a file at the head of the table. “All right, let’s make this quick so we can eat.”

“Damn right,” Cooper muttered. “I’m about two minutes from withering away.”

Matthew smirked. “Tragic.”

Matthew Walker was a former SEAL, which meant he’d been trained to handle just about any situation, but what stood out more was the way he carried himself. Although relaxed, he was always aware. A man who could joke around one second and flip a serious switch the next.

Physically, the guy had a classic squid build—broad shoulders, strong frame, with an athleticism that came from years of relentless training.

His brown hair was a little long but perfect for someone who didn’t give a damn, and his green eyes missed nothing.

Bennett had seen enough operators to know that Matthew was the type who played things close to the vest—watching, assessing, never tipping his hand too early.

If Bennett had to sum him up? Steady. Reliable. The kind of guy you wanted at your back in a fight. And even if he came across as easygoing, it was just a SEAL’s way of keeping people off guard.

He flicked his gaze to the other former SEAL in the room.

Bennett didn’t need long to size up Cooper Thompson.

He’d worked a few ops with the guy. Coop was a walking contradiction—laid-back as hell, but sharp when it counted.

If there was a line between taking things seriously and not giving a damn, Cooper walked it like it was a balance beam, never missing a step.

With light brown hair that always looked a little wind-ruffled and sharp blue eyes, he had that effortless charm squids were known for.

It made people underestimate him if they weren’t paying attention.

That was their mistake. Beneath the humor and smart-ass remarks, Bennett recognized a guy who’d seen real shit and learned how to carry it without letting it weigh him down.

If Matthew was the steady, calculating type, Cooper was the guy who’d laugh in the face of danger, then take it apart before it even saw him coming.

He had a way of diffusing tension with a joke, and reading a room before anyone else even realized there was something to read.

It made him easy to like. It also made him unpredictable.

And Bennett had learned the hard way that unpredictable could either save your ass or get you killed.

So, yeah, Cooper might play the fool, but Bennett had a feeling he was one of the smartest guys at ESI.

“Vaughn, you’re shadowing Matthew this week,” Mac said, gaining everyone’s attention. “He’s already got a handle on our operation.”

Bennett nodded, taking a seat along with the others. “Works for me.”

“Good,” Mac stated. “Cooper and I will be working the Anderson detail this afternoon. That leaves you two to work the renovation case. Matt, give us a SITREP and bring Bennett up to speed.”

Matthew sat up in the chair across from him. “There’s been some vandalism at one of the renovation sites in town. Nothing major yet, but the property belongs to Annie Winslow. She owns the diner where we’re about to eat.”

“She’s a damn saint,” Cooper added. “Feeds half this town and still puts up with my dumb ass, which makes her a hero in my book.”

Bennett arched a brow. “And what, exactly, are we investigating? Spray-painted walls?”

“More like cut wires, busted locks, and some very convenient delays in construction,” Matthew said. “Nothing outright criminal yet, but the timing’s suspicious.”

“She hired a local designer, Brandi Dalton, to renovate the place,” Mac informed. “Brandi’s the one who asked us to look into it.”

“What’s the place being converted to?” Bennett asked.

“Four storefronts with apartments above each,” Matthew replied.

“It used to be an old furniture store, owned by Annie’s late husband, Jim.

She told me she’d originally thought about selling the building and the three acres it sits on but couldn’t bring herself to part with it.

So, the building sat vacant for almost two years, until she recently decided to renovate instead. ”

Bennett shrugged. “Sounds like someone doesn’t want that happening.”

“That’s what we need to figure out,” Mac said. “Now let’s go eat.”

As the guys moved to leave, Cooper clapped Bennett on the shoulder. “Heads up, new guy. This breakfast is gonna change your life.”

Bennett glanced sideways at him. “It’s eggs, bacon, and pancakes, Thompson.”

Cooper gasped dramatically. “Eggs, bacon, and pancakes? That’s like calling a Bugatti ‘just a car.’”

Mac chuckled. “You should’ve seen him when he first tried Annie’s biscuits and gravy. Nearly proposed to her on the spot. Although, to be fair, most of us felt the same.”

“Still considering it,” Cooper muttered.

Matt smirked again. “Not sure your wife will go along with that, Coop.”

“Good point.” Cooper nodded with a sigh.

Mac shook his head. “Let’s go before he starts writing sonnets about bacon.”

They headed toward the door, and Cooper fell into step beside Bennett. “You’re gonna like Annie. But fair warning, she’s got a keen eye. Probably already figured you out.”

“Figured me out how?” Bennett asked, arching a brow.

Matthew smirked. “She’s got a talent for knowing which of us are trouble.”

He grunted. “Then I guess I won’t make the ‘Good boy’ list.”

“Not a chance.” Cooper grinned. “But, hey, at least you’re in good company.”

“Yeah, so let’s move your feet,” Mac cut in. “Gabe’s probably already at our table, not waiting for us.”

Gabe was Master Chief Gabriel Bryson, former Navy SEAL, now the Harland County Sheriff, according to the two squids increasing their pace as they all followed Mac out of the building.

Bennett had also worked with Bryson on a few ops while active duty and found the by-the-book guy capable and dependable, two good qualities for any sheriff. Yeah, it was no stretch to picture Gabe transitioning from leading a SEAL team to commanding local law enforcement.

Less than five minutes later, after crossing the road, they walked west down the sidewalk, passing the renovation site in question on their way to the diner on the adjacent lot.

Even at a quick look, he could tell the site was a work in progress.

The old brick building stood stubbornly amid scaffolding and construction debris and fencing, its bones solid but worn.

Plywood covered the storefronts, and exposed beams were visible through some of the second-floor windows where the apartments were taking shape.

It wasn’t much to look at now, but he’d seen enough buildings go up to recognize the slow transformation of something forgotten into something worthwhile.

Still, he couldn’t ignore the details—the boarded up storefront windows and what would eventually become doorways. If someone had been messing with the place, it’d be easy enough to slip in unnoticed.

Too easy.

He frowned. “Are we going to do anything to better secure this place?”