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Lincoln

“I know she’s my sister, but you’re the only one I trust to keep her safe,” Dean says, his gray eyes practically begging me to understand.

When he first asked me to attend this month’s Maddox Security meeting, I assumed it was to talk about my hard work—maybe even a promotion. I was prepared for a conversation about stepping into a management role, overseeing the operations instead of always being in the field. After all, I love security work. I served in the military, and when I retired, I wanted nothing more than to protect people using the skills I’d honed in special forces.

Plenty of companies courted me because of that background, but Maddox Security offered the best compensation by far. Over the years, Dean and I have become friends, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the firm grow into one of the most successful security outfits in the world. We deal with clients from every walk of life, and there’s no limit to what we’ll do to keep them safe.

I glance at the glittering Atlantic Ocean visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking a moment to process what Dean’s asking. “You want me to do what exactly?”

“Just take her to the safe house,” he explains. “Keep her safe while a few of my men and I look into who’s been threatening her.”

The idea of Isabel Maddox—someone I’ve known for years—being targeted makes my blood boil. She’s essentially my second boss around here, especially since Dean was off chasing Bishop Blackstone. She keeps the entire operation running in his absence, which is no easy feat.

“What does she think about this plan?” I ask, narrowing my gaze at Dean.

He shifts his eyes toward the ocean. “Uh, well...” he starts, then trails off.

I fold my arms. “You did tell her, right?”

He exhales. “Not exactly.”

I sigh, running my hand through my hair as I pin Dean with a questioning look. “What exactly did you tell her?”

Dean winces, almost like he’s bracing for impact—and knowing Isabel Maddox, it’s no wonder. She’s a real firestarter when she’s angry. I’ve seen her flare up once, and I’d advise anyone to avoid winding her up. “I, uh…texted her that she needs to stay with you for a while.”

“Texted her?” I shake my head in disbelief. His sister is a partner in this company, and he chose texting to deliver this kind of news?

Dean holds his hands up defensively. “Listen, whether she likes it or not, she needs you to keep her safe. You’re the best man for the job.”

A row of thick, manila folders sits on the table in front of Dean, each stamped with the Maddox Security logo. I stare at them for a moment, letting the full weight of the request settle in. I can’t stand the thought of Isabel being threatened, and I know Dean’s right—she needs protection until we figure out who’s after her.

It shouldn’t matter that I’ve had a thing for her ever since she started working here. Every time I look into her deep gray eyes, my brain stalls out like a broken engine. I’ve always kept things strictly professional, though it’s been a struggle not to dwell on the taste of her lips or the warmth of her skin. But that’s not what this job is about.

I straighten and meet Dean’s gaze. “I’m the man for the job,” I say, gripping his outstretched hand. The moment I do, the conference room doors swing open, and Ranger steps through.

“Hello,” he drawls in a casual greeting. Dean and I exchange nods, and then Boone appears behind Ranger, strolling in with his usual confident swagger.

“I’m here. The meeting can begin now,” Boone announces, taking the seat beside me and running a hand over his beard. He glances at Ranger. “Sorry to hear about your sister.”

Ranger only shrugs. “It’s fine.”

Boone cracks his knuckles, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “If you need me to knock out the motherfucker, you just say the word.” Fighting is Boone’s favorite pastime.

I frown. “Knock who out?”

Ranger sighs. “My sister had a rough time with her ex. The guy cheated on her—really shattered her confidence. She’s been a wreck ever since. It’s probably why I’ll never fall in love.”

Dean cracks a smile. “Love isn’t all bad.”

Boone smirks at Dean. “I’m surprised you’re even here today.”

Dean shrugs like he’s heard it a hundred times. “What can I say? I’m not sorry I fell in love. Sophia’s everything to me. We had to pretend to be married to catch Bishop Blackstone, and it wasn’t easy. But when you know, you know.” His gaze flicks to the paperwork on the table. “Funny enough, this job I’m giving Asher is a little similar: high stakes, forced proximity...”

Before he can finish, the conference room door swings open again, and Orion stumbles in looking like he had zero hours of sleep. He narrows his eyes at Dean.

“Why do you schedule these meetings so early?” he grumbles.

Dean snorts. “It’s nine a.m. Not exactly the crack of dawn.”

Orion sinks into the chair nearest the door and drops his head onto the tabletop with a groan.

Boone tilts his head, all concern masked by his usual cocky grin. “Looks like someone had a rough night.”

Orion’s only response is another muffled grumble, face still planted against the wood.

I let out a breath, trying to keep my focus on the urgent matter at hand—keeping Isabel safe—and not on the fact that she might fight me every step of the way.

Asher steps through the door, looking slightly out of place but eager enough. He’s younger than the rest of us—fresh-faced in comparison—but no one’s had a bad word to say about him, so he’s got my respect.

“Thanks for being here,” Dean begins, running a hand over the files scattered on the table. “I know the past couple of months have been tough with me chasing Bishop Blackstone. I appreciate everything you did to help find him. Hopefully now we can finally have some peace.”

I listen, though my mind drifts to my new assignment: protecting Isabel. And I know just how hard Isabel worked in Dean’s absence, making sure this place ran smoothly.

Dean glances my way. “I’m lucky Isabel’s so involved. We’d be lost without her.” His gaze shifts to the stack of folders. “Now, we’ve got some new assignments that need handling.”

He slides a file across the table to Ranger. “The G-Summit Meeting is this weekend. This is Tory Ann,” he says, tapping the front page.

Ranger opens it, scanning the details. “Is she attending the summit?”

Dean shakes his head. “No. Her father is Frederick Malser, the world-renowned scientist who’ll be a keynote speaker. He’s bringing his own security, so you’ll be overseeing Tory while she travels.”

As Dean continues, my focus keeps wandering to Isabel. It’s been a long time since I spent any significant time alone with a woman—especially one who has always had this…effect on me. I don’t date much, and it’s no secret I’ve had a thing for her since day one. But we work together, and she’s Dean’s sister—I’d never cross that line.

Besides, the trust Dean’s placing in me means everything. If I succeed, it could lead to a higher position in the company. That kind of responsibility is a huge deal. I can’t risk messing it up.

When the meeting ends, Dean asks Asher to hang back. The rest of us make our way into the hallway.

“We should all catch up again soon,” Boone says, stretching his arms behind his head. “Last time was a blast.”

Orion smirks. “Once I’m done protecting some poor girl from her ex, we can do a poker night.”

Ranger’s grin is as wide as I’ve ever seen. “I’m down.”

I press my lips together. “Maybe.”

Boone nudges me. “You’re not fooling anyone. We all know you want in on another chance to lose to Ranger’s card skills.”

I roll my eyes, laughing along. “Right. Because I love handing my money over to this guy.”

Ranger’s chuckle rumbles through the hall. “I’ll happily take any free cash.”

Boone lifts a brow. “Then again, your job sounds like it might keep you busy for a while. ”

I tense at the mention of my job. “It’s Isabel.” My voice lowers. “Someone’s been threatening her. No idea who, yet, but Dean has a few leads.”

An immediate hush falls over the group. Isabel’s family to all of us, in one way or another.

“Where is she?” Orion asks, brow furrowed.

Before I can answer, the clicking of high heels against the tile snaps our heads around. Isabel strides down the hall, looking every bit as fierce as I remember—sharp suit, steely gaze, and enough attitude to fill this entire floor. Her eyes lock onto mine in an instant, and the guys all scatter like they’ve got somewhere else to be.

“You,” she says, pointing at me.

I glance around—she obviously means me, but I feign ignorance. “Who, me?”

Her heels bring her closer, and she pokes me in the chest. Hard. “I can’t believe you and my brother are pulling this stunt.”

I catch her wrist before she can jab at me again. Her skin is warm against my palm, and the brief contact is enough to send a wave of want rippling through me. “You can’t believe we’re protecting you?” I keep my voice steady, though her nearness is already messing with my head.

She wrenches her hand free and plants both fists on her hips. “Care to explain yourself, Lincoln?”

I hold her gaze, trying not to get lost in the deep gray of her eyes. “Isabel, you have to know your brother and I only want what’s best for you.”

Her stare hardens, anger rolling off her in waves. “I don’t need you or Dean babysitting me. I can take care of myself.”

It’s like she wants a fight, and damn if I’m not half-tempted to give her one. My frustration bubbles over, and I step closer, pressing her gently but firmly back against the wall. My hand braces beside her head, and I can feel the heat radiating off her body. “I don’t care if you think you can handle this solo. Your brother gave me a job, and that’s what I’m going to do. No matter how much you protest.”

She opens her mouth like she’s about to argue, and for a second, I catch a flicker of something else in her eyes—maybe surprise, maybe something hotter. My pulse kicks up a notch, and suddenly, every inch of me is aware of how close we are. Her breath hitches, and for one electric moment, the tension between us shifts from anger to something that has my blood racing.

I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus on the problem at hand. “It’s not safe for you,” I say, softer this time.

She presses her lips together, still fired up but maybe realizing I’m not going to back down. “I’ve got leads. I can help. This isn’t over,” she hisses.

“I know,” I whisper, stepping away from her with a controlled exhale. My heart is pounding, my nerves buzzing, and all I can think is: This is going to be a hell of a lot harder than I imagined.