Jennifer Morey - Colton Family Bodyguard

“My father had to fire him because of the bylaws. He did it in front of the board, and Ace didn’t react well. He threatened my dad.”

“How did he threaten him?” With a gun? Had he said he’d better watch his back or something? Ruin his reputation?

“Ace told Dad he would regret it and stormed out of the room.”

“That doesn’t mean he shot him.”

“I know. I don’t think he did, but he shouldn’t have threatened him like that, and in front of the board.”

Hazel could see he was genuinely concerned for his half brother, despite his claim of not being close to Ace. Just because he had spent a lot of time overseas didn’t necessarily mean a family bond didn’t exist. Hazel wondered if they were closer than he thought.

“You’re easy to talk to,” he said after a while, his smile rueful. Did he not open up to anyone? Why had he done so with her?

“Evie doesn’t think so.”

He chuckled a little. “I saw her arguing with you when you first got to your client’s house. I think she does listen to you.”

“Like I said, she’s a good kid.”

“She must have a good mother.”

Hazel fell into his eyes, the warm regard there, the attraction. She felt it, too, these underlying sparks that had grown since the moment she saw him.

Once again stopping the sparks, Hazel asked, “So, tell me about this family of yours. You seemed to know that detective, Kerry.”

“I come from a large blended family. My father married three times. I have a half sister and two half brothers—including Ace—from the first marriage. He had none with the second, and my mother had me and my twin sister, Marlowe, plus our brother, Asher. Rafe is my younger adopted brother. He’s engaged to Kerry. That’s how I know her.”

“Ah. She’s part of the family now. She’s very pretty,” Hazel said.

“And smart. And tenacious. She’s a rookie but Rafe swears she’s as good as a seasoned detective.”

“I did get that impression of her, well, short of knowing her, that is. She just had a way about her.”

“If anybody can find the man who almost ran you down, she can.”

Hazel fell silent, not liking the thought of that. A man capable of hurting or killing another human—especially a child—was a dangerous one, for sure.

“You’re a twin?” Hazel asked. “What is that like?”

“We’re more like a regular brother and sister, but closer. We were close growing up and still are.”

“Are you similar?”

He chuckled at that. “Not at all. Her hair is blonder than mine and she has brown eyes. She’s now the CEO of Colton Oil, an executive type. Workaholic.” Callum was definitely not an executive type. He was driven in different ways. “But she’s pregnant and engaged now, so that will probably change. She’s still going to keep her job but she’s starting a day-care program.”

Hazel seemed to ponder that awhile, as though doubtful that a woman like that could change.

“I technically have one less sibling now—even though I still consider Ace my half brother. Ace’s switch has caused a bit of chaos in the family,” he said.

She breathed a tiny laugh at his sarcastic tone. “It sounds dramatic. Who switched him and why?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“That must be hard for him to face,” Hazel said.

He fell silent and Hazel sensed he had given out enough family information for now. Then he just nodded and said, “Yes, it is.”

“What made you decide to leave the navy and become a bodyguard?” Hazel asked to change the subject.

“I was getting too old to be a SEAL.”

At his short, simplistic reply, she wondered if he didn’t want to discuss this. He seemed reluctant to talk about anything personal.

“How old is too old?” she asked anyway.

“I’m thirty-two. Right now, I’m not taking out-of-state assignments, so I can be close to my dad.”

“I’m twenty-five,” she said. “Have you been married or in any serious relationships?”

She had confessed her failed serious relationship, so that justified her asking the question. “No to marriage. Yes to a relationship, but it didn’t work out.”

“What happened?”

“It didn’t work out,” he repeated, turning his head and not looking at her anymore.

She watched the tension on his face for a few seconds, then said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“We should get going to the police station. Why don’t we go get her and head to the hotel?” Callum said.

She wanted to get to Evie as soon as possible—and slow down whatever was happening between her and Callum.

Waiting for Hazel to finish getting ready to leave, Callum struggled with what her questions had brought to the surface. Shortly after he had left the SEAL team, he had lost Annabel. He never talked about her and their unborn baby. After she died, he had told everyone they’d broken up. He couldn’t bear to face the truth and he didn’t like people asking him about her. No one had enquired about her in a long time, which probably explained the heavy emotion he felt right now.

When Hazel joined him at the back door, Callum left the apartment, carrying two of her bags with one hand, leaving the other free. He searched the parking area behind the bakery and at first everything seemed quiet. But then he saw someone sitting in a car parked at the end of one of the rows. It was different than the one that had nearly mowed down Evie and Hazel; this one was white with tinted windows. He couldn’t see the person inside, but the shape had the form of a man.

Alarmed that someone might try to harm Hazel again, he said, “Go back inside, Hazel.”

“What?” Her eyes searched his face beneath lowered eyebrows.

“I need to check out that car over there. Go back inside.” He had to keep her safe and she’d be safest in there for now.

Hazel looked out into the parking lot. “Oh, no.”

“It might not be anything. Just let me check it out,” he said as reassuringly as he could. He didn’t mean to frighten her.

She turned and went back inside. He saw her go to the window next to the door and watch.

Callum stepped down the stairs, leaving the bags on the landing by the door. He walked to his truck and started it, then drove closer to the building. There, he waited a few moments. The driver of the other car pulled out of the parking space and drove down the alley toward the street.

Getting out of the truck, Callum went to help Hazel as she came out of the apartment and locked the door. He searched the parking lot and alley, keeping his body between the direction the car had gone and Hazel. He picked up the two bags and followed her down. At the passenger door, he opened that and waited for her to get in, continuing to watch for the mysterious car.

Putting the bags in the back seat, he got behind the wheel and started driving.

At the street he pulled out into traffic, glancing frequently into the rearview mirror. As he suspected, the stranger had waited for them.

Hazel twisted to look behind them. “Is that car following us?”

“Yes.”

“Is it the same man?”

“I don’t know.” Callum turned a corner to see if the stranger would follow.

He did.

Callum turned another corner and the stranger turned, too. He was two vehicles behind them. Callum couldn’t see the man clearly.

He decided to drive to the police station. Who in their right mind would try anything in front of a police station? Someone out of their mind...?

Hoping to get a better look at the man, Callum slowed down.

“What are you doing?” Hazel asked in a scared tone.