Elle James - Tactical Force

Jack rose to his feet. “I’m going. Cole, we need you to help Jonah get me added to the employee database with the correct level of clearance so whatever badge you come up with works when I scan in at the door tomorrow.” Jack nodded toward the leader of their team of former marines. “Declan, show me what you have, so I can get Arnold started on the alterations. We don’t have much time to get things done by morning.”

“Follow me. I have the suit in my closet upstairs.”

Anne released a sigh of relief. She hadn’t wanted another man to accompany her as her protector. Jack had proven himself twice that night. She trusted him with her life. Her niggle of doubt came because of her body’s reaction to the man’s touch.

Well, she’d just have to keep her distance from him and avoid bodily contact.

“It’s a good thing you and Grace live here at the estate,” Jack said to Declan as the two left the war room and climbed up to the study. “When did you invest in a suit?” Their voices faded as they moved through the house.

Anne turned to Charlie. “What did they mean by thanks to you, they’re doing the right thing?”

Charlie glanced at the remainder of the men in the room. “I’ve employed Declan and his team to perform missions to right wrongs, help people and do things the FBI, CIA, state and local police won’t or can’t get involved in. We call the team Declan’s Defenders.”

“A kind of vigilante group?”

Charlie shrugged. “Some would say that.”

“They’re more than that,” Grace said. “They saved my life and my roommate’s life. I wouldn’t be alive today if they hadn’t come to my aid.” She gave Anne a gentle smile. “You’re one lucky woman to have them covering your six.”

“Covering my six?”

“We’ll have your back,” Cole said. “Jack will be there with you at all times. If he needs additional help, we’ll be there, as well. You can count on us.”

Anne drew in a deep breath and let it go. “Good. This is all new to me. I’m not a spy, soldier or marine. I’ve never been trained in combat. I studied tae kwon do when I was a teen, but I haven’t used it since I graduated high school a few too many years ago to remember how.”

Grace chuckled. “I’m just now learning how to fire a handgun. Declan got me my own .40 caliber pistol. It scares me to death to think of using it against another human being.” Her face hardened. “But if it’s a choice between my life or the life of someone about to attack me, you bet I will pull the trigger. I refuse to be a victim, ever again. And that goes for anyone threatening someone I love.”

Anne heard the conviction in Grace’s voice and wondered what her story was. What had made her so determined to protect herself and those she cared most about.

“If you knew my husband, you know he was murdered for what he knew about Trinity,” Charlie said. “I might not ever find the people who killed John, but I hope I can keep others from suffering from Trinity’s machinations.”

Anne squared her shoulders. “John contacted me a while back, asking me to report anything out of the ordinary in the National Security Council. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, or what appeared to be out of the ordinary, but I promised I’d help him if I could. He convinced me he only wanted to expose the people who were bent on destroying our government from within. I’m still uncertain how I can help, but if this informant is on the up-and-up, and gives me some clues, perhaps we can bring Trinity down before they have a chance to attack.”

“I hope we can. But we can’t do it without our own people on the inside,” Charlie said. “We might have to get more of Declan’s Defenders inside. We’ll work more on that tomorrow. Tonight, our goal is to position Jack as your protector. You can’t focus on anything if you’re afraid for your life.”

“Thank you,” Anne said. “For taking me in when I didn’t know where else to go. Your husband was a good man and you’re doing a great job carrying on his legacy.”

Charlie’s eyes filled with moisture. “He was good and kind and gentle. I miss him.” She closed her eyes briefly and opened them again. “In the meantime, you need a place to stay.”

“I’ll show her to a room,” Grace said. “Were you able to salvage any of your clothing? I saw the pictures of the destruction to your apartment. I’m so sorry.”

“At least I wasn’t there when they broke in,” Anne said.

“I might have some clothes you can use until you can replace what you’ve lost.” Grace led the way up the stairs to the study above.

Anne followed. “How long have you been with Charlie and Declan’s Defenders?”

Grace grinned. “Since the beginning. I presented them with their first mission.”

Anne shot a glance toward the pretty young woman. “Were you being targeted by Trinity?”

She shook her head. “No, but my roommate had disappeared. Declan helped me put the pieces together, and ultimately, we found my roommate. Declan saved my life in the process.”

“They’re as good as Charlie claims they are?” Anne asked.

Grace nodded. “The best.”

Anne felt a little better about handing over her badge to the team. And she felt better knowing she didn’t have to ferret out Trinity and their plan of attack on her own. With Jack watching her back and Cole and Jonah scouring the internet for clues, they might have a chance of discovering what was going to happen before it actually occurred.

She hoped she was right.

JACK ENTERED THE suite assigned to Declan and Grace. They’d been together since Charlie first hired him. It was because of the work Declan had done helping Grace stay alive while searching for her roommate that Charlie had come up with the brilliant idea to establish a team of trained combatants to handle situations outside of the police and federal agencies’ hands.

Declan had never been happier than he was with Grace. After being separated from the military for doing the right thing, he deserved to be happy.

Declan crossed the sitting room and entered the bedroom he shared with Grace, opening a closet at the far end. He sorted through the shirts hanging there and dug deep into the back of the closet, eventually pulling out a white dress shirt and charcoal gray suit. “The suit was tailored to fit me, but I think we’re about the same across the chest.” He handed the shirt and blazer to Jack.

Jack tried on the shirt over his black T-shirt. It appeared to fit just fine. The sleeves were a tad short, but they would work. He slipped his arms into the suit jacket and pulled it over his shoulders. It fit his chest and waist, but the sleeves would need lengthening.

“Try the trousers,” Declan said.

Jack kicked off his shoes, shucked his jeans and slipped his legs into the trousers. “They’re a little loose around the waist and hips. A belt will keep them in place.”

Declan patted his flat belly. “Guess I’m putting on a little weight. I might need to step up my exercise routine.”

“We’re just built differently.” Jack looked at himself in the mirror. “If we can let out the pant legs two inches and the sleeves at least an inch, this will work.” He removed the suit, dressed in his jeans and shoes and faced Declan.

His team leader handed him the hangers with the shirt and suit. “Are you up for playing the part of Anne’s assistant tomorrow?”

He nodded. “I suppose so. Although I’m not quite certain what exactly all the people who support the National Security Council actually do.”

“Let’s see if Cole and Jonah have made any progress on that badge. While we’re in the war room, we can do some research on the NSC. Since you’ll be a new hire, you won’t be expected to know much.”