Deadly protector, p.1
Deadly Protector, page 1
DEADLY PROTECTOR
RED STONE SECURITY SERIES #19
KATIE REUS
Deadly Protector
Red Stone Security Series®
Copyright © 2022 Katie Reus
Cover art and Formatting by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
Editor: Julia Ganis
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.
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Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book. This purchase allows you one legal copy for your own personal reading enjoyment on your personal computer or device. You do not have the right to resell, distribute, print or transfer this book, in whole or in part, to anyone, in any format, via methods either currently known or yet to be invented, or upload this book to a file sharing program. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
He’s a former thief.
* * *
Dimitri’s world is turned upside down when he meets Zamira. The sweet single mom knows nothing about who he used to be. He should stay away, because he’s the last thing she needs in her life. But when she’s targeted by a threat from her past, he can’t keep his distance any longer.
* * *
She’s been burned before.
* * *
Zamira is a widow raising her twins with the help of her big family. After a devastating betrayal by her deceased husband, dating hasn’t been on her radar in years—until she meets a man who makes her feel alive again. But before she can think about taking the next step with him, a deadly secret threatens to rip her world apart. She knows she can’t handle things alone, yet when Dimitri steps in she realizes he has secrets too. He’s more dangerous than anyone she’s ever met. And the biggest threat he poses is to her heart.
For my mom, and all the other good moms, the world over.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Dear Readers
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Complete Booklist
CHAPTER ONE
“Think about what I said.” Amelia LeBlanc patted Zamira’s hand gently, the older woman’s eyes kind as they stood near the TSA line.
Typical airport noise surrounded them, someone on the overhead speaker asking a couple to report to one of the gates, parents telling their children to hurry up. Zamira tuned most of it out and nodded at her former mother-in-law before she scooped her kids up against her for one more hug.
They’d just turned thirteen and were leaving with their grandparents for their annual spring getaway. Elisa, who normally groaned at any affection lately, hugged Zamira back tight. Andres did the same and there was a hint of wetness in his eyes. “I’m going to miss you both.” She kissed both their faces, focusing on Andres until he finally laughed.
“We’re going to miss you too.” He adjusted his backpack and grinned, all hint of tears gone, which had been her hope with all the kisses. “And we’ll talk every day.”
“Yeah, Mom, this isn’t the eighties,” Elisa added with a hair toss. “We’ll be able to FaceTime every day.”
Zamira decided not to point out that she hadn’t been born in the eighties. “I know, but I still get to miss my babies.”
There was more grumbling, then her in-laws both hugged her and made promises to call or text each step of the trip so she’d know where her kids were and how they were doing. There was an innate gentleness in both of them. A kindness and caring that made it a lot easier to let her kids go with them.
She’d lucked out with her in-laws—just not with her long-deceased husband. She had no idea how her hotheaded husband had come from two such amazing people. The two lived on the outskirts of Kelowna in Canada, had a couple horses, and each year her twins spent time with them hiking, riding and all sorts of outdoor activities. Zamira normally went with them but the last couple years they’d gone alone and it had been good for all of them. She wanted her kids to experience the world, to gain a bit of independence, and to see how their father had grown up, to get a hint into who he’d been. Or who she’d thought he’d been. And she knew it was good for her to get some time to herself, to prepare for when or if they decided to move away for school. She hoped they didn’t go too far.
“Oh, sorry,” a man with a suitcase murmured as he jostled past her, his words and the movement jarring her out of her head. She needed to get out of here, to stop getting caught in a web from the past. Her life had changed the day her twins had been born—for the better.
And she was going to miss them. But like it or not she had two weeks to herself, so she was going to take advantage. Not be a sad sack.
As she left the airport, the automatic doors whooshed open and a humid breeze rolled over her—when an hour ago she’d needed a cardigan. Nothing like drunk Florida weather, unable to make up its mind. She slipped off her sweater as she made her way to the parking garage across from the terminal.
When she was about halfway under the concrete overhang, she smiled to hear her sister Angel’s familiar ringtone. Slipping her Bluetooth in, she said, “Hey. Checking up on me?”
“Nah. Just seeing if you’re throwing a party tonight. If so, I’m bringing cupcakes.”
“Ha ha.” Zamira sidestepped a woman lugging a big suitcase behind her and picked up her pace. There was a lot of foot traffic and she wanted to get out of here—before she changed her mind and hauled her kids back home. Not that she was considering doing that. Not seriously. Mostly not. “They’ve been looking forward to this since last year.”
“I can’t believe you’re letting them go for two weeks this time.”
“I know, but it works with their school schedules and they’re only missing a few days.” The twins’ school had a late spring break compared to some schools, in later April, and because the Friday before the break was a holiday, they were only missing three days total. “And I feel guilty because we’re not taking our normal summer trip, so I agreed to two weeks. They’re excited to get colder weather for a change.”
“Hey, I’m not judging. I’m going to miss the munchkins but I’m glad you’re getting some down time. I know Elisa has been giving you a lot of attitude lately.”
She snorted as she hurried up the set of concrete stairs, bypassing the elevators and a dozen people waiting for the next ride. Being a single parent was not for the fainthearted. “She’s eased up a little, surprisingly. I think Mama might have said something to her.”
“I have such respect for Mama now, raising the four of us.”
“No kidding.” A horn blasted from somewhere on the second floor of the parking garage as she reached it and she winced. “Sorry about the noise. I’m almost to my car.”
“No worries. So, you want to go out tonight? Or come over to our place?”
“Eh, maybe. I haven’t decided if I’m looking forward to the quiet of the house or dreading it.” She winced again as another horn blasted, but quickly slipped into her hybrid SUV and closed the door behind her. “I’ll let you know. I’m kind of out of sorts right now. Also…Amelia said I needed to start thinking about dating again, that I shouldn’t be afraid to see what’s out there. She was pushing me in that gentle way of hers, but she was definitely pushing.” She’d taken Zamira off guard.
“Man, I love that woman. You got so lucky with her. Thomas too. And she’s right. You’ve been alone a long time. Not that there’s anything wrong with it.”
“I love my life,” she said as she pulled out of the parking garage. “I’m so busy with my stuff and all the kids’ stuff. I don’t…even know when I’d have time.” Or if she even wanted to find the time. Lucas had burned her. Not intentionally, and she hadn’t realized who he’d been until he’d died, but knowing how blind she’d been to all his issues had shaken her deeply. Shaken how she viewed men, relationships—her ability to make smart judgments.
“Hmm, smells like bullshit.”
“You’re annoying.”
“Annoying when I’m right?”
“Ugh. Hey, hold on.” She quickly paid the parking attendant, then rolled up her window as she pulled out onto the road. “And yes, super annoying.”
“Clarita said something about one of your kitesurfing friends asking you out.”
“Ah, not a friend really.” She was part of an all-women’s kitesurfing group that met once a week but lately there’d been a group of younger people meeting up at th
“So? You’re only thirty-one.”
“Thirty-two.” She’d just had a birthday.
“Tomato, tomahto.”
“A hookup isn’t what I’m looking for.” When her sister didn’t respond, she cleared her throat. “That’s what kids say now, right? Hookup?”
Angel snort-laughed. “I have no idea what ‘the kids’ are saying. And fine, you’re not looking for a fling, so what are you looking for?”
“I don’t know. The opposite of my past,” she murmured.
“Oof.” Angel was silent for a long moment. “What about that huge hottie from my wedding? The one you danced with a few times.”
“Ah…” An image of Dimitri flashed in her brain. Huge hottie was an apt description of the man. And he certainly wasn’t twenty-three. He was more likely forty-three and simply gorgeous. Big, broad shoulders, jet-black hair with just a bit of salt at the temples. His eyes were such a dark blue that they almost looked brown in darker settings. But in the light…
Gah, she had to stop thinking about him. It was hard though, considering she’d helped him during his physical therapy from a knee injury, had seen exactly how ripped he was all over. Well, she hadn’t literally seen him all over, but his gym shorts and T-shirts couldn’t hide his muscular physique.
“I was his physical therapist. So…” She’d met him at Angel and Juan’s wedding—Juan knew him somehow, from work at Red Stone Security maybe—and the chemistry had been immediate, at least on her part. But he’d never asked her out, and then he’d ended up in her office needing physical therapy not long after. She’d thought he’d been into her, but he’d never made a move and they were just friends now. They were both so busy anyway. Ugh. This whole question was moot so she didn’t even need to consider it.
“Oh my God, so what? You’re not his physical therapist anymore. So you’re legally allowed to date him if you want. You drive me crazy,” Angel grumbled. “All my sisters drive me crazy. Mama is a saint. Just don’t tell her I said that,” she tacked on.
“I won’t. And I think I’m going to say no for tonight. I’m going to head to the beach in a bit, get in some kitesurfing. It’s a gorgeous day.” She glanced out the window at the brilliant blue, cloudless sky. “I’ll want to crash afterward and I doubt you want me to crash on your couch.”
“You’re always welcome, but I get it. Will you be at Mama’s on Sunday?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, see you then. Love you.”
“Love you too.” She opened her sunroof as she headed home, glad it was such a gorgeous day. Getting a healthy dose of salt water and sunshine was just what she needed.
Yep, this had been exactly what she needed, Zamira decided as she finished folding up her parachute. She would lay it out in the grass of her backyard later and blow off the stray sand with her pump, but she was ready to get home and relax. Her muscles were loose and she’d gotten a text from Amelia that everyone was now in Seattle and enjoying ice creams during the layover. Everything was good in her world.
“You gonna be out here next week?” Kia, one of her kitesurfing friends, a forty-five-year-old real estate agent, asked as she approached. In a low-cut one-piece blue bathing suit, she was stunning as always. She got out here more often than Zamira and it showed in every line of her muscular legs. “I know you’ve got some down time coming up.”
“Definitely. I was thinking I’d be down here next Tuesday and Wednesday since there tends to be less traffic then.” There were a lot of things she’d planned for her two weeks off, but she was definitely getting in extra kitesurfing.
“Ha, same. Good stuff then, I’ll text you if anything changes but I’ll plan on meeting up with you.”
“Sounds good.” Zamira stood, stretched as she looked out at the ocean. The sky had shifted quickly, as it often did here. Gray clouds rolled in from the horizon and she’d been here for hours so it was a good time to leave. Before the thunder and lightning started.
“Zamira?”
She turned at the sound of a male voice, frowned slightly as a huge man approached her. In a white tank top and jogging-style pants that didn’t quite fit his big frame, he didn’t fit here either. No bathing suit, no towel or cooler. Something about him was familiar but she couldn’t place him.
“Zamira LeBlanc?”
She blinked at the use of her former name. Lucas, her husband, had been gone a long time. She rarely thought of him anymore, had gone back to being Zamira Nowak.
Then it clicked into place where she knew this man from. Ugh, great. She feigned ignorance, however. “Ah, do I know you?” In her periphery, she was well aware of at least eight other kitesurfers close by and within shouting distance. Instinctively, she pulled the zipper on her rash guard top a little higher.
His jaw clenched as he approached, his eyes narrowing against the sun peeking out from the clouds. Or he was glaring at her, she wasn’t sure.
Right about now, she was glad for her sunglasses. She started putting her kite into its bag and zipping it up as he reached her.
“I’m Kurt. I was friends with your husband.”
She frowned as she picked up her backpack, slid it on. She wasn’t going to bother getting dressed. Her bathing suit and rash guard had already dried and she wanted to get whatever this was over with and then get the heck out of here. “Oh, right… I thought you were, ah…” She trailed off, not wanting to call out that he’d been in prison.
His jaw clenched again. “I just got out of prison,” he finally said.
The back of her neck prickled as he watched her, but she raised her eyebrows, hoping she looked impatient and not scared. Because…why was he here? It was clear that it was to talk to her, not to go to the beach. So this wasn’t a coincidence. Dread curled in her middle as that knowledge settled inside her. There was no reason for him to have searched her out. “Look, can I help you?”
“Why didn’t you respond to my letters?”
“Letters?” She clutched the bag to her chest, her heart beating wildly. Years ago he’d sent some letters but she’d tossed them all. He’d gone to jail because of some scam or B and E thing, she wasn’t sure. It had nothing to do with her or her husband. She’d heard he’d gotten out briefly, but had ended up getting tossed right back in after a violent bar fight or something. Maybe a robbery?
She hadn’t thought of him in years—he was part of her husband’s past and she didn’t like to think about how stupid she’d been to marry Lucas. Didn’t like to think about that part of her life at all. Not when she’d built something wonderful after him.
“Don’t act like you didn’t get them.”
“Look, I have no idea—”
“Zamira, hey!” Zac, the annoying twenty-three-year-old who’d asked her out a couple times, jogged over in his board shorts, sporting a perfect tan. He was harmless and earnest and she was so grateful he’d chosen now to show up.
She smiled brightly. “Zac, hey!”
He looked a little shocked at her reception and his grin grew. Oh crap, she’d have to deal with his crush soon, but not at the moment.
Kurt looked as if he wanted to say more, but turned and stalked away through the sand. The band in her chest eased a fraction when he reached the long-planked walkway and headed toward the parking lot. But not totally. Because she didn’t think this was over.
“I’m surprised you’re here on a Friday.” Zac’s smile was easy, his expression open, and if she’d been the same age as him, she might have considered going out with him.
