ELITE Redemption (Guardian ELITE Book 1)

  ELITE REDEMPTION

  GUARDIAN ELITE, BOOK 1

  KALYN COOPER

  CONTENTS

  Note from Author

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  ELITE Justice

  More Books by KaLyn Cooper

  About the Author

  NOTE FROM AUTHOR

  Dear Reader,

  ELITE Redemption was originally titled Double Jeopardy but has been deeply edited and rewritten to become part of the newly revised and rebranded Guardian ELITE series in 2022.

  Several of the original secondary characters have been renamed since the story was removed from the series. ELITE Redemption no longer has a fantasy element (which really isn’t my style).

  In ELITE Redemption, Blake Albright, who works for Guardian Security Inc., is assigned to a protect a billionaire and his wife on a tropical island. Awesome duty…until he discovers that he’s partnered with Ryleigh Davenport, Guardian’s first female field agent. She’s also the woman who disappeared from his desert bed never to be seen or heard from again.

  This is the first book in the revised and rebranded Guardian ELITE series that blends characters from KaLyn Cooper’s Black Swan series with the employees of Guardian Security.

  An entire list of KaLyn Cooper books is available in the back of this book and on my website at www.KaLynCooper.com

  I hope you enjoy this book and will tell others what you liked about it in a review.

  Always,

  KaLyn

  ELITE Redemption

  KaLyn Cooper

  Published 2022

  ISBN–13: 978-1-970145-28-1

  Copyright © Published 2022, KaLyn Cooper

  Printed in the United States of America

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  I dedicate this book to the men and women who have fought for our country and have created a new life for themselves after leaving the service. Sometimes, the good parts of active-duty life follow you into the civilian world.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many thanks to my New York City expert, USAToday Bestselling author, Jean Joachim. My deepest gratitude to my wonderful editor, Marci Clark. A special thank you to Angie Bengston who suggested the winning character names for Duke and Ella Wainwright. Hugs go with my appreciation to my good friend, Myrna Perkins, for naming Ryleigh Davenport and Blake Albright.

  CHAPTER 1

  “I wouldn’t mind protecting that client...very personally.” Blake Albright glanced across the busy room filled with powerfully toned men at every workstation, to the curvy woman in a navy business suit with her back to them. She tossed long brunette hair over one shoulder as she looked away from his boss to the company’s managing partner, Alex Wolf, obviously answering the man’s question. For the manager of the Guardian Security New York City Center to give a private tour to a client was a bit unusual, but for an owner of the corporation to be involved meant this curvaceous woman was someone extremely important.

  There was something familiar about the way she shifted her stance that stirred an old memory, although Blake couldn’t place it. She was most likely some movie star, or the pampered wife of a CEO he’d seen at one of the many social events he’d attended as a bodyguard. She’d gain the attention of any red-blooded man and Blake was all man.

  When his cock twitched it surprised him. That never happened at work or while on the job. He paused to remember his most recent date. Okay, in truth, when he’d last gotten laid. Nancy. No. He’d scraped her off the minute she started talking about babies. Shit. That was almost a year ago. He’d had several hookups since then and before he’d been promoted to assistant manager. One, he’d dated a couple of times; supper and her for dessert. What the hell was her name? He thought of her as candy because she had the sweetest—

  “You haven’t heard?” Garrett Diehl looked at him with incredulity written all over his cocoa face. “She’s not a new client; she’s a new team member.”

  “What the fuck?” Guardian Security, Inc. didn’t have any women employees, not in a single one in the ten offices across the U.S.A. Although the company was partially owned by Katlin Callahan, she was a silent partner when it came to managing the business. “What is she going to do here? We certainly don’t need a receptionist or secretary.”

  Garrett raised an eyebrow. “Sexist much?”

  Blake chuckled. “I can see it now. That little slip of a woman trying to protect a six-foot two, two-hundred thirty-pound CEO. Yeah, right. She could blend in as arm candy and act as backup for his real bodyguards. What’s she really gonna be doing here?”

  “You really are a sexist ass, aren’t you? I wouldn’t talk that way around Ms. Callahan if I were you. She’d kick your ass from here into tomorrow.” Garrett nodded toward the conference room than his slow grin preceded Blake’s greatest fear. “She’ll be working the field.”

  “No fucking way.” Blake glanced through the glass walls of the small conference room. As she sat down, her dark brown hair curtained her profile. Once situated, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear revealing delicate facial features.

  An angelic face he’d looked into many times as she’d screamed his name in ecstasy.

  Pain shot to his stomach as though Garrett had punched him in the gut.

  “No fucking way.” This time, Blake’s repeated words were a whisper.

  As though she’d heard him, she looked directly at Blake with eyes so hard he almost took a step back. Her solid gaze was so similar to that of every man in management at Guardian Security, a steel forged on battlefields half a world away. She gave him a barely perceptible shake of her head, a warning, like those passed between them four years ago when they had to keep their budding relationship away from the eyes of senior Army officers.

  It was obvious that standard operating procedure was going to continue at this job, as well. Blake wondered if they might pick up where they’d left off, but then anger rose within him as he remembered returning to base camp and finding her gone. No note. No voicemail on his phone. Not a single fucking word. To make matters worse, no one would tell him where she’d been transferred. She had simply disappeared, taking a piece of his heart with her.

  Her gaze flicked to Alex. The smile she gave him was genuine and reached her crystalline amber eyes. He’d seen those eyes turn molten gold when she was aroused. He longed for those days. Not for the 115-degree weather and one-hundred-pound pack he carried on every mission his Special Forces team was sent on, but for the hours he and Ryleigh had spent together. Not just in bed, although the sex had been absolutely fantastic, Blake enjoyed being around her.

  Sometimes they would find a quiet place in camp and simply read while sitting side-by-side.

  He smirked. She’d downloaded hundreds of romance novels onto her tablet knowing full well those books were banned in Afghanistan. The defiant rebel attitude was one of many things that had attracted him to her.

  Merely being close to her seeme
d to soothe him in a way he’d never found with any other woman. Discovering that kind of inner peace was a miracle in the midst of a war. She’d grounded him.

  And then she’d disappeared.

  Now, she was thirty feet away, and it looked like the New York City office of Guardian Security would be the guinea pig for adding women into its ranks. With all the women in the world, why did it have to be her? This time the situation was considerably different. Overseas, they had worked for different commands. Although they had both been captains at the time, fraternization in theater was prohibited. Unless Alex was going to make her an assistant manager—which Blake highly doubted since he, Garrett, and Clay filled those three slots—Ryleigh would be working for him this time.

  The company’s human resources manual didn’t address workplace relationships because it hadn’t been necessary. Besides, Alex couldn’t be hypocritical given his relationship with Ms. Callahan. If rumors were to be believed—and the men at all ten guardian centers knew each other so well they gossiped like old neighbor ladies over a fence—Alex and Katlin practically lived together when she was in the states.

  Movement from the conference room caught his eye when everyone stood. As they started to exit, Wyatt signaled for Blake and Garrett to join them.

  “Pretty little thing,” Garrett murmured just above a whisper as they crossed through the low hum of deep voices and the clicking of computer keys.

  Blake scanned the room, checking the reaction of the other men. Several slid furtive glances toward the threesome in the conference room but their attention quickly returned to their work. They had no idea that the woman from his past was about to invade their testosterone-rich environment.

  “Blake. Garrett.” Alex shook hands with each man. “I’d like you to meet Ryleigh Davenport, your newest team member.”

  With a pasted-on smile—that was more a baring of gritted teeth—Blake held out his hand and forced the single word, “Welcome.” Oh, he had so much more to say to this woman. Now was not the time, nor was this the place.

  As though they were strangers, she took his hand in a brief shake, but gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go.

  What the hell did that mean? Nice to see you again? Thanks for not revealing our past? Great to see you? Meet me later for make-up sex?

  Their eyes caught for a millisecond before she moved on.

  “Nice to meet you, Ryleigh Davenport.” Garrett laid on the Southern charm as thick as the peanut butter made in his home state of Georgia. He continued to hold her hand in his huge one as he gushed, “I look forward to working with you. Have you been to New York before? I’d be happy to show you the city.”

  What the hell was his co-worker up to? He had no right to flirt with her. She was Blake’s woman. Or at least she had been.

  Ryleigh smiled up at the man who used to be a wide receiver for Georgia Tech before joining the Navy and becoming a SEAL. “I’d like that. I’ve spent most of my life on the west coast and although I’ve flown through New York a few times, I’ve only seen the sites from a plane.”

  Wyatt, the center’s manager, stepped closer to her, and lifted his hand toward the small of her back, as though to guide her away. The unconscious gesture sent a thin stream of green through Blake’s pounding heart. His boss obviously thought better of the move and snapped his hand away. “We’ll see to it you get a complete tour, immediately. It’s important that you know the city like a local.”

  Ryleigh deftly slid her hand from Garrett’s, her smile never faltering. “Thank you. That would be fantastic.”

  “How about you settle into your apartment upstairs while Alex and I finish the center’s review,” Wyatt suggested. He turned his attention to Blake. “Will you help Ryleigh get her gear to her room? You can meet us at the range in thirty minutes for the weekly training session.”

  “Yes, sir.” Blake’s right hand twitched to salute, but he caught it before he made a fool of himself. He’d left all that behind when he got out of the Army two years ago. Everyone who worked for Guardian Security was former military, most from the special operations field, but the company wasn’t regimented. Everyone respected the chain of command, but no one saluted. Sir was expected and given.

  “Even though I don’t actually start until tomorrow, I’d like to join you at the range if I may.” Ryleigh looked first at Wyatt then glanced to Alex for permission.

  “Fine by me,” Wyatt said with a smile. “Blake will wait for you while you change. Uniforms are hanging in your closet. On your way down from the apartment floor, Blake can give you a tour of the building.”

  “I’d be happy to,” Blake replied. At least they’d have a benign subject to discuss. He looked to Ryleigh. “Where are your suitcases?”

  “Still in the car.” She strode out the conference door toward the elevator, exuding confidence in every step.

  Blake followed her to the subterranean parking level, neither saying a word in the elevator. She seemed to know their Operations Center monitored every square inch of the building with both audio and visual except the private apartments and community bathrooms.

  After opening the rear door to the Guardian SUV, Ryleigh leaned in and started handing out duffel bags. Just above a whisper she said, “I had no idea you worked here. I wouldn’t have accepted the job had I known.”

  “Well, I do.” Blake took a heavy bag from her and set it on the concrete floor. He could smell her light perfume and a scent that he would always know as Ryleigh. His cock stiffened in reaction. Damn it. He couldn’t walk around with a hard on for their new employee. He had to tread lightly here before he got fired for sexual harassment, or the company got fined for mistreating women. He suddenly remembered his management position. “This time I’m your boss.”

  Ryleigh flipped her head around to look at him over her shoulder. “I was told Wyatt is the manager.”

  “He is.” Blake stifled a grin at her look of bafflement. It wasn’t often he’d seen Ryleigh confused. “I’m one of the three assistant managers. Guardian Security has to be manned twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week which requires all four of us.”

  She turned away and grabbed the next bag. “As soon as I can, I’ll apply for a transfer to one of the other locations,” she said quietly, her words muffled inside the SUV. Hopefully no one in the Ops Center was listening to them.

  Transfer? No. That wouldn’t work. She was the first woman in the company, and it would look as though the men in the New York City office ran her off. On a purely professional level, Blake didn’t want her to leave.

  He liked Ryleigh. She’d been a good soldier. Personally, though, he had questions about her abrupt disappearance. The more he thought about eating lunch with her again, their heated political debates…and the make-up sex afterwards…he warmed to the idea of her being around. He couldn’t let her leave.

  “You don’t need to do that.” Not only did he want her to stay, but he wanted to see if there was something left of their original relationship. At one time, things between them had been great. At least he’d thought so.

  Blake had played their last days together over and over in his mind. Had he said something to upset her? Had he done something she didn’t like? He doubted either had happened. Ryleigh was not a passive person. On more than one occasion she had taken him to task for something he had said or done. For over a week after he’d returned from a mission in the mountain region, and found she’d left, he’d worried someone had discovered they’d been sleeping together for months and reported it to her commanding officer. That would be cause for the Army to ship her out immediately. He was equally as guilty, but because of the millions of dollars it took to train a Special Forces officer, especially a West Point graduate, command would have removed her, rather than him.

  He had to know why she’d left. But the parking garage was not the place for that discussion.

  “That’s it.” Ryleigh turned and slid a long strap of one bag across her body then picked up one in each hand.
“If you can grab that bag,” she nodded to the last duffel on the floor, “I’ve got these.”

  Blake grabbed the bag off the floor then snatched the one from her left hand. “I’m not letting you schlep these all the way upstairs.” He headed toward the elevator.

  This time he decided conversation was necessary to maintain their cover. It would be expected of him to ask usual first meeting questions. “So, you’ve never been to New York before?”

  She stared straight ahead. “No.”

  Okay, so that’s the way she wants to play it. Blake would drag answers out of her if he had to. “I’ve been here almost two years and will be more than happy to show you around.” He watched her reaction in the elevator doors that were polished to a high sheen of almost mirror quality.

  A corner of her mouth twitched up. “That won’t be necessary. Garrett has offered to show me around.”

  Oh, no. His friend would not be showing his woman around the city. That was his self-appointed job. He wanted to see the look on her face as they took the ferry past the Statue of Liberty. He would be the one to share her excitement as they checked out New York from the observation deck on the Empire State Building. He would be the one sharing dim sum with her in Chinatown. New York would be a new beginning for the two of them.

  All too quickly the doors opened on the sixth floor. The hallway could have been mistaken for a high-end hotel with thickly padded carpet, dimly lit sconces, and high-grade wallpaper occasionally covered by large paintings of popular New York City sites.