Chapter 1

1

Roark

S weat drips from my temples, falling to the brushed concrete floor beneath the bench.

"Think you can handle it, old man?" Cameron asks. "Or do I need to bail you out?"

Punk-ass motherfucker doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. I'd say it out loud, but I can barely fucking breathe. I choke out, "I got it," and push the bar up, up, and then onto the rack.

Winded, I sit up and look for my towel. My muscles are burning even while sweet adrenaline courses through my veins. Unfortunately, my towel is looking worse for wear now that we're at the end of our workout. I grimace as I look at it, hesitant to bring the fabric to my face.

Cameron takes pity on me and tosses me a fresh one. "Here, princess."

One of these days I'm going to beat his ass. It would be today if my arms weren't so tired.

He looks like he could do several more reps. He's six years younger than me, but sometimes it feels more like a decade between us, like the years haven't worn him down yet. He isn't as jaded as I am. We're a bit of an odd couple to be training together, but we both started at Ironwood Security around the same time, and it made sense to train together when we weren't being indoctrinated into the company.

The door to the company gym swings open and Ryder Callihan, one of the owners, steps inside. He looks smart and polished in his suit, especially when compared to Cameron and me in our sweat-soaked workout gear.

"Oh good, you two are exactly who I was looking for," Ryder says. "Clean up and meet me in my office."

He leaves, and Cameron and I exchange a look. A small smile appears on Cameron's face.

"New assignment," he says, rubbing his hands together.

"For both of us?" I don't mind a new assignment, but the last guy I'd choose to work with me is Cameron.

"Oh, don't sound like it would be the worst thing," he says. "You know you can't get enough of me."

Ignoring him, I hit the showers. Cameron French isn't a bad guy. He's a bit brash, maybe a little too carefree. He flirts with anything that moves—men, women, single, married, doesn't matter, but always dances it back before he crosses any lines.

Me, I just want to do my job and go home at the end of a shift, or head to Low Vice to let off steam. That's it, that's my life. The life of an aging man who refuses to settle down with a woman. And it's fine.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Roark , a voice whispers as I finish my shower and towel off.

Cameron catches up with me just outside Ryder's office on the top floor. "Seriously," he says, "what do you think this is about?"

"Only one way to find out." I knock on the door.

Ryder calls out for us to come in and have a seat, so we do, taking two chairs in front of his desk.

Ryder sits on the edge of his desk. "I'll get right to it. Ironwood is partnering with Hunter's Guild."

"Hunter's Guild. Isn't that a bounty hunting service?" Cameron wrinkles his nose. "I thought our job is to protect people, not hunt them down."

"Generally, it is," Ryder says. "But John Hunter, the owner, is an old friend, and we're expanding into new services for elite clients. This is an experiment, we'll see how it goes. Are you two up for it?"

"Why aren't you asking any of your more seasoned guards?" I ask. "We're your two newest guys—doesn't seem like we'd be your first choice."

He nods. "We're spread a little thin, helping out the royal family of Caperna. As you know, that's part of the reason we brought you two on."

"All right," Cameron says. "I'm in. Who are we hunting down?"

I give him a side-eye. He's too eager, like a fucking puppy rushing to join the fray.

"Willis," Ryder says. "You in?"

"Sure," I say easily, even though I'm already neck-deep in doubts about working with Cameron. "What are the specs?"

Ryder spins his computer monitor around to face us. A photo of a guy in a suit takes up half the screen. He's got brown hair a bit lighter than Cameron's. My color, but without the gray at the temples, and a short beard like mine. The other half shows a big logo made from an interlocked C and O.

Ryder says, "Clive Oberon, owner of Oberon Transport, recently had sensitive files stolen from him. He wants the thief and the files recovered, without anything leaked. Oh yeah, and the thief is his ex."

"Revenge porn?" Cameron suggests.

"No idea. Hunter's Guild didn't tell us. Likely, they didn't ask either."

"Did they tell us anything about the ex, at least?" I ask.

"Yep." Ryder taps at his keyboard and pulls up a file, selects an icon.

The photo of Oberon disappears and an image of a beautiful woman pops up on the screen. Her curves are showcased in an evening gown with a deep V in the front that goes between her breasts to her navel. Her hair is cropped very short to show off her smooth neck. What's most striking, however, are her deep brown eyes. She's smiling, but her eyes are so fucking sad, they steal the breath from my lungs.

Cameron whistles. "That's the target?"

Ryder nods. "Penny Govier. She's an heiress whose inheritance was mismanaged, but fortunately for her, she met Oberon and her lifestyle didn't have to change. Until now. I guess she got greedy or maybe she was already interested in corporate espionage."

"Yeah, I'll chase her anywhere." Cameron nudges me with his elbow. "Ready, old man?"

The corners of Ryder's lips quirk up in a smile. "You better be careful, Frenchie. Willis could probably take you."

I'm barely listening to their banter, my gaze locked on the soulful brown eyes of the girl on the screen. Penny Govier. She doesn't look like a criminal mastermind, but what the fuck do I know?