Cowboy Bodyguard (Alpha Agency Protectors Book 5) Read online

  Alpha Agency Protectors 5

  Cowboy Bodyguard

  By:

  Scarlett Winters

  Copyright 2020 Scarlett Winters

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any way or by any means. Including but not limited to recording, photocopying, any electronic methods, without the prior written consent of the publisher. This book is strictly a work of fiction, any references to persons, places or things are all completely fictional.

  Warning: This book is for adult audiences.

  Contents

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  Chapter 1~Lizzie

  Chapter 2~Lizzie

  Chapter 3~Jack

  Chapter 4~Lizzie

  Chapter 5~Jack

  Chapter 6~Lizzie

  Chapter 7~Jack

  Chapter 8~Lizzie

  Chapter 9~Jack

  Chapter 10~Lizzie

  Chapter 11~Jack

  Chapter 12~Epilogue

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  Chapter 1~Lizzie

  My feet are killing me, and my back is aching. I can’t wait to toss these heels in the closet, and get out of my work clothes. Baggy sweats, here I come! I’ve been on one airplane or another for almost two days. I’ve had practically no sleep, and my smile is broken. Normally, I love being an airline stewardess, but accepting back to back assignments is a stupid thing to have done.

  I want a hot shower, or maybe a soak in the tub. I don’t want conversation. I’ve had more than enough of that with the passengers. A soak, some good food, and sleep are my priorities. Please, don’t let Amy’s boyfriend be at my place! He’s creepy, and I’m not in the mood for his snaky eyes to glare at me.

  Before I get the key into the locked door, I already know I won’t get my wish. I can hear Joey’s gruff voice out here in the hallway. He sounds angry. Poor Amy! Why does she seem to love this man so much? He makes me uneasy, and he’s old. He’s forty, I think, and Amy is barely twenty-three.

  Taking a steadying breath so that I can fake one more smile, I open the door. There is tension in the room, and Amy looks nervous, but she greets me with a shaky grin anyway.

  “Lizzie! You’re home. How bad was it? I can’t believe you tried to hold on for back to back jobs. I was worried about you,” she gushes as if to cover for whatever argument has been going on.

  “Ah, baby, you know she wasn’t gone long enough. I could have done with some more time without her around. She’s always in our way,” Joey snarkily comments.

  “Don’t mind him, Lizzie. He just likes to keep me all to himself,” Amy says to stop a pending argument.

  She need not worry. I’m far too tired to fight, and I’m used to Joey’s less than welcoming attitude. It’s gotten worse over time, and I’m getting better at ignoring it.

  “We’re good, Amy. I wasn’t going to interrupt anyway. I want food, a shower, and bed. I won’t get in anybody’s way,” I promise, staring directly at Joey.

  “That sounds like an excellent threesome, Lizzie. How about if we join you?” Joey asks with a cocky grin.

  Amy playfully slaps at his arm, and says, “He’s just joking. Go ahead and shower. I’ll fix you something to eat, and bring it to your room.”

  “Thanks, Amy. That’s sweet of you.” I head to my room without looking back. I can feel Joey’s eyes on me as I walk. Amy’s wrong. He meant every word he said. Why can’t she see it? His sleaziness is so obvious to me. I don’t trust him at all, yet, she’s always defending him. It makes me sad.

  The hot water feels so wonderful. It eases my aches, and relaxes my muscles. The soft, well worn sweats I tug on give me comfort, much like a warm hug. I’m pulling a brush through my tangled red hair when Amy brings in a plate full of my favorite foods. Scrambled eggs with cheese in them, bacon, and a chocolate poptart. They’re childish foods, but they make me happy, and my best friend is nice enough to indulge me.

  “Thanks, Amy. I didn’t mean to interrupt your time with Joey, and make you cook for me.”

  “It’s no trouble. He’s on the phone, anyway. I’m sorry for the way he likes to tease you. He doesn’t mean anything by it. It’s just his way. It’s kind of cute, don’t you think so?” she asks with hope on her sweet face.

  It’s not cute at all, and I don’t see it as teasing, but I don’t want to hurt my friend. So, I reply, “I’ve been teased all my life by my brothers, so it’s no big deal. What have you been up to while I was away?”

  “Not much. Joey had some work to take care of, and he just came back last night. I suppose that’s why he wants more alone time with me. I’ll make sure he gets it while you’re sleeping. But, we’re going out for drinks tonight. Come with us. It will be fun,” Amy says as she bounces on the bed.

  I don’t want to go. So, I look for an excuse to decline, and a great one hits me almost instantly. “I want to write, Amy. I’ve had a story spinning around in my head for days, and I really need to put it on paper before it slips away.”

  “Come on! Jot down a few sentences to remind you, and come out with us. Please! I’ve missed hanging out with you. I need my best friend,” Amy begs.

  There’s something almost frantic in her blue eyes, and it scares me. I can’t let her down, so I agree even though it makes me nauseous.

  She jumps up, and hugs me tight, then rushes from the room. I sigh, eat my meal, and drop onto the bed in exhaustion.

  ***

  I don’t want any of Joey’s attention tonight, so I dress conservatively. Gray jeans, and a pink sweater are my choice. The pink is soft, and pale, which is my favorite of all the colors in the world. I opt for flats, because my feet are still aching. I let my red hair do its own thing, and fall in waves to my shoulders. A touch of mascara to highlight my green eyes, and I’m ready to have a couple of drinks with Amy, and the jerk.

  The bar is full, and Joey wraps a big hand around each of our upper arms, to drag us through the crowd to the bar. His hand feels slimy, and sends waves of chills up my spine. It’s a feeling I can’t quite describe, but I’m close to being frightened. I promise myself I’ll have a long chat with Amy later. I have to make her understand that Joey isn’t right for her, or anyone. I only hope I can make her see him for what he really is. She needs to be saved.

  Chapter 2~Lizzie

  I’m pacing the floor of my room because I can’t sleep. I haven’t talked to Amy alone, and it’s got me tied in knots. She’s in the other bedroom with that piece of crap Joey, and he’s making her believe he’s an angel. I know differently. I saw him squeezing some other woman’s ass and practically drooling when he touched her cleavage with his middle finger while we were at the bar. Of course, Amy didn’t see anything. He winked at me when he saw me watching. It was all I could do not to barf.

  I hear the patio door opening, and wonder who is going out there in the middle of
the night. I’m hoping it’s Amy, because I really want to tell her exactly what I think of Joey. I slip out of my room, not wanting to make a sound that might wake up Joey. To my horror, it is him I see on the balcony. He’s on the phone, and he’s not happy.

  I shouldn’t listen, but I can’t seem to help myself. What I’m hearing is confusing. It’s almost like he’s speaking in code about a job, which makes no sense at all.

  “Five will do it. No, not for big H. I don’t like last minute work,” Joey is saying. There’s a pause, and then he pounds a fist on the railing before he continues. “Fire in the hole. Is the product locked down? It better be profitable. Leave it in the usual place. No traces, I got it.”

  I hide in the hallway to my room. It’s too dark for him to see me. He’s on his way out the door. I can’t stand it. I have to know what he’s up to. Maybe, it will give me leverage in getting him out of Amy’s life for good.

  To my surprise, he doesn’t take a car, or hail a cab. That means his destination isn’t very far away. We live in a converted warehouse near the lake here in Harrison, so I’m betting he’s going to some abandoned warehouse in an unrefurbished part of this area. Where else would you go in the middle of the night after talking in code? I feel like a spy as I follow his footsteps.

  Sure enough, he stops at a dilapidated warehouse a few long blocks from my apartment. This one is destined to be torn down, and a high-rise office building is supposed to take its place. His heavy feet echo on the bare concrete. I tiptoe so he doesn’t hear me. My soft-soled shoes are an asset.

  There are stacks of old wood everywhere I look. At one time, this building must have been scheduled for renovation, then abandoned. Joey weaves his way through the stacks, and I follow, taking cover behind the piles of wood.

  I suddenly have to slap a hand over my mouth to stop the gasp that is pushing its way out. My eyes widen, and I have a hard time breathing. In the center of all this dry wood is a chair. A man is tied to it. His face is bloody, and his eyes are closed.

  Joey kicks the chair, and the man’s head wobbles, then lifts slightly. He opens one swollen eye, and his body trembles when he appears to recognize Joey.

  “You know who I am, don’t you?” Joey growls at him. “You’ve heard the stories, and you know this is the end. I can see it in your eyes. It’s your own fault. You should have given us the information, or the product. We might have spared your life.”

  Joey watches the man struggle against his bonds, and try to spit out his gag. His laughter echoes through the warehouse, and makes me cringe.

  “Don’t fret. I’ll be taking out the gag soon enough. I’ll give you one last chance to do the right thing, but you’ll get what’s coming to you anyway. It’ll just be less painful if you talk. I’m not happy about being dragged out of my woman’s bed to take care of your sorry ass, so I’d like to see you suffer,” Joey admits.

  My hands are shaking. I desperately need to back away, and get myself out of here. I’ve seen enough. I should be calling the police, but I’m afraid to move. I might make a noise, and Joey will tie me to the chair along with that poor man.

  My cellphone is in my pocket. I pull it out, and start recording what I see. Even if a miracle happens, and he lets the man go, Amy needs to see what Joey is really like.

  Joey rips the gag out of the man’s mouth, and he begins to scream.

  “Go ahead, you fool. There’s no one except me to hear you, and your screams are about to get louder. Tell me what I want to know, and we’ll end this mess fast,” Joey orders.

  The man glares through his one open eye, and stops screaming to tighten his lips.

  “Aren’t you brave,” Joey states before picking up a thick piece of wood, and smashing it into the man’s knee.

  His screams of pain shaking me to the core. I can’t stay here, and watch this man being punished. I have to get help. But, I’m too late in making that decision. Right before my terrified eyes, Joey grabs a red can off the floor. He splashes the liquid inside it all over the man, and the wood that surrounds us. Then, he tosses a lit match in the man’s lap. He goes up in flames. His screams will haunt me forever. The smell of burning flesh gags me, and I make an involuntary retching sound.

  Joey turns toward the sound, and I know he’s seen me. I start running. What other choice do I have? The man’s agonized screams follow me, then end as suddenly as they began.

  Joey’s chasing me, but he trips over something in the doorway, and I slip away into the darkness as I try to call for the cops. In a dark alleyway, I throw up what little is in my stomach, and try to stop the constant replay of the man burning that runs through my head. I can’t breathe. Lord help me!

  Chapter 3~Jack

  My horse makes a sudden turn as he tries to stop the cow from slipping into the brush along the creek. He’s a highly trained cattle horse, and I appreciate his quick movements, and the fact that he doesn’t require much direction from me.

  “Help him, Remmy,” I order my blue heeler. “Cut her off before she gets tangled up.”

  The dog obediently makes a wide circle around the cow, and aids my horse in bringing it back to the herd I’m moving to better pastureland. I sit back in the saddle, and wipe the sweat out of my eyes with a bandana.

  I stare off at the snowcapped mountains in the distance, and wonder how I got myself here. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that I was in the military giving orders to hundreds of men. I spent twenty years of my 38 rising through the ranks. I was a war machine, yet here I am, riding a horse, and wrangling cattle on my family’s ranch in Wyoming. It’s a far cry from carrying an automatic rifle through a warzone.

  I look down at the Colt 45 in my holster, and know I will most likely be using it on a snake more often than a man. My days as a U. S. Marshall are almost behind me. I’m semi-retired, and only called to work when things get really dangerous. I shake my head, and urge my horse to move on behind the slow cattle. This ranching life is almost too simple for me.

  Capturing a wayward cow is much easier than cornering a criminal, and not even close to being as satisfying. I can’t seem to forget the one that got away. That asshole managed to kill my partner, the man who was my best friend. The records say my partner died in a fire, but deep inside me I know that fire was deliberately set to kill him. It wasn’t an accident, and someday I’ll get the man who set it. He will not get away with his evil deeds forever.

  I’ve seen a lot of death in my day, especially in the military. Whether the enemy is the cause, or friendly fire gets one of my men, it is always heartbreaking. However, it is also expected. My partner’s death isn’t like that. We had that piece of shit cornered, and Max goes into the house first to chase him out the back to me. Instead, the house goes up in flames, and no one can get Max out. It is supposedly a gas leak, but I don’t believe in coincidental accidents.

  Shaking off the memories, I focus on today. “Hey, Terrance,” I shout to the cowboy leading the herd of cattle through the gate ahead. “I’m going back to the house. I’m expecting a call, and I don’t want to miss it. You got this?”

  “No problem, boss. Once the cows are through this gate, they’ll happily get to grazing. I’ll be back to the barn within the hour to deal with that sick calf. Do what you gotta do.”

  I head home, or to the ranch house I’m calling home these days. It’s been in my family for as long as I can remember. Now, I’m supposed to run the ranch, and fulfill other duties when the Marshalls call on me. It’s their call I’m expecting, which has me antsy. So, far I have no clue what the job they have for me is.

  I unsaddle my horse, rub it down, and settle it in the corral with food and water. I beat my hat against my leg to remove some of the dust, and scrape my boots off before entering the house. My jeans are so faded that they are almost white, but I like how they fit, and refuse to get rid of them.

  My light brown hair, is streaked with dirt, but the blonde highlights from the sun show through in places. I could use a shower after spe
nding the morning at the back of a herd of cows, who kick up enough dust to choke a man. I’m headed that way when the phone begins to ring. It’s not time for the call I’m expecting, so I consider ignoring it. My military training won’t allow it. I’ve got a feeling something bad is coming.

  I take off my work glove, and drop it on the desk. I grab the phone before it stops ringing, and gruffly say, “Murphy Ranch, Jack speaking. To what do I owe the honor of this call?”

  I know the voice on the other end of the phone the instant the first word is spoken. My call has come early, and the hairs on the back of my neck raise in response to the urgent tone my boss uses.

  “Your assignment is changing. We’ll deal with the one you were supposed to have another time. This one is urgent, and I think you are going to find it hits home for you. You’ve been waiting a long time for this. But, first you’ve got to protect a witness for us.”

  “You’ve found him, haven’t you? I was right all along, wasn’t I? Max was murdered. I want to strangle the fucking guy who did it with my own two hands. Tell me where he is, and I’ll be there tonight,” I say, more than ready to kill.

  “He’ll be in custody soon, but it’s not that easy. He’s a semi-large fish in an ocean of bigger ones we want to get. He’s bad, no doubt about it, and you would know that better than most of us. The problem is, he has friends who are just as bad, if not worse. We’ve got a witness to his latest crime, and he wants her dead. He can’t get to her, but his buddies can. I’m sending her to you. Protect her at all cost, and your partner’s killer will fry.”

  Chapter 4~Lizzie

  “Move!” I tell my legs the moment I catch a breath. I can hear running footsteps, and I know it’s just a matter of moments before Joey discovers me in the dark alley. My fingers continue to fumble with the phone, but I can’t even dial 911 because I’m shaking so badly.