Guarded from Sabotage (Blade and Arrow Security Bravo Team #2)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

2 Weeks Later

DANTE

It’s been eight months since I separated from the Army, and not once have I regretted my decision.

As I was preparing to leave the only life I’d known for almost two decades, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have doubts. Would I feel the same sense of fulfillment working for a private security company as I did after completing a successful mission? Would I be happy living in Texas; far from my family in White Plains, New York? Could I build the same connection with my new team as I’d had with the one I left?

The answers to all those questions ended up being the same. Yes.

Though the Blade and Arrow Bravo team has only been officially open for four months, we’ve already helped with a custody case, a woman being blackmailed by her ex-husband, and we protected our fellow teammate’s girlfriend from traffickers. So I feel pretty good about that.

While San Antonio isn’t exactly close to White Plains, my new schedule gives me the flexibility to visit my family more often, and I never have to miss my weekly call home.

And my new team is filled with familiar faces. Matthew and Erik, who were on my old Green Beret split team, decided to come on this new venture with me. And Niall, Rhiannon, and Xavier were stationed at Fort Campbell with me, serving on a different Green Beret team. The six of us spent years training and working together, and I’d trust any of them with my life.

That’s the thing about serving with people in such treacherous conditions. As part of the Operational Detachment A Team, or A-Team, we were sent into some of the most dangerous situations in the Middle East. And we had to trust each other implicitly to accomplish our missions and get out alive.

These people I served with aren’t just friends or teammates. They’re family.

But even family can’t stay together forever. As years went on, more and more of my teammates moved on. Through injury or separation or retirement, they left the Army, while I was still hanging on. As I closed in on forty—only two years away, which is hard to believe—I was coming to the point where I’d have to take a training job instead of being sent out on missions, and I wasn’t feeling great about that.

So when my old teammate Cole called back in March and asked me to lead the new branch of his company, Blade and Arrow Security, it seemed like fate stepping in at the right moment. I could still protect people, still make a difference, just in a new capacity.

Three months later, I was in Texas, helping to turn a rundown ranch thirty miles northwest of San Antonio into the new Blade and Arrow Bravo Team headquarters. And from that first week in our new workplace and home—we all have apartments here, too—I’ve never been happier about my decision.

A rewarding job working with people I like and respect, an apartment that’s literally a two-minute walk from the office, and I still get to help people? How could I possibly complain?

Something else I can’t complain about is the view from my living room window—a broad expanse of grass spotted with oak and acacia trees, the sky a brilliant blue with a few wispy clouds, and our newly refinished barn rising to meet it. A little path meanders around the yard, and I spot Niall and his fiancée, Jade, holding hands as they walk together along it.

I push the window open, letting the warm breeze come in, breathing in the scent of newly-cut grass and some kind of flowering plant Jade insisted on planting outside for decoration. I’m not sure why a security company needs flowers outside, but if it makes Jade happy, I’m all for it.

My mom would love it. She’s constantly sending me decorations for the ranch—solar lights, candles, decorative pillows, wall art—and I feel too guilty to not put them out.

As I take a sip of coffee, I glance at my watch, noting that I have fifteen minutes until the start of our weekly meeting. Enough time to finish my coffee, brush my teeth, check my email, and give our case files a quick once-over before I present them to the team.

I’m just heading over to my desk when my phone buzzes with an incoming FaceTime call.

I don’t really have time to answer, not if I want to get everything else done, but it’s my mother, and I know she still worries when she calls and I don’t answer.

It’s not that she’s overprotective or clingy, but after years of worrying I might not make it back from a mission, her concern is understandable. And even though I’ve assured her dozens of times since I got to Texas that I’m not going on dangerous ops like that anymore, that I’m perfectly safe, I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.

So I answer the call, and my mother’s smiling face appears on the screen.

“Dante!” Her smile gets even bigger. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“No, Mom.” I head over to the couch and flop down, then rest my feet on the coffee table, which is something my mother would absolutely not approve of if she could see me. “I’m always up before this.”

“Oh, right. Doing your exercises.” Her brow furrows. “I hope you’re not pushing yourself too much. You’re not as young as you used to be.”

Ouch. Stifling the urge to roll my eyes, I reply patiently, “Maybe not. But I’m still in pretty good shape. A couple hours of exercise a day isn’t going to hurt me.”

“I guess…” She looks like she wants to say something else, but thankfully changes the topic. “So, how is everything going at work? Do you still like it?”

“I do.” I take another sip of coffee and check the time. “Things are great here. We finished another pro-bono case and lined up two paid security jobs for next month. Plus three more in February.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Her forehead smooths out and she smiles again. “I’ve been telling all my friends at book club about your company. How you take on paid security jobs so you can fund your pro-bono work. All the ladies think it’s just the most wonderful thing.”

Before I can respond, she shifts topics again. “Oh. I just remembered something I wanted to ask you. Do you think you can make it home sometime in May? Just for a weekend?”

“I’m sure I can. Especially knowing this far in advance, I can definitely make it work. What’s going on in May?”

“Well…” She draws out the word, and her voice pitches up. “Bianca’s pregnant. She’s due in June, and she’d really love to schedule the baby shower so you can make it. She and Mark are so excited, they want everyone to be there, not just the women. After waiting so long, you know…”

“Bianca’s pregnant?” My younger sister and her husband have been trying for years, and finally turned to IVF earlier this year.

“Yes.” My mom beams. “She didn’t want to tell anyone until after the first trimester. But the baby looks healthy, and they’re just so thrilled. I am too. Another grandchild to spoil.”

There’s a loaded pause, and I brace myself for what I know is coming next.

“Have you met anyone, Dante?” There’s a hopeful note to her voice. “Not having to travel all the time, and being close to San Antonio, there must be lots of opportunities to meet women.”

“Well…” Jumping up, I head into the kitchen to put my empty mug in the sink. “I’ve been really busy getting Blade and Arrow off the ground. Maybe next year…”

“I know you’re busy. But I’d love to see you happy.”

“I am happy, Mom.” It comes out a touch defensively, so I continue in a gentler tone, “I’m not against meeting someone. If I meet the right person… it’ll happen. Don’t worry.”

She softens. “I’ll always worry about you, Dante. You’re my son, and I love you.”

“I love you, too.” As I head to the bathroom and grab my bottle of mouthwash—no time to brush now, a swish of this will have to do—I add, “I have to get going, Mom. I have a meeting in five minutes. But I’ll call you this weekend, okay?”

“Okay. Tell everyone I said hi. And that I’ll send more cookies next week. Double chocolate chunk this time.”

Smiling, I reply, “They’ll all be thrilled.” Then I hold up the mouthwash so she can see it and give her a toothy grin. “I’ve got to go. Fresh breath is calling. Talk soon.”

It only takes another minute to wrap up the call, after she remembered two other things she desperately needed to tell me that could definitely have waited until this weekend. Now I have three minutes to get to the meeting, which I’m not thrilled about—even though we don’t really stand on official roles in B and A and we all have equal input in decisions, I’m still the one leading the meetings and like to be there early.

Not this time, though.

By the time I get to the conference room, Xaver and Niall are already waiting, and Erik comes in right after me. As I settle at the head of the table, Niall catches my gaze and asks, “Everything okay? You’re usually here before everyone.”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. My mom called. She just got going, chatting. Telling me about family news, that kind of thing. She told me to say hi, and that she’s sending cookies next week.”

“Cookies?” Xavier brightens. “She’s sending more cookies? Did she say what kind?”

“Double chocolate chunk.” Pausing, I take on a thoughtful expression. “Although, maybe I’ll keep them all for myself. Those are my favorite.”

Xavier claps his hand over his chest in mock-shock. “You wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t what?” Rhiannon walks in and slips into one of the leather chairs. Her lips twitch. “Who’s doing something terrible?”

“Dante is,” Erik replies with a smirk. “His mom is sending cookies, and he’s going to hog all of them.”

Niall shakes his head while making a how could you expression. “Man. When I tell Jade she’s not getting any of Mrs. De Luca’s incredible cookies, she’s going to be so disappointed.” He pauses. “She might even cry.”

“Who’s making Jade cry?” Matt comes in, his laptop in one hand and an enormous thermos of coffee in the other. He takes the chair next to me and looks over at Niall. “Do I need to hack someone’s computer or lock their accounts or something?”

“Probably not,” Niall replies. “It’s just Dante being selfish with his mom’s cookies.”

Matt chuckles. “Sounds like Dante. You know, this one time, his mom sent an entire cake and he wouldn’t share with any of us. And he?—”

“That’s not what happened, and you know it.” Pinning Matt with a narrowed gaze, I add, “She sent it for Enzo’s birthday. Which wasn’t for another two days. And you vultures wanted to eat it right away. Of course I had to hide it.”

“That was Finn,” Erik interjects. “He’s the one who wanted to search your apartment for it. We just tagged along.”

One of my former teammates and a current member of the original Blade and Arrow team out in New York, Finn is notorious for being a vulture, though you’d never know from looking at him.

“Well,” I say while giving a pointed look at my watch, “while this conversation is fascinating, we have a meeting to start. And I’m not hogging any cookies. You all know it. Once they get here, I’ll put them in the shared kitchen so everyone can have some.”

“I know.” Erik flicks a pen at me, and I catch it in mid-air. “Just messing with you.”

“I know,” I retort, then flash him a grin as I whip it back at him. “Now. We need to get started. Finn texted me earlier and he wants to call in to the meeting. He’s got a potential case for us to look into. So I want to go over our other upcoming jobs first.”

Everyone straightens and smiles shift to attentive expressions. That’s another thing I like about my team; we can joke around and have fun, but when it’s time for business, we don’t mess around.

“Okay.” I tap my tablet and flip through my files. “First, we have two paid jobs coming up in January. One’s a three-day job in Dallas, coordinating security for a conference on renewable energy alternatives. They’re concerned about protesters, which is why they called us in to assist. I’m thinking Rhiannon, Xavier, and Erik for that one.”

“Sounds good,” Xavier says, lifting his chin.

“Same,” echo Rhiannon and Erik.

“Excellent.” I exchange a quick glance and smile with each of them. “The other job is at the end of the month. A Fortune 500 CEO would like us to work with his security team, get some of the newer hires trained up, and check his system for any potential security weaknesses. It’ll probably be a three or four day gig. Matt, Niall, and I can do that one.”

After brief affirmations from Matt and Niall, I move on. “As for pro-bono cases, we have a few requests—a stalking situation out in Corpus Christi, a woman in Shreveport who claims her boss is blackmailing her, and a possible deepfake issue in Galveston. I’d like to arrange times to meet with all three to get more information, but first, I think we should hear what Finn has to say.”

Rhiannon leans forward and rests her arms on the table. “Did he tell you anything about what’s going on?”

“Not much. Just that it’s his wife’s best friend, and it’s not the typical B and A case. He said it’s complicated, which is why he’s calling into the meeting.”

“Hanna’s best friend?” Niall frowns. “Sarah, right? We sat with her at the wedding, didn’t we?”

“Yeah.” Nodding, I add, “She lives in San Antonio, so it makes more sense for us to look into it than Finn’s team.”

My phone buzzes, and I look down to see a text from Finn. He’s asking if we’re ready to start the videoconference, so I send a quick reply saying we’re setting it up now.

Turning to Matt, I ask, “Can you start a meeting and send the invite to Finn? He just texted asking if we’re ready.”

“Sure.” Matt grabs the remote for the projection screen from the center of the table and presses a few buttons, and the large screen on the wall blinks on. Then he taps on his keyboard for a second before saying, “Okay. All set. As soon as Finn’s ready, he’ll be on.”

True to Matt’s word, less than a minute later, Finn’s face appears on the screen. Hanna is sitting beside him, nervously twisting her pale-blonde hair around her finger. When she sees us, she gives a little smile and says, “Thanks for letting me be here, guys.”

Finn squeezes her shoulder gently and whispers something in her ear. Then he faces us, lifting his chin in acknowledgement. “Hey guys. Thanks for meeting on such short notice. We only heard about this last night, and…” He shakes his head. “We’re pretty worried, honestly.”

Now I’m worried, too. When he first mentioned that Sarah was the potential client, he prefaced it by saying she wasn’t in physical danger. But seeing his grim expression and the shadows under Hanna’s eyes…

Plus. I didn’t just meet Sarah at Finn and Hanna’s wedding; I spent most of the evening with her. We were seated at the same table at the reception, and I heard all about Sarah’s job as a social worker, her childhood memories in Lake George, and we bonded over our love of cooking—her speciality being Mexican and mine Italian.

“What’s going on with Sarah?” I ask, directing the question more to Hanna than Finn, since she’s undoubtedly the one who got the whole story.

Hanna glances at Finn, and he gives a quick nod. Then she says, “Sarah would probably say she doesn’t need help. But she does. The stuff that’s been going on… it can’t be a coincidence. And she’s really freaked out. Scared. I asked her to come to New York, but she doesn’t want to leave her job. So…”

“Tell them exactly what Sarah told you,” Finn encourages.

“Right. Sorry. I’m just so worried about her. Sarah’s such a nice person, she doesn’t—” Hanna stops. Her cheeks go pink. “Sorry. You need the details. Not me going on and on about how worried I am.”

“It’s fine,” I assure her. “There’s no rush.”

Hanna smiles at me. “Thanks, Dante.” A pause, and then, “So… first Sarah found out her credit cards were declined. When she called about it, the companies said they were reported stolen. But she didn’t do it. Then collection agencies started calling, saying she owed all this money for personal loans she never took out.”

Matt is typing away, and he stops to look up at Hanna. “She never cosigned for a loan, did she? For a friend or family member or anything?”

“No.” Hanna shakes her head. “Never. And Sarah is really responsible about money. She wouldn’t share her financial information with anyone. Aside from me or her family, that is.”

Before I can ask, Hanna adds, “Her parents would never. I’ve known them for years and they would never, ever take out a loan using Sarah’s name. Especially without telling her. I’m certain of it.”

“Is there anything else?” I ask.

“Unfortunately, yes,” she replies, her brows winging into an unhappy V. “When she called the credit card companies, they wouldn’t issue new cards. All her information was changed. Address. Social security number. All the security questions. They thought she was trying to commit fraud and threatened to call the police.”

Hanna takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. “Her bank accounts are all empty. Someone cleaned them out. And it’s the same thing. She can’t convince the bank to help her. And then… she was accused of theft. The police showed up at her work and accused her of stealing a car. Her identification was used to take a car on a test drive, and someone stole it.”

Shit. This doesn’t sound good. At all. Credit card fraud is bad enough, but bank accounts emptied? Being accused of stealing a car?

And Sarah of all people being accused of something like that? One takeaway I had after meeting her was how kind and sweet she was. Generous. Thoughtful. And she must have been so upset when the police showed up…

“I’m really worried,” Hanna says, and sighs heavily. “Sarah’s trying to act like she’s got it under control, but I know her. I wish she’d come here, but since she won’t… can you help her?”

Finn strokes Hanna’s hair; a comforting gesture. Then he says to us, “I’m not asking you to take Sarah on as a case. Not yet. But can you talk to her? Get some more information? We can help from here, but with you guys being local…”

“Of course.” As I cast a quick glance around the table, everyone nods in agreement. I meet Finn’s gaze, then Hanna’s. “We’ll absolutely look into this. I talked to Sarah at your wedding, so I already know her. I’ll meet with her right away.”