Iron Willed Warrior (Last Refuge Protectors #5)

3. Brynn

CHAPTER THREE

Brynn

Despite the detour, I made good time getting to Silver Ridge after the flat tire debacle. I followed the directions programmed into my GPS and found myself at a cute little house not far from Main Street.

My car pulled up to the curb, and I heaved a sigh. Thank goodness I was here.

Earlier this year I’d been to Hartley, the county seat, to visit the headquarters of the Protectors. Silver Ridge was about half an hour away from Hartley, and its architecture was just as charming. An eclectic mix of western, Victorian, and newer construction, combined with historic streetlights and signs that proclaimed Welcome to the Hart of Colorado . Cutesy puns were not usually my jam. But even I had to admit the ambiance of Hart County was inviting.

You’d never expect that a vigilante group like the Protectors had faced off with Stillwater not that far from here. An idyllic setting wasn’t guaranteed to be peaceful underneath.

Grabbing my bag, I headed for the front door, not sure who this place belonged to. All I knew was that River had sent me this address. But it wasn’t his, since River’s apartment was over in Hartley. Also, this house was way too adorable for him. It was painted a cheerful blue with a white porch, and its driveway and sidewalks were meticulously shoveled free of snow. There was even a little gnome waving from the porch steps.

River opened the door as soon as I knocked. He took my bag and held out his other hand for a fist bump. “Hey, come in. How was the trip down?”

I couldn’t hide my scowl. “A little drama. But no big deal.” I took off my coat. For the drive, I’d worn a soft, long-sleeved Henley top and a pair of black jeans. So much more comfortable than my usual FBI dress slacks and blazer.

“Uh oh. If it put you in a mood, then it was clearly a big deal. What happened?”

“ You usually put me in a mood,” I pointed out. “And yet, I get over it.”

“Exactly. I’m extraordinary. Therefore, whatever happened to get under your skin is worth hearing about.”

“Your logic is frightening.”

He grinned. “Thank you.”

I hadn’t been a fan of River Kwon when I’d first met him. The man had shown up to protect Charlotte, and I was protective of my best friend. Also, River was beyond cocky, and that tended to rub me the wrong way.

Okay, I could be a touch cocky at times myself. But I liked to know the score. When River had appeared on the scene, I hadn’t known what to make of him. In the months since, he’d become a close friend. How could I dislike a man who made my friend so happy and treated her like a queen?

But that didn’t mean I was willing to explain myself to him. Nope, I was better off forgetting the man who’d loaned me his jack by the side of the road.

I walked inside, spotted a kitchen, and made a beeline for it. There, I found a surprise waiting. A very pleasant one.

Keira Marsh stood behind the island, decked out in her sheriff’s deputy uniform, thumbs swiping on her phone. Then she looked up, set her phone aside, and smiled. “Brynn! It’s so good to see you.” She rounded the island, opening her arms for a hug.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” I said.

“It would be weird if I wasn’t. This is my house.”

“Seriously? I had no idea you lived in Silver Ridge.”

She puffed up with pride. “We closed after New Year’s. My mom and sister have been smothering me with decorating help. They keep showing up with tchotchkes and furniture. I’m surprised the Hart County thrift stores have anything left on their shelves.”

“Tell your mom and sister they’re doing an excellent job of it.” I glanced around. The house was full of overstuffed upholstery, cheerful patterns, and farmhouse touches. A few antiques here and there to create a sense of warmth and history.

“I know, right? I’d be annoyed at them butting in, but I gotta admit, they’re good at it. My little sister Stephie especially. I don’t have a design-conscious bone in my body. The timing worked out, though. When Owen and River mentioned you’d need a place to stay outside Hartley, I volunteered my guest room. So make yourself at home. Figured this was better than a hotel.”

“So much better. You’re an angel. Thank you.”

I’d met Keira on my previous trips to Hartley. She worked for Sheriff Owen Douglas. From everything I’d seen, Keira was a good cop, just a few years out of college. Younger than me, but we’d gotten dinner and drinks and bonded over being women in the male-dominated law enforcement profession. I admired her dedication to her duties, even when she had to paint outside the lines to help the Protectors. That wasn’t an easy balance.

As much as I respected her, I would’ve been hesitant to bring a junior deputy into a dangerous mission like this one. But Keira had dealt with Stillwater operatives before. And she hadn’t lost her nerve. That alone made me admire her.

Of course, she wouldn’t deal directly with Stillwater during the undercover op. That part would be all Cole Bailey and me. Speaking of…I wondered when my partner would get here.

Keira opened a cabinet, taking out a couple of mugs. “Want something to drink? I was just going to brew up some of my famous chai. Heavy on the honey and cinnamon.”

“Yes, please. That sounds amazing.”

“What sounds amazing?” River asked, strolling into the kitchen.

Keira smiled over her shoulder. “My famous chai. Want a mug?”

“You’d better make me a mug,” he said, not missing a beat. “But I’m still curious about the drama that happened on the way down here.”

“Drama?” Keira asked as she poured water into a pot.

“Not you too,” I muttered. “When is Cole Bailey arriving? Is he staying here as well?”

River rested his hands against the butcher block top of the island. “I’m sure he’ll get here soon, and no, we’ve got him bunking elsewhere. Tell us what happened, B.”

He and Keira both paused, eyeing me.

I groaned. “Fine, I’ll tell you. But it’s not that exciting. It was just a flat tire. And this guy. Well, two guys. They stopped separately to help me change my tire, but clearly they were interested in…something else.”

Keira’s eyebrows knitted. “Not cool.”

River quipped, “Are these guys maimed and lying by the side of the road? Do I need to call Trace for a discreet body cleanup?”

I laughed, tossing the end of my ponytail over my shoulder. “ Not necessary. It was weird though. First, a young guy pulled over to help me and got offended when I said I could handle it myself. He didn’t want to take no for an answer. Grabbed my arm.”

River’s eyes darkened. “The guy did what ?”

“Don’t worry about it. I handled him. But then the second guy showed up. And he seemed nice enough at first. I needed to borrow a jack, and he loaned me his.”

He’d seemed to have a military vibe. Competent and calm, but interested in taking no shit. Like a seasoned staff sergeant. The kind of man I tended to respect.

Not bad to look at either. He hadn’t been handsome in an obvious or classic way. More rugged. A dark beanie pulled over his hair, a full beard, scars on his forehead and cheek. He’d been leaning against his car, a cigarette pursed between his lips. Like a hero from an old Western movie if you’d traded the knit cap for a Stetson.

“But then he came on to me,” I said. “And he wasn’t clever about it either. It’s fine for a guy to be interested. Whatever, I can brush that off. But there was no need to be crude.”

“What did he say?” River demanded.

“I promise, there’s no point repeating it. I’d rather forget it happened.”

Keira made a disgusted face. “Why do men do that? Pretend to be nice to a vulnerable woman, only to try it on with her a minute later.”

We both looked at River, and he held up his hands. “Don’t expect me to explain my kind. We’re not all like that.”

“Clearly not.” I just seemed to have a bad track record. Too many men in my life had made me believe they cared, that they were genuine, only to pull out the rug from beneath me.

Keira added spices and a few tea bags to her pot, then set it on the stove. “The problem is, all the honorable men seem to be taken. Or not interested.” She spoke that last part wistfully, like she had someone specific in mind. I’d have to remind myself to ask her about it later. We could trade tales of romantic woe. Or better yet, I could just listen. My history with men was just depressing.

River shrugged. “Sorry there’s not enough of me to go around. Charlie is a very demanding woman.”

I almost flipped him off, but Keira beat me to it.

A few minutes later, she poured us each a cup of chai. It was warm and sweet and spicy. Perfect thing to wipe away the last bit of tension I was holding.

“So, who wants to give me the inside scoop on my new partner?” I asked. “I assume Bailey is one of the good ones.”

River leaned against the kitchen counter. “Lynx is solid. A skilled tracker, great shot, and a reliable operator through and through.”

“I second all of that,” Keira said. “Owen loves him too.”

“He’s a bounty hunter, right?”

River nodded. “Yep. Working in Mexico and Central America the last few years since leaving the Army Rangers. He tracks fugitive sex offenders and brings them back to the United States. Luckily, he was willing to drop everything to join this op. We didn’t have a chance to fully brief him, but he’s as eager to take down Stillwater as any of us. Should be here any?—”

There was the sound of a car door closing outside.

“I assume that’s him.” River headed toward the door.

Before I could follow, Keira put her hand on my arm. “If you’re worried about Cole being an honorable guy, you don’t need to. He’s been awesome every time I’ve spoken to him. Very professional.”

“Glad to hear it.”

I was grateful for the reassurance. SAC Stanford had been stressing over nothing. The Protectors were good Marines, good special operators, or good soldiers, every one. They’d never bring in someone who didn’t meet those same standards.

When Keira and I made it to the entryway, the door was open, and River was giving a back-slapping hug to another man. They both separated and turned, and my eyes made contact with the newcomer.

Both of us froze in place. Stared at one another.

It was official. This mission was screwed.

“Oh, hell no. You’re Cole Bailey?”