BROKEN VOWS (Broken Redemption Book 1)

Chapter 16

Lucas

Pulling up to the address Ben sent, I take a moment to scope out the area. The modest, three-story brick building on the corner of Main and Willow Street is unassuming and gives no indication of what hides behind its thick exterior walls. The only clue there’s a business here at all is the small white sign by the front door that reads OTS in bold black letters. Ben sure wasn’t kidding when he said they keep a low profile.

“Guess this is it, bud. Let’s get your gear on.”

When he sees it, Nero positions himself so I can strap on the harness. Concerned about introducing him to so many people at once, I opted to leave him at the Inn while I got my haircut and then again last night, when I went to dinner at Embree’s mom’s house. Those two occasions were the first we’d been apart since I adopted him a year ago and I’d been worried I’d come home to chewed walls, torn bedding, and a miserable pup with a bloody mouth from him trying to chew his way back to me. To my surprise, each time I returned, I found him sprawled out on the bed in the exact spot I’d left him. Turns out the fleabag doesn’t miss me when I’m gone, and I’m not entirely sure how to feel about it.

“About last night. The least you could have done was greet me by the door.” I give him a pat on the head, loving the way he leans into me. “In case you’ve forgotten, you’re a dog. Sitting by the door waiting for your master to come home is part of the job description. Now, come on.”

Locking up the truck, I take another look at my surroundings. While it’s Monday morning, the streets in Ruby Creek are quiet. It’s in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of a typical Monday in New York City. I’ve been gone for so long that I’d forgotten the quiet feel of small-town life, and the terrifying thing is that the longer I’m here, the more I can see the appeal of building a life here. I know it’s a ridiculous notion, which is why I keep reminding myself that whether or not this job is a good fit, it could never be a long-term thing.

At the front of the building, I come to a solid steel door. There’s a small speaker panel with a red button on the wall beside it. After trying the handle unsuccessfully, I push the red button and wait to be let in.

“Offset Tactical Security. How can I help you?” I recognize the voice coming through the speaker as Ben’s.

“Hey, it’s me.”

“Sir, could you please state your full name for the record, along with the name of the individual you’re here to see?”

“Seriously asshole…” I shake my head, for a moment wondering if he’s toying with me. “It’s me, Lucas.”

“Sir, I insist you refrain from using such coarse language. Also, please remove your hat before entering the premises. Oh, and I like your shirt. That color really brings out your eyes.” I feel like an i***t when I inexplicably look down at the blue polo I’m wearing before scanning the area around the door for a camera. Sure enough, there it is.

“Motherfucker, open the door,” I snarl. It’s too f*****g early for this s**t.

The door buzzes as Ben’s cackles come through the speaker. When I make it inside, I find him standing in the middle of what looks to be a reception area.

“Hahaha, asshole. f**k you.” I tell him, doing my best to sound annoyed.

“Same to you, my friend. I see you brought your sidekick along. Alright if I pet him?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you give it a go and see what happens,” I smirk. When he gives me a dirty look, I chuckle. “Yeah, go ahead. Nero, af.” I command him to lie down, and then watch as Ben’s eyes light up in fascination.

“He’s cool as s**t. Look at him.” Ben squats next to him and pets his head. As he pats down his neck, Nero’s muscles relax even more. “You said he can track, too?”

“Yep, tracking, explosives detection, and he loves bite work. Biting bad guys being at the top of his favorite pastimes.”

“Noted.” Ben grins, as he comes to a stand then gives me his customary handshake and bro hug. “Good to see you, man. Thanks for stopping by. I know it was last minute.”

“No problem. I needed to see you, anyway. Is there someplace private we can talk?”

With a nod, he leads me through a hallway to a space filled with several desks. It’s an open floor plan with no cubicles, which makes me wonder how anyone gets anything done. The minute we enter, five pairs of eyes turn toward us.

“Hey fellas, I’d like to introduce you to my best friend, Lucas Holt. He’s a retired Navy SEAL, former Ruby Creek alumni, and former bed wetter, who is strongly considering joining our fine team.”

“Really? As I recall, the bed wetter was you,” I retort.

Rolling his eyes, he says, “Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.” Oh yeah, the fucker thinks he’s a regular comedian.

The first of the guys, a short, stocky dude with brown hair and a beard, steps forward with his hand out. What the man lacks in stature, he more than makes up for in muscle. “Hey, I’m Zeb Kingston.”

“Nice to meet you, Zeb,” I say while returning his handshake.

“Zeb is our logistics guy. Aside from keeping us stocked with what we need, his primary job is to get us in and out of messy situations,” Ben adds before pointing to a man sitting at a desk in front of us. “Now this guy here is James Serrano. Mostly, he’s our muscle. If there’s a job that requires brawn, he’s our go-to guy.”

When he stands to shake my hand, the first thing I notice is the jagged scar running up the right side of his face. Though it looks to be an old wound, the fact it’s still so obvious speaks to the severity of the initial injury. Standing at about my height of 6’ 4”, with a muscular frame, I can see how the guy fits the requirements of a bodyguard.

“Hey, man.”

“Nice to meet you,” I tell him.

“Yo, about time we had another SpecOps guy up in here! I’m Mason Blackwell.”

Towering at about 6 and a half feet tall, with a voice deeper than a grizzly bear, this Mason Blackwell is a beast of a man. He’d be terrifying, if not for that beaming, boyish smile complete with f*****g dimples.

“Nice to meet you, Mason.” I shake his huge meaty hand and thank my lucky stars he’s a teammate and not an enemy combatant.

“Mason’s a former Marine, special forces. Spent most of his career running ops in Central and South America. Like James, Mason is our second go-to for big physical jobs. Though with his specialized skill set, he works closely with Zeb and Owen here,” he points at another man, “on reconnaissance, mission tactics, and strategy.”

With a smile on his face, the man Ben referred to as Owen steps forward. “Owen Walker. I look forward to working with you.” Unlike the other guys, who are sporting more casual attire, Owen is dressed in a tailored three-piece suit. The guy looks out of place. His sense of style looks more corporate executive than a security expert, but hell, what do I know?

“Owen is our Systems Specialist and Security Expert, aka our resident hacker. He runs all our system security jobs as well as any research support the team might need.”

When Ben turns around, I follow his line of sight and I’m surprised to find another man sitting at a corner desk behind us. He makes no effort to get up, instead he lifts his chin in my direction and says, “Dominick Reeves.” With his leather jacket, full beard, long hair, and tattoos that peek over the collar of his black t-shirt, he looks more like a biker than a security guy.

“Nice to meet you,” I tell him, following his lead and making no effort to go near him.

“Dom here is former S.W.A.T. We came up together on the force and got out around the same time. Like me, he does a bit of everything, filling in where he’s needed. Anyway, why don’t you introduce them to your friend.” Ben says, pointing at Nero, who stands patiently at my side.

“Ah, everyone, this is Nero. He’s a retired combat assault dog. He was a member of my SEAL Team and served with us for almost three years before he was retired. I adopted him shortly thereafter.”

“Damn, he’s a beauty. Never got the pleasure of serving with one, but got to see them in action. Were you his handler?” Mason asks as he leans over to pet my dog.

“No, my buddy was. He was KIA.” It’s all I offer, all the while making sure to keep the memories of my fallen comrades locked down tight.

“My bad, sorry for your loss,” he says as he comes to a stand.

The regret on his face is genuine and like that of a soldier who’s suffered through loss and understands what it’s like. Nodding my head in appreciation, I chance a look at Ben, hoping he’ll read my need to move this along.

With a clap of his hands, he informs them, “Okay boys, we’ll be in the conference room finishing up our discussion. The rest of you get on with your day.” Then to me, he says, “This way.”

When we arrive at the large conference room, I let Nero off his lead, then take a seat at the conference table. The space is plain, with white walls and no decorations, much like the parts of the office I’ve seen so far. The only items in the room are a dark wooden table with 14 chairs and some sort of high-tech telephone sitting at the center. On the far wall there are several large screens, and what looks like yet another set of cameras.

“Did you guys just move into this space?” I ask, thinking maybe it’s why everything in the office looks so bare.

“No. We’ve been here since the beginning but given what we do and how often we’re on the road, focusing on decor seemed like a waste of time.” Leaning back in his chair across from me, he puts his hands behind his head. “So, are you here to talk about the job or something else?”

“Both, I guess. I wanted to fill you in on my conversation with Embree last night.”

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Author’s Note:

Meet the team! Each of these guys will play major roles in the overarching plot of the Broken Redemption Series, and each will eventually get their happily ever after.

So what do you think? Did any of these guys catch your eye yet? I can’t wait to read all your comments!

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