Justice for Gwen (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha): Guardian Elite series novella #2 Read online

  Justice for Gwen (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha)

  Guardian Elite series novella #2

  KaLyn Cooper

  Contents

  Foreword

  Acknowledgments

  Letter to Readers

  About this Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  About the Author

  More by author KaLyn Cooper

  More Special Forces: Operation Alpha World Books

  Books by Susan Stoker

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  © 2018 ACES PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this work may be used, stored, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher except for brief quotations for review purposes as permitted by law.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy.

  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the Police and Fire: Operation Alpha Fan-Fiction world!

  If you are new to this amazing world, in a nutshell the author wrote a story using one or more of my characters in it. Sometimes that character has a major role in the story, and other times they are only mentioned briefly. This is perfectly legal and allowable because they are going through Aces Press to publish the story.

  This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I might have assisted with brainstorming and other ideas about which of my characters to use, I didn’t have any part in the process or writing or editing the story.

  I’m proud and excited that so many authors loved my characters enough that they wanted to write them into their own story. Thank you for supporting them, and me!

  READ ON!

  Xoxo

  Susan Stoker

  I dedicate this book to the men and women who have fought to keep our country free by putting their lives on the line in the military, then come home and continue that selfless dedication as government agents and protectors of the innocent. Thank you for being there for all of us!

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank Janene Putman for helping me with her insider knowledge of the Dallas area. Thank you to my faithful readers Mary Everett, Layla Darnell and Robin Henley for naming characters. I deeply appreciate the expertise of Dr. Nancy Bartley who taught me about Type 1 Diabetes and Army Col. William Kane (ret) who walked me through a helicopter “hard landing”.

  My sincere appreciation, always, for my critique partner, Vikki Vaught, for her ideas and fast final read. A special thanks goes to my editor, Marci Boudreaux Clark. Thank you, Linda Clarkson, for the fast proofreading and final check.

  A special thanks to Susan Stoker for allowing me to write in her Badge of Honor World.

  Cover Artist: Drue Hoffman

  Editors: Marci Boudreaux Clark & Linda Clarkson

  Letter to Readers

  Thank you so much for purchasing Justice for Gwen! I hope you enjoy the book and will consider other books by KaLyn Cooper. There’s a complete list with links below and at the end.

  Justice for Gwen is the second book in the Guardian Elite series, a spinoff of the Black Swan series. This novella features Jonathan O’Neil, who participated in an Iraqi raid and rescue with Katlin Callahan and Alex Wolf, the hero and heroine of Unrelenting Love (book #1 Black Swan series). The new Guardian Elite series of novellas feature the sexy men of Guardian Security and the strong women they find and fall in love with.

  Although every book is a standalone, for deeper understanding of the characters you might consider reading the following:

  About this Book

  She’s not what she seems. Neither is he. But the terrorist threat is real. So is the desire that smolders between them.

  Gwen Shaw overhears refugee teenagers discussing a plot to rival 9/11, but her Arabic is rusty. Besides, who is going to believe the sketchy information from an apron-wearing newcomer, even though she’d recently left the Army as a seasoned officer?

  Jonathan O’Neil, new to the Dallas Guardian Security Center, knows a terrorist plot when he sees one on the tempting waitress’ computer. To find out the details of the plan and to stop them, he sets out to seduce her, only to find that nothing is what it seems.

  Smoke & Mirrors blends first responders from Paige Tyler’s Dallas Fire and Rescue with KaLyn Cooper’s sexy men from her Black Swan series into a heart-pounding romantic suspense.

  Buy this first book in the Guardian Elite series.

  Chapter 1

  As Jonathan O’Neil opened the door to Up In Smoke, steam wafted into the busy Dallas street. He was immediately saturated with the smell of fried onions, hamburgers, and, of course, bar-b-que. Inhaling deeply through his nose, he savored each scent and…was that apple pie?

  “Why, thank you, son.” An elderly lady smiled up at him as she used the metal bar across the door to steady her shaky steps. “Don’t you just love this place? Best country fried steak in Texas.”

  “I’ll bet it is, ma’am.” Jonathan couldn’t help but smile back at her and her friend as he held the door for them.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve never been here before.” The second woman’s brown, penciled-on eyebrows nearly reached her white, perfectly-quaffed hair.

  “Yes, ma’am, first time,” Jonathan admitted. Give a man a chance. He’d only been in the city twenty hours, most of which had been spent settling into his hotel room and temporary office at Guardian Security, Inc. He’d never considered leaving Miami before…before that night. More accurately, the next morning.

  “He’s a virgin.” The first woman elbowed the second and giggled.

  The accusation derailed Jonathan’s train of thought. Miami was in his past, and everything that had happened there was going to stay there. And what the hell? Virgin? Not by a long shot. But he wasn’t going to tell these septuagenarians—who reminded him way too much of his interfering Irish grandmother—that he’d lost his virginity as a late sixteenth birthday gift from Sally Ann Crossville, the girl he’d been dating at the time. She hadn’t lost hers that night, but taught him a lot over the next few weeks before dumping him for the star of the soccer team.

  “Gladys, he might be a Texas culinary virgin, but with that body, he’s been screwing around for years.” The second woman pushed the first the remaining way through the door.

  Gladys stopped two feet away from Jonathan and eyed him from the top of his Guardian ball cap, over the light gray company polo shirt, down the mandatory black cargo pants to the military-style boots. Maybe if he’d worn the new cowboy boots his former staff had given him as a going away gift, he’d look more Texan. But he was technically on duty and in the uniform of the day.

  “What do you think, Viola?” Gladys sidled toward her friend. �
��Bet we could teach this young buck a few things.” Bright sunlight caught the purple streak of hair that ran over Gladys’ ear.

  What the hell? Aren’t these two a hoot?

  “I just read that Cosmo article online on how to give a great blow job.” Viola smiled up at Jonathan with the whitest set of dentures he’d ever seen. Her faded blue eyes sparkled.

  Gladys petted his bicep. “Bet you work out.”

  Jonathan stared at the boney hand that squeezed his arm with greater strength than he’d imagine possible from such a small, frail-looking woman.

  “Can we come watch you work out?” Viola asked with complete seriousness.

  “Do you take your shirt off when you pump iron?” Gladys emphasized the last two words.

  Not wanting this encounter to go any further, fearing they might ask him the length of his dick next, he smiled, hoping to extricate himself gracefully. “Excuse me, ladies. I’m meeting someone inside.”

  Viola lightly smacked Gladys’s hand away from Jonathan’s arm. “Come on. We want a good spot on the bus bench across from that boxing gym with the big windows. The men should be good and sweaty by now.”

  Gladys dug in her gigantic purple purse. “Damn it all. I can’t find my gun.”

  “Don’t worry. I have mine.” Viola hauled a 1911 Colt from the depths of the big red bag hanging on her shoulder. “I got us covered.” She took a good solid shooting stance and started pointing the gun.

  “Whoa, ladies.” Jonathan grabbed the gun from Viola’s hand and checked the slide. Sure enough, there was one in the chamber. Thank God the safety was on. “Do you—”

  Viola reached for her gun back, but Jonathan held it up in the air, out of her reach. “Of course I have a permit to carry. My Charlie, God rest his soul, was a Texas Ranger. And I know how to use that sucker.”

  Jonathan ejected the magazine and the chambered bullet before handing the separated pieces back to Viola. “Please be careful with that.”

  Expertly, the older woman restacked the bullet in the magazine, popped it back into the gun, and flicked the safety on.

  Gladys stepped so close he could smell her faded, old-lady perfume mixed with the restaurant smells that had saturated her clothes. “Welcome to Texas, young man.” Her soft hand patted his cheek. “You’ll learn.” She turned to her friend. “Come on, Viola. I don’t want to miss those executive types stepping out onto the street, all fresh from their shower. Reminds me of my younger days.” With a glance over her shoulder at Jonathan, she told him, “I used to be a looker, you know.”

  “I’ll bet you were.” He could see the beauty she’d once been.

  When he finally stepped into the restaurant, he wanted to thrust his fist into the air. He smelled baking apple pie. Glancing around the packed ’50s-style diner as he removed his hat, he caught site of his new boss sitting at a table in the back with a view of everything and everyone. Their eyes met. A lift of Quinlan Barrister’s chin was Jonathan’s invitation.

  He wove his way through the scattered tables, some of which had been shoved together to accommodate larger groups, others had couples chatting intimately. All the food looked amazing. He took the indicated seat across from Quin, hating that his back was against the crowded restaurant.

  “I see Viola and Gladys waylaid you at the door.” Quin’s gaze swept the entire restaurant, and he nodded at someone behind Jonathan. “Watch out for those two. Gladys groped my ass the other day while we were standing in line to pay our bills.”

  “They’re something, aren’t they?” Jonathan just wasn’t sure exactly what that something was and didn’t want to personally find out.

  “What can I get for you today, Quin?” The cordial voice caught Jonathan’s attention as the woman reached to refill his boss’s cup. “Coffee?” The question was directed to Jonathan.

  Tired eyes the color of good whisky met his, but her smile was genuine. He flipped over the cup on the table in front of him. “Yes, please.” The desire for apple pie was overwhelming.

  She filled his cup. “Today’s lunch special is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans.”

  Jonathan glanced quickly around the small table for a menu, then up to those gorgeous brown eyes. He checked her nametag. “Gwen, could I see a menu, please?”

  Before she could answer, Quin instructed, “Behind you, over the kitchen window, above the counter.” Jonathan turned in that direction and saw a list of everything he loved to eat.

  “While you’re checking that out”—she turned her attention across the table—“I’ll take your order, Quin.”

  “I’ll have the special.”

  “Good choice.” She wrote on her pad. “I made the meatloaf myself this morning.”

  That accounted for the dark circles under her eyes. When Jonathan turned back, he noticed she was quite pretty. Her dark hair was cut in a straight line just below her jaw, directing his gaze to a pointy chin that fit her heart-shaped face. The red t-shirt was loose, but he could tell she had average-sized breasts. Not too much to be fake but enough to be enjoyable. The red apron accented her small waist and the tight jeans hugged her shapely legs down to the red, high-top gym shoes. Quirky. He liked a twisted woman.

  He smiled when she returned her attention to him. “Have you decided?”

  Yes, he’d made up his mind. Although he certainly wasn’t about to jump into another relationship, he could use some female companionship. He’d been used to getting laid every night, if he wanted it, but for the past month, sex had been the last thing on his mind. Now, in a new city, it was a whole new beginning.

  “I’ll have a cheeseburger smothered in fried onions, fries, and a Coke.” He’d work off any extra calories that afternoon in the company gym, one of the many benefits of working for Guardian.

  “I’ll get that right out for y’all.” And she was gone. On her way to the kitchen, he watched the way her hips swayed as she dodged tables, chairs, and people arriving and leaving.

  Oh, yeah. He didn’t need the same woman in his bed, night after night, tending to his every need and wish. And all-nighters had to be a thing of the past for him. He’d done one-nighters the whole time he’d been in the Marines, just like all his special operations buddies. Being tied to one woman wasn’t for him. Not anymore. He might…no. He was fine. That had been a one off. It would never happen again.

  “She doesn’t date.” Quin’s statement made Jonathan turn around.

  For the first time, he really looked at his new boss. After years as the number two man in the Los Angeles Guardian Center, Quin had been promoted to manager at the Dallas office. The Southern California sun had given the man’s light brown hair blond highlights that seemed to go with the deep golden tan. But that may have been left from his days as a SEAL.

  Jonathan would never tan. He often joked that the sun just made him turn darker shades of white. Maybe if all his freckles would merge together, he’d finally be tan. But that would look weird with his blondish-red hair. He had to stay clean-shaven because his beard grew out copper red as a new penny. He could never blend in the Middle East so he’d stayed specialized in cold weather warfare, spending time in Korea and the Far East. Lot of good that training did him now in Texas.

  Refocusing back on the conversation, Jonathan probed, “She turned you down?”

  “More than once.” Quin shrugged. “It was worth a try for a taste of that body.” He grinned. “I have discovered, though, that Texas women have a wild side.”

  “Good to know.” Jonathan could get a little wild with a woman for a night. And that’s all it would be, one night.

  “Did Alex fill you in on the situation here?” Quin asked, referring to the managing partner of Guardian Security. “And you got the memo on Katlin Callahan, right? I heard she’s in Miami a lot. Have you met her?”

  “Yes, sir. I’ve guarded Ms. Callahan and her friends several times.” Jonathan had also fought beside her in a shootout against terrorists. “Do you know her?”

  “First
, no, I’ve never met the woman.” Quin sipped his coffee. “Second, cut the sir shit.” Quin set the coffee cup down on the saucer with a clink. “I don’t know, or care, how things were done in Miami, but in my center, when we’re alone, management is on a first name basis. Yeah, I’m your boss, but we need to function as a team. When you’re in charge of the center, I expect you to give the same answers and directions that I would. In front of our men, we can be more formal.”

  Jonathan liked this man already.

  “But when it comes to Alex, and now Ms. Callahan,” Quin continued, “I expect you to treat them with the respect they deserve as the company’s owners.” He sat back in his chair and grinned. “Now, what do you know about Ms. Callahan that I should know?”

  “She’s not what she seems.” Jonathan had to watch his words carefully. He knew her covert identity and that she was the leader of an international team of female assassins. He’d seen her in action two weeks ago in Iraq. The woman was as lethal as any of his SpecOps teammates had been.

  “Most women don’t show you their real side until they get that diamond,” Quin stated perceptively. “I’ve heard she’s quite the party girl, and your buddies in Miami often had their hands full with her and her friends.”

  “Yeah, they like to go out and have a good time, but they deserve some downtime,” Jonathan defended the women he now respected more than any others in the world. He wasn’t sure he could ever handle dating one of Katlin’s team members, but understood what Alex saw in her. “Never underestimate her. She’s smart as hell.”