Protective Impulse

Book 5: Crimson Point Protectors Series

by Kaylea Cross

Genres: Military Romance; Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

She’s a forbidden temptation.

Her mother’s sacrifice drove Anaya Bishop to make something of herself. Now a successful engineer, she won’t let anything jeopardize everything she’s worked for, especially the man who harassed her in the past. To make sure he keeps his distance, she hires a bodyguard to act as her plus one for a critical business trip. Donovan is skilled, experienced, and every bit as sexy as he is remote. Though the heat between them is off the charts, he remains determined to keep her at arm’s length. But the threat stalking her is about to turn deadly—and Donovan is the only one who can stop it.

But giving into desire could cost them everything.

Haunted by a past failure that cost an innocent life, security specialist Donovan Myers took a job with Crimson Point Security for a fresh start. However, this new assignment soon turns complicated. Not only is he dangerously attracted to Anaya, it’s becoming clear that whoever is targeting her is out for blood. The rules of his job are non-negotiable—as his client she’s strictly off-limits. But the fire between them burns too hot, making it impossible for him to walk away. And when the killer finally strikes, Donovan will have to confront his demons head on…with only one chance to save them both.

 

Read more

Release date: January 31, 2023

Publisher: Kaylea Cross Inc.

Print pages: 276

Sample

PROLOGUE

 

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

28 years ago

“Come on, hurry,” her mother snapped, tugging impatiently on her hand.

Anaya lurched forward, her bare feet squishing in the sticky mud at the bottom of the thigh-deep water they were slogging through on the ruined road. It was still dark out, the rain soaking through her clothes. They had been walking for hours. She was so tired and hungry, didn’t even know where they were going.

“I’m tired too, but we can’t stop to rest yet. We have to keep going.”

She remained quiet, watching around her and clutching her blanket tight with her free arm. Just like their village, everything here was destroyed too. Trucks and cars had been swallowed up by water and mud. Some of the buildings and the people inside them had been swept away.

A terrible storm had raged over the island. Hurricane Gordon, she’d heard Maman say. It had unleashed so much rain that the mountain above their village had melted like shaved ice in the sun, sending it tumbling down into the valley where they lived in an avalanche of destruction.

She shivered, soaked through to the skin. Last night had been terrifying. She’d been woken from a deep sleep when her mother dragged her out of bed in the middle of the night and raced outside with her toward the forest while the landslide rumbled like thunder behind them.

Anaya had heard people screaming, houses and trees cracking. It had frightened her. She didn’t know how long they had hidden deep in the forest, but when they had finally come out, their village was gone, along with many people Anaya had known.

Now they had no home, and no family to take them in. What would happen to them?

Her stomach rumbled angrily. The last things she’d eaten was a little plate of rice and beans one of the neighbors had shared with

them yesterday afternoon because Maman couldn’t get any fuel for their fire with the storm howling outside their little home.

It was starting to get lighter out now. They had been walking all night, the two of them part of a long line of people carrying their most prized possessions down from the mountains.

The winding, muddy road began to straighten out before them as it stretched uphill. Up ahead she could see signs of people moving around in the faint gray light. A city loomed ahead, emerging out of the hazy shadows. Some buildings and cars were ruined here too, but not as many as back home.

She wanted to go home. Wanted the doll her grandmother had made for her on her last birthday, left in her bed. Was it buried in the mud too?

She and her mother walked for another hour or more, back downhill to wade through water that came above her knees. Every step was a struggle, exhaustion dragging at her legs and feet along with the water and mud. She wanted to stop. To curl up at the side of the road and sleep under her filthy, wet blanket.

Eventually the water and mud ran out, leaving giant puddles everywhere. Tall buildings rose like dark trees in the distance. When they got closer, Anaya saw that these buildings were undamaged. Cars were still driving on the muddy roads, and people were busy carrying things to and from the market.

The hazy shapes up ahead became clearer. More buildings, far bigger than anything near their village. Then the tall, pointed spire of a church.

Suddenly she couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Where are we going?”

Her mother’s face was drawn and sad looking, her lips tight. “Hush. We’re almost there.”

Where? she wanted to ask but held her tongue. Her mother was upset but seemed to know exactly where to go. Anaya hoped they would have food there.

They passed the church, painted all white with blue lettering above the front door, and started down a narrow, winding street nearby. A low building stood at the end of it.

Something about it made Anaya’s stomach tighten in foreboding. She stopped walking, but her mother muttered something under her breath and jerked her forward once more.

Anaya went along reluctantly, unable to shake away the thought that something bad was about to happen. Her heart thudded hard as they stood on the doorstep. Her mother pulled on a rope. A bell rang inside.

Moments later a woman opened the door. She was old, with pale skin, and only her face showed in the middle of a black and white flowing scarf and robe that covered the rest of her. She looked at them both standing there in their wet, filthy clothes, and Anaya could see the woman felt sorry for them. “Come in, both of you.”

Anaya was put in a chair near the window with a piece of bread and a glass of milk while her mother went into another room with the old woman and shut the door. She glanced down. Her bare feet and legs were coated in orange mud. Her nightgown was ruined, and her blanket might be too.

After finishing her bread her stomach rumbled for more, but she was suddenly too tired to care. Her eyelids grew heavy, and her head with it. It kept falling forward until she finally slid out of the chair and curled up on the hard stone floor to sleep, clutching her blanket to her.

Maybe this was all a bad dream. Maybe when she woke up everything would be all right again.

The next thing she knew, her mother was shaking her awake. Anaya blinked slowly, struggling to sit up. She was still so tired. Couldn’t concentrate on what her mother was saying.

Then the urgency on her mother’s face registered, and she shot upright. She stared up into her mother’s wide brown eyes, the sheen of tears there frightening her.

“I have to go,” her mother said softly.

Go?

“The sisters will take care of you.” Her mother smiled but her lips trembled, and she looked so sad, Anaya reached out to grip her arm, stomach pulled into a hard knot.

“I don’t want to stay here,” she said in a voice that shook. Her birthday was coming up. She was turning six. Her mother had been saving up money for weeks to take her into town to get a new book. “You already take care of me.”

Tears flashed down her mother’s cheeks. “I can’t anymore. These people will give you what you need.”

What? “No, Maman—”

“I want you to have this.” Reaching up, she undid the thin gold chain from around her neck. The tiny cross pendant winked in the light coming through the window as she fastened it behind Anaya’s neck.

Then she cupped Anaya’s chin in her hand. “Be a good girl. Promise me you’ll be good, and remember that I love you.” She dropped her hand and stood, turning away and striding for the door.

Anaya’s heart lurched. She shot to her feet, panic roaring through her. “No,” she cried, hurrying after her. This couldn’t be happening.

Her mother paused. Looked back at her. And the stricken look on her face made Anaya go cold all over. “I’m sorry, my angel. I love you. I will always love you, but things are bad here and you deserve more than I can—” She choked out the last words and stopped, then spun away and rushed for the door.

Anaya raced after her, heart hammering. Terrified and not understanding what was happening. “Maman!”

This time her mother didn’t stop. Didn’t slow down. Just walked out the front door at a brisk pace without a backward glance.

A wave of terror crashed over her. Anaya bolted for the door, determined to go with her. “Maman, please!” she cried, her voice shaking as much as her limbs.

Adult arms caged her from behind. “Don’t, my child.”

She kicked. Struggled. Tried to wrestle out of that imprisoning grasp, her eyes glued to her mother’s retreating form. No! Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me!

Her mother kept going. Had now reached the end of the narrow street they’d walked up earlier, her figure silhouetted against the

bright morning light. “Come back!” Anaya cried.

Anaya had to catch her, before it was too late. She gulped in a breath, her chest hurting. Had she done something bad and made Maman angry with her? She must have, for her to leave her here. “I’ll be good!” she screamed at the retreating figure, sobbing. “Maman, please, I’ll be good!”

Her mother turned the corner and vanished from sight.

Anaya stopped struggling and stood frozen inside the doorway, staring at that spot. The terrible realization hit her just like the wall of mud that had destroyed their home last night.

Her mother had left her. And deep down, Anaya knew she wasn’t coming back.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

Present day

Crimson Point, OR

“There’s my little princess!” Anaya crouched down and held her arms out to little Ferhana as the baby toddled out of the hallway and into the kitchen.

Her adopted niece froze when she saw her, clinging to her mom’s hand and eyeing Anaya warily.

“It’s Auntie Nay-Nay,” her sister said brightly. When the baby didn’t budge, Nadia chuckled and urged her new daughter forward. “Give her a few minutes. I think she’s still trying to wake up.”

Anaya sat down on the kitchen floor and folded her legs, waiting. They’d “visited” by video call three times a week since Nadia and Callum had decided to adopt her weeks ago, but Anaya guessed seeing each other in person must be a shock for the eleven-month-old.

Her patience was rewarded soon thereafter, however, because Ferhana cast aside her caution, tugged free of Nadia’s grip and toddled toward Anaya with a toothy grin. “Nay!”

“Yes, that’s right!” Anaya held out her arms again with a big, animated smile. She caught the toddler and scooped her up, peppering her face and neck with kisses, a bittersweet pang hitting her in spite of her resolve not to think about what might have been. “How’s my girl?” Ferhana smelled like baby shampoo and pure innocence. Anaya could just eat her up.

Ferhana giggled, then started squirming until Anaya set her down, and made an unsteady dash for the adjoining living room. “She’s getting so big.”

Nadia started after her. “I know. She’s also getting faster and picks up more words every day. It’s amazing how quickly she’s adjusted.”

The side door opened and Callum walked in. Her Viking-like future brother-in-law’s ginger-bearded face broke into a big grin

when Ferhana shrieked and raced toward him as fast as her short, unsteady little legs would carry her.

“Hi, sweetie,” he said on a laugh and swept her up in his thickly roped arms, placing smacking kisses on the side of her neck.

Ferhana gave another happy shriek and then broke into a helpless giggle that made them all burst out laughing. Anaya was charmed all over again. That belly chuckle had to be one of the best sounds in the whole world.

Watching her sister, Callum and Ferhana together, she felt a wistful pang hit dead in the center of her chest. But the deep love between them filled her with warmth. Ferhana had endured so much in her short life, and thankfully was too young to remember any of it. Now that Nadia and Callum had adopted her, she would have a solid, stable and loving home to grow up in, a world away from war and the oppression of the Taliban that had taken back control of Afghanistan.

Still, Anaya couldn’t ignore a twinge of sadness. This is what she’d wanted for herself. What she’d always wanted—an unshakable sense of security and belonging. Of unconditional love and support with a man who loved her as they built a life and family together.

So far, it wasn’t meant to be. She hadn’t had it as a young child, though being adopted had somewhat eased that old trauma. But if it hadn’t been for Nadia and their dad’s unwavering love and support in the midst of their unconventional and highly dysfunctional family, Anaya would have crumbled inside long ago.

Callum came toward her holding Ferhana in the crook of one arm and gave her a warm smile. “Drive down from Portland went okay?” he asked, reaching out to wrap his other arm around her.

She adored him. He’d risked everything—including his life—to get Nadia safely out of Afghanistan after she’d been trapped there in the wake of the American withdrawal in July, and then been the one to suggest they adopt Ferhana.

She’d never seen Nadia so happy, and for her guarded sister to put aside her deep reservations about relationships and give her heart to him already told Anaya everything she needed to know about his character. “Thanks to GPS, yes.”

He walked over to kiss Nadia, then faced Anaya again. “Oh, Jaia said you called the office earlier, when Ryder and I were both in meetings. What did you want to talk to us about?”

Nadia shot her a frown. “Is everything okay?”

Anaya sighed. She had a lot on her mind, had intended to wait until later to bring this up, but no point avoiding it any longer. Of course phoning Crimson Point Security earlier would raise questions. “Yes, fine. I’ve just got a couple things coming up this weekend that I’m feeling a little unsure about, so I was actually calling to see if you might be able to come with me to Seattle over the weekend. I tried your cell before but your voicemail was full.”

Nadia frowned at her, and Callum’s red-gold eyebrows rose. “Why, what’s happening?” Callum asked.

With them both staring at her, she felt suddenly embarrassed, and wondered if maybe she’d overreacted to her situation. “It’s not 

like I’m in danger or anything,” she added quickly.

“Then what’s going on?” he pressed, his demeanor calm as his hazel eyes remained locked on hers. Giving her a glimpse of the elite SOF soldier he’d been until not very long ago.

Oh, hell. Fine. “Can you pour me that wine now?” she asked her sister, who rushed to get her a glass of white. “I’ll explain everything while I help you finish getting dinner ready.”

Nadia handed her the wine as Callum sat on a stool at the island and fed Ferhana bites of cut fruit and cheese.

Anaya took a sip before whisking together the fresh lemon vinaigrette she’d made for the salad. “I’ve got these high-level meetings at Boeing Field over the next week.”

“Right,” Callum answered, watching her steadily.

“I just found out that they’re flying in their top legal team from back east to deal with the contracts. I’ve dealt with them before, and the firm has an incredible rep within the industry, except I’ve had...issues with one of their younger lawyers in the past.”

“In what way?” 

“Inappropriate behavior, sexual harassment, and borderline stalking.”

Callum’s eyebrows snapped together, and her sister whirled to face her. “Not the guy you met in DC last year?” Nadia demanded, spatula poised in her hand like a weapon.

“That’s the one. Anthony Riggs. Total sleaze ball.” Her skin prickled just thinking about him and his smarmy face. “He’s disgusting, and I called him on his behavior last year when he wouldn’t take the hint and leave me alone. My boss was able to have him removed from the proceedings for that particular job, but the whole thing was stressful and embarrassing.” She’d hated how people had looked at her differently after the incident. As if she was to blame for causing the situation in the first place.

“What happened to him after?” Callum asked.

“He was placed on unpaid administrative leave, then made to see a therapist and take ‘sensitivity training,’ but I’m sure it was a total waste of everyone’s time and money. Anyway, he’s since been reinstated and will be at these meetings.”

“Of course he will,” Nadia muttered in disgust.

“Yep, and there’s this big formal dinner Saturday night for some of the top executives from our team and the French delegation coming in. Given the history between he and I, I’d feel more comfortable bringing someone as a plus one to make sure he keeps his distance this time. Preferably a big, intimidating guy who could act as a buffer. Someone who wouldn’t be afraid to step in and put Riggs in his place if necessary.” She smiled at Callum. “Know anyone like that?”

He winced. “I wish I could go with you, but I’ve already got meetings this weekend and I can’t get out of them. Is it just the dinner you’re worried about?”

“No.” They stared at her expectantly, even Ferhana, watching her with big brown eyes as she chewed on a piece of cheese. “I’m also meeting my biological father this weekend as well and want someone with me when I do.”

Nadia gasped and flicked off the burner, eyes wide. “No. When did this come about?”

“Two days ago. I emailed him last week to say I was coming to Seattle, and he answered saying he’d love to meet me while I’m in town. So we set up a time.”

“He’s got a criminal record,” Callum said, frowning. Nadia must have told him about Anaya’s saga to find her bio dad, and how a distant cousin had at last filled in the gaps after she had done a DNA test with a genealogy database.

“Yes.” Armed robbery and aggravated assault. She wasn’t clear on the details. “He was released from prison in Haiti five years ago for good behavior after serving his sentence. Somehow he still got a visa and was able to enter the US legally. He started off in Florida, apparently, then moved to Chicago for a few years before coming to Seattle seven months ago. Anyway, given his record and that I don’t know him, I don’t want to meet him alone.”

“Shit no, you can’t go alone,” Callum said. “Would you be open to hiring someone through the company?”

“Maybe.” She’d hoped to go with Callum because she knew and trusted him, but if that wasn’t an option, she needed to be open-minded.

He rubbed his jaw, took out his phone. “I think Myers might be available. ...