Page 5 of Deadly Peril

Chapter 2

In the years that Thaddeus Jonsson had been with Stealth Security, he hadn’t been called back from a job. But that had just changed. The text from the office was short yet clear. Garrett Flynn, one of the long-term bodyguards at the company, was taking over the security of the social media billionaire Thaddeus had been protecting for the past couple of months.

No explanation was given. Thaddeus wasn’t about to call and ask questions. He’d find out when he got in, or he’d ask the boss. Travis Hewitt was a standup guy to work for. He was on the level. If there was a problem, the man would say so.

Although Thaddeus couldn’t imagine there was any issue. In the months he’d worked for the client, the assignment had gone well. The few incidents that had arisen had been quickly handled. As far as Thaddeus knew, there were no outstanding threats against the client and security was tight.

So why the change of bodyguard?

Thaddeus didn’t overthink it. His mind didn’t work that way. He followed orders and did his job. If he was given a different client, that was okay. Stealth Security protected celebrities, sports figures, and VIPs of all sorts, including several billionaires.

What mattered was the safety of the clients. His boss was a family man with a wife and two daughters. He worked from the office, managing the team of bodyguards at Stealth Security. The guy was sharp, fair, and a good businessman.

All the guys at Stealth were former SEALs, and that suited Thaddeus. He’d found his place in life in the Navy and hadn’t envisioned fitting in with civilian life. Yet an issue with his eyesight had forced him out of the service. It didn’t impair his ability as a bodyguard, but the physical abilities required of a SEAL exceeded normal standards. If not for that impairment, he might have stayed in until he’d keeled over.

Protection was what Thaddeus did. It was what he knew, where he was comfortable. He wasn’t cut out to enjoy the good life, but he was capable of keeping others safe, so that they could enjoy it. One of his buddies had hooked him up at Stealth. Thus, at the age of thirty-three, he’d embarked upon a new career.

That had been a good move, and Thaddeus had acclimated to working for civilian clients. It was still protection, an activity he knew well. Bodyguarding had its dangers, but was less stressful than deployment. And it paid well.

Thaddeus figured he’d scored by getting hired at the company. He was loyal to Travis and the guys. If he was needed on a different assignment, then so be it. He followed instructions and took care of business. He didn’t have a wife and family, and nor did he see that in his future.

He was free to take any assignment for a client or travel to any locale, as directed. There was nothing tying him down. That was as it should be. It was his path, the destiny he followed. Some men made good husbands and could get the hang of relationships.

Not so for Thaddeus. He preferred to keep to himself. Whatever it was that a woman wanted from a man she married, he didn’t have it. Some things he was sure of, and that was one of them. He was married to the job, and that was fine.

Thaddeus cruised through the doors of the security company and went on a search for the office manager. Tessa Pate ran the daily operations and didn’t take any backtalk, one of the things he liked about her. She was tough, witty, and didn’t take any guff from a team of former military. Not many women could claim that.

Reception was quiet, so Thaddeus went to her office. That was empty. Next was the conference room, where he found Tessa giving instructions to Gunner Cantrell. He looked like his name sounded: broad-shouldered, beefy, but all muscle. He took special assignments that required an intimidating bodyguard. Sometimes that was what it took to make a perpetrator think twice about a plan to mess with the client. One look at Gunner would back off any guy with half a brain.

Gunner was also a bit of a genius. He knew computers like he’d invented the equipment and could get data out of them that Thaddeus couldn’t fathom. Since their team security analyst Rip McConnell had moved to Texas to be with his new wife, he worked remotely. Gunner had helped fill in for their local needs.

Tessa didn’t look up, and Gunner just nodded.

“What’s the deal?” Thaddeus said. “Why did you text for me to come in?”

Tessa’s long hair was up in a ponytail. She looked a bit worn, like she’d pulled an all-nighter. “Thad, cool your jets. I’ll get to you in a second. Can’t you see I’m with Gunner right now?” Then she turned back to business, shoving some paperwork across the table.

There was no sense hanging around and waiting. Thaddeus left and headed for Cooper Brennan’s office. He was the techy guy of the bunch. Since a new assignment was in the works, it made sense to be sure the wrap-up of the last one was in order.

Thaddeus still didn’t see why he’d been replaced by Garrett Flynn, even though he was a solid teammate and as capable as any. His wife Marlene had taken some time off from her acting career, so they could start a family. That was all good, because Garrett tended to worry about her when she was in the public eye.

There was a story behind that, and Garrett had told him the highlights. It had been quite the hair-raising few weeks. But it had ended well. With his wife safe at home, Garrett could travel around with the billionaire client. But Thaddeus could too.

What was the deal with the replacement?

Thaddeus strode into the office. “Hey, Coop.”

Cooper raised one hand, then continued typing. When he finished, he pushed his chair back and looked up. “Thad, I heard you’re off that Dylan Scott case.”

“Yeah, I heard that too,” Thaddeus said. He could have asked why, but if that info could be shared, his buddy would volunteer it.

“What can I do for you?”

“Since Garrett is taking over, I completed any unfinished business and emailed a report. I just want to make sure you got it, and I didn’t overlook anything.” Thaddeus didn’t need to check that in person, but it was a good way to waste a few minutes while waiting for his next assignment.

“It all looked good.” Cooper shuffled some paper on the desk. He appeared calm, on top of things, and maybe happier than usual.

Dealing with situations while on deployment had honed a skill for Thaddeus. It was vital to read people, to tell their real intent, and interpret expressions. Sometimes, lives depended on it. His buddy’s mood sent a clear signal.