Her Covert Protector (Rogue Protectors Book 4)

Nadia opened the door to Gabby and Kelso.

“You’re late for the moving-in party,” she told them. The guys had worked efficiently to unload the U-Haul, and they were lounging around the backyard patio, drinking beer. Her dad still got tired easily, so Nadia made sure he was comfortable in the bedroom before she continued unpacking items in the kitchen.

“We come bearing pizza,” Kelso said, his biceps bulging from the weight of the boxes. Gabby was carrying two smaller ones.

“Hurry in before you drop them.” Nadia waved them through. She closed the door and followed them to the dining room. “Are you done with your shredding phase?”

Kelso lowered the pizza on the dining table. “No. Just taking a cheat day.”

“I’m taking one with him,” Gabby winked.

Declan took that moment to stride in probably getting a heads-up text from his wife. He went directly to Gabby and reeled her in for a kiss. “How was your day?” he asked.

Awww, Nadia swooned.

“Evan Wagner has been a drag,” Gabby declared, wrapping her arms around Declan’s torso. “I need a hug.”

Her husband dutifully obliged. “Do I need to kick someone’s ass?”

“I wish. But I don’t want to get you into trouble,” she pouted. The dynamics between them were cute. Gabby could be a no-nonsense cop but had no problem giving up control to seek comfort from her hot and protective hubby when they were among close friends.

Kelso said, “Wagner denied knowledge specifically about any device. He said since the Vovks were close business associates he didn’t see any problem with their request to use the office spaces beside the Club Sochi basement.”

“How did the search of the premises go?” Nadia asked.

John, Bristow, Antonio, and Charly took that moment to walk into the house from the patio.

“Still looking for clues that may lead to Sally’s whereabouts. She hasn’t returned to her house for sure,” Kelso said, and then he smiled. “Don’t worry. Your place is with your dad. Let us worry about finding her.”

She blew out a breath. “How’s her mother?”

“We have a man undercover at the hospital just in case she shows up.”

“So far, bills are getting paid,” Nadia said. “Any hopes of her coming out of a coma?”

“I can dig deeper,” Bristow offered. “I know John has given you the access, but we agreed it might be better for plausible deniability if anyone questions how you came into the medical information.”

“Oh.” Kelso slipped out a phone and handed it to Nadia. “You may need this. I’ve sent Sally several messages encouraging her to turn herself in. That we can help her.”

“No response?” She asked it more as a statement than a question.

Kelso shook his head. “We put out news of the apartment home invasion. Stated that your dad and Dugal were hurt.”

“Trying to guilt her?” Nadia sighed.

“Yep.”

She crossed her arms. “I have complicated feelings about Sally.”

“We may have an insight of what’s going on,” John said. “We’ve noticed the influx of high-ranking mob bosses coming into the country. Dmitry Vovk was spotted in LA just last night, and he wasn’t hiding his movements.”

“Sicilian crime families were seen in Vegas,” Bristow added. ”And Levi said Russian Bratva lieutenants were seen crawling the clubs on Spring Street.”

“First I’ve heard of this,” Kelso said, face turning concerned. “Any idea why?”

John and Bristow’s attention cut to Antonio.

“Something big is happening in LA,” the businessman said. “I’ve heard noise about it from my associates inside the cartel and the Sicilian mafia.”

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” Gabby said.

“A mob convention,” Antonio said.

Nadia’s eyes widened. “A mob convention?”

John nodded. “The disks we retrieved from Ukraine yielded interesting business dealings between Wagner and the Vovks. Revenant Films refused to work with the mob, and we’re thinking Maxim and Wagner originally hatched up a plan to cause an incident at StreamCon and derail the production company”—he looked at Gabby—“your production company.”

“The board has discussed this,” Gabby replied. “We refused to work with the Vovks.”

“But with Maxim dead, Morris was left in charge of the Crown-Key,” Nadia speculated. “The traffic incident was meant to be a test of its capability. StreamCon is going to be held in the convention center which is located in Sequoia Global City … and, oh crap!” SGC was a high concept urban development where the utilities and banking were computerized and highly interlinked. “This is bad. The Key can potentially shut down that city with just one malware.”

“Not to mention if we’re looking for persons of interest, they’ll be in costumes,” Gabby pointed out.

“Fuck,” Kelso muttered. “They could dress as a mobster and say they’re emulating that mob film that won the Oscar last year. These sons of bitches are going to use StreamCon to hide their activities since many of the participants are associates. They’re going to blend.” The detective studied Nadia. “Fancy going undercover? This gig would be right up your alley.”

Excitement pulsed through her veins. The idea that she would be doing what she loved in the line of duty seemed to be the perfect storm.

But when John clasped her shoulders and gently turned her toward him with an apology in his eyes, she held her breath, knowing she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.

“I think you should sit this one out.”

Nadia threw up her arms and broke his hold, putting some distance between them. John wanted to yank her back in his arms and keep her there as he wrestled between his emotions and the job that needed to get done. It was a murky path, and one that blindsided him.

“Oh hell no,” she snarled. “You do not get to make that choice for me.”

Gabby got in between them, more in John’s face, eyes shooting warning sparks. “She’s right. Not your decision. She works for me and Kelso. It’s an LAPD op. Don’t fucking overstep.”

His mouth flattened, and two simple words forced through clenched teeth. “She’s pregnant.”

The air around the room stilled, and Gabby’s mouth gaped. “What?” Her brows shot up, and a look of incredulity crossed her face.

“Holy fuck,” Declan chuckled, clapping Bristow on the shoulder. “You knew, didn’t you?”

The SEAL was just grinning his shit-eating grin.

“You’re pregnant?” Charly exclaimed while Antonio had a smirk plastered on his face.

John closed his eyes briefly. Fucking fantastic.

Kelso folded his arms and stared at Nadia. “I’m kinda hurt you didn’t tell me, nerd girl.”

Gabby wheeled around and glared at her partner. “Lay off. It’s her prerogative when to share.” She glanced back over her shoulder and smirked at John. “Although the baby daddy jumped the gun.”

“More like he should’ve holstered the gun,” Kelso coughed.

Everyone started laughing.

Roarke had tears in his eyes and couldn’t hide his mirth. Fucker.

“I’m sorry,” Roarke wheezed, and John hoped he choked on his next breath. “I mean, you’re the most hardcore, mission-oriented operative among all of us.” He wiped the corners of his eyes.

“Wait a minute,” Kelso interjected. “You’re not with him because of this, right? Because—”

“Stop right there, fucker—”

“All right, everyone calm down,” Bristow stepped in. “We have a case to discuss.”

“I agree,” Nadia said, but John didn’t like the cloudiness that descended on her face or the way she was staring at him. “We have several issues here and it seems it’s more yours than mine because I trust you to do your work. Question is, do you trust me to do mine?”

“That’s not a fair question,” John growled.

“Oh, is it because I’m pregnant?” Nadia challenged. “Because, as far as I know, women have been pregnant since the beginning of time, and they’re quite capable of working.” She flared her arms down her sides. “I’m not even showing yet.”

“How far along are you?” Kelso asked.

“Almost five weeks,” Nadia replied.

“There are things we need to consider,” Kelso’s eyes shifted to John. “But it’s up to Nadia if she wants to do it. Clear?”

His jaw clenched tight, as he bit back the urge to roar at everyone. He reined in the urge to lock Nadia away in a room, but judging from the stubborn set of her jaw, it was a losing battle. He gave a tight nod.

Everyone moved to the patio area, and the fire pit was lit for another chilly evening. The pizza seemed to mellow Nadia’s mood to a point that John was able to sit by her side without a glare coming his way. He’d always been high-handed, more so after hearing the plan. His outburst asking her not to go on the mission bothered him, but he was slowly accepting how Nadia had become the center of his universe. Wasn’t this what he wanted—her confident in her skills? But it was her skill to run an op safe in a room far away from danger, not in the middle of one.

Turnabout was fair play, apparently.

He stared at her profile, her features basking in the firelight. She was beautiful beyond words and vulnerable. The mother of his child. He was coming to terms with each tumultuous emotion that was wrenched out of him each time he worried about her safety. Was he in love? An emotion he’d scorned, that he’d promised he’d never feel for a woman. Was this what it was? He’d damn everyone else, every other mission objective to protect Nadia. He would always choose her. He would find a way to do his job, but fuck, he would always choose her. And that was the main directive he’d assigned to all the compartments of his brain. He glanced around the men who’d gathered around the fire—Roarke and Andrade. They would do ruthless things to protect the women they loved. He understood Walker now too.

“It’s Walker’s wedding today,” John murmured.

“I thought the man was already married,” Gabby said.

“It was a Vegas wedding the first time,” Andrade smirked.

Charly slapped him across the chest with the back of her hand and told everyone, “I find this reaffirmation of their vows very romantic.”

Andrade gathered her in his arms. “More romantic than the wedding I gave you?”

His new bride leaned away and smiled at him. “No one can be more romantic than you.”

Bristow coughed. “Challenge thrown.”

“Why weren’t any of you invited to Migs and Ariana’s wedding?” Nadia asked.

“They wanted to keep it in the family,” Bristow said. “Man, but I do like Mexican food.”

Roarke shot him a look. “You like all kinds of food.”

“I concur,” Antonio said dryly.

“Bristow needs a woman who can cook,” Nadia teased.

“Don’t need one or the headache.” He winked. “There’s always takeout.”

“Don’t let Dad hear you about takeout,” Nadia warned. “Or you’ll never hear the end of it. Finish the pizza. Let’s hide the boxes. Though I think I’ll save a few pieces for Clyde.”

“Where are the MoMoS?” Kelso asked.

“MoMoS?” Charly asked.

“The merry old men of SkyeLark,” everyone who knew the acronym chorused in unison.

“Stephen retired early,” John said. “Arthur and Clyde turned in after the first beer. It’s been a long day for them …” He frowned when more than a few heads tilted his way in a baffled look. “What?”

“You sound … almost … fond of them,” Gabby said.

“Don’t be a smartass,” Roarke nudged his wife. “Whatever magic the MoMoS are weaving on Garrison, he seems to be more tolerable to work for these days.”

“Fuck you, man,” John grumbled.

After everyone had their amusement at his expense, Kelso called attention back to their yet unresolved plan to find the Crown-Key.

“With no device, will the mob still converge at StreamCon?” the detective asked.

“Sally’s status is unknown. We don’t even know if Dmitry Vovk has found her,” Gabby pointed out.

“I have a feeling she won’t miss StreamCon.” Nadia told them of the excitement she remembered in the woman’s eyes at Huxley’s party.

John already had his phone out, searching the StreamCon website. “We have exactly ten days to come up with a plan.” He stood and started pacing, fingers rubbing across his chin, trying to work in the other angle. “So, how does the mob come in?”

“Maxim Vovk was a performer,” Andrade said. “I’ve had dealings with him before our association fell apart because he loved publicity. Good or bad didn’t matter.”

“Seems he and Wagner are made for each other,” Gabby said.

The businessman smiled briefly. “Yes. I have a feeling the organized crime groups at the event are there to witness the power of the Crown-Key.”

“That’s some kind of sales pitch,” Roarke said.

“It starts a bidding war,” the billionaire explained.

Andrade sure knew the inner workings of the underworld, John thought with amusement. It was definitely to their benefit that he was on their side. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have thought to look deeper at the appearance of other criminal organizations. That was why Dmitry was very public in the past few weeks, to draw all the attention to him, and let his associates slip under the radar.

“But with Maxim dead …” Kelso started.

“It’s up to Dmitry to deliver,” John said. “He has to produce something his brother promised.”

“But with Sally missing,” Nadia said. “He must be desperate—”

“Dmitry doesn’t get desperate,” John murmured. “We have to prepare for the possibility that he already has Sally, and that’s why she hasn’t responded. She may have even reached out to him.”

“Dammit, Sally,” Nadia muttered.

“Don’t get too attached,” Kelso told her.

She glared at him. “I’m not.”

The detective raised a brow. “You said yourself that you have complicated feelings about her.”

“Ugh, yeah,” she admitted. “But why would she reach out to Dmitry? There’s nothing in her profile that says criminal, so what’s driving her is paying the medical bills. Maybe we can cut a deal with her. I’ll continue to message her.” She glanced around. “We can, right? Give her immunity from the traffic incidents and the ATM scam.”

“Definitely,” John said. “But that doesn’t solve the problem of her mother’s medical bills.”

“Yes, but if Maxim was the one who stole the Crown-Key, maybe we can offer a reward for its return,” Nadia argued. “That’ll go hand-in-hand with the immunity deal.”

John’s eyes softened. “Babe, you’re making this too personal, but it’s not too farfetched.”

“We don’t know what transpired when Dmitry went to Club Sochi,” Kelso said. “You’ve seen him in action. He can be charismatic. If there’s truth to the rumor that he’s indeed the leader of the Argonayts then he would have been more appealing to a computer nerd like Sally.”

Nadia turned to John. “If the ultimate goal is to hit StreamCon, and Sally is there, I’ll be the person most likely to be able to reach her. Appeal to her.”

“Geeks unite, huh?” John stared at her as the indecision battled inside him.

She offered a tight-lipped smile and gave a subtle nod.

He knew she was right. He couldn’t let his overprotectiveness derail the relationship they were building. He told her he was going to adapt, but he sure as fuck thought it had everything to do with his job, not hers.

He hadn’t counted on Nadia being in the line of fire.

The crackling of the fire pit was the only sound that could be heard around the patio.

Finally, John exhaled with a heavy breath. “Then, we’ll make sure you’re protected as fuck.”