Chapter One
Raven
“Keep your knees high, Rae!”
I gritted my teeth hard against the pain that exploded across my shoulder. I refused to cry out. It was my first combat training session, and I was going to prove that I could handle it. The man in front of me clearly wasn’t going to make that easy.
Braxton straightened, his hazel eyes trained on me as I struggled to right myself after the blow I just took.
I smirked through the pain, hoping it didn’t come off as a wince. “You hit like me.”
Braxton blinked before shaking his head, a touch of a grin appearing on one side of his square jaw. His eyes remained serious, though as he tilted his chin, he was looking down at me even more.
“You might be my cousin, but that doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you,” his grin became just a little bit evil. “In fact, that actually should be enough reason for me to be even tougher on you.”
It might have sounded harsh, but I understood where my cousin was coming from. I’ve been working for his company, The Glass Exchange, for nearly six years. I was just barely seventeen when I got pulled in. It definitely wasn’t my choice. My family was in trouble, so I had to step up.
I’ve been neck-deep in the world of high-stakes data exchanges ever since. I was a runner, one of the people who met with clients who had sensitive information they wanted extracted or delivered physically. We dealt with a lot of scandalous situations as a result, like affairs that could ruin the reputation of important individuals.
It was a dangerous job. I’d been injured and in near-death situations more than once, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t find it thrilling as well. There was something about the fear that made me feel truly alive.
I felt no fear now as Braxton reared his fist back to strike me again. I braced myself, preparing to dodge and debating if I could kick his feet out from under him as I’d seen in several action movies. It probably wouldn’t be very clean, but at least it would make it clear that I meant business. Braxton lunged, and I barely ducked out of the way before my cousin’s fist could connect with the side of my head. I glowered at him.
“Do you want me to do this assignment tonight?” I demanded, frustration welling up.
Braxton frowned hard at me. “I don’t just want you to do it,” he replied. He gestured at me as if I were a liability. “I also want you to make it back alive.”
His words caused me to freeze. For a brief moment, I wondered if he was saying that to distract me, but he had his sincere eyes on me. “I’m going to make it back,” I assured him seriously.
Braxton didn’t seem the least bit comforted by my words. If anything, his entire countenance hardened further. He didn’t need to say anything. His thoughts were written all over the stern lines of his face.
Since joining the company, no one had bothered to train me in combat. It had happened so suddenly. I came in one morning, and Braxton was talking to a couple of our co-workers. It was clear by the way they looked up and directly at me that I was the topic of conversation.
“Combat training,” Braxton had said abruptly, after pulling me aside. “You start tomorrow.”
There had been no lead-up, but it still wasn’t a total shock. There had been multiple incidents with runners like me. Nothing too serious, but it did seem like the stakes were rising with our assignments. Many of the enemies we encountered on these jobs were starting to take their frustrations out on us.
I prided myself on how unassuming I seemed. The individuals I encountered during these assignments rarely gave me any trouble. There was something about my personality that seemed to calm them and keep them civil. That was largely why Braxton decided that I would be a decent runner.
I could feel Braxton’s concern as we continued our session. I tried not to show how tired I was. My muscles were becoming jelly.
“Focus, Rae,” Braxton ordered firmly, lunging to shove me back with his rock-like shoulder.
“I’m trying,” I gritted out, swinging my arm to try and at least clip my cousin. He was far too fast, though, and I was slowing down quickly. I didn’t even have a chance at dodging the blow coming at me, and I cried out when his fist connected, the impact enough to send me falling to the cold floor of the training room.
“Rae!”
My head spun as Braxton dropped to his knees beside me. “Why didn’t you dodge?” he demanded harshly, sliding his arm behind my shoulders to help me sit up. “Did you hit your head?”
I groaned, my whole body aching. “I didn’t dodge because you’re a lightspeed tyrant,” I managed to wheeze out. I winced but batted his hands away lightly. “I’m fine, Brax. I didn’t hit my head.”
I might not have hit my head, but more than just my limbs were going to be bruised later. I wanted to get stronger. I couldn’t expect to be good at this overnight, but I could see the desperation on Braxton’s face, and I was starting to reflect his feelings.
Braxton suddenly grabbed me by the upper arm and yanked me up as if I weighed nothing, which actually wasn’t far from the truth. I was just over five feet, which added to how unassuming I look. Being as small as I was did render me far too easy to toss around, which wasn’t my favorite thing in the world.
I rolled my shoulders as soon as Braxton let me go, cursing inwardly at how sore I was. “You couldn’t have gone a little easy on me?” I asked, trying and probably failing to keep the whine out of my voice. “You’re acting like we’ve been doing this for years rather than hours.”
“I should have been doing this for years,” Braxton seethed between his teeth.
I gave him a long look after taking the sweat towel he offered. “Are you really blaming yourself?” I asked in dismay. I shook my head in wonder. “Brax, there wasn’t a real reason to train me. It was only recently that our assignments started to become more dangerous. You can’t beat yourself up over this.”
A part of me was definitely touched that Braxton was worried about me. I didn’t have any siblings, so I always thought of him as an older brother. When we were kids, he was always protecting me from mean bullies on the playground, and when I was sixteen, he even beat up my high school boyfriend after he kissed me without my consent.
Braxton sighed, a fraction of the tension leaving his shoulders as he exhaled. “I know,” he admitted. He rubbed a large hand over his eyes. “It’s just that I promised your parents that I would watch over you, and I would give anything to pull you from these assignments and have you do data entry or something instead. It’s honestly a shame that you’re such a good runner.”
“Kramer saw it in me right away,” I reminded him. “Besides, it was the only way to seal the deal. Who knows how my parents would be faring if I didn’t get this job? They’re lucky they didn’t lose their house.”
Braxton ground his teeth at the mention of the big boss. Kramer owned the Glass Exchange and had no issue exploiting his employees if it meant getting the jobs done right.
“You’re being sent downtown tonight,” Brax said as we walked out of the training room. “They were supposed to send Stanley, but he got sent on that LA run this morning.”
“That’s fine,” I assured him.
Braxton’s nostrils flared. “It’s not fine,” he snapped. “I tried to explain to Kramer that you aren’t cleared for this level of contact. I did some digging, and these guys are tied to Vane Steeley.”
I blinked. “He’s that CEO guy, right?”
Braxton blew out an impatient breath. “Glad you were paying attention during the meeting,” he muttered sarcastically. “He’s not just a CEO. He’s a shark, Rae. The kind that doesn’t take kindly to anyone getting in the way of business endeavors.”
I shrugged my shoulders, trying to appear way more nonchalant than I felt. “You taught me to be the ghost that I am, Brax,” I assured him, nudging him in the side with my elbow. “Vane Steeley doesn’t even know I exist, and besides, by the time his guys realize the drive is gone, I’ll already be back here with my mouth full of takeout.”
I meant that to lighten the mood, but Braxton looked anything but convinced. He stopped in front of the heavy steel doors that led to the locker room, his deep shadow enveloping my much smaller form. “I’m glad you’re confident,” he told me, but his voice dropped to a low, urgent rumble. “But there’s a fine line between confidence and careless arrogance.”
My jaw dropped, and I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m nowhere near the line of arrogance,” I protested, trying to keep my voice level. “I’m always careful, Brax. I wouldn’t have lasted this long if I wasn’t.”
Braxton’s face actually softened, and he reached out to ruffle my hair. “I know, I know,” he murmured, his voice slightly more consoling now that it was clear he’d almost offended me. “You’ve done a lot for Glass Exchange, but just because you’re a ghost doesn’t mean you’re invisible.”
There was something in his dark eyes that caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. “You know something,” I said. It wasn’t a question.
Braxton nodded once. “There are rumors circulating of a new player in the local grid. They’re called Aegis and have been sniffing around Vane’s sectors. If you encounter them tonight, you don’t engage. You run. Got me?”
I studied his expression. It was easy to see the very real worry behind the sternness. He needed me to be calm. If I showed any fear, he would try to find a way to get me out of this assignment. He’d tried to do this in the past and nearly got in trouble with upper management because of it. I couldn’t let him do that again.
So, I offered him a small smile, the one I put on when I wanted him to stop worrying about me. “Aegis. Got it! I’ll be careful, Brax. I promise.”
Brax raised a stern eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to inquire about who specifically you should be looking out for?”
I gave him a sheepish grin as he handed me a manila folder with the information. “Thanks,” I muttered.
He looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it. He gave my shoulder a firm, warning squeeze before turning away. “Check in with Pip before you leave. She’s running your overwatch.”
I watched him go, a sense of foreboding settling over my skin.
A couple of hours later, I was standing in the middle of an industrial park downtown. It was an appropriately foggy night, and the air smelled salty and stale with low tide and diesel. A frigid breeze whipped against my cheeks, and I tightened the light black jacket I was wearing. I had my best poker face on, refusing to show the unease that was currently singing through my veins.
“Target is in sight,” Pip said through my earpiece. “Two black SUVs idling at your 10 o’clock.”
I nodded mostly to myself. “I’m moving to the primary stack,” I told her, already stepping forward to do just that. “How’s the perimeter looking?”
Pip’s voice was drowned in static for a half-second, but it was long enough to make me sweat a bit. If she and I were disconnected, I would be going in completely blind. “Too quiet,” she said. “Not even a seagull cry, Rae. I don’t know, I’ve just got a weird feeling. Stay extra alert, okay? I’ve got your path cleared to the west gate.”
I let my eyes drift toward the direction she indicated, letting it ground me. I straightened when I heard confident footsteps. There were three men headed my way, most of whose features were hidden by shadows and hoods.
The big guy in the front stepped forward to meet me. He was clearly Henderson, the leader I was briefed about. “You got the drive, little girl?” His dark eyes swept over me in clear dismissal.
I stepped forward, clutching the item in question in the pocket of my jacket. “I do,” I replied evenly. I tilted my chin up. “Do you have the payment verification?”
Henderson gestured to one of his men, who stepped forward with a laptop. “See for yourself, girl.”
My heart skipped a beat as I closed the distance between myself and the men. I bent slightly to skim over the document on the screen. Once I was satisfied, I turned and held out the slim black drive to Henderson.
Once his palm touched mine, the air shifted into something sinister, a grin forming on his face.
Pip’s voice was shrill in my ear. “Rae! There’s movement on the roof of the north building.”
My blood ran cold immediately. A set-up.
Henderson wasn’t looking at the drive. His cruel eyes locked on mine, his grin spreading.
“Vane Steeley sends his regards,” he sneered. “He would have come himself, but he prefers to send me when there are loose ends like you that need to be dealt with.”
“Rae, abort! Braxton’s been blocked!” Pip shrieked. A hiss of static thrummed against my eardrum before her voice cut out completely.
I wasn’t even shocked when the bastard pulled a pistol out of his jacket. Thankfully, my body burst into action faster than conscious thought. I was able to dive to the side right before the first round of bullets was shot directly through where I had been standing a split second earlier.
I scrambled behind a pile of crates, my heart hammering in my chest. I had just finished a training session with Brax a couple of hours earlier, but I wasn’t feeling confident that I could punch away a stray bullet.
“Nowhere to hide, little girl,” Henderson mocked.
My mind raced but it wasn’t to anywhere useful. I was a sitting duck. There were three of them, and they were huge. If I ran, I would just get shot immediately. And Pip warned me that there were others on the roof.
I was completely surrounded. And completely alone.
“End her,” Henderson ordered. “The boss wants her body.”
Fear spiked, and my eyes shifted wildly, searching desperately for an escape.
They were nearly on me when I finally gave up hope and squeezed my eyes shut.
Shots rang out, but they came from the opposite direction of where Henderson and his men were. They were far above my head, and I heard my pursuers cry out in panic as they scattered.
Someone was shooting at them.
I yelped when I was suddenly grabbed by the arm and pulled against a hard, broad chest.
I looked up and found myself staring up at the most intense face I had ever seen. Sharp, dark hazel eyes and a chiseled jaw lined with stubble. The man’s straight dark hair was slightly long but slicked neatly back from his forehead.
Despite my predicament, I found myself staring with my jaw slack.
His hold on me was possessive as it tightened, pressing me closer to his chest. “Keep your head down, little bird.”
I was close enough to him that I could hear the little voice from his earpiece. “Jace, I’ll be there in a sec.”
Jace’s voice rumbled close to my ear as he answered the man on the other line. “I’ve got her. Don’t dawdle, Kai.”
My throat suddenly felt tight when I opened my mouth to ask who these guys were. I should have been terrified, but something about this man’s voice and his hold on my body made me feel safe.
More shots rang out, and Jace pushed me down, shielding me with his armored chest. He crouched over me, his large, warm palm cupping the side of my face as he pressed me even closer against him. He pointed his gun toward where the shot had come from and fired back.
“They’re distracted,” Jace said into his mic. “You should have no problem finishing them off, Kai.”
“I’m nearly on them,” Kai answered.
I snuck a glance, lifting my head slightly just as a dark blur entered the scene. Kai was quick and lethal as he crossed the lot. The man moved like a panther. Henderson and the others didn’t notice him at all. His arm shot out, a small round item whizzing through the air before attaching to the chest of one of Henderson’s men. A blue arc of electricity erupted, and the man dropped instantly.
“Abort!” Henderson bellowed, and he and the other men tore off toward their SUVs.
Jace and Kai watched them go, their guns pointed at them until they cleared the area, jumping into their vehicles and speeding away into the night.
Jace waited until they were no longer in sight before gently easing his body off mine.
Kai turned and started toward us, and I was momentarily mesmerized by the newcomer. He had visibly softer features than Jace, but he was far, far from feminine. A nearby street light gave me just enough light to make out his features. He had dark blonde hair that hung in front of his forehead, framing blue-gray eyes that were currently trained on me.
“Is she alright?” he asked, his smooth voice tight as he dropped to his knees in front of me. My eyes widened when he cupped the side of my face, his thumb sweeping over a tender spot there. His blue eyes darkened when I winced. “He hurt her.” His tone was flat, eyes flashing.
Jace was frowning as he looked down at me. “Probably when she dove out of the way.”
I was finally able to snap out of my shock to open my mouth. “Who are you guys?” I asked. My voice was shaking. “You saved me. Why?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized what was happening.
They were from Aegis, the guys that Braxton warned me about. My cousin had linked them to a dangerous criminal, but these guys didn’t seem like the type who worked with criminals. Their touches were gentle and sent warmth and reassurance through me that I had never felt before.
I sucked in a sharp breath when I remembered that I had also been warned that these guys had been watching me. They knew about me.
What if they saw me as a threat as well?
“I’m Kai and that’s Jace. There’s no time to explain,” Kai said, but not unkindly. His gaze shifted up to Jace, who was standing over us now. “Her cousin is almost here. We should get her to the west gate.”
Jace nodded once before reaching his hand down to me. “Can you stand?” he asked.
I managed to nod, but I couldn’t will my legs to move. It was like they were frozen.
Kai noticed at once and chuckled. “She might be a little shocked from the events,” he observed, and then put his arm behind my shoulders.
I had to swallow my gasp when I was lifted against Kai’s chest. “I can walk!” I protested.
Jace shook his head as he fell into step beside us. “Yeah, you really demonstrated that well.”
My head spun. They were actually teasing me!
I didn’t realize how tense I was until I started to settle against Kai. I realized with a start that this was the first time in a very long time that I felt truly safe. And with Jace just an arm’s length away, it did feel like nothing could touch me, despite the fact that I was nearly killed just minutes earlier.
I had so many questions but suddenly couldn’t find the voice to ask them. Why have they been watching me? What did they want from me? Why were they trying to ensure I made it back to my cousin?
The questions swirled around in my mind, but when Kai tightened his hold on me, I decided that it didn’t matter. I had been inches from the claws of death just now, but because of these two, I was still breathing.
That was all that mattered.
That, and the sudden moist heat that was quickly building between my thighs.
“Be careful from now on,” Kai said suddenly, his fingers digging into the flesh of my arm. “Your job is a dangerous one.”
I laughed weakly. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“I hope we don’t have to remind you again,” Jace cut in, his voice stern.
I sent him a startled look, pressing my lips together. “Look, I appreciate you helping me out back there,” I retorted, feeling my temper flare at the lecture. “But I don’t know you. You have no right to scold me.”
Jace stopped walking at the same time Kai did. I stiffened in Kai’s hold as Jace closed the gap between us, his face as dark as the shadow he cast over me as he stepped up. My eyes widened as he grabbed my chin firmly in his hand, his thumb digging in slightly.
“We might not know you,” he said darkly, towering over me. “But we know a naughty girl when we see one. We can’t help but take it upon ourselves to correct such reckless behavior.”
My breaths were suddenly shallow as I processed his words.
“He’s right,” Kai rumbled. “You need to be more careful, Raven.”
I jerked my chin out of Jace’s hold so I could gaze up at Kai in shock. “How do you know my name?”
Jace and Kai shared a look over my head. Kai set me down, and I could hear the telltale sound of a car screeching around the corner toward us.
“That’ll be your cousin,” Kai said. Before I could say anything, he grabbed me by the shoulders and held my gaze. “Listen to me, Raven. You need to be aware of your surroundings and on your guard, now more than ever.”
I blinked, bewildered. “I will be.”
Jace stepped up beside him, so now both men were standing over me, practically sandwiching me between their muscled chests. I could feel the immense heat coming off of them. It both calmed and intimidated me. I suddenly felt very small. “We aren’t warning you lightly,” he growled. His hand twitched like he wanted to grab my chin again but was holding back. “Stay alert. Be smart. And stay out of trouble.”
I felt my jaw drop and sucked in a breath to tell this jerk off, but the words got caught in my throat when the guys suddenly lunged forward, each one snagging one of my wrists and pulling me toward them. They sandwiched me between them, my back against Jace’s rock-solid chest and my breasts pressed into Kai’s chest. I was caught in a vice of heat and muscle, as both men held me in their grip.
“If you don’t,” Jace rasped, his voice suddenly very close to my ear. “We’ll have to find a more hands-on approach to keep you in line.”
Before I could even begin to process the threat or the way my heart was hammering against my ribcage, they let me go so suddenly that I nearly stumbled.
“Go, Raven,” Kai commanded. His blue-gray eyes tracked the headlights of Braxton’s car as they flooded the area. “Don’t look back.”
I didn’t have much of a choice. By the time I righted myself and whirled around to demand an explanation, they were gone, vanished into the fog as if they hadn’t been there at all.