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The Locked Security offices included a huge gym, and only staff could get in. Even if all of us worked out there at the same time, it wouldn’t be crowded.
Gunner, Devon, and Carter already sat at the table, talking in hushed voices.
Clearing my throat as I walked through the door, I took a seat opposite them. “This feels like an interview. Why are you all sitting on one side?”
Carter fluttered his lashes at me. “Aww, you feeling lonely?”
Not bothering to answer, knowing it would only encourage him, I opened my computer and laid out the files.
Chase joined us, sitting next to me, evening out the numbers a little.
Gunner, the owner of Locked Security and the guy who’d given me a purpose and a new reason to pull myself out of the black hole I’d fallen into after Guyana, stood up and walked to the head of the table. The large screen behind him turned on, and a map of our last mission appeared.
“Great work on the Barlowe job. No casualties and a successful handover to the authorities.”
We went through the details, working out a few issues that could have gone better. Chase’s gun had locked up, and Devon’s med kit had been missing two vials.
When we finished our reports, Gunner turned to me. “Archer, you’ve been with us for about a year, correct?”
His voice was tight, which caused me to sit up straighter. “That’s correct, sir.”
“You’ve been on as many missions as any of our best guys. You haven’t had more than a handful of days off since starting with us. And Carter tells me he even had to force you to take those days.”
Not liking the direction this meeting had taken, I gave a stiff nod. “I don’t have family waiting for me at home. I figured I’m doing my bit to support the team.”
“And I appreciate that. I saw something in you when I hired you, and you haven’t disappointed me. Quite the opposite. But part of being able to do your work is dealing with what happened in Guyana.”
I tensed, Gunner’s eyes on my clenched fists.
“You’re grounded until you’ve completed twenty hours with a therapist. I want you to go at least twice a week.”
I jolted at his words. “Grounded? What does that mean?”
“It means you’re getting an easy babysitting job until I’m confident you’re ready to go back into the field.”
“With all due respect, you said yourself that I’ve been exceeding expectations. It doesn’t make sense to take me off duty.”
Gunner leaned forward, hands braced on the glass table. “Part of your terms of employment were that you would attend therapy, yet you haven’t done a single session. If your head’s messed up, you’ll make mistakes. Maybe not right away, but nobody is bulletproof. There’s a reason we’re the guys you call in when you’ve exhausted all other options. We’re the best. And part of the reason we’re on top is making sure that every man can do their job.”
I ground my teeth, knowing there was no way out of this. He’d even written it into my contract. I figured he’d forget about it. Who cared about their employees as long as they did their job? And I did my job like I’d been doing it for years instead of eleven months.
But Guyana had been the best training anyone could get, even if it hadn’t been voluntarily.
There was one good thing I’d gotten out of the whole mess: A job I loved and would do anything not to lose. Even if it meant stepping back for a while.
Unclenching my fists, I took a deep breath. “I understand. I’ll make an appointment as soon as I get back to my desk.”
“You better make it with someone in San Diego.”
I stopped gathering my files, my fingers frozen on the pages. “San Diego?”
“Congratulations. You’re Thea Barlowe’s new bodyguard. Her husband got tangled up with the Russians. It was them who attacked her on the boat. And unless William agrees to go back into business with them they are unlikely to stop.”
Dropping the pages I’d already organized, I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We know each other.”
Ignoring my protest, he typed on his keyboard. “We would be stupid not to use someone who already knows her. Her husband wants eyes on her at all times. You’re moving into their pool house, and I want daily reports. I hope you know how big this account is. Unless there’s more to your relationship, you’re on the next flight.”
Swallowing the urge to refuse the appointment, I continued gathering my things with stiff movements. “Of course.”
