Free Desired (Restless Nights) by Mila Elizabeth Brenton Page B

us.
    “Kenzi, wait.”
    I heard Cameron but I wasn’t about to look at Luc right now.
     

Chapter Two: Luc
The Few And The Proud
     
     
    “Stop her.” I barked at John “Put her in the back seat while I talk to her brother.”
    John, my right hand and the most capable of my ten man team nodded and took after my fleeing heart. Nothing about Kenzi’s appearance should have surprised me. Over the past few years I’d watched her taunt me from the cover of magazines, runway shows, book covers and print ads. I knew every feature on her face, and even with the low light cast from the porch I could see the deepening purple on her cheek. Her long blonde hair was pulled back, leaving her with no veil to cover the bruise. It angered me in a possessive way that I knew I would be fighting from here on out. It’s why John was with me. I had told Cam that I had no other men available. However there were three of us with no assignment at the moment, but I wasn’t going to leave Kenzi’s safety to anyone else but myself. I watched him lightly grasp her arm and her spin on him. Fire was blazing in her jade eyes as John spoke with her.
    I groaned and stepped from the SUV, rounding the back before John made his way back with Kenzi in tow.
    Cameron moved towards me a wry smile on his face. “She is going to be pissed at me for a while, and will likely avoid you. You know that right?”
    I nodded. “Yeah well…,” I trailed off not sure what all to say.
    Cameron frowned. “Can you do this Luc? Or do I need to find someone else to protect my sister?”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you honestly think there is anyone out there who would sacrifice more to keep her safe?”
    Cameron dipped his chin. “No.”
    “Good. Go keep her company while John and I clear the house.”
    “Sure thing, and Luc?”
    I turned and looked back at him. “Yeah Cam?”
    “It’s good to see ya.”
    “You too buddy, it’s been way to damn long.”
    Cameron didn’t say anything else as he disappeared into the backseat of my Suburban. John and I made our way into the house and got to work. I had no doubts that the house was clear and safe, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Not with my Kenz.
     
     
    ****
     
    “The outside is clear,” John said as he found me standing in the doorway to what I knew was Kenzi’s room. It was completely her, from the nature inspired décor to the neutral coloring, even the smell. The picture on her cherry wood dresser was one I hadn’t seen in years. Her brother and I grinning at the camera with Lake Shasta glistening in the sun behind us.
    I sighed and looked back to John. “Good lets go get the client.”
    John arched his brows at me. “You ready for this? Can you handle the client ?”
    He knew the story of Mackenzie and me. The heat, the heartbreak, the regrets, even the pain that spanned over five years.
    I squeezed John’s shoulder as I walked past him. “I’ll be fine, just make sure to remind me that she is a client and it will fine.”
    John nodded and followed.
    I opened the back passenger door of the SUV and looked past Kenzi to Cameron. We talked occasionally, but I hadn’t seen my best friend in years, not since he followed Kenzi to San Francisco. Losing them both at once encouraged me to follow some powerful words… the few, the proud, the Marines. John and I served two tours in Afghanistan, I trusted him completely with my life and now with Kenzis’. Any of my guys would have been perfectly suited for this job, but John knew about my past with this particular female and I knew he would be the level head that I would need.
    “The house is clear, let’s get inside.” I stepped back and watched as Kenzi slid past me not lifting her beautiful eyes to even give me a single glance. It twisted at my heart, but I should have known that this moment would not only be awkward but cold as well.
    Locking down the front door once all of us were inside, Cameron eyed me warily as we all stood in the