Page 1 of Sinful Seduction

Chapter One

“Thank you both forcoming.”Joseph looked at two of the very few people in the world he trusted, and now he was going to trust them with his most prized possession—his goddaughter, Jayla.They were the only chance she had to stay alive right now.

“Have you been injured?”Beau asked.

Joseph’s mouth twisted.When he left them a message, it might have come off as if he were in trouble.He’d known he’d be primarily talking to Beau.Diego didn’t say much.He was a man who liked to observe and didn’t enjoy people very much.

“No, no.It’s not me.It’s my goddaughter, Jayla.”

Beau and Diego glanced at each other.Joseph knew they were thinking they’d known this man for two decades and hadn’t heard a peep about a Jayla.

“What do you need?”

“Colombia.Remember it?”Joseph asked.

Beau grunted.“Hell, yeah.That mission sucked.We lost a lot of good men.”

Joseph tapped his pen against the edge of his desk.“I have a bounty on my head, and the word is it’s Felipe Flores.”

Beau straightened.“That’s impossible.We killed the bastard that day.I saw him go down.There is no way he survived that.”

Joseph sat back in his chair.“I know.I saw the pictures of his body.I’m just telling you what our informants are telling us.It has to be someone close to him.He had no family, and most of his men died that day.The only one I can think of, and it’s a high probability it’s him, would be Rafael Perez.”

Beau and Diego looked at each other again.

Joseph’s stomach tightened.Hell, that guy was probably more psycho than his boss had been.

“I thought he died that day since we hadn’t heard his name since the mission.Jesus, Director, he’s one sick bastard.”

Joseph nodded.“Yes, I know.That’s why I need your help.”

“Anything.”

“I need you both to sit on Jayla for me until this matter has been taken care of.”

Both men stiffened.

Joseph held up his hand.“I know it’s a lot to ask, but she’s the only thing that matters to me and the thought of them getting ahold of her again...”

Diego frowned.“Again?”

“Yes.They got their hands on her three days ago.”Joseph stood abruptly and pushed his hands deep into his front pockets.“They didn’t have time to do everything they wanted, but she has bruised ribs and a burn from the edge of a brand they started to use on her.My guys, the detail I have on her, stopped them, thank God.Right now, it’s just an inch-long curved burn on her ...breast.”

“Fuck.Did they rape her?”

Joseph wiped a hand down his face and turned back to his men.“No, thank God, but I’m pretty sure it was on their agenda.”

“How is she holding up?”

“Jayla is unusual, she’s tough-minded like her father.So many things have been thrown at her over the years, and for a young girl, she’s held up very well.”

“Director, Diego and I have no experience with young girls or any mental issues that might come up during the time we’re with her.”

“You don’t need experience, just hide her and watch over her.As far as the mental aspect, you guys are better prepared than you think.All three of you have been through horrendous things, survived, and come out stronger.Don’t let her age fool you.She’s stronger than most men I know, and that’s one of the reasons I’m asking you.She needs someone tougher than her to keep her safe.Over the years, she’s been, let’s say, more daring than I would like, and the three men who were her main security couldn’t handle her most of the time.Besides, I know the three of you will hit it off.”

Beau smiled at the pride on the director’s face.He turned to his partner, his eyebrows raised in question, and waited.It didn’t take more than thirty seconds before he tipped his head.

Ben turned back to Joseph.“We’ll take the job, Director.What are the particulars?”