Claimed by the Betrayed Mercenary

Chapter Eleven

Connor's POV

I laugh, at the other man's words, the sound still foreign to my ears after so long not even cracking a smile.

‘He had some guy called Mr Eglaise on the phone when I was waiting’ I admit.

Harrison gives an amused nod, ‘yeah, he’s new to the company . . he hadn’t had contact with Elijah before.’

The door behind us opens after a quick knock, Elijah stepping in and placing two cups of coffee on the table before straightening up and glaring at his boss.

‘Anything else? Or can I go back to scrubbing the floors with a toothbrush in my rags?’ he asks.

The other man shakes his head, picking up his mug and taking a sip, ‘no, thank you Elijah’ he replies.

The receptionist nods before turning toward me, ‘it took me months to train him to say thank you, am I going to have the same issue with you?’

I shake my head, picking up the mug quickly, ‘thank you’ I say, taking a sip of the scalding liquid, ‘it’s great.’

Elijah eyes me for a moment before nodding, ‘you are welcome, are you starting here? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before today, are you new in town?’

I shrug, ‘well, I’m here for an interview, yeah, I’m new here, only been here a couple of months, I uh, I’m Hali’s brother.’

The flamboyant man’s whole body language changes as he beams, ‘you’re Hali’s brother? Why didn’t you say so when you came in? I would have been much nicer to you! I love that girl! LOVE HER!’

He peruses me with more interest, ‘I can see the family resemblance now, you are quite delicious I have to say.’ He sighs, waving a hand, ‘but so obviously playing for the wrong side, shame! I would have blown off Carlos if you weren’t.’

‘Elijah!’ Harrison interrupts, glaring at the man who raises an eyebrow at him in return.

‘Fine, I’m going, enjoy your coffee, not that you deserve it’ he retorts before flouncing from the room again, shutting the door behind him.

Leaning back in his chair heavily, Harrison rubs his temple for a moment before focusing on me again.

‘Hali says you worked in protection’ he asks as I nod, ‘what kind of work did you do?’

I shrug, ‘I can’t tell you’ I reply, ‘non disclosure forms, iron clad.’

The Military man nods, not pushing me, ‘yeah, your boss was pretty cagey when I spoke to him about you, I’ll just ask, was it foreign or domestic?’ he asks.

‘Both’ I state, ‘we went where we were needed.’

Again the other man nods, ‘you want a job?’ he queries.

I frown, ‘why would I be here if I didn’t.’

Harrison laughs, ‘because Hali is worried about you and pushed you into coming here’ he replies perceptively. ‘The girls mean well, but sometimes, they think they know what’s best for you, which is normally true, but you just aren’t ready for the help.’

I stare at him in confusion, until he shakes his head, ‘look Connor, you got s.hit going on in your life, s.hit that would take most men down.

The job is yours if you want it, I need more men, you’re trained, from what your old boss said, you are damn good, and you’re Hali’s brother, so you had the job as soon as you came into town. I don’t want to push you into working here if you are not ready though. I got other guys to protect, and when you are off your game, that can lead to someone dying, so I need you to be sure that this is the right step for you.

If it isn’t, no hard feelings, come back when you are ready, I’ll have a job for you.’

I swallow, my shoulders tense as I mull over his words, am I ready? Can I put my s.hit to one side, get back out and rejoin the world? Harrison is right, my head not being on straight could send a job sideways.

I meet his gaze, frowning, ‘can I take a few days?’ I ask him

The military man nods, ‘of course, the job is here when you are ready for it Connor, just let me know.’

I nod, pushing to my feet and holding out my hand to the other man, who stands and shakes it.

‘Thanks for seeing me’ I mutter, ‘I know it was a favour to Hali.’

Harrison shrugs, ‘well she is carrying my first niece or nephew so I have to be nice to her’ he chuckles, ‘but I called you in, because I want you on my payroll. You’re good at what you do, I could hear that in your old boss’ voice, he was gutted to lose you.’

I shake the other man’s hand again before I turn to leave, Harrison seeing me out, letting me make my own way back down the stairs to where Elijah is now singing loudly to a Christmas CD that’s playing beside him as he works.

I wave to the receptionist, stepping out the door, shivering as the cold whips around me, and head toward the piece of s.hit truck I bought last month from a guy with three teeth and a missing finger for a thousand bucks.

Sliding in behind the wheel, I start the engine, cranking up the heat, placing my hands in front of the vents as the cold air starts to warm.

About to put the truck in drive, my movements halt as my cell phone rings loudly. Pulling the device from my pocket, I frown as an unknown number flashes across the top of the display, Michigan area code, but I don't recognise it. For a moment I consider ignoring it, the only people in Michigan that would contact me are my lawyer, whose number is programmed into my phone, or Eva, and I have no desire to talk to her again, if she wants to communicate, she can speak to my attorney.

I move my thumb to swipe to decline, before I hesistate, something niggling at me that demands I answer.

‘Yeah?’ I growl as I answer, holding the cell to my ear.

‘Mr Montgomery?’ a curt, no nonsense female voice asks.

‘That’s me’ I agree, ‘who is this?’

The woman pauses for a second, ‘my name is Evangeline Moorwood, you are the husband of Eva Montgomery?’

‘Soon to be ex husband’ I snarl, ‘and if you’re ringing to try and get money out of me, you can tell her, I already said to take me to court for it.’

I’m about to end the call, when the woman speaks again quickly, ‘That is not why I’m ringing Mr Montgomery! I am not that kind of lawyer. I’m sorry to have to relay this information over the telephone, but we couldn’t find your location and this was the number that we could find for you.’

‘What is it?’ I ask, a coldness creeping through my veins, ‘why are you ringing me?’

The lawyer sighs heavily, ‘I’m sorry, Mr Montgomery, but I’m ringing because Mrs Montgomery was involved in a car accident on Christmas day . . she passed away at the scene.’