Page 79 of Stolen By the Billionaire
Yeah, Blaze was twitchy about those guys. “The military changes people. The more extreme an experience is, the more profound the changes. All these guys have been through a lot.”
“That’s weird. I always heard about how the military teaches honor and bravery.”
Blaze did not roll his eyes at the recruiting propaganda. “The military teaches people how to fight a war. You don’t survive fighting a war or even learning how with your soul and conscience intact.”
Sarah was staring straight at him, barely breathing. “That is not what I thought.”
It wasn’t what most civilians thought. “Rogue Security recruits from the elite special forces units of the world: the US Navy SEALs and others, the UK’s Special Services, Israel’s Sayeret Matkal, the German and Swiss Kommando Spezialkräfte, South Korea’s Black Berets, the Indian Army’s Para Commandos, Zimbabwe’s One Commando Regiment, among others. These are not humanitarian organizations. Everyone has blood on their hands and damage to their souls. They are not nice men, but in their hands, we’ll survive tonight.”
She glanced upward at the railings and floor above them, visibly nervous. “You were a Navy SEAL.”
Blaze nodded.
“Have you—and are you—”
The weight from the last eight years of Blaze’s life forced his head down. “Let’s talk about that some other time.”
“Should I even go up there?”
“I’d rather have you where I can watch what’s going on than you be somewhere isolated, where I don’t have eyes on you.”
Sarah nodded. “Okay.”
He felt like he should explain more. “They aren’t wild tigers. They won’t suddenly turn and attack you out of nowhere.”
“Okay.”
“Just be careful not to make loud noises,” he admitted.
Sarah inhaled and nodded. “Oh, they’re skittish, like wild mustangs.”
“That’s a better comparison. Skittish and very strong, and with sharp hooves. I need to confer with Magnus Jensen, the one in the suit. You could act as hostess and get them some drinks—not liquor—or maybe brew a pot of coffee. Maybe you could look in the fridge and see if Julieta left anything that could be construed as snacks. Just anything. I called them out at four in the morning. I’d order pizza if it were a decent hour.”
“Pizza?” she asked him, eyebrows up and expectation lighting her face.
Ah, if only he could introduce her to pizza. “Sorry. Even in Chicago, the pizza joints aren’t open in the small hours. Not the good ones, anyway. We can order pizza for lunch if we’re still here.”
“Right,” she said, nodding. “Snacks. I can figure out snacks.”
Blaze felt his shoulders drop. “I would really appreciate your help.”
She brightened, her kind eyes lifting to his. “It’s no problem. I’m glad to help. This was kind of weird, and I feel better when I have something to do.”
As they walked up the stairs to the main level of the house, Blaze rested his hand on the small of Sarah’s back, supposedly making sure she didn’t fall down the slick wood staircase but mostly so that Magnus and Aaron saw him touching her as they entered the living room.
Aaron Savoie was crouched in a shadow by the opposite wall, watching for movement over the pool deck.
Blaze kept his hand resting on the body-warmed cotton of Sarah’s tee shirt as they walked over to Magnus Jensen, who was sitting on the couch in the first living room area. “I appreciate you coming.”
Magnus nodded at Blaze and then resumed staring at the computer tablet propped up with its case on the coffee table. His phone lay beside it, and he tapped a button on his earpiece. “Affirmative.”
“I’m glad you got here so fast. I thought I’d have to hold the building for hours.”
Magnus nodded.
“Does Rogue have an operation in Chicago right now?” Blaze asked, just trying to make conversation with the man.
“Cannot confirm.”
