All Chapters of Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

HALEY GRIFFIN PULLED THE adjoining door between the condos closed. It was silent on this side of the wall, for which Haley was grateful. Ivana was asleep and their chef was out for a little while which meant Haley would get forty-five minutes of peace to freak the fuck out.She set the tray down on the kitchen bar, grabbed her own bowl of mac and cheese, then walked in a daze to her room. It was the smallest of the three. Not that she minded. She'd always lived ready to pack up and go."Jesus," she muttered to herself and nudged the bedroom door shut.She set the food on the nightstand that sat between her bed and the lone armchair. The way her stomach was bubbling, she didn't want to eat yet. Instead, she picked up the squirt bottle and turned her attention on the shelf of plants.Family dinner.Zasha had figured out a way to rope her into it finally. She'd been trying for over a year now to get Haley to squeeze herself into something like this, but Haley had balked at every

Wednesday. Home, Arlington, VA.HALEY PEERED INTO IVANA'S room, but the elderly nanny had already retired for the evening.Figured.Lately every time Haley needed help, or an out like tonight, Ivana left her high and dry."Relax, it's just like every other movie night," Haley muttered to herself.Except tonight they'd be watching a movie in Konstantin's living room. With him.It was innocent, really it was. And yet, Haley felt herself getting sucked into something. Lately this whole job seemed to operate that way. Her one and only focus should be Zasha's safety. Instead, Haley had to divide her attention between home duties, safety, monitoring school work and entertaining Zasha.The job was too much. The lines were blurred. She was feeling the strain.Haley stopped in the hall, closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.She loved Zasha with all her heart. Kids hadn't ever been her thing, but Zasha was special. She was full of wonder and joy that reminded Haley to l

Wednesday. Home, Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN'S WHOLE WORLD JUST flipped into chaos. He gripped the doorframe with one hand while mentally trying to figure out a negotiating point.Haley could not leave.It just couldn't happen.There had to be a way to keep her.He loved her.Zasha. She needed Haley."You are more than her bodyguard and we both know it," he said, his barely contained frustration seething inside him.Haley tilted her head to one side, her face as serene as always. She'd probably planned this mode of attack. "And that's the problem.""Why is that a problem?" He pushed off the doorway, but his long-enforced rules about keeping his distance from Haley stopped him from taking a step into her bedroom. "Zasha adores you.""I'm an employee.""So?" He licked his lips. Imagining their lives without Haley was not possible. There would be a void where she belonged. "What would it take to get you to stay? More money? More time away?""This isn't a money thi

Haley got Zasha dressed and her hair tidied up before daring to wake Ivana. The old woman didn't mutter curses at Haley, which bode well for their day. Between Haley and Ivana they managed to gather all of Zasha's things and get out the door five minutes late, which was actually on schedule. Haley had long since realized that she wasn't going to change the lateness, but she could change what time she told the others they had to be places.The drive to the center where Zasha had both her piano lesson and art class was fairly quick with only the normal traffic. Konstantin was methodical about his choice of homes and the proximity to his various offices. Everything was done with purpose.Haley did her normal routine of parking and walking them in when they were joined by the other bodyguard. After a quick rundown of the schedule, she left the trio and headed back to the condo.The quiet ride home was rather nice. It gave her space to think. Which might not be a good thing, given tha

Thursday. Learning Center, Arlington, VA.HALEY'S LEGS AND LUNGS burned as she ran clear across the campus.Zasha loved the playground under the trees.How many times had Haley brought her there while Ivana went to the car to rest and sleep?Haley squinted and counted the small figures scaling the equipment ahead under the shade.Six.None of them were Zasha. None of them had on the right clothes or the hair was wrong. Still Haley went a few yards farther, peering into the cool shade.No Zasha."Shit," Haley muttered and turned in a circle.She had to find Zasha and Ivana first. The look on Konstantin's face? The death stare? Haley feared for Ivana's life if Konstantin found them first.There had to be a logical reason for all of this.Where else could Zasha and Ivana be?Campus security had mobilized to cover all entrances and a few to the main parking lot, but until police arrived-if they came at all-there was still too much ground to cover.Calling Konst