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  Rescued

  Holt Agency, Book One

  Becca Jameson

  Copyright © 2022 by Becca Jameson

  Cover Artist: Original Syn

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. And resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Newsletter

  Acknowledgments

  About the Book

  Letter to the Reader

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Author’s Note

  Also by Becca Jameson

  About the Author

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  Becca’s Newsletter Sign-up

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank my family for all their help with this book. We all traveled to Uganda together, but their memories are better than mine! Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to get all the details correct.

  * * *

  Scott, Rebecca, and James, you are the best! Love you!

  About the Book

  Colette, a PhD student studying abroad, is tired of the constant barrage of bodyguards her father has assigned to her for most of her life. As a politician, his notoriety has always put her at risk. When Colette finds out she’s pregnant, she’ll do anything to keep her baby a secret, even from her father.

  * * *

  Tavis is a former Navy SEAL. He’s not a babysitter. But when the Secretary of State hires you to guard his daughter, no is not an acceptable answer. Starting a relationship with the woman he’s supposed to protect would get him fired. It would also leave her vulnerable.

  * * *

  Falling for each other was never the plan. Tavis’s protective instinct has him questioning the course of his life. Colette has a lot of decisions to make, none of them easy. The challenges could either tear them apart or bring them closer together. And when Colette's life is threatened, Tavis must not only protect her, but their chance at a future together.

  Letter to the Reader

  Dear readers,

  * * *

  KaLyn Cooper and I are very excited to bring you this new collaborative series, the Holt Agency. If you’re a fan of the Shadow SEALs books, you might remember us introducing this agency in each of our first two releases. The men who open the Holt Agency were all rescued SEALs who appeared in Shadow in the Desert and Shadow in the Mountain. The following year, several characters were once again featured in Shadow in the Darkness and Shadow in the Daylight.

  * * *

  So, welcome to the Holt Agency! The headquarters is located at a farm in Indiana. The former SEALs who have joined forces and opened the agency will each get their own happily ever afters in the coming books.

  Rescued

  Unchained

  Protected

  Liberated

  Defended

  Unrestrained

  Chapter 1

  “Where are you exactly?”

  Tavis inhaled slowly, not liking the sound of Ajax’s voice, or his word choice. “Entebbe International Airport. But you knew this. What’s up?”

  “Perfect. Change of plans. Don’t board the plane.”

  Tavis sighed as he dropped onto a cold vinyl airport seat and rubbed his forehead. “You’ve got another rescue mission that happens to be in Uganda?” He’d just finished locating a college student who had stopped answering his parents’ calls. His wealthy parents. Parents who really needed to stop funding their kid’s world tour until he was mature enough to touch base with his family more frequently.

  The kid had been fine. Drunk. Partying. Spending Daddy’s money without a care in the world. Tavis hated this kind of job. There were plenty of legitimately missing people in the world who really needed rescuing. Rich spoiled college boys weren’t among them.

  But that had been the job, and who was Tavis to judge what wealthy people wanted to spend their money on?

  “It’s not a rescue per se,” his boss at the Holt Agency informed him from their home base on his foster parents’ farm in Indiana.

  When Ajax and Ryker formed the Holt Agency a year ago, they’d hired the rest of their now retired SEAL team to join them. Their clients were often private citizens or government officials who needed someone found, rescued, or protected, but Tavis preferred not being assigned to protection detail. There were far better ways to use his skills.

  Tavis leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. “As long as it isn’t another frat boy needing a babysitter.”

  Ajax chuckled, but his voice lacked humor.

  “Ajax…” Tavis warned. “Toss me something worthwhile. Something humanitarian. Something that helps the planet. Someone deserving of rescue.”

  “Sorry, Bones.” No one had called him by his SEAL nickname since he’d officially left the Navy after being held captive by Ethiopian rebels. Since Ajax had rescued him and the rest of their platoon, he’d let the man call him anything he wanted. “But hey, it’s not a college boy this time.”

  “Thank God.”

  “It’s a college girl.”

  Tavis groaned. “Why on earth do all these rich people let their irresponsible children travel to third-world countries? Do they lack common sense?”

  “This case is different. And the college student is actually a PhD candidate. She’s not a girl. She’s a woman. And she’s not missing. She’s on her way there.”

  Tavis drew in a breath. “Then why do you need me?”

  “Because her father is the secretary of state, and he wants her to have a bodyguard.”

  Tavis swallowed. “The secretary of state? You mean William Loughlin?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “I didn’t even know he had a daughter.”

  “Yeah, well, he does.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Twenty-seven. Harvard graduate. Working on her doctorate in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins.”

  “Fuck me,” Tavis muttered under his breath. She’s an epidemiologist? “Shit.”

  “Yeah.”

  “What do you need me for? Is she already in trouble?”

  “Her father wants her to have protection.”

  Tavis’s eyebrows rose. “Against what?”

  “No idea. He seems overprotective. He’s assigned personal bodyguards to her for years.”

  Tavis groaned. “I’m not a bodyguard. I find people. Rescue them. Since when are we in the habit of prevention instead of intervention?”

  “I know. But he’s desperate.”

  “Why is he desperate?” Something about this assignment felt off.

  “Ryker has done most of the communicating with Secretary Loughlin, but I get the feeling she’s difficult.”

  Tavis groaned louder. “Ajax…”

  “I know. I know. But the money is good. Amazing. And the job is easy. Just keep an eye on the ornery student.”

  “And how long is this assign
ment?”

  Tavis could hear Ajax wince.

  “Ajax…”

  “You’re the best person for this assignment because you’re already there,” Ajax stated, not even beginning to answer the question.

  “And I’m single. And I don’t have kids.” He wasn’t the only single guy with no kids at the Holt Agency. But he was one of the few who didn’t have much family.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You didn’t answer my question.”

  “Six months.”

  Tavis drew in a breath. He’d envisioned a week on the beach in Florida and then maybe a local assignment somewhere at least in North America this time. Six months in Uganda?

  Frankly, Tavis would rather be assigned to something a bit more exciting than bodyguard, but he realized there were often underlying issues with any job. If the secretary of state needed a man on his daughter, there could be more going on than Ajax was aware of.

  Tavis sighed and ran his hand down his face. “When does she arrive?”

  “Tomorrow. Midnight. Coming in from Amsterdam through Rwanda.”

  “Yeah, I know the flight.” Another inhale. Another exhale. So much for a week in Florida. “I’ll be here.” He shoved to standing and headed toward the desk where he’d just checked into his flight so he could cancel.

  “Thanks, man. I promise, the next job will be cushy after a long vacation.”

  “Sure. I’ll believe that when it happens,” Tavis joked.

  “I’ll email you the details in a few minutes. Touch base when you can.”

  “Will do.” Tavis pocketed his phone and shuffled reluctantly to the counter. Great. Just great. This wasn’t some rich family’s irresponsible kid. This was a very important family’s grown-ass daughter.

  Six months was a long time. Tavis prayed the woman wasn’t a bitch. That would make the time drag on forever.

  Chapter 2

  Colette was still nursing a hangover when the plane landed in Entebbe. She’d been traveling for almost thirty hours, but not long enough to erase her poor judgment from the night before. At least she was no longer nauseous. All she had left was the lingering headache and a bad mood.

  Why on earth had she let her friends talk her into going out on her last night in the States? It was so unlike her. She never drank like that. She never partied like that. She shuddered. There were a lot of things from that night she never did.

  She groaned as she grabbed her bag from the overhead compartment, remembering why she’d been so damn foolish. She’d been furious with her parents. She was a grown woman, for God’s sake. She didn’t need a bodyguard while working in Uganda.

  Besides the fact that they’d gone behind her back to arrange for her to have fulltime protection from their imaginary foes, they’d intentionally not informed her of their decision until the last minute.

  That was what had fueled her to go out and get drunk. Anger and frustration. How was anyone supposed to think of her as their equal in her field of study if she had a damn protection detail following her around?

  He’d probably be some sort of bouncer type. Some buff guy with more muscles than brains. She pictured dark sunglasses, a crew cut, tattoos, and a fixed expression that never changed.

  Would he be one of those guys whose arms didn’t quite touch his torso because his biceps were too large for them to hang naturally?

  She also knew from experience that a bodyguard had a tendency to make the people around her swoon. No one would look at her seriously because they’d be distracted by the man candy behind her.

  This was the attitude she was carrying with her as she stepped off the plane.

  Tired. Hungry. Aggravated. Still sporting a headache.

  After working her way through customs and all the red tape involved with visas and immunization cards, she finally retrieved her bags and stepped outside into the pleasant night air.

  One thing was for sure, the weather in Uganda was amazing year-round. She was looking forward to enjoying it.

  It was nearly midnight and she was grouchy. She was also secretly a bit glad for the moment that her unwanted bodyguard would be picking her up. And doubly so when she spotted the man holding up a sign with her name on it.

  Yep. He was all those things she’d visualized. He didn’t have sunglasses on at this hour, but he did have short-cropped hair, several tattoos on his biceps, and a sour expression. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was as excited about meeting her as she was him.

  “I don’t suppose you’d accept a wire transfer for twice what my father paid you to pretend you did your job and leave me alone?” she stated by way of introduction as she approached him.

  He slowly smirked, proving he could change his expression. “If it wouldn’t get me fired, I’d take you up on that offer.” He held out his hand. “Tavis Neade.”

  She reached out to shake his hand. “Colette Loughlin, but you already know that.” His grip was firm. Everything about him was firm. As much as she wanted to hate him, it wasn’t his fault he’d been hired to guard her. She shouldn’t take it out on him.

  “Yep. Did my research. You have an impressive resume.” He glanced at her suitcase and then her backpack. “Is that all you have?”

  She frowned at him. “Yes. Not all women travel with enough clothes and toiletries and shoes to blanket the earth. I’m a minimalist.”

  He smiled as he reached for the handle on her suitcase.

  She swatted his hand away. “I’ve got it.”

  He lifted his brows, giving her another of his oddly sexy smirks. “Independent, huh?”

  “Very.”

  “Well, let’s assume my mother is looking down on me from heaven. Lightning will strike me if I let you pull your own suitcase to the car. You might actually get shocked by your proximity. So, let’s not take the risk.” He grabbed the handle and lifted the suitcase off the ground instead of pulling it, acting like it weighed nothing.

  Colette jerked her gaze to his. “Sorry about your mom. How long has she been gone?”

  “Ten years. Don’t worry. Not a fresh wound. Let’s go.” He nodded toward the parking lot.

  “I didn’t realize how small this airport would be. And how did you manage to park this close?” she asked as they reached the SUV ten seconds later.

  “VIP parking. All I did was pay the guy at the gate a few shillings.” He opened the back and tucked her suitcase in before rounding to the left side and opening the door for her. “Ready?”

  Right. He’s going to drive on the right side. She’d known that.

  After he climbed behind the wheel, she glanced at him. “Why do you have such a serious vehicle? We planning to go off-roading?” she joked.

  He chuckled. “You’ve never been to Uganda, have you?”

  “No.” She winced, hating that he knew things she didn’t. She preferred to be the smartest in the room. And she usually was. She hadn’t had a chance to do much research on this country or Kampala before arriving, and for that she figured she was about to experience some culture shock.

  “Nearly everything is off-roading in Uganda. There aren’t many paved roads. Most of the country is covered with clay-like soil, and it can be bumpy and rutted even in the city.”

  She looked out the window. “I suppose my father already told you where I’m staying. Please tell me we’re going there now. I’m exhausted.” She rubbed her temples, still fighting the headache. She needed a few painkillers and a good night’s sleep.

  “Yep. You can rest if you want. We’ll be there in less than an hour.”

  She slumped in the seat, closing her eyes. For as much as she didn’t want a bodyguard, she was grateful that she didn’t have to figure out her own transportation this late at night or get a hotel nearby until tomorrow. There was plenty of time to make sure Tavis Neade understood how much she disliked him following her around later. After sleep.

  It seemed like moments passed before Colette jolted awake when the SUV stopped. She’d been
dead asleep.

  “We’re there, princess.” Tavis jumped down from his side of the car and rounded to hers to open the door before she could formulate a response. But the moment he had her door open, she shot him a glare.

  “Don’t you dare call me that. I’m the least princess-like person you’ll ever meet, and I hate the implication.”

  He chuckled. “I can see that. That’s why I said it.”

  “To antagonize me? Why would you do that?”

  He shrugged. “Because it was funny watching your feathers get ruffled.”

  She jumped down from her seat, still fuming as he grabbed her suitcase from the back of the SUV. He handed her the backpack next.

  “Come on. You need more sleep.”

  She glanced up at the condo in front of them and hesitated. “This isn’t the right address. I rented a fourth-floor apartment. The building was rust-colored in the pictures.”

  Tavis kept walking as he pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and then opened the ground-floor door in front of them. “I don’t know anything about that. This is the address my boss gave me. I assume he got it from your father. I picked up the keys and stocked the fridge earlier today.”

  No. This couldn’t be happening.

  Colette stopped walking and stood frozen in her spot a few yards from the entrance. She rubbed her temples with both hands, furious with her father and his tendency to take over her life.