Secure Desire
CHASE SECURITY BOOK #1
R.L. DUNN
Copyright © 2018 R.L. Dunn.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. This book explores adult themes and triggers. Reader discretion is advised.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Deposit photos are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
* * *
Certain stock imagery © Deposit photos
RL Dunn Publishing Services rev. date: 06/22/2020
Edited by: Krista Venero/Mountains Wanted Publishing & Indie Author Services
Cover by: Mountains Wanted Publishing & Indie Author Services
Created with Vellum
To my family, who keeps me grounded and reminds me every day what it’s like to be loved.
To my friends who helped me find inspiration—even at 3:00 a.m.
To KK, my assistant, without whom, none of this would have been possible.
And to our first responders, military and civilian, home and abroad without whom none of us would be free.
PS: To Krista, all my thanks.
Contents
Cast List
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
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Epilogue
About the Author
Untitled
Books by RL Dunn
Cast List
Ian “Hornet” Chase-President/CEO
Jason “Puddycat” Sylvester, Ret. Green Beret, chauffeur and bodyguard for Ian Chase
Esther, Ret. Master of Arms Navy, Ian’s secretary
* * *
Kieran “Genius” Chase-Vice President/COO/Head of Alpha Team, MBA
Monique Lillie, Wife
Colby “Cowboy” Winter Ret. Delta Force, bodyguard to Monique Chase
Rear Admiral Declan Chase JD, Ian and Kieran’s Father
Lillian Chase, Ian and Kieran’s Mother, CCRN
* * *
Eagle’s Talon Alpha Team-Founders of Chase Security
Martin “Farmer” Bailey Executive Officer - USNR Chief Petty Officer, Navy SEAL
Mike “Raptor” Johnson, Bravo Team Leader - USAF Reserve Major
Tate “Dictionary” Webster - USNR Senior Chief Petty Officer, Navy SEAL, Operations Manager. DC Division Chase Security
Julian “Smooth” Dupart - USNR Lt. Commander, Spec Ops Combat Medic, Navy SEAL
Zachary “Ice” Wentworth - USNR Lt. Commander, Navy SEAL
Kip “Acrobat” Brennan - USNR Lt. Navy SEAL
Bruce “Bean” Steele - USNR Petty Officer Navy SEAL
Kyle “Coop” Cooper - USNR Petty Officer Navy SEAL Medic
Wesley “Alamo” Crockett - Paramedic USNR Lt Navy SEAL, Spec Ops Combat Medic
Matteo “Macho Man” Martinez - USNR Petty Officer Navy SEAL
Rich “Tiny Tim” Parry - USNR Petty Officer, Navy SEAL
Troy “Greece” Bremen - USNR Lt. Commander Navy SEAL
Tighe “Tiger” Cummings - USNR Lieutenant, Navy SEAL
Ford “Fury” Cox - USNR Lt. Navy SEAL
Lincoln “Bear” Collier - USNR Chief Petty Officer
* * *
Chase Legal
Mr. Brock Carpenter, JD
* * *
Chase Ventures
Mr. Vaughn Hanna, MBA, CPA, FCA
* * *
Chase Medical
Hunter Montgomery, MD, FACS - Retired Captain USN
Pete “Boston” Walter, RPA-C - Retired Senior Staff Sergeant USAF Pararescueman
Tucker “Friar” Hanlon, RPA-C - Retired Staff Sergeant USAF Pararescueman
Jamie “Irish” O’Reilly, RPA-C - Retired Staff Sergeant USAF Pararescueman
Eric “Savior” Seton, RPA-C - Retired Staff Sergeant USAF Pararescueman
* * *
Technical Analysis Division
Tiki Milton
Brett Collins
* * *
Cassiopeia Ellis Modine
Billy and Sarah Ellis, Cassie’s deceased parents
Thomas Ellis, Cassie’s deceased brother
Luke Paulsen, Cassie Modine’s guardian, FBI Deputy Assistant Director
Rachel Paulsen, Cassie Modine’s guardian, Luke’s wife
Christian Paulsen, son of Luke and Rachael, Navy SEAL
Caleb Paulsen, son of Luke and Rachael, Navy SEAL
Noah Paulsen, son of Luke and Rachael, Navy SEAL
Frank Paulsen, son of Luke and Rachael, Navy SEAL
Sean Paulsen, son of Luke and Rachael, Navy SEAL
* * *
FBI Staff
Greg Wilds, Cassie’s temporary boss, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
Quinn Marcus, FBI Special Agent
Vincent Cruz, FBI Special Agent
Preston Galloway, FBI Special Agent
Hector Villanueva, FBI Special Agent
Brice Walton, FBI Special Agent
Donald Samuels, FBI Director
Paul Yates, FBI Bureau Chief Art and Cultural Property Crime Division
Steve Naughton, Cassie’s FBI partner
Sophie Garland, FBI Analyst, Cassie’s best friend
Additional Characters
Bradford Whitman, lobbyist/lawyer
Adrienne Whitman, wife
Garett Whitman, son, lawyer, Cassie’s former fiancé
Cheyenne Whitman, Garett’s wife
Robert Bynum Sr., Senator VA
Betty Bynum, wife of Robert Bynum Sr.
Robert Bynum Jr., son
Monte Wickham, Robert Bynum Sr.’s fixer
Phyllis Wilson, girlfriend of Robert Bynum Jr.
Sebastian Ames, press ai
de to Senator Bynum, lawyer
Alexander Marshall, Superior Court judge
Claudia Marshall, Alexander’s wife
Burt Marshall, son of Claudia and Alexander
Kevin Tyler, friend
Ray Hedgecock, construction manager
Mark Devereaux, COO, Ellis Art Finds
Franny Penn, restaurant hostess at La Luna/hairdresser
Susie Tanner, kidnap victim
Terry Fields, Ian’s friend and CIA analyst
Stephanie Rogers, Cassie’s therapist
Ellen and Sam, Chase estate managers
Nikki Hanlon, Ret USAF Captain, helicopter pilot, Tuck’s wife
Arkady Sabatov, Russian businessman/Bratva
Vicktor Sabitov, Arkady’s brother
Irina Sabitov, Victor’s wife
Vera Liukin Radiologist, Irina’s sister
Borz Dudeyev, thug
Anton Maronov, thug
Lom Umarov, thug
David Sucov, Arkady’s assistant
Joseph Dowling, Army Navy Club security
Ted, front desk Army Navy Club
* * *
Metropolitan Police
Detective Andy Blake
Detective Javier Juiz
* * *
Hospital Staff
Kyle Jones, ER physician
Angie Sommers, OR nurse
Joe Maddox, Chief of Surgery
Jack Parker, ICU Intensivist
Julio Castronieves, anesthesiologist
Pamela Barnes, surgical RN, Hunter’s live-in
Dave Newman, orderly
Jerry Stevens, ICU patient
Barbara, Nurse Manager
Kelly Cassie’s, ICU nurse
Dr. Woodruff, obstetrician
Chapter One
“To hell with the bastard. He doesn’t own your right to come here. Look at the sights you’re missing.” Sophie pointed to two handsome men working on laptops. “They’re serious eye candy.”
“You’re right, Soph. Maybe it is time.”
Sophie turned serious. “Cass, you have to say something. You can’t let Wilds get away with this.”
“Look, I stopped him before he got too far. If I report it, it’s ‘he said, she said.’ And, Soph, believe me, I’m not the first female agent Wilds has done this to.”
Sophie scowled. “You can live with that?”
“This time, I have no choice. I am not the one to fight this battle. Wednesday night is the event, and when the job is complete, I’ll be free of him. I can come back to our division. Besides, the reality is, even without my personal history, if I say anything, I’m a pariah.”
The athletically thin, raven-haired woman with golden-hazel eyes tapped her fiery red fingernails against the tabletop. “Cassie, please. If this were happening to me, you’d be rattling sabers, screaming sexual harassment.”
“Wilds has a lot of power. You know the FBI is part of the good ole boys club. I had to jump through extra hoops to get where I am. It’s a temporary assignment.” Her voice was low. “No one will help without it backfiring on them. I can’t ask anyone to risk his or her career.” She placed the catalog of Nouveau Art in front of them, effectively changing the topic. “What do you say, after Memorial Day, a weekend in New York?”
Suddenly, Cassie’s skin prickled. A repellant smell swarmed her senses: an oriental cologne with amber notes mixed with sweat and clove cigarettes. An overpowering feeling of nausea washed over her, and goosebumps erupted down her arms. The visceral reaction was so strong, she wrapped her fingers around her cup to ward off the icy feeling enveloping her.
She scanned the area. No one appeared threatening or familiar. The aroma dissipated into a cloud of steam from a fresh latté. She concentrated hard to maintain her flagging self-control. Breathe in. One, two, three. Out.
Cassie focused on her watch. “I’m sorry. Gotta go.” She ran out the door.
The hot black coffee scalded his tongue. He ran his thin fingers through his messy white-blond hair while his other hand reached for another sugar packet. His heart sped up after spotting Cassie in the corner with her friend. A display of the newest bestsellers provided him with a way to get closer.
Mmm, Cassiopeia Ellis. Look at you all put together. You look a lot better than the last time I saw you, my girl who got away. I think you are worth a repeat performance. He felt the tingles of arousal. I wonder if you will come willingly this time—or if you will require some assistance.
Another thought crossed his drug-addled mind: Maybe I can make a little cash on the deal too? Cassiopeia Ellis, I missed you.
Inside a cheerful family den, Ian Chase sat relaxed on the buttery yellow, red, and colonial blue-striped overstuffed couch across from FBI Deputy Assistant Director Luke Paulsen. He removed a file from his briefcase.
“Everyone all right?” Luke asked, taking a sip from a glass of ice water.
“A few scrapes and a sprained knee. Nothing steri-strips, and some ice packs can’t cure.” Ian flashed a carefree smile, being less than candid about his team’s injuries.
Luke scanned the file’s contents. “How’s Kieran enjoying married life? It’s been almost a year now?” he inquired about Ian’s younger brother with a laugh. “Bet Lil and Declan can’t wait for a grandchild.”
“You know it. Now they are in a Find Ian a Wife phase. Mom’s better at executing a covert mission than JSOC. I have to tell you; enemy insurgents are easier to handle than her. Thank God, Esther screens my appointments well. If one more woman stops by the office with a charitable cause to discuss or is in the neighborhood with cookies...”
Luke shook his head, amused. “I should hook her up with Rachel. None of the boys have a regular girl. Each promised to give her one week’s notice so she can get a dress in time for the wedding.”
Both men laughed. Their discussion was interrupted by the loud barks of the Paulsens’ Labrador.
Cassie drove up to the six-bedroom, four-story, white Federalist home in Georgetown in her metallic blue hybrid. The clapboard house with terraced porches overlooking the landscaped backyard brought her a sense of peace. After the haunting deaths of her parents and younger brother twelve years earlier, Luke and Rachel Paulsen became her guardians. The sixteen-year-old Cassie was treated as their daughter and a sister to the Paulsens’ five sons.
During a quick walk up the cobblestone front path, Cassie noted her Uncle Luke’s black FBI-issued Chevrolet Tahoe in the driveway. She also noticed two black sedans parked five hundred feet down the block with two occupants in each vehicle.
Cassie needed to talk through the bookstore incident before dinner and before her Aunt Rachel came home from her job as a social worker in a DC elementary school. But first, she needed to discuss the suspicious vehicles. That thought short-circuited when she saw a sharp, expensive Ducati Diavel motorcycle parked at the top of the driveway.
A big black Lab greeted her in the foyer with leaps, barks, and squeals. “Knight, down.”
In his excitement, the lumbering, hundred-pound dog knocked Cassie off-balance. “Damn.” She landed hard on her bottom, the bottle of wine in her hand, almost hitting the floor.
“Cassie? Are you okay?” Luke called out.
She yelled back over the barking, “I’m fine, Uncle Luke. Just my pride, but I saved the wine.” As she got up, Knight lifted her holster off her waist with his big jaws. “Knight, I’m going to kill you. Stop. It’s a good thing you’re cute. Knight, freeze!”
Cassie ran headlong into the den behind the naughty dog just in time to see Knight drop her slobbered-on weapon into the lap of the man sitting across from her uncle. Cassie pulled to a halt, almost dropping the wine again. “Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry.” She was flustered by the man’s presence.
He seemed unfazed by the spit-soaked holster. “I’m guessing this belongs to you?” The man managed to catch the wine and hand her the weapon at the same time. His electric blue eyes widened.
Cassie couldn’t find her v
oice. The clean-shaven man—sitting there in jeans and a fitted navy-blue sweater stretched across a muscular chest, exposing a smattering of black hair with sleeves rolled to his elbows—looked magazine-cover handsome.
“Thank you.” Cassie wiped the holster against her silky parachute pants and hooked it back on her hip, unable to take her eyes from his.
Luke Paulsen moved around the couch to pull her into a bear hug. “Pumpkin! You’re early. I thought you were hanging with Sophie. Not that I am unhappy you’re here.” He pressed her back with outstretched arms. “Are you eating? You look too thin.”
Cassie winced from embarrassment. “Yes, sir. I’m eating. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.”
Ian observed Luke’s worried gaze. Now standing, the six-foot-three-inch Adonis watched Cassie with a spark in his eye. The memory from six years ago flooded back to him. Auburn waves were pulled into a demure low bun, dressed in a vintage Halston ombré silk dress and sleek navy Valentino peep-toe heels. Her vibrant, jungle green eyes glowed as brightly as her smile.