Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com Sat, 18 Jun 2022 16:25:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 http://www.books2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com 32 32 Crossing Borders (Blackbridge Security #10) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/crossing-borders-blackbridge-security-10-read-online-marie-james Sat, 18 Jun 2022 16:17:27 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/crossing-borders-blackbridge-security-10-read-online-marie-james Genre: M-M Romance, Romance Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Crossing Borders (Blackbridge Security #10)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B09RTGZ2RX
Book Information:
Although I take my job very seriously—being the resident charmer, the man responsible for helping clients with security, all the while making it look like I’m the newest love interest of insanely gorgeous women—it looks like it’s all fun and games. I’m getting paid to go on dates to some of the most glamourous places all around the world after all, but at the end of the day, it’s still work. When the assignment is over, I walk away—usually with a smile and another notch in my bedpost, but who am I to turn down the perks? This new assignment should be no different. I can play any role handed to me. Hell, I love a new challenge. Only Archer Bremen is different… and not just for the obvious reasons. His British accent hits me in a way I never expected. The scowl on his face makes me think of a million things I could do to make it fade. His smile tells me that this new assignment is going to change everything…
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Brooks

I wave to the guys sitting in the breakroom as I enter. My focus is on the coffee machine, exhaustion deep in my bones from the night I had with Isla. She was very thankful for the work I did for her the last couple of weeks, and she spent hours saying so with her mouth and every inch of her body.

“Another case done?” Flynn asks, his British accent a little gruff, proving he’s just as desperate for the coffee that’s currently brewing.

“How’d you know?” I ask, the back of my hand swiping at tired eyes. “Have the pictures already hit the tabloids?”

The thing about working with famous and well-known women is that my picture is taken frequently, and often those pictures end up online.

To the public, I’m a serial dater, a man who bounces from one woman to the next. It should bother me, people having that perception of me, but it doesn’t. I’d be doing the exact same thing even if I wasn’t getting paid to do it.

Doing this for a living is the perfect setup. I don’t even have to go looking for a fun time. Women call the office and all but beg—sometimes they do beg since we’ve gotten so damn busy recently—to become clientele working with Brooks Morgan. More than once, we’ve discovered that some of the women don’t even need our help, and our vetting process has become much more stringent.

“You do realize we don’t look at those rag magazines, right?” Flynn asks, his voice tainted with disgust.

Flynn, having fallen in love with a woman he was working with recently, has had his fair share of front cover time on the tabloids. Remington’s mom and stepfather are famous actors, and Blackbridge Security was hired to try to keep her under control. Their relationship, breakup, and subsequent reconciliation played out for millions to see.

#BlackbridgeSpecial started trending because of it, and we’ve had to become insanely diligent about who we work with. I blame Wren, our IT specialist, who is adamant about keeping all our pictures and bios on the website. He calls it full transparency, and I can’t really complain. I’ve reaped the benefits of keeping busy with women who need our help.

“Sometimes they have great stories,” I counter as Flynn pulls his full cup of coffee from the machine.

He snorts, a derisive noise, as he lifts his steaming cup to his mouth. “It’s all fucking smoke, mirrors, and lies.”

I nod, having to agree with him. The paparazzi suspect what I do, but they keep making me out to be a man with a dating history longer than most A-list celebrities. Maybe it’s the people not willing to do a little research on their own that keeps them in business.

“How’s Remington?” I ask as I start to make my own cup of coffee.

“Perfect,” he says, his eyes lighting up as he thinks of her. “At home, still in our bed where I should be.”

“I just don’t get it,” I mutter.

“She wasn’t ready to get up. Her legs were a little… wobbly this morning.” He winks at me, and I know that little detail is as far as he’ll go when talking about the intimate time he spends with her.

A year ago, the man would have no problem talking about his conquests, but I guess those things change when you find the person you plan to spend the rest of your life with.

“Not that,” I say. “I don’t understand being with the same person for the rest of your life. Doesn’t it get boring?”

Flynn blinks at me as if his brain just can’t comprehend what I’m saying.

“Never mind,” I mutter, because we’ve had this conversation before.

My boss, Deacon, along with Wren, Flynn—Blackbridge’s forensics expert and former FBI agent, Ignacio—our language expert, and Quinten—our fixer, have all fallen prey to that special woman in their lives. I want no part of it.

Flynn waves me off like I’m a lost cause, and I head down the hallway toward Deacon’s office.

Since I finished an assignment last night, I know I’ll be starting another one today. I look forward to these days. They mean new faces, new experiences. No two cases are ever the same. Will it be an actress? An heiress? A successful businesswoman?

Meetings with my boss are always informal, quick, easy, nothing to get hyped up about honestly, but I’m still thrilled as I knock on his closed office door. New case days are almost as much fun as the last day on an assignment.

“Yeah?” Deacon snaps from the other side, and I don’t hesitate to push open the door.

He looks utterly exhausted, but there’s still that hint of happiness in his eyes.

The man is married now, having somehow gotten snared by his ex-wife’s former best friend. They somehow flipped the script, starting out as enemies. Now they’re grotesquely happy and expecting their first baby.

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Advertisement Cease Fire (Blackbridge Security #9) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/cease-fire-blackbridge-security-9-read-online-marie-james Mon, 11 Apr 2022 16:27:49 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/cease-fire-blackbridge-security-9-read-online-marie-james Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Cease Fire (Blackbridge Security #9)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
Book Information:
Making something off-limits will always make that thing more appealing. Jules Warren, my sister’s best friend, was no different. She has been the leading lady in every fantasy I’ve had since I was a teenager. There was no way I was turning her down when she invited me to her room. Those fantasies? They had nothing on the real thing. I was given the weekend to make my dreams come true. The ramifications, however, will last a lifetime. Keeping a secret is one thing. Living with the lies is impossible.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Kit

“Would you stop,” Brooks urges, but there’s a lightness to his voice that I can’t seem to manage myself right now.

“Stop what?” I ask. I know exactly what he’s referring to, and I feel a little called out that I can’t seem to get control of myself.

It’s not even my wedding, and somehow I’m filled with nerves. My legs have tapped wildly since we left the building we both have condos in. My palms are slick with nervous sweat, and my heart rate is elevated.

“Twitching,” he explains. “Why are you so anxious?”

“I’m not,” I lie.

“How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”

I keep my eyes locked out the window, but it doesn’t stop my cheeks from heating.

Her is Jules Warren. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, inside and out. She’s kind and compassionate. She’s confident without being egotistical.

She’s also my sister Beth’s best friend, making her off-limits—forbidden.

I accepted long ago that I’d never have Jules in any other way than friendship, despite having lusted after her in high school and college. The friendship we did have flatlined my freshman year when I pushed the issue and didn’t get the result I was going for. Now, we acknowledge each other with stilted nods and common courtesy.

“That long?” Brooks asks, bringing me back to the present and pulling me from the regret I’ve carried around for more than ten years.

“What?”

“I asked how long it’s been since you’ve seen her.”

“Two weeks, at my parents’ house,” I mutter.

“Is that it?”

I don’t bother to answer him. It doesn’t stop him from prodding.

“You’ve got that far-away look in your eyes, like you haven’t seen her in years.”

“She’s at my parents’ house nearly every Sunday for lunch. You know that.”

Seeing her weekly is the best and worst torture, but it’s the smiles that don’t reach her eyes that feel like a knife in my gut.

“I still don’t understand why you haven’t sealed the deal on that yet.”

I shake my head, my jaw flexing in irritation. I’m annoyed with his incessant nagging about Jules, but at the same time, I can’t really get mad at him. Brooks has been my best friend since college, but he doesn’t know everything. I never told him about the time I kissed Jules, nor about how she pushed me away.

That day in both our lives irrevocably changed us. Jules had just lost her mother to an aneurysm, and because I pressed my lips to hers, I lost the girl I always saw myself marrying. We were both devastated by our losses, and that put miles of distance between the two of us that had never existed before.

“So you don’t mind if I slide in there this weekend?”

My teeth grind, my fists clenching at the mere suggestion.

Brooks always teases me about Jules, as if the courage to approach her is the only thing stopping me from making her mine. That’s partly my fault for not giving him the full picture.

“It’s getting old, man,” I say, swiping my hand over my face in an attempt to calm both my nerves and the anger that’s rising toward my best friend.

He chuckles, the sound carefree and playful. He’s not one to step on toes or actually attempt to hook up with Jules, but even the prospect of it happening makes me want to choke him out and leave him on the side of the road.

“I’d never hook up with your girl,” Brooks assures me as we pull up to the swanky hotel.

I open my mouth to tell him that I know he’d never do that, and to also remind him that she’s not mine, but a flash of long dark hair catches my attention. Before I can register the woman as Jules, she’s disappeared inside the hotel lobby.

“Can we wait a few minutes?” I ask stupidly, like an embarrassed child.

“Of course,” he says, the teasing lilt to his voice now gone. “I was just giving you a hard time.”

“I know,” I mutter.

“Stop that shit,” Brooks snaps, his hand slapping at my thigh. “This is a happy weekend, and there’s still time. Beth is getting married, not the girl of your dreams.”

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Advertisement Controlled Burn (Blackbridge Security #8) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/controlled-burn-blackbridge-security-8-read-online-marie-james Thu, 03 Feb 2022 17:36:45 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/controlled-burn-blackbridge-security-8-read-online-marie-james Genre: Alpha Male, Erotic, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Controlled Burn (Blackbridge Security #8)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
Book Information:
As the mechanic for Blackbridge Security, when I make a mistake things don’t work properly. Correcting that mistake is the only way to get things operational. I meet issues in my personal life with the same mindset. How was I to know the woman I’ve been flirting with at the gym is the same woman I called a noise complaint on? I got her kicked out of her condo. My first response: Move in with me. When she confessed to having three kids, it was too late to back down. I thought keeping my hands off of her was going to be a problem, but the tiny terrors she brought along with her are extremely effective at solving that problem for me.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Kendall

“Stop staring at me. I already answered your question.” Ezra sighs again, his agitation growing with each roughly exhaled breath.

I cross my arms over my chest and dig my feet in.

My brother has acted like this for as long as I can remember, and since he’s ten years older, that has been my entire life.

“You’re annoyed,” I say.

“I’m not,” he argues, but then he clamps the bridge of his nose between two fingers and sighs again.

“If you just tell me what’s wrong, I’ll fix it and you can relax.”

“It can’t be fixed,” he mutters.

“So, you admit that something is wrong.” I feel victorious for getting him to admit at least that something is bothering him.

My brother is the laid-back sort. It’s very seldom that something bothers him, but when it does and that irritation comes to a head, stand back and take cover. This is why I’ve been needling him for the truth for the last five minutes. I don’t want him to get so annoyed that he explodes. He’s as prone to off-the-wall reactions as I am.

“Do you see this place?” he asks, sweeping his arm out to indicate the living room.

“You want me to vacuum?”

He shakes his head, sighing again in a way that makes me believe he thinks I’m a little slow on the uptake today.

“Dust?” I continue. “I promise I’ll get it done today.”

His eyes find mine, and with the tiniest shake of his head, I know that the dusting and vacuuming are the least of his concerns.

“What about the rest of the clutter?”

I look around the room, trying to see it all through his eyes, but it only looks like a normal, lived-in room to me.

“Where else am I supposed to put it?” I ask, my own irritation growing.

“Your own house?”

My eyes turn to slits as I glare at him. “I had a house, remember?”

“Those were the days,” he mutters.

“And somehow it’s my fault for the owner selling it right out from under me?” I shake my head, trying to ward off the familiar burn at the backs of my eyes.

Although crying solves nothing, I do it much too often lately. I can normally wait until I’m in the shower, so no one is the wiser about the disappointment I feel in myself. Suffocating under the weight of failure is bad enough. I don’t want eyes on me, witnessing the way I break down nearly daily.

“If you didn’t want me here, you shouldn’t have offered.”

I stand from the sofa, needing to get away.

“Kendall,” he mutters. “It’s not that I don’t want you here.”

He doesn’t add a but. There’s usually a but when he states things in this way.

“I think my trip will help level me out.”

I turn back to face him. He hasn’t mentioned a trip, or maybe he has, and it was when I wasn’t focused completely on him. I have a lot going on in my life, and I always feel like I’m split in a hundred different directions. Nothing in my life ever gets all my attention. Even now as he speaks, my head is wondering about finding my own place, not forgetting the dusting and vacuuming, and a million other things.

“Trip?” I manage to ask before losing complete focus once again.

“I’m going to Vegas,” he says with a groan. “We talked about this at least three times in the last week.”

I nod with a small smile, but his frown tells me that I’m not fooling him. I’ve grown used to the disappointment in his eyes, but the recognizable look doesn’t ease the sting of it any.

As if I couldn’t be distracted any further, Evie swoops into the room.

“I can’t think with all of this yelling,” the parrot snaps, sounding so similar to my and Ezra’s mother it makes me smile.

“And then there’s that,” my brother snaps, his irritation growing even more. “That damned bird shit on my suit jacket yesterday morning.”

I frown at the bird. She’s completely housebroken, knowing she’s only allowed to use the bathroom in her cage. She only does what Ezra is describing when someone makes her mad.

“Sorry,” I mutter. “She doesn’t like men.”

That’s the only other reason for her shitting on his clothes.

I have no idea why Evie hates men, but she has since I got her. She loathed my ex and would fly around and crap on him every chance she got. It should’ve been a warning sign, but I have several reasons I can’t hate the man. Despite being a total loser, he gave me three reasons to live.

“Men are pointless,” the bird mutters as she walks around on the coffee table separating my brother and me, and before I can scoop her back up to carry her to her cage, she stomps her foot and hisses in my brother’s direction.

He slides back further on the couch as if he’s facing an angry lion rather than a bird weighing only a pound and a half.

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Advertisement Sleight of Hand (Blackbridge Security #7) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/sleight-of-hand-blackbridge-security-7-read-online-marie-james Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:28:42 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/sleight-of-hand-blackbridge-security-7-read-online-marie-james Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Sleight of Hand (Blackbridge Security #7)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B08QRNVRSC
Book Information:
Gaige Ward, acquisition expert for Blackbridge Security, obtains things for the team. As far as your mind can take you is how far he can go. If it exists, he can get his hands on it. If he can’t, he’ll find someone who can. He never fails. As with all things when growing in popularity, Blackbridge is also taking on scrutiny. His boss, in an attempt to counter being called misogynistic and discriminatory against women, needs a female with the ability to handle the same tasks his guys can. Leighton Redmond fits the bill perfectly. Only, according to her she isn’t for sale, for employment or otherwise. Gaige loves a challenge but has NEVER had to fight so hard to procure something for his boss. Maybe next time he’ll think twice before having a one-night stand the day before a very important business meeting…
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Gaige

“Business is good?” Sherman asks as I lift my glass of whiskey to my lips.

“Business is always good.” I give him a sly grin as I look around the packed bar.

I wouldn’t call us friends, but we’re both two like-minded men who run into each other in this hotel bar often.

We’re busy, as are the women we meet here, and that’s exactly why we choose this place. We aren’t looking for love or a long-term connection. We want fun, a single night of great sex, no connection or need for excuses once the sun comes up. Hell, most of the time we’re back in our own beds long before that happens. The women we meet here expect nothing less.

The bar, the closest one to the airport with a five-star rating, hosts mostly business professionals just as busy as we are. If they’re interested in letting their hair down for a few hours, that’s as far as they want things to go. It’s the perfect situation, and the fact that they’re going to be on the next flight out of town makes it all the more ideal. It’s less likely for them to get clingy or expect more.

“I love convention weeks,” Sherman says, his eyes wandering around the room. The selection varied tonight.

Most people privileged to our conversation would think we were complete assholes, men who think they could bag any woman in the place, but experience is what makes us cocky. We strike out. Of course we do. Occasionally, we approach a woman who happens to be here just to unwind, wanting to sip a glass of wine in peace before heading up to bed alone, but it’s a rare occurrence. More often than not, we don’t approach those women. They send off an unapproachable vibe, and working for it really isn’t my thing, unless I’m up for a challenge. After a long day’s work of acquiring things for Blackbridge Security, I tend to lean more toward a sure thing.

“What happened with that new girl at work?” I ask, remembering that Sherman was complaining about someone last week.

He mutters something about the new woman being the bane of his existence when I notice a woman down the bar. Waves of dark brown hair along her bare back and a sinful red dress. She showed up tonight to be noticed, and I’m not the first tonight to set eyes on her.

Several men in the bar are looking her way, building their courage to approach her. I get the bartender’s attention. Being a regular and a very good tipper has a fresh glass of white wine in front of her within seconds. The bartender dips his head in my direction. She smiles at me, her teeth sinking into the flesh of her daring red lips right before the wine glass meets her lips. She doesn’t break eye contact as she sips, her tongue dashing away a rogue drop as she lowers the glass.

“See you later, man,” I tell Sherman as I clap him on the back.

“Lucky fuck,” he mutters at my back, but I’m already walking toward the goddess in red.

My approach could be smoother, but because of the convention Sherman mentioned, the bar is overly crowded tonight. I have to turn sideways more than once to get through the throng of people. I manage to make my way to her without spilling my drink, and I like how she keeps her eyes on me the entire time. It increases the chance of getting what I’m after tonight. Many women will play coy, keeping me in their periphery, darting their eyes away as if they’re shy. This woman locks her eyes on me, shifting them up my body as I walk closer. I don’t hide the sweep of my own, starting at her crossed legs and working my way up her exposed thighs to the swell of her breasts in that sinful dress.

The second I reach her, I lean against the bar and place my hand on the exposed skin of her back. She’s warm to the touch, and much to my liking, she doesn’t flinch away.

“Hi.” I trace her spine with the tip of one finger.

“Hey.” Smoky, sultry, full of promises. She takes another sip of her wine. “Thanks for the drink.”

“John,” I tell her, not offering her my hand because I’m already touching her. We’re a few steps past formalities already, and I like where this is heading.

“Ginger,” she returns, the tip of her red fingernail tracing the rim of her wine glass.

She’s full of shit with her name, just like I am with mine. We both know it, and it doesn’t matter. This woman knows the game, and she came here to play. If I believed in love, I’d be halfway there already. She’s utter perfection.

I tip my drink up, draining the remaining whiskey. She mimics the action, placing her empty wine glass next to my tumbler, offering me her hand as she stands, and releasing it the second she’s on her feet.

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Advertisement Heroic Measures (Blackbridge Security #6) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/heroic-measures-blackbridge-security-6-read-online-marie-james Sun, 08 Aug 2021 21:55:07 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/heroic-measures-blackbridge-security-6-read-online-marie-james Genre: Romance, Suspense, Virgin Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Heroic Measures (Blackbridge Security #6)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B08QRKKLTJ
Book Information:
Opposites don’t just attract. They captivate. They entice. They beckon. As the medic for the Blackbridge Security team, he was just fine hanging out at the office in his spare time. Jude Morris was…boring. He didn’t need excitement. He wasn’t a thrill-seeker. Then he met a woman who was. Parker Maxwell, the only woman able to captivate, entice, and beckon him, was his antithesis. The up to his down. The light to his dark. The hot to his cold. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She didn’t seem to notice him. It’s going to take heroic measures for this guy to win the girl.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Jude

“You’re stalling.”

“Am not,” I argue, doing my best to hold in a sigh and failing. “I’m checking up on that information you said you’d gather for me.”

“While sitting in your truck?”

I look through the front windshield. The parking lot is packed, and just the sight of the cars lined up in front of the gun range makes my palms damp.

“It’s important.”

“It’s trivial,” Wren argues. “And I told you before you left the office that I’d have it done by the time you got to work tomorrow.”

“And I said I’m just checking.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, hating just how transparent I am to the guys I work with.

I’m not Mr. Social like Brooks and Flynn. I can’t pull off broody like my best friend, Quinten, is able to do. I can’t even manage charming and slightly weird like the IT specialist I’m on the phone with.

I’m shy.

It’s as simple as that, and even at thirty-one it takes more effort than I’d like to admit to doing things as simple as getting out of my truck and walking into the gun range.

Unfortunately, I opened my mouth at the wrong time, trying to explain what a woman’s body goes through during labor to my boss whose wife is pregnant. He wasn’t impressed with the random bits of information, and because I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut, I’m forced to be here, at the gun range to help my best friend teach gun safety and shooting to more than a dozen women.

Quinten Lake landed the spot as instructor because our weapon expert, Kit Riggs, had something else going on. The class for Quinten is an annoyance. For me, the thought of walking in there makes my heart rate kick up and my eye twitch.

I can handle instruction. I can handle helping.

What I struggle with is having a normal conversation without peppering it with useless knowledge just to keep the conversation going.

To say the least, I’m awkward.

I know it.

My friends know it.

And within minutes of walking into the gun range, everyone else is going to know it.

Case in point, my jaw practically unhinges when I spot a woman walking across the parking lot. Long blonde hair floats in the breeze as if the wind couldn’t help but to run its fingers through the golden strands when it had the chance.

She’s taller than the average woman—that’s five feet four inches in the United States if you’re wondering—and the jeans she’s wearing look like they were designed for every inch of her long frame.

“Are you going to hyperventilate?”

I jolt at the sound of the voice coming through the truck’s audio system, jamming the tip of my finger painfully as I rush to turn down the volume as if the woman walking thirty feet away can hear the conversation.

“Shh,” I hiss.

“Shh? Really, Jude? If it’s that much of a big deal, just call Deacon and tell him you can’t do it.”

Irritation simmers deep into my gut at the implication. I’ve spent years facing the things that have the ability to make me anxious. People who meet me may think I’m shy, but I’ve come a long way from the perpetually exhausting battle of facing my fears.

“I’m going in,” I argue, more to hype myself up than anything else.

“Have a good class,” he says, and I catch his chuckle before he ends the call.

The woman stops a foot from the front door, frowning when she pulls her phone from the back pocket of those delicious jeans. Like she is preparing herself for battle, she shoves the device back in her pocket and lifts her head a few inches, her back going ramrod straight before tugging open the heavy door and disappearing inside.

I could never approach a woman like her. The confidence she radiates alone is enough to keep me at a distance. The possibility of rejection is too great to ever take the chance.

What I can do is admire from a distance. I’ve become an expert in the art of fading into the background and just observing, a life skill honed and perfected from decades of being overlooked. My unassuming nature makes it easy for people’s eyes to skate right over me when they’re looking for a thrill or a good time.

I don’t radiate enthusiasm like some of my friends do, and I’m okay with it. I don’t want to be the center of attention. I don’t think my nervous system could handle being in any sort of spotlight.

And that’s the crux of my situation right now. Going inside the gun range to help Quinten puts me right in the middle of more than a dozen eyes, and it would be just my luck that one of those pairs will belong to the gorgeous blonde that disappeared inside just moments ago.

My phone chimes with a text, and I know it’s from Wren before I even look down at the screen.

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Advertisement Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security #5) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/calculated-risk-blackbridge-security-5-read-online-marie-james Sun, 16 May 2021 14:29:02 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/calculated-risk-blackbridge-security-5-read-online-marie-james Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security #5)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B08QR9H4SX
Book Information:
As the fixer for Blackbridge Security, Quinten Lake is the man that comes in and cleans up after people make stupid decisions. Which means he didn’t want to be the one teaching lustful women gun safety. There were guys on the team better suited for the task. Get in and get out, that’s his motto, something he lives by not only at work but also in his personal life. And he could be doing just that if it weren’t for the internet. But if #BlackbridgeSpecial wasn’t trending online he would’ve never met Hayden Prescott. He wouldn’t be wondering why she won’t make eye contact with him. He’s supposed to teach her the skills to protect herself, but his ego is encouraging him to be her means of protection. She isn’t impressed, and he’s left wondering if she’ll ever open her eyes and finally see him.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Quinten

“How many?” I ask before Wren hands me the list.

“Fourteen,” the Blackbridge IT specialist responds as he digs through a stack of paper on his messy desk.

“There are only seven lanes,” I remind him.

“I know,” he says with a shrug, but I highly doubt the computer guy has even stepped foot inside of a gun range. “They’ll double up. You can learn as much from observing as you can doing a task, and before you make fun of me for not being very proficient in firearms, that goes for nearly everything in life.”

I look down at the list when he hands it to me, but I don’t really spend much time going over details. There’s no way to determine just by a list of names which of these women are in it for the wrong reason.

The goal is to teach women gun safety and how to shoot properly. The problem is, Wren used our company website like a thirst trap for horny women, drawing in over three hundred women for this six-week long class.

“I’ve picked the women that I felt needed the most help. The online bots I set up flagged those with 911 calls, repeated hospital visits, and women getting restraining orders. That sort of thing.”

The simple list in my hand gives none of that information, and I’m actually grateful it doesn’t.

I’m the crisis management consultant for Blackbridge Security—the fixer if you will. As such, I do a lot of work with politicians and people in the spotlight when they mess up or have some sort of scandal brewing that could have dire consequences for their public image, which in turn has the ability to ruin their livelihoods.

As the in-house fixer, the less I know about these women, the better. I’m tasked with gun safety, not digging deeper into their lives and eradicating the issue that caused them to need the class in the first place. When I see a problem that I think has a fairly easy solution, I normally steamroll whoever is in the way to fix it. I’m very proficient at my job.

And that begs the question of how I’ve been the not-so-lucky one to end up teaching this class instead of our weapons expert, Kit Riggs.

“So, like all domestic assaults?” I ask him, because how can I look down at a list of women, knowing they need help and not want to intervene?

“There are a couple in there, but one has a violent brother getting out of prison soon. One woman was in a gang, and they haven’t taken too kindly to her leaving that life. A couple more work night shift and have problems on their walks home after work. Three have had recent break-ins, one was even a home invasion. I picked the ones that flagged as needing us the most for this first class.”

“First class? This isn’t the only class?”

A scoffing sound comes from the corner of the room, but I don’t look in that direction. I’m surprised Wren’s African Grey parrot is just now making his presence known. The bird has a foul mouth and an attitude problem.

“Deacon mentioned having more than one to meet the need.”

I could choke my boss, but being out of a job on a Tuesday morning isn’t on my to-do list.

“And none of the other guys offered to help?”

“You’re on your own with this one,” Wren says as he spins away from me and begins typing quickly on his computer.

Knowing when I’m being dismissed, I turn to leave, bowing up and hitching the front of my body toward Puff Daddy.

The bird stands to his full height, wings spread as his head bounces up and down. “Come at me, bro!”

I shake my head as I open the office door to leave, laughing when I hear a squawked, “Pussy.”

Like the bird is a human, Wren begins to argue with the thing. Luckily, I can close the door and not have to listen to them.

“New job?” Kit asks as I cross the breakroom area and head toward the coffee machine.

I narrow my eyes at him. He should be the one holding this damn list, not me.

“And why exactly couldn’t you do this?” I wave the paper before placing it on the counter.

“I have other jobs coming up that conflict with the class schedule.”

“How convenient,” I mutter as I pop a dark roast pod into the single cup coffee machine.

“You really are irritated with this, aren’t you?”

I grunt in response without turning back to face him.

“You’re going to have the undivided attention of over a dozen women. What man doesn’t want that?”

“Me.”

He chuckles.

“This is a job better suited for Brooks,” I tell him, and this isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned it either.

“Brooks would probably end up in an orgy,” my boss says as he walks right into the middle of our conversation.

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Advertisement Truth Be Told (Blackbridge Security #4) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/truth-be-told-blackbridge-security-4-read-online-marie-james Sun, 28 Feb 2021 09:50:41 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/truth-be-told-blackbridge-security-4-read-online-marie-james Genre: Contemporary, Drama, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)

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Read Online Books/Novels:	Truth Be Told (Blackbridge Security #4)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B08MFQ2QXJ
Book Information:
Lies ruin lives. Ignacio Torres, the translator for Blackbridge Security, has told his fair share and then some. He lied more than once to Tinley Holland when they were teens. Told her he didn’t love her. Told her he could live without her. Told her what they shared didn’t mean a thing. He’s lived with those lies, lived with the loss of her for over a decade. What he didn’t expect was going home to help with a family matter only to discover Tinley has told the biggest lie of all.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Prologue

Ignacio

13 Years Ago

“What?” I ask when Tinley looks up at me.

Bliss isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I’m feeling right now.

With sweat drying on our skin, the warm rush of her breath threatens to lead us right back to where the night started over an hour ago—her under me or straddling me, torn between begging me to go faster or slow down.

It’s not supposed to be like this. At eighteen, you aren’t likely to find the person you can’t imagine spending a day of your life without.

Somehow, Tinley and I lucked out.

She moved to south Houston just over two years ago, right in the middle of our sophomore year of high school. She was the light in my dark world from day one, although it took weeks for her to notice me, weeks of putting myself right in front of her before she even knew my name.

I did something that first day I told myself I’d never do for a girl. I changed. My time spent with my friends raising hell and getting into trouble tapered to nearly nothing. Missing school was no longer an option because lying in bed, hating my life, didn’t afford me the opportunity to see her gorgeous blonde hair shine in the Texas sun. Staying out late with my boys didn’t compare to the way she’d roll her pretty blue eyes when I’d wink at her when she walked into class.

Tinley is my everything.

“What?” I ask again when she begins to nibble on her lower lip. I curl a finger under her chin when she tries to look away. “Tell me.”

My voice is soft in the humid air of my granddad’s truck, the windows fogged from the heavy breathing we’ve been doing since I smelled her perfume as she climbed inside. All it takes is a sideways glance from this woman, and she owns me. I’m insatiable around her, and despite her lack of experience when we first got together, I’ve conquered many of her firsts, taking those gifts and appreciating the preciousness of them.

“I have several things to tell you,” she begins, her teeth working over her bottom lip. “M-my dad got a new job.”

“That’s great, Tin.” Her family moved in with her grandmother two years ago after falling on hard times, and I know they’ve been struggling ever since.

Everyone in our crappy little town is struggling. People come here and never leave. I have bigger plans for my life. We talk about our futures often. How we plan to get out and never return. There’s nothing but pain and poverty here.

But we know deep down it’s only a pipe dream. Getting out is nearly impossible. Staying away is an unobtainable goal, no matter how many plans we make for that to happen.

“It’s in Dallas.”

My hand freezes on her face for a second before I pull it away. “Dallas?”

She nods, her eyes dropping to her clasped hands now that I’m no longer holding her pretty face.

“That’s great,” I repeat, although my heart is in a million pieces and my hands are shaking as I reach for my jeans.

Wincing when I bang my elbow on the driver’s side window, I still can’t look her in the eyes.

This is her chance, the opportunity to leave.

“They have several community colleges—” she begins but my scoff cuts her off.

She knows better. College isn’t my thing. Hell, despite my name on a diploma that will be handed out tomorrow at graduation, the only reason I’ve darkened the doors at school was for her.

“You don’t want to go?”

I turn and glare at her, hating the pain I see in her eyes with my staged anger. I’m ecstatic for her, but it kills me to know she’s leaving.

“Go?” I snap. I want nothing more, but logistically, it doesn’t make sense. “And do what?”

“We can get an apartment or something.”

“Are you forgetting I have no money?”

I had plenty before she showed up, but those ill-gotten gains withered away when I stopped associating with the other guys from school. Tinley’s family may be poor and have fallen on bad times, but they’re upstanding people, going to church every Sunday, spending time together as a family.

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Advertisement Contingency Plan (Blackbridge Security #3) Read Online Marie James http://www.books2020.com/contingency-plan-blackbridge-security-3-read-online-marie-james Fri, 20 Nov 2020 21:22:11 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/contingency-plan-blackbridge-security-3-read-online-marie-james Genre: Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >89

Read Online Books/Novels:	Contingency Plan (Blackbridge Security #3)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B08FZTNC14
Book Information:
As a former FBI agent, Flynn Coleman was made for his work with Blackbridge Security. He’s highly trained, has a skill set meant for analysis and investigation, and meant to do important things. Yet, he’s chasing a twenty-year-old starlet’s daughter around New York City because the spoiled brat never learned how to behave. Remington Blair doesn’t need a babysitter, but her parents insist. Keeping Flynn Coleman on his toes will be the most fun she’s had in a while. Besides, just hearing him call her name with that accent is enough to keep her running.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Flynn

“You made it.”

The relief in the man’s eyes in front of me due to my arrival should be my first clue about how this job is going to go, but I extend my hand to shake the one he’s offering.

“Flynn Coleman with Blackbridge.”

“Phillip Warren, A1 Security.”

Unmoving, I stand in the driveway and look up at the ostentatious house. He turns to look as well, taking in the stately home.

“It’s big,” he mumbles.

“Too big,” I return. “How many people live here?”

“Three residents, but a handful of staff are constantly in and out.”

“Hmm.” It’s the best response I can give right now.

There’s nothing quaint or humble about the house in front of us. It has been built to stand out, built so people will notice, a talking piece for anyone who drives by, but I guess that’s stardom for you.

“How’s the security system?”

“Basic,” Phillip answers. “Mr. and Mrs. Blair aren’t here much, so it wasn’t one of their priorities when they built. The majority of their valuables are under lock and key in a different location.”

The warning in his voice is clear, and I hate even the implication that he feels the need to warn me away from pilfering the clients’ possessions. Maybe it was a problem with staff in the past, but that isn’t how Blackbridge works. If there was even a hint of theft from one of our team members, they’d be out on their ass before they could blink.

“And they leave the daughter here alone with a basic security system.”

He shrugs. “Remington could probably circumvent any system that was put in place.”

“How long have you worked for the Blairs?”

He shifts from one foot to the other, making it clear he’s ready to pass the baton and get the hell out of here. It makes me wonder just how difficult this job is going to be if this man is hellbent on leaving as quickly as possible.

“Two years. I would’ve been gone six months ago, but I promised to stay on until a replacement was found.”

“And that took six months?” My feet begin to move me closer to the front door when he starts walking in that direction.

A series of questions invade my head, but the one that sticks out is what in the hell have I done wrong to end up here? I’m Deacon Black’s right-hand man, the second-in-command so to speak at Blackbridge, yet I’ve somehow landed the responsibility of babysitting a twenty-year-old woman who has been tagged a brat of epic proportions.

Phillip opens the door, allowing me to walk in first, but I’m more concerned with his response than the marble entryway and the double staircase leading up to the second floor.

“Six months?” I prompt when he doesn’t supply an answer.

“She ah…” He grips the back of his neck awkwardly, and it’s easy to tell he doesn’t want to give much away in fear that I’ll turn around and walk out.

I’m no stranger to hard work. Normally, I’m resilient and have the patience of a saint, but his behavior has me wondering if Deacon sent me here as some form of punishment.

“She’s a handful, a spitfire who hates rules.”

“She’s grown,” I argue. “I read the file, Phillip. Just give it to me straight. I know I’m not here as a security detail.”

“She’s turned slipping her detail into a sport, and she’s gotten very good at it.”

My eyes wander around the room, taking in the extravagant chandelier and the detailed molding around the ceiling. It’s not my taste at all, but I’m not here to get comfortable in this home.

“She likes to be chased,” I mutter, turning in a circle to try to identify the security cameras. I spot a few in the corners, but with what he’s told me, I can’t be certain the things even work.

“She likes to be a pain in the ass,” he clarifies with another sigh. His hand goes back to his neck, and the pull looks painful. “She’ll try to embarrass you. She’ll disrespect you, and if that doesn’t work, she’ll throw herself at you.”

My eyes dart to him, and he looks away.

“Did you—”

“No!” He takes a step back, hands held up. “Fuck no, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t try. I’ve known the Blairs for years. I’d never cross a line like that.”

“But others have,” I deduce.

“And they were fired on the spot.” He raises an eyebrow at me, making sure I get the warning in his tone.

I shake my head, barely avoiding an eye roll. “I’m a professional. Blackbridge doesn’t get romantically or sexually involved with clients.”

That’s not the whole truth, but Deacon and Anna had a history, which makes their situation completely different. Whitney, technically, wasn’t a client when Wren set his sights on her, even though BBS did have to get involved to help her out when she needed it. Both of those situations were totally different.

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Advertisement Shot in the Dark Read online Marie James (Blackbridge Security #2) http://www.books2020.com/shot-in-the-dark-2-read-online-marie-james Wed, 02 Sep 2020 01:57:33 +0000 http://www.test123.demo2.xyz/shot-in-the-dark-2-read-online-marie-james Genre: Alpha Male, BDSM, Erotic, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >91

Read Online Books/Novels:	Shot in the Dark (Blackbridge Security #2)
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B08BJGZ3WG
Book Information:
As an IT expert and hacker extraordinaire, Wren Nelson is no stranger to discovering all sorts of secrets online. He’s a warrior…when he’s behind his computer, that is. And awkward at best in social situations. His long hours with Blackbridge Security don’t really provide many opportunities to go out and meet people. So what is he supposed to do when a wrong delivery—a questionably large box of bedroom toys—ends up in his hands instead of its intended target? Online stalking has always been his go-to to accumulate information on people, but only seeing Whitney through digital displays isn’t enough. Approaching her doesn’t seem like the best plan either. What he doesn’t know is that this woman is possibly the only one in existence able to give him a run for his money.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Chapter 1

Wren

“Nana!” I sigh as I climb into my car juggling the box I just picked up from the front desk of my apartment complex along with the carrier Puff Daddy is in.

Puff makes it safely to the passenger seat, but the box tumbles to the floorboard, the contents making so much noise, I’m left wondering if I’ve ruined it before I even have the chance to open it.

“The entire situation is just so very sad,” my grandmother continues as if I haven’t been trying to get her attention for the last five minutes.

She’s not hard of hearing, even in her old age. She suffers from selective hearing, meaning if she doesn’t want to listen to reasoning—something that happens more often than not—she pulls the I’m eighty-four, what did you say dear card. Only today, she isn’t even giving me the opportunity to reword my last statement.

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

I have an opening. She’s finally giving me the chance to voice my opinion on the matter, but like many times before, it feels like a trap. I could just agree and move on with my day, but after her heartfelt post earlier on social media and my position as the IT specialist—and talented hacker—for Blackbridge Security, I feel an innate responsibility to correct the issue, not that people on her “friends list” have any clue what I do for a living. According to Nana, I sit at a computer all day making it possible for Deacon Black, that gorgeous young man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, to stay organized.

“He doesn’t need a heart transplant,” I inform her, not for the first time since I called her earlier.

“It’s obvious he does, dear.” Now it’s her turn to sigh, as if I’m frustrating her. “I read it on the Internet.”

“And everything online is real,” I mutter.

“What was that, Wren?”

Another chance to just leave it alone, but the embarrassment I felt this morning is still clinging to me. Since I’m stubborn to a fault, a trait I got from the very woman I’m talking to, I can’t just let it go. I’m not Elsa, and this isn’t a damn Disney movie.

“Robert Downy, Jr., AKA Iron Man, doesn’t need a heart transplant. He’s an actor in a movie.”

“With a bad heart,” she agrees, missing the point entirely.

“The character in the movie has a bad heart. I’m certain Mr. Downy is fine.”

“They’re raising money for his surgery.”

“Iron Man is rich. He doesn’t need donations.”

“Every share raises a dollar for his operation.”

“Nana.” I’ve met my quota for sighs for the day, but it seems I’ll be dipping into tomorrow’s ration as well.

“Don’t Nana me, young man. Surgeries are very expensive, and I’m just doing my part to help him out.”

“You’re a generous woman.” Conceding at this point is all I can do.

“You should share as well. That’s another dollar. Every penny counts.”

I can’t agree to do it because the woman remembers everything. If I don’t repost the promotion she shared, which is in fact a promotion for the anniversary release of the original movie, she’ll call me before lunch to remind me to do so.

“I’m not allowed to share fund-sourcing materials, Nana. It’s in my contract.” Even though it’s a little white lie, it still makes me feel like I’m going to hell for it.

“That’s a shame. Should I call Deacon to discuss a re-evaluation of your contract?”

And she would if I even hinted that I needed help. Craziest part is that Deacon would probably give this woman anything she asked for. If she thought it was in my best interest to work from a satellite office on the moon, he’d do his damnedest to get me on the next space shuttle. Like myself, he can’t seem to tell her no.

“That won’t be necessary. As soon as I get to work, I’ll log on and donate ten dollars.”

“Such a generous boy,” she praises.

Puff Daddy huffs beside me. Even the bird is frustrated with her.

“Make sure you—”

“I’ll email the confirmation page,” I interrupt, knowing what’s coming next.

If I make a promise, I have to back it up with proof. I hadn’t planned on spending time this morning making yet another fake Thank you for your support invoice, but this happens so much, I may be able to recycle one of the many I’ve had to do in the past.

“Very good.” She’s become agreeable so quickly, I want to kick my own ass for not starting with agreeing to donate in the first place. “I expect you at Sunday brunch next week.”

“I’ll be there,” I tell her enthusiastically, and I don’t even have to fake my excitement. Honestly, I’m a little disappointed that today is Sunday, and we aren’t having a meal.

Not only did Odette Nelson put her life on hold to raise me after my parents died when I was young, she just so happens to be the most amazing woman I know. The fact that she can cook like a Michelin Star chef doesn’t hurt either.

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Advertisement Hostile Territory Read online Marie James (Blackbridge Security #1) http://www.books2020.com/hostile-territory-1-read-online-marie-james Mon, 20 Jan 2020 13:57:33 +0000 http://www.test123.demo2.xyz/hostile-territory-1-read-online-marie-james Genre: Erotic, Romance, Suspense Authors: Marie James Series: Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
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Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >92

Read Online Books/Novels:	(Blackbridge Security #1) Hostile Territory
Author/Writer of Book/Novel:	Marie James
Language:	English
ISBN/ ASIN:	B085WF61TV
Book Information:
Can you call someone an enemy if you haven’t seen them for the better part of a decade? Deacon Black is perfectly content with the status quo—work, sleep, repeat. Who cares if he’s rigid, structured, and set in his ways? It’s a job requirement that keeps his men safe and his company’s doors open. One phone call is all it takes to upend his life and land him right back into a past he has tried to forget. Revisiting old ghosts is the last thing he needs. Especially when the forced trip down memory lane includes the only woman he never wanted to see again. Annalise Grimaldi hit the jackpot with her life—from her trust fund to her best friend, she has it all. But her world comes crashing to a halt when her best friend vanishes— leaving behind an apartment in tatters and more questions than answers. There’s only one person she can think of that can help in a situation like this. She hates to make the call, but there isn’t a thing she wouldn’t do to make sure her friend is found. Even setting aside her hatred for Deacon Black.
Books in Series:	Blackbridge Security Series by Marie James
Books by Author:	Marie James

Prologue

Deacon

So this is what broken promises look like. A room filled with people I don’t know and won’t ever see again. Nameless faces who have no clue about the turmoil swirling in my gut. People surrounding me for a variety of reasons, none the wiser that my world is imploding, or would be caving down around me if Dani was ever on time.

I know she’s late just to spite me, but even with her chronic pettiness, I can’t help but feel saddened by my tasks today.

I promised to love Daniella Altieri for the rest of my life.

I made those vows before God and our families.

She was it for me.

I hate that she still is.

I hate that I’ve been gone, serving a country that rewards my loyalty with paltry pay and gripping nightmares, instead of at home loving her and holding her in my arms.

Can’t she understand that I’m doing exactly what we talked about?

We wiled away the nights for years, setting up our goals and dreaming about what our future would look like.

She was never happy about my need to join the Army, but she accepted it. Or at least I thought she did.

Can’t she see how lonely I’ve been without her? How it kills me to leave her at home alone when I’m gone for work?

If only she’d been lonely, too.

My bed was empty.

Hers hasn’t been.

I could’ve forgiven her, eventually.

She wasn’t interested. She was quick to cut ties, and that cut me like a knife, wounding me more than the other scars covering my body from war.

The low chatter of the packed courtroom only serves to irritate me, but the sight of Dani finally walking in with a ridiculous entourage has my jaw clenching enough to ache.

I understand Annalise being here. Those two are connected at the hip and have been since I met my wife freshman year of high school. There’s no need, however, for her parents and a couple other friends to bear witness to my annihilation.

Six years of marriage and Dani can’t even look in my direction as she sits down on the other side of the room surrounded by her support group.

As we wait our turn before the flustered judge, I take a good, long look at my wife. Her hair is longer, but her once always smiling face is twisted up in a mask of indifference that’s become all too familiar recently. Her eyes are no longer bright and shining, gazing around looking for some sort of trouble to get into. There’s a hardness to her features right now that makes me hopeful. Is she regretting being here? Is she having second thoughts about throwing our love in a fire and watching it turn to ash?

My attorney clears his throat beside me, no doubt a warning to stop glaring across the room, but I ignore him like normal. He’s a placeholder, a requirement for today’s proceedings, and that’s it.

Dani nods mechanically when her father leans in to speak to her, shaking her head in response.

I just need one glance, one sweep of her eyes in my direction and I know I can pull her back in. One quick second to change her mind. Our love hasn’t been a fairy tale, but it’s been close. Meeting in high school, all it took was that one look before we knew we were going to be important to each other. I just need that contact one last time to make her realize she’s making the biggest mistake of her life.

Her eyes aren’t the ones that meet mine.

Annalise Grimaldi, Dani’s best friend since diapers and shit-stirrer extraordinaire, turns her head and sneers in my direction. The woman would be a knockout if she wasn’t evil incarnate. She’s always hated me and going by the animosity flowing from her amber-colored eyes, nothing has changed.

Without thought, I tilt my head up in a nod, a challenge, the very same way I did years ago when we were teens. Only back then, I had the girl. Back then, Dani would smack her friend on the arm and tell her to chill out. I won the battles between Anna and me years ago.

Today, that doesn’t happen.

Today, I lose everything.

Ten years together, the last six married to the woman of my dreams ends with a fifteen-minute session in front of the judge. A couple of signatures, not one word spoken between the two of us, and I walk out of the courthouse a changed man.

Walking to my truck stiffens my spine and my resolve, but it’s the sight of Dani wrapping her arms around a man’s neck in the parking garage that will change me forever. Her dad, beaming down at his little girl as she embraces the man is something I never experienced.

Both of her parents hated me from the jump, and if I ever took a step back and examined the relationship I had with Dani, I’d realize that it started out as rebellion on her side and it’s ending with her going home. Her sacrifice, her choosing me was temporary, and somehow, deep in my gut, I always knew it would be. I was never enough for her, and no matter how hard I worked to be the man she thought she deserved, I was always going to come up short.

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Read Online Books/Novels:

Crossing Borders (Blackbridge Security #10)

Author/Writer of Book/Novel:

English

B09RTGZ2RX

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Cease Fire (Blackbridge Security #9)

Author/Writer of Book/Novel:

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Controlled Burn (Blackbridge Security #8)

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Sleight of Hand (Blackbridge Security #7)

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B08QRNVRSC

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Heroic Measures (Blackbridge Security #6)

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B08QRKKLTJ

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Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security #5)

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B08QR9H4SX

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Truth Be Told (Blackbridge Security #4)

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B08MFQ2QXJ

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Contingency Plan (Blackbridge Security #3)

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B08FZTNC14

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Shot in the Dark (Blackbridge Security #2)

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B08BJGZ3WG

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(Blackbridge Security #1) Hostile Territory

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B085WF61TV