Echoes

Echoes

By

Angela Verdenius

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2017 Angela Verdenius

All Rights Reserved

Cover images courtesy of © feedough/istock and IngaIvanova/istock

Cover by Angela Verdenius

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Glossary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Bio

Other Books by this Author

Glossary

I found that some overseas readers were having difficulty with the Australian slang, so I thought a list of the slang I’ve used will help while reading the following story. If I’ve forgotten any, I do apologise! Also, you’ll find some of our Aussie words have different spelling to the US. Interestingly enough, as I’ve grown (gracefully) older, I find a lot of our slang is bypassing the younger generation, so if a young Aussie says they have never heard a certain word, don’t be surprised! But trust me, I’ve used these words all my life growing up, and so have a lot of my family and friends. Does that make me an older Aussie? Heck yes! LOL

Cheers,

Angela

Australian Names/Terms/Slang

AFP - Australian Federal Police

Ambos - ambulance officers

Arvo - afternoon

Barbie - BBQ

Beaut - beautiful, awesome, great, wonderful

Berko - berserk

Bewdy - as in ‘awesome, great’

Biccies - biscuits. The same as cookies

Bikie - biker, person who rides motorcycles.

Bloke/s - man/men

Bloody - a swear word ‘no bloody good’, in place of ‘no damned good’

Boofhead - idiot, simpleton, etc. It’s an insult, though sometimes we use it as a term of affection. It depends on how it is said and meant.

Boot (of a car) - trunk

Brown nose - currying favour, sucking up. Has a cruder description, but let’s not go into that here. Means the same thing!

Budgie smugglers - men’s bathers, small, brief and tight-fitting

Buggered - many Aussie use it as a slang word for ‘broken’ (it’s buggered), ‘tired (I’m buggered), and ‘no way’ (I’m buggered if I’m going to do that). Just some examples

Bung/Bunging - as in ‘bunging onto something’, putting on something (bung veggies on a plate, putting veggies on a plate), usually in a careless or ‘easy’ manner.

Bush rangers - outlaws/thieves/robbers.

Caramel Crowns - one of Arnott’s totally awesome chocolate and caramel biscuit. Gooey yumminess!

Cark/carked - die, died.

Chips - in Australia we have cold crunchy chips from a packet, or hot chips known in some countries as French Fries

Chippie - carpenter

Crash cart - resuscitation trolley in a hospital or medical setting - used for life threatening situations such as cardiac arrest

Dander – temper

Dial - face

Dill - silly, idiot

Dogs - (as in attached to a truck) - trailers, enclosed or not, that carry goods or are empty.

Doona - like a padded quilt that fits inside a cover and lies on the bed. Can have the warmth of two, three or four blankets, etc.

Donger - penis. Also another meaning is a place people sometimes sleep in, such as ‘dongers’ on mine sites.

Dunny - toilet. When used in the terms ‘built like a brick dunny’, it refers to something built solid, unmoveable.

Fire bug - arsonist

Firies - fire fighters

Garbo/s - the person/s who drive and/or load garbage onto the garbage truck.

Gee-gees - horses

Giggle-box - TV, television

Gob - mouth

Got his/her/their goat – annoyed him/her/them

Hoon/s - person/people who indulge in antisocial behaviour. Great explanation in Wikipedia

Iced Coffee/chocolate - a milk drink flavoured with chocolate or coffee

Jumper - sweater

Kick up a stink - make a fuss, get angry

Local rag - local newspaper

Lolly - sweetie, candy

Loo - toilet

Lug - face

Milo - chocolate malt drink. Can have it hot or cold. Yummy!

Moosh - slang for face/mouth

Mobile phone - cell phone

Mozzie - mosquito

NAD - No Abnormalities Detected

Nong - idiot

Nooky - sex

Paddy wagon - four wheel drive police vehicle carries four police in the double cab and has a filled-in imprisonment section in the back to place prisoners.

Panadol - paracetamol, similar to Tylenol in the US

Pav/s - Pavlova/Pavlovas - best dessert ever!

PCYC - Police and Citizens Youth Club

Pedal Pushers - three quarter pants/knickerbockers

Porking - having sex

Primapore - sticky patch with a pad in it, a medical dressing

Pub – hotel

Quack – derogatory term for a doctor

RAC - Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia. Covers insurance, holidays, loans, etc

Red backs - poisonous spider, black in colour with a red stripe on its back.

Root - sex

Rotty – Rottweiler breed of dog.

Rubbers – condoms

Sack - bed - as ‘in the sack’ meaning ‘in bed’

Servo - service station

Shag - sex

Sheila – female

Slab – carton of beer.

Smoko - morning tea and afternoon tea break

Snaggers - sausages

Soft drink - soda, fizzy drink

Sparkie - electrician

Spider (drink) - soft drink of choice with a scoop of ice cream in it

Stiffy - erection, boner

Subbies - sub contractors

Tea - some people call the evening meal dinner. In my family, we’ve always called it tea, as in breaky, dinner and tea, or breaky, lunch and tea.

Thongs - worn on the feet, same as ‘flip flops’

Tickled pink - delighted

Tim Tams - a brand of Arnott’s Biscuits. Yummy!

TLC - Tender Loving Care

Togs - bathers, swim suit

Torch - flashlight

Toot - toilet

Tradies - tradesmen

Tucker – food

Twistie – a brand of cheese-flavoured snack food. Yummy!

Ute - small truck

Vegemite - most Aussies find this spread yummy, many non-Aussies find it too salty. Here’s the hint - if you ever have Vegemite, use it spread thinly, never thickly!

Vollie - volunteers

Wacky baccy - marijuana

Wanger - penis

Waterworks - crying

Whopper - a lie

Yamaha & Suzuki - ‘brands’ of motorcycles.

You wally - silly

Foreword

As with The Wells Brothers: Aaron, my research showed that security covers so many different areas, including - but not limited to - security teams, bodyguards, static guards, patrols, crowd control and threat assessment. Security guards also come from different backgrounds, depending on the needs of the company and what they do, from ordinary civilians with training to do basic security, to the more highly-trained ex-military, ex-police, etc. They have my respect for the jobs they do.

The Australian Federal Police do such a wonderful job in often overwhelming situations which takes expertise and commitment of the highest standards. While we may never know to what degree they risk their lives every day for us, they deserve the highest respect and gratitude, and they certainly have mine.

So, confession time! I have taken liberties for the sake of the story, characters, and our enjoyment of reading about yummy men in uniform and decisive, take-charge heroes with a backbone of steel and take-no-prisoners attitudes. (Wait, did I say yummy men in uniform out loud? Oops!) Anyway, veering off that little slip of the tongue…I hope you enjoy the story because at the end of the day we all want a HEA. And, let’s admit it, a decisive, take-charge man in uniform is hot *wink*. Enjoy!

Cheers

Ang

Chapter 1

The early morning breeze was chilly, a fine spray of rain misting through the air. Traffic was slowly picking up as shift workers passed the service station on their way to work, several cars pulling in to fuel up.

Nice weather, but it made her leg ache a little.

Pulling on her jacket, Ella stuck her hand in the pocket to pluck out the car keys.

’Bout time you got a new one. Wiping his hands on a dirty rag, Vangard surveyed the old car.

No point wasting good money.

A reliable car is never a waste of money.

This is reliable.

It’s decrepit.

Just keep it going, Van, and I’m a happy camper.

Tucking the rag into the back pocket of his already oily overalls, he shook his head. Ella, you can’t-

Can, have done, will do. Sliding behind the steering-wheel, she started the engine. Purrs like a kitten. Putting it in gear, she studied the traffic on the road. Take the bill out of my pay.

Driving out of the garage, pulling into the morning traffic, she didn’t need to look in the rear-view mirror to know he was watching her. But she did it anyway. It never hurt to check behind her.

Ever. That had been a rather painful lesson that ensured she’d never forget.

Pointing the bonnet towards home, she threaded her way through the traffic that was slowly increasing. A police car approached from behind, siren blaring, and blew on past her to disappear into the misty distance.

Not even curious, she flipped on the radio to listen to the morning news. All bad, as usual, but she listened nevertheless, smiling when a particularly juicy bit of news came on.

"And news breaking story, a well-known prestigious lawyer, Harld Becker, has been questioned by police, the subject as yet unknown. There is no comment from police at this time other than he is helping them with inquiries. We await further updates."

Yeah, you do that. Turning into her street, Ella tapped a forefinger against the steering-wheel. It’s coming. Trust me.

As she rounded the gentle curve, she noticed several people standing on the sidewalk. In front of her house. Gawking, she saw as she turned into the driveway and drew to a stop. Braking, she studied the house. Well, dear me. Guess I ruffled someone’s feathers. At the knock on her window, she obligingly rolled it down. Good morning, Mrs Featherstone.

Did you see what someone did to your house?

Kind of hard not to.

Your landlord will be livid!

Very true.

Lips pursed, resting an elbow on the door frame, she surveyed the front of the house. Painted in dripping red paint - nice touch - were the words ‘wore of a gosiper’.

It’s outrageous! Her neighbour announced.

Absolutely. They could at least get the spelling right.

Mrs Featherstone tugged her cardigan closer around her. This is bad.

Getting out of the car, Ella slung the strap of her bag over one shoulder. Could have been worse. At the askance glance thrown her way, she explained, Could have been a broken window. Now that would have sucked lemons. Imagine all that rain getting onto the carpet.

Are you going to call the police?

Did you see who did it?

No. It was like that when I got up.

Then I doubt they left a calling card.

Ella-

Limping slightly, she started up the path. I’ll see you later.

"Ella!" With an exasperated sigh, Mrs Featherstone strode back to her own home, the few gawkers doing the same.

Stopping next to the wall, Ella touched her finger to the paint. It was wet, but then again the misty rain wasn’t going to help it dry. There were no drops of paint on the ground, so it had done early in the night before the rain started. Handy. At least Tom wasn’t going to bitch about paint on the path.

Going up onto the veranda, she was greeted by the old, crabby, one-eyed, one-eared tabby tomcat who had adopted her soon after she’d moved in.

Squatting down, she gave his ears a rub, rewarded by his purring. Now, if I hadn’t seen you sitting on the chair waiting for me to come home and bring you breakfast, Boof, I would have been worried. Good thing you gave me the slip last night and took off before I could lock you inside. Giving him a last rub, she straightened and looked at the security door, pleased to note the lock hadn’t been forced. Tucked into the door was a slip of paper. Plucking it out, she read the typed words. It was short and to the point. Huh. Thoughtfully, she rolled the paper up and tapped it against one open palm. Okay, Boof, maybe it’s time I got a little security.

She detoured around the back to check the surroundings but nothing was disturbed, the security screen door undamaged and all locks intact. The laundry on the right of the back veranda was still securely shut, not that there was much to steal there, but a bottle of laundry detergent was still a bottle of laundry detergent. Stealing just got right in her craw.

Along with a lot of other things.

Unlocking the back door, she pushed it wide open, eyes scanning the interior. All was quiet so she reached around and snapped the light on, the glow filling the kitchen to reveal emptiness.

If anyone was inside, they weren’t making it obvious. She doubted very much that anyone lurked within, but one could never be too careful.

When Boof walked past her inside, she raised her eyebrows. Okay, then, no one lurking in the house. If anyone had been inside, the cat would never have set foot in the doorway.

Regardless, she did a tour through the old house, checking the rooms. Once satisfied that it was empty of intruders, she returned to the kitchen to feed Boof before setting the kettle on to boil and retreating to the shower.

The hot water running over her leg eased the ache. Leaning back against the wall, she let the wet heat beat down across the scars as she lathered up the face washer and scrubbed the scent of fuel and deep fried food from her skin and hair.

As the soap swirled down the plug hole, she felt a small measure of contentment at knowing someone else’s life was going down the drain just as fast.

Bastard.

Later, sitting in the kitchen with a hot cup of tea steaming at her elbow and a plate of toast slathered in butter and Vegemite, she started to flip through the phone book.

Security cameras were a good idea.

~*~

Entering Wells Security, Ryan took off his sunglasses, glanced around and found everything in order as usual. It’d be a rare day that Raymond didn’t have control of the reception, ruling it with the iron fist of an ex-college professor with an IQ that was almost off the charts.

Anyone would think a man of his calibre would have found a high paying job elsewhere, but the burned out professor had found this job at Wells Security and was more than happy with it. It also helped that Aaron, boss and owner of the company, used him to help plot strategies when needed, and do research at which Raymond excelled.

’Morning. Raymond’s voice was deep for such a skinny little bloke.

Ryan nodded.

Aaron’s with a client.

Ryan nodded again.

Raymond turned back to the computer. Two sets of security cameras to go in today, the mayor’s office called to see if anything else was required for you to know in time for the convention next week, the new shopping arcade wants a quote done for both security cameras and a static guard.

Onto it. Walking past the reception desk, Ryan went through the door into the office where desks were set. One was his alone, several others for the other security team to enter their data and do their paperwork.

Marietta was already seated, brow furrowed, chewing her bottom lip as she concentrated. Going behind her, Ryan stopped and surveyed the screen.

On it was a photo of a car. Raymond’s car. She hadn’t bothered to even blot out the number plate. She had, however, in artistic abandonment, added a pink banner down the side emblazoned with ‘Shag Wagon - for a good time call Ray-Ray! Double rates for double-ups!

Silently shaking his head, Ryan started past her. Raymond would wig out when he saw it, which was just what the mouthy and sometimes outrageous Marietta was aiming for, much to the security team’s amusement. They did a dangerous job, though, and fun times helped ease the tension, so he wasn’t going to stop the fun until he decided it had run its course - or Aaron decided it.

So caught up in her nefarious deeds, she suddenly realised someone was walking behind her and quickly flashed up some form onto the screen, twisting in the chair to give Ryan a smile as sweet and innocent as a newborn babe.

A babe that could appear from seemingly nowhere to slip a knife between your ribs before fading back into the shadows.

Sitting behind his desk, Ryan fired up his computer.

Hey, Marietta greeted him. Aaron is seeing a possible client which you would normally deal with, seeing as it’s just security cameras.

He nodded.

And, you know, I only just got in from shift and no one else was available to do it.

He nodded again.

You’re a little late. It’s ten o’clock.

Worked late last night.

Oohh, did Aaron send you out on a job that interfered with beddy-byes?

He slanted her a look.

I’m right, aren’t I? Or… She smiled wider. Did you have a date?

He brought up the email.

Did you take her somewhere nice? Wine and dine her, buy her flowers?

Who? Ben appeared in the doorway that led to the small hallway behind them.

Ryan was out on a date last night.

Ben’s mouth fell open.

Fact.

Sceptically, Ben looked at Ryan. Fiction.

Ignoring them, Ryan started methodically checking the emails.

He was rabbiting on about it to me. Marietta placed one hand on her chest. Cross my heart.

Shaking his head, Ben disappeared back into the hallway and up the stairs to Control Centre.

My God, everyone wants to talk at once. Marietta returned cheerfully to her mischief.

Doing a quick perusal of the emails, Ryan saw nothing amiss. The usual were there, forwarded on to him by Aaron after he’d personally scrutinized them first - contact from those doing bodyguard duty, reports from the monitors at the mayor’s office, the requests that Raymond had mentioned, reports from the security teams currently covering the government officials gathering in Canberra, another report from a security team covering a visiting A-List actor from the US that had requested Wells Security while in Australia, and finally the reports from the security teams in two middle Eastern countries covering dignitaries.

All was under control.

Once Aaron was finished with the potential client, Ryan would go to him and they’d organize the day’s work, his boss filling him in on reports he’d personally gotten. Not everything went through Ryan, even though he was Aaron’s second-in-command. Aaron liked to keep his fingers strongly on the pulse of his organisation, often getting correspondence that Ryan didn’t - namely anything that faintly smelled of terrorism that he would pass on to his contact at the Federal Police. Other things such as the darker side of the organisation - things that happened to keep things running smoothly that no one but the highest authorities had to know - went directly to Aaron. From there, he passed on what needed to be done to Ryan.

The sound of voices approached from the hallway behind which Aaron’s office came off. He was finished with the client.

Thank you, a woman’s voice said.

Ryan’s head snapped up. That voice… His eyes narrowed, gaze zeroing in on the doorway. It couldn’t be…

Aaron’s deeper voice responded, Ryan will organise for someone to go out to your house and assess the best places to put the security cameras.

I appreciate it, came that familiar, dulcet tone.

A voice he hadn’t heard in years. A voice he knew so well. A voice that had echoed on and off in his memory for so long. A tone that - in a lightening move he was on his feet, striding past a startled Marietta who swung around in her chair to watch.

Reaching the doorway, Ryan stepped into the hall, his eyes locking onto the woman moving out of Aaron’s office. Her back was to him, but he knew.

He knew.

With that uncanny ability Aaron sensed his shock, his gaze lifting from the woman to fasten on Ryan, his pale blue eyes taking in whatever expression Ryan wore though not one flicker of an eyebrow betrayed his knowledge of his second-in-command’s reaction to her.

Disregarding his boss, Ryan stared at the woman’s back. Golden blonde hair bundled up in a ponytail, prettily plump hour glass figure, sweetly rounded rump beneath black slacks, a thin black jumper hugging into a dipped-in waist and curvy hips.

He knew.

Mouth going dry, every nerve-ending in his body snapping to attention, heat, longing, regret - all surging through him with cruel, raking nails.

Turning, she started to smile at him, and froze.

He knew. He knew every line of that pretty face, the big dark grey eyes framed with naturally thick, black eyelashes. Knew the lushness of those pink lips, the sweet taste of her mouth. The way that small chin could firm stubbornly. The way those big breasts overflowed his palms, the press of pink nipples against his skin.

The way she fit so perfectly beneath him, all those plump curves open to his caresses, his touch, his lips, his tongue.

The way her body gave to him, welcomed him in deep. So very decadently deep.

He knew.

Shocked, he stared at her. Never thought to see her again, not after… Not after so long and what he’d done.

The woman’s eyes were wide with equal shock before fury flashed briefly, a world of pain quickly shuttered as she stiffened, her shoulders drawing back and chin lifting.

Aaron surveyed Ryan calmly before his gaze dropped thoughtfully to the golden-haired head that barely reached his shoulder.

Ella? Ryan whispered disbelievingly.

In a decisive move she stepped to one side to look up at Aaron. Ryan works for you?

Yes.

I see.

Ella? Still not quite believing that she was actually here, in this very building, Ryan took a step forward.

I’ll get back to you, Ella told Aaron. I just realised that I need to review my budget before I give a definite ‘yes’.

Not by a flicker of an eyelash did Aaron betray his thoughts on her about-face. Just let us know.

Thank you. Turning, she walked towards Ryan.

Heart in his mouth, heart beating a rapid tattoo, he watched her, drinking her in. Ella-

No. She gave him one last, angry look before sliding past him into the office where Marietta made no attempt to hide her fascination.

Jesus. Ella’s scent filled him, the warmth of her hip as she brushed past him sending a fissure of forgotten flame licking through his body. He could only watch as she strode through the office into the reception area, automatically noted her limp slightly, heard her bid Raymond a good day before the door dinged as it shut behind her.

Leaving him staring in her wake, his emotions in turmoil, his usual calmness so rattled at the knowledge that she was here, in this city, this state. So close.

And she hates me.

His gut clenched, emotion surging through him.

She hated him. Hated him, didn’t want to acknowledge him.

Looked like he’d succeeded in his plans. He just hadn’t counted on what seeing her again would do to him.

Ryan.

It took him several seconds to realise that his boss was talking to him, Aaron having to call his name a second time before it registered. Yes?

Come in. Shut the door.

It wasn’t a request. Regaining focus, he took a deep breath and followed Aaron down the hallway into his office.

Taking the chair on the other side of the desk, Aaron leaned back in a familiar pose - one ankle resting on the opposite knee, elbow on the armrest, mouth resting lightly against his hand as he studied Ryan.

Inside might be turmoil, but Ryan was a master at controlling his expression and emotions around others. Seeing her again had sent it all into a spin, but with practised ease he resumed impassively meeting his boss’s scrutiny.

The silence lengthened as they regarded each other.

Normally Ryan had no problem with this, it was something they often did when Aaron was thinking or even on the phone, talking while watching him, neither of them in the least ill-at-ease, Ryan waiting for him to start talking. Now, however, Ryan had other things churning in his mind, such as why Ella had turned up here, and at the thought his gut clenched. Security cameras. She’d come for security cameras. That had to mean she felt threatened.

His hands clenched, knuckles going white at the thought. Catching Aaron’s gaze drifting down to study the involuntary action, he deliberately straightened his fingers, rested his palms on his thighs.

Then he did something he had never done in all the time he’d known and worked for Aaron Wells. He broke the silence first. What’s her story?

What’s yours? Aaron answered quietly.

Before Ryan could even reply, the phone rang.

Without breaking the deadlock of their gazes, Aaron picked up the phone and spoke immediately. Hello, Ella.

No guesses to know before he’d even spoken who was on the other end. It didn’t surprise Ryan.

I see, Aaron said. Thank you for letting me know. After a couple of seconds he added, Goodbye and hung up.

Ryan’s jaw clenched a little. She doesn’t want Wells Security.

No. Relaxing back in the chair, Aaron resumed his usual pose.

Because of me. A muscle jumped in his jaw. How bad does she need this security?

Reaching