Bodyguard's Baby Surprise by LISA CHILDS Page A

biggest crime boss in Michigan—hell, probably the US—he had every reason to believe that. But it hadn’t stopped there.
    â€œThe corruption runs even deeper than you thought,” Logan reminded him. “Every time you’ve thought you caught them all, you’ve found more corrupt officials.”
    Milek grunted in acknowledgment. Nick had just arrested his wife’s former coworker, an assistant district attorney who’d taken bribes for dismissing charges.
    â€œAnd that’s probably what’s put me in this situation,” Nick said.
    â€œWhat situation is that?” Garek asked the question. “What’s been going on, Nick?”
    He sighed. “Not long after I took the assignment to clean up River City PD, someone started breaking into my place and ransacking it.”
    â€œThat’s why you’ve moved so often,” Parker said.
    â€œBut they always find me again.”
    Frustration gnawed at Logan. Why hadn’t Nick told them what was going on? Because he hadn’t been raised like them—with them—he was used to handling everything alone.
    But apparently he hadn’t been completely alone. He’d had the Huxtons.
    â€œSo you think whoever’s going after you is going after Annalise now?” Logan asked.
    Nick didn’t reply. His jaw was clenched too tightly, so tightly that a muscle twitched in his cheek. But he gave a sharp nod.
    Whoever it was must have suspected he cared about the young woman. She was Gage’s sister. What was she to Nick? The mother of his unborn child?
    He wanted to ask. “Nick—”
    â€œI’m done,” he said again with a finality that chilled Logan’s blood. “I’m going to quit.”
    â€œYou would really quit your assignment?”
    â€œNot just my assignment,” Nick said. “I’d quit the bureau.”
    For Annalise?
    She obviously meant a lot to him. Why had Nick never mentioned her before? But then, Nick had never shared a lot with them. He’d put his life on the line for them in the past, but he hadn’t told them much of anything about his life.
    â€œYou don’t have to quit your job,” Logan said. But he wasn’t certain he could reason with Nick. He wasn’t just determined; he was mad. And despite everything they’d been through together in the past year, Logan didn’t think he had ever seen Nick mad before.
    â€œAfter bringing down Chekov, you could take over the whole damn bureau,” Garek said. “You can’t quit—not after making the coup of your career.” Garek had nearly lost his life and the woman who was now his wife when they’d helped Nick take down Chekov.
    â€œI don’t give a damn about my career,” Nick said.
    It was clear he cared about only one thing—one person, actually. Annalise.
    Logan stepped closer and assured him again, “We’ll keep her safe for you.”
    Nick shook his head. “ I will keep her safe.”
    â€œYou’re not a bodyguard.”
    â€œI should be,” Nick said.
    Logan couldn’t argue that. As good an FBI agent as Nick was, he would make an awesome bodyguard, with his intuition and his protective instincts.
    â€œI want to be,” Nick said.
    â€œAre you asking for a job?”
    â€œWould you give me one?”
    Logan would have loved nothing more. “On one condition.”
    â€œI don’t care what you say,” Nick said. “I won’t be too distracted to protect Annalise. I’ll be more focused and dedicated than any other bodyguard you have.”
    No other bodyguard present attempted to argue. They didn’t doubt Nick. Not in this situation.
    â€œI know,” Logan said. “That’s why your first assignment will be protecting Annalise.”
    â€œThen what’s your condition?” Nick asked.
    â€œThat you work for my franchise,” Logan said.
    Cooper and Parker both