Hell Bound (Seventh Level Book 2) by Charity Parkerson, Regina Puckett

holding onto his composure, he simply said, “Nice to meet you.”
    At Justice’s nod, Mark turned his full attention toward the interview with Wade. His determination to land the job tripled. Months had gone by with no new leads on Anne’s disappearance, and since learning of Wade Collins’ need for a new guard, a whole new world of clues had appeared.
    Weighing everything Wade said thus far, Mark decided honesty would be the best way of ensuring he got the position. “I didn’t apply for this job in order to live the high life. As you know, I worked homicide when I was on the force and I saw more than my fair share of the underbelly of society. I need the work, and while I can’t afford to be picky, I’ve also had all the excitement a person can stand for one lifetime. I’d much prefer a quiet life.”
    Wade held his silence for a few minutes and Mark wasn’t a hundred percent positive he wasn’t about to get shot down. Finally, Wade asked, “How do you feel about country music?”
    “Do I have the job?”
    Wade gave him a short nod. “I think you do.”
    “Then I can learn to love it.”
    * * * * *
    Morgan
     
    Dallas, Texas
    She never thought she’d die at work. That’s what sucked the most. Morgan always imagined she’d go quietly in her sleep at the age of ninety while surrounded by a horde of grandchildren. Then again, she supposed that was everyone’s dream. Instead, here she was fighting for her life in the empty alleyway behind the bonds office she hated with a passion. It wasn’t enough she’d been forced to work at this horrible place surrounded by the lowest of life’s population under a boss who she secretly believed to be the devil. Now, she was going to die here too. It was crazy the sheer number of thoughts a person could have while disaster surrounded them. Pain exploded across her cheek as the guy attempting to steal her purse, landed a solid blow to her face. It only pissed her off more. It wasn’t she wasn’t willing to give it up as much as she was unable to. Somehow, in his attempt to snag it from her shoulder and run in the opposite direction, the purse had twisted around her lower arm in the exact way needed to keep her attached to the man.
    Why hadn’t she listened to her mother and married the nice boy who would’ve let her stay home and raise babies? Because he was too nice, she reminded herself as she stomped her attacker’s toes, and he twisted her arm at an unnatural angle in retaliation. Crying out in pain, Morgan dropped to her knees and her vision swam. She was praying to pass out when the man disappeared. In her pain-induced haze, her mind couldn’t grasp her surroundings any longer. He simply was there one moment and gone the next.
    The vice twisting her arm relaxed and a shot of fire raced up the side of her body as the blood rushed back through it. Her stomach heaved, and the ground rushed up to meet her as the darkness finally claimed her.
     
    Wade
     
    Without an ounce of hesitation, Wade used his famous name to stay at Morgan’s side. It wasn’t a coincidence he’d been in the parking lot at the same time as her. He’d been making sure Morgan got home safely from work for two months now. Some might consider it stalking, but Wade preferred to think of it as proving his love from a distance. Tonight of all nights, he’d been running a few minutes behind. When he thought of what could’ve happened to her, he wanted to beat the shit out her attacker a second time. Lucky for him, Mark had been there to step in to keep Wade from killing the guy.
    After arriving at the hospital, Morgan’s doctor had attempted to make Wade leave and refused to release any information about her condition until he’d used his name to take care of things. Now Morgan had the best room money could buy and he’d been left alone to watch over her. Chances were good her job didn’t have great health insurance and he didn’t want her to have to worry over the cost. She would