Nanny for the Army Rangers by Krista Wolf
Fifty-Four
DELILAH
It wasn’t just a car, it was several. A whole column of sleek, jet black sedans, rolling together along our driveway with such precision and practiced movements it made me doubt they ever went anywhere on their own.
“I don’t like this,” I told Liam. I’d already told Duncan and Julius.
“Just stick behind us,” Liam said, positioning himself in front of me. “If this is what I think it is…”
The children were napping, and I had the monitor on my hip. I checked it quickly and saw that they were still asleep, tucked warmly under their tiny blankets.
The crunch of our gravel driveway was always loud enough with one car, but with a fleet it was damn near deafening. I had to wait until they’d rolled to a complete stop before continuing.
“What?” I demanded. “Tell me!”
Like the others, Liam wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation. “Hang on. I think it’ll be alright.”
All the cars were identical — expensive-looking and flawless — except the first one was so much bigger. I recognized the winged logo at the tip of the hood. It was a long, gorgeous, four-seat Bentley.
Talk about expensive!
The front doors opened right down the line, and men in black suits stepped out. It was like something out of a movie! But it was happening, right here in real life.
Whoa.
A tall, well-built passenger got out of the lead car and immediately opened the back door. He stood at attention while a second man emerged. Although shorter and broader, the second man carried himself with such presence and charisma he was undoubtedly the most important person here.
“Mr. Julius Wharton?”
Hell, he even spoke commandingly. Without hesitation Julius stepped forward and nodded his head. After a moment of eye contact, both men extended their hands.
“Pleasure to meet you, son.”
Julius turned back to face the others. They seemed to relax their protective stance over me, and they stepped forward as well.
“Do you know who I am?”
At first the guys didn’t answer. After a few moments of silence, Duncan spoke:
“You’re the client.”
“That I am,” the man said. “And you’re the soldiers who put together the team that rescued Bradley, my son.”
Recognition dawned, at least on my face. I allowed myself to relax. This promised to be a good meeting, not a bad one.
“Wraith had a big part in it,” Duncan said truthfully. “Also—”
“Archon,” the man cut in. “Another mercenary company. I know about it. I’ve visited them already, to thank them for returning Bradley safely into my care. But I saved this visit for last, because you did the most. You took the job when no one else would. You gave me hope when I had none, when I’d… I’d just about… ”
The man looked almost like he was about to get choked up. Instead, he shook it off and sniffed.
“Somehow though, you accomplished the impossible.”
He moved closer to Julius, and I wasn’t sure why. Then, abruptly, he enveloped him in a hug. The man squeezed his arms as far as he could get around the big ranger, then hugged Liam and Duncan as well. When he finished, his eyes were glassy.
“I’m Evan Andliet, and I wanted to—”
“The Evan Andliet?” Duncan burst in.
“Yes.”
I gasped, and one of the guys actually gasped with me. In Europe, Andliet was a household name. The company had risen to the status of a mega-corporation, providing everyday goods and services from Spain to Lithuania and everywhere in between.
“Anyway,” the man went on, “I needed you all to know how grateful I am for what you’ve done for my family. Pulling my son out of that place — alive and well — is a debt that can unfortunately for me never be fully repaid.”
He cleared his throat and looked around, his shrewd eyes scanning the mansion, the heavy equipment, the stacks of lumber and supplies that lay scattered around.
“But I can certainly try,” he added.
Liam scratched at his chin. “How is your son, by the way?”
“Bradley is recuperating nicely, thanks to you,” Andliet replied. “It took six of the best doctors in the world to put his shattered arm back together, but the dehydration and malnutrition have been addressed. Other than a series of cuts and bruises he’s no less worse for wear.”
“Good,” said Duncan. “It could’ve been a lot worse.”
“Agreed.” Julius nodded. “He’s a tough kid.”
“That’s his saving grace,” the man conceded. “It almost even makes up for his recklessness and piss-poor decision-making. He ought to be dead right now, and he damn well knows it. But my son is alive, thanks to your bravery.”
“I wish I could tell you we did it for the bravery,” said Duncan, “but we all know that’s not the case. Your retainer was… well… let’s just say more than generous.”
“And yet it still wasn’t nearly enough,” said Andliet, sharply. “Which is why I’ve quadrupled it.”
Julius uncrossed his arms. Duncan actually staggered backward, onto the opposite foot.
“Did you just say quadrupled?” asked Liam.
“Yes. Call it a bonus, if you like. The money should already be in your accounts. If you ask me, it’s still not nearly enough.”
A stunned silence settled over the cold driveway. The wind picked up, sending an even bigger chill down my spine.
“Oh, and one more thing,” the man said, with one hand on the Bentley’s door. “The three of you have children of your own, yes?”
“Twins,” Liam nodded slowly. “A boy and a girl.”
“We share custody,” Duncan explained. “The children of a fallen comrade.”
“Then they shall want for nothing,” Andliet said. “Whatever they require to better their futures: college tuition, seed money, anything at all — consider it theirs. Uncle Evan will always provide.”
Uncle Evan. Evan Andliet.
Good God.
“D—Did you want to come inside for a few minutes?” I asked meekly. “Maybe have a drink and get warmed up, or—”
“Thank you but I’m afraid I can’t,” the man smiled genuinely. “I’m already late for where I need to be next. But I’m also sorry I’m so late in getting here, to thank you all in person.”
“Late? It’s only been six days,” Julius pointed out.
“For what you gentlemen did?” Andliet sighed. “That’s six days too long.”