The Defender

Preface

My name is Derrick Bernard, and I am one of the six partners in the Seals and Bounty Security Firm. I formed this company about five years ago with four of my brothers from my Seal Team and one Marine that we have worked closely with a few times on assignments. We are as tight as any biological family could be. That is why it is very unexpected to fall for one of my brother’s sister. It really scares the hell out of me to think of what Bryan will say when he finds out I have been seeing his little sister, Carol for the last four months. We have all changed since getting out the military. We have all talked about wanting to settle down and several of us are now in serious relationships. I just hope Bryan is okay with this.

I am Carol Shaw, and my brother Bryan Shaw is one of the ex-Navy Seals who started the Seals and Bounty Security Firm with four of his brothers from his team and one Marine, the only female. I work for them as the Office Manager, and they have all become like family to me. I never thought I would fall in love with one of his brothers, but I did. I have no idea what Bryan is going to say or do when he finds out. I know Derrick’s past as a player and I would understand Bryan’s concern, but I also know that most single men in the military are players, even Bryan. He can be overprotective, but they have all changed since getting out the service. I just pray he doesn’t go ballistic.

Chapter 1

Derrick

It’s another Monday morning as I walked into the Seals and Bounty offices. It’s beautiful outside today. The sun is beaming down on the Las Vegas Stripe lighting up the whole area as if it was dark outside and the casinos were lighting up the area. The hot temperatures have not hit their highest yet, so we were at a steady 82 degrees which was nice.

It has been four months since I started dating Carol Shaw. When I think back to how it all started, she just took my breath away. When I got out of the Navy six months after Wyatt, Bryan, and Kadon, I came straight to Las Vegas. We had already started Seals and Bounty. I taken part in the startup by email correspondence and docusign forms. Look at us now! We had grown so much that we have a staff of over 300 people that do minor security detail at some of the buildings and the casinos in town. All of the private security and bodyguard gigs were done by the partners, however, recently we were getting Jason ready to step up and help us in that role since he was also ex-military.

When I first met Carol, I thought she was so bossy just to be the office manager. I mean, she just answered phones and set up our appointments, right? Wrong! She kept everything flowing, paid all the bills, created invoices, collected the money, and even did some internet research. I had no idea she was really the one in charge! Once I realized that and got to know her, she stole my heart. But it took me over a year to approach her because he brother is not only one of my best friends, business partner, but also my Seal brother. While we served, it was forbidden for any of us to even look at any of our brothers siblings. Our work was too dangerous.

Once she said yes to me asking her out that first time, I knew that I loved her. Her smile lights up every room she walks in. I love to hear her laugh and the ways she says my name. I really don’t know how much longer we can keep this relationship from Bryan. She wants to now wait until after him and Katie get married. She thinks he is too stressed right now with wedding plans and work and will not take it well, but if we wait until he’s happily married, then he may be more accepting about us being as happy as he is. I am not sure that it will matter either way. All I do know is that I don’t want to spend a day without her being a part of my life. I want the world to know, but at the same time, I don’t want to loose my brother in the process.