Ranger Protector Read online

  USA TODAY bestselling author Angi Morgan kicks off her new series with a spellbinding tale of crime and passion—Texas Ranger style!

  All Texas Ranger Jack MacKinnon has to do is keep Megan Harper alive while they hunt down whoever’s framing her for a fatal shooting. But the gorgeous intelligence analyst is too independent for her own good—and Jack’s peace of mind.

  With a false murder rap and hit men gunning for her, Megan has no choice but to trust the cowboy-handsome lawman. She isn’t used to playing it safe. Yet how can she let Jack put his career and life on the line? And how can they ignore the desire ratcheting up the stakes, tempting them to take one last risk before a killer erases their future?

  Texas Brothers of Company B

  There it was again.

  A spark. A moment of anticipation.

  If they’d been on a date, Megan would have stood on her tiptoes until he kissed her. She might have even leaned in and kissed him first. But they weren’t on a date. They were hiding out in the Texas Hill Country. And while she debated with herself about what to do, he let her go and practically ran the length of the porch.

  “I’ll grab the food,” he shot over his shoulder.

  There might be a million and one questions about who was after her and why. But one thing was abundantly clear. Ranger Jack MacKinnon was an honest man and dangerously attractive. She already respected him and trusted his judgment.

  Getting involved would be easy. So how distracting would it be trying not to?

  RANGER

  PROTECTOR

  USA TODAY Bestselling Author

  Angi Morgan

  USA TODAY bestselling author Angi Morgan writes Harlequin Intrigue novels where honor and danger collide with love. Her work is a multiple-contest finalist, an RWA Golden Heart® Award winner and a Publishers Weekly bestseller. When not fostering Labradors, she drags her dogs—and husband—around Texas for research road trips so she can write off her camera. See her photos on bit.ly/aPicADay. Somehow, every detour makes it into a book. She loves to hear from fans at angimorgan.com or on Facebook at Angi Morgan Books.

  Books by Angi Morgan

  Harlequin Intrigue

  Texas Brothers of Company B

  Ranger Protector

  Texas Rangers: Elite Troop

  Bulletproof Badge

  Shotgun Justice

  Gunslinger

  Hard Core Law

  West Texas Watchmen

  The Sheriff

  The Cattleman

  The Ranger

  Texas Family Reckoning

  Navy SEAL Surrender

  The Renegade Rancher

  Hill Country Holdup

  .38 Caliber Cover-Up

  Dangerous Memories

  Protecting Their Child

  The Marine’s Last Defense

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.

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  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Jack MacKinnon Jr.—A Texas Ranger who protects those around him and follows the rules. His partner breaks enough for the both of them. Recently pulled off of undercover duty because his father was elected senator.

  Megan Harper—Investigative analyst with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) working for the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office. A very capable Army brat who has lived all over the world and loves adventure.

  Wade Hamilton—Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers, Company B. Jack’s partner and best friend from college. He has a habit of acting before he thinks things through and always trusts his gut.

  Slate Thompson—Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers, Company B, and Jack’s coworker.

  Heath Murray—Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers, Company B, and Jack’s coworker.

  Therese Ortis—Who is this mysterious woman associated with an unknown organization? That’s the question of the day. Wade owes her a favor.

  Harry Knight—Dallas County clerk murdered, but for what reason?

  Gillian MacKinnon—Jack’s sister. Jack and Gill? Everyone agrees their mother didn’t think before naming her after a great-aunt.

  This book is for my agent, Jill Marsal. You’re a super person who’s always there and understands the neurotic person a writer can be. Thanks for the constant hand-holding and support.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Excerpt from Into the Night by Cynthia Eden

  Prologue

  “Simple answer? It’s an out-of-your-ever-lovin’-mind no.” Jack MacKinnon spoke calmly into his cell, surprised that he could keep his tone and volume in check with his partner’s suggestion. “Did you hear me, Wade?”

  “I heard.”

  “But...?” Good or bad, there was always a but with Wade.

  “I haven’t asked a favor from you in a long time, Jack. I wouldn’t be begging now if it wasn’t important. There’s barely time.”

  His partner wasn’t attempting to talk him into changing his mind. There were lots of pauses and a tension he hadn’t heard since they’d been in the Department of Public Safety patrolling the border. The feel of the call made Jack uneasy.

  “Are you in trouble?”

  “I’ve got everything handled—”

  “Except the one little favor. I would if I could get away. You know what week it is. What my father expects. I don’t have any extra time to babysit.” Whining wasn’t his thing.

  Or at least it hadn’t been. But he recognized the words. Recognized the tired sound of his own voice. Recognized how busy he was dealing with the mundane while his partner got into...what? He didn’t know what trouble Wade’s intuition was getting him into. Most of the time he didn’t even know if it was an approved operation or not.

  “I thought I could make her flight and be there when she left the airport, but I was...delayed.” Wade’s voice shook. It never shook.

  “Dammit, was that a gunshot?” Jack asked, but he recognized weapons firing. “Hang up and call for backup. Now.”

  No response. There was shuffling, heavy breathing like his partner was running. If Wade was in trouble and had still taken time to ask for a favor, then Jack didn’t have a choice. He had to say yes. “You owe me, and not just anything. I decide what and when.”

  “Bergstrom Airport. You should get going. I’ll text details as soon as I get...um...free. Gotta run.”

  The line disconnected.

  Wade probably meant that last word literally. But running from whom? Or what group? That was the part that bothered Jack the most. He didn’t know which. All he could do was hope his partner was on the right
side and not risking both their careers.

  He jerked open the drawer with his keys and stared at the ring next to his holstered weapon. Yes? No?

  One little favor...

  It never hurt to be prepared. He scooped up both.

  “You’re going to owe me, Wade. And this time, I intend to collect.”

  Chapter One

  Paranoia shimmied up her spine, pinning her to the tight airplane seat. A genuine fear kept Megan Harper where she was while most of the passengers paraded slowly up the aisle.

  Carefully gathering her things, she waited. For what? A flight attendant lifted her bag and dropped it next to her. “This yours?” he asked and moved toward the back of the plane, checking seat pockets.

  The forty-five-minute flight from Dallas to Austin had been a little bumpy, but not enough to make her feel this way. She’d barely finished three paragraphs of the book she’d spontaneously purchased before they left the gate.

  Her breathing was still fast, her pulse still racing. She still felt like something was...well, wrong. She’d felt this shakiness since she was dropped at Love Field.

  Thinking back, she realized that was when the apprehension had begun. Not about flying or plane crashes or anything to make a traveler feel anxiety. This was different. Something she hadn’t felt since she was at the San Antonio Police Academy.

  That had been ages ago. She’d barely been a cop before transferring to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. But still...the sense that she was being watched—Check that. She knew she was being watched. It bothered her that she couldn’t pin down the person doing the watching before she’d boarded.

  “Miss, is there a problem? Do you need assistance leaving the plane?”

  “Oh, no. Sorry.”

  There was no one left to watch her leave. The unrest should have subsided.

  But it didn’t.

  The anxiety grew with each step up the jet bridge. Alone by necessity for her job, she had no hand to squeeze for comfort. She really hadn’t been the comfort-seeking type—even in her childhood.

  What was wrong with her? She threw her hand against the wall as a wave of dizziness overtook her. Catching her breath, she straightened her laptop-bag strap and continued. The faster she got to her house, the better.

  Strangers were lined up at the gate, ready to fill the seats for the next flight. None of them watched a crazy woman who expected someone to jump out and...and... Do what?

  This is ridiculous. Shake it off. Nothing’s wrong.

  “Megan Harper?”

  She looked up toward the man who’d called her name. When their eyes met, it was clear he’d been waiting for her. He wasn’t asking—he already knew who she was. She quickly glanced around, trying to find a free airport employee, but no one would look her way. She changed directions to get closer to the gate, to give herself time to assess the threat. She sprang past the man, toward the security exit.

  How he’d gotten to the gate was a question for later. Something about the way he walked, with one hand on his hip, sort of under his jacket, set off alarms. Once again her neck broke out with the pricklies, as her mother called them. She ignored him and had barely gotten three steps ahead when his hand grabbed her arm and swung her back to face him.

  “You’re prettier than the picture. Here.”

  Shoving her against the wall out of the flow of traffic turned a few heads for a few seconds. Before she could react, he had her free arm pinned and the other wrapped up in her luggage.

  “Back away or you’re going to regret this.” She could still use her legs, which were strategically placed to play football with his privates.

  With his free hand, he opened a note and held it for her to read: “You have to go with this man to be safe. No questions.”

  She laughed. “Do you really think I’m just going to walk out of a crowded airport with you? That note is straight from a movie. And I can take care of myself.”

  “You need to come with me—”

  “No way in hell! Security!” She rammed her knee against his groin.

  The man doubled over.

  Her pricklies were gone. She was breathing calmly when she sort of trotted through the nearest revolving door to baggage claim before anyone could respond to her cry for help. On the other side she realized she’d left her rolling carry-on next to the wall. She headed directly to a counter with two employees for help.

  “I wouldn’t do that.” The deep voice slowed her steps.

  A couple of steps away from her, a man lifted his finger in the air. He wasn’t the same as the man who’d accosted her at the gate. His serious scrutiny caught her off guard as he guided her out of the way of the revolving door.

  “Are you following me?” She looked through the glass—the man trying to accost her and the carry-on were gone.

  “Nope. Someone wants to chat with you.” Serious Guy extended a phone, and she heard an unfamiliar voice of a friend she hadn’t seen in years.

  “Megan. Megan, are you there?” The moment caught her off guard, and she paused. The stranger gently took her elbow, guiding her out of foot traffic, nodding as a couple of people passed and then handing her the phone.

  She flipped the cell over and was on a video call. “Therese? I haven’t heard from you since I moved to Austin. What in the world is going on?”

  “Thank God he found you. Listen, the man with you is Jack MacKinnon. He’s a friend and you need to leave with him. Now. I’ll explain later. Trust that your life is in danger.”

  Megan looked straight into aviator shades and an expressionless pair of lips over a dimpled chin. His gesture to wrap up the call infuriated her a little bit more. But when she stumbled it was nice to have him there to steady her.

  “I can explain everything in three or four days. Until then, MacKinnon can keep you safe.” Therese’s voice was shaky with fear. The man looked around without offering any explanation.

  “I can take care of myself. But why do you think I need to? And why don’t I just go to the police?” She was certain she was capable.

  Therese’s fear seemed to be seeping through the speaker, affecting her ability to reason. Either that or... Great—the room was spinning. “Why does it feel like I’m on that baggage carousel?”

  “Wrap it up. They must have slipped you something.” The man gripped her elbow tighter and headed toward the exit.

  “Someone’s trying to kill you, Megan. We don’t know who. At least not yet. And until we get a handle on this, you need to stay someplace safe. We think you’re being framed—What?” There was some noise on Therese’s end, and the screen went dark, like she’d covered the phone’s camera. Then nothing for a long couple of seconds. “I wish I had time to explain and I’m sorry I put you into this position. You can trust MacKinnon. He’s practically one of us. Maybe better since he’s a Texas—”

  The phone went dark again. The connection was gone.

  “Can you walk faster? I’m parked in a loading zone.” Therese’s friend wrapped his arm around her waist.

  The mirrored aviator shades he wore blocked wherever he was looking, but it didn’t matter. She was quickly losing her footing and the grip on her laptop. “My bagsheze ish...”

  Slurred speech and no muscle coordination. Her inability didn’t slow her escort down. He lifted her laptop bag onto one shoulder and stretched her arm around his other. She couldn’t even protest now. Her eyes were getting heavy, right along with every other part of her body.

  “Stay with me, Megan,” he whispered close to her ear. “Yeah, we’re good. Pregnant. Just need to get her home.”

  He’d told someone she was pregnant, and she couldn’t make her mouth object. Her brain seemed to be working, but nothing else. He lifted her onto the front seat of a giant truck and pulled the seat belt around her.

  Eyes closed, her head fell to the window
with a thud. They moved forward, and that was it. She’d been kidnapped, abducted. If anyone asked her to identify the man driving, she had a good image of a dimpled chin under shiny, reflective aviator shades.

  * * *

  THEY ARRIVED AT his destination—not hers. According to Mr. MacKinnon, he’d been assured her home was compromised. He pulled into a driveway of a house that looked as if it had been built just after World War II.

  How had she gotten here?

  Shoot, she didn’t really know where here was. Someplace she’d never been. Someplace that didn’t look anything like an abductor’s lair. She thought they’d pulled off the main road at the first sign of a town and then kept turning.

  Main road? She’d missed which way they left Austin. She’d been in and out. While she was in, the winding roads she recognized west of Austin kicked in and made her queasy. So she just closed her eyes and concentrated on not throwing up.

  Now at a stop, she tried to pull on the door handle. Nothing. Her arms were just too weak. No strength.

  The porch light flickered on—one of those energy-saver bulbs that she didn’t care for but bought herself. The porch had a swing, a couple of tall-fronded plants in the corner. It looked more like where her parents used to live—more than she wanted to admit.

  If she admitted it, she’d feel safe. She’d let her guard down, and she couldn’t. She had to escape. Had to somehow get to the police.

  “Megan?” He tapped on the truck. “You can get out now. We’re here.” The truck door opened, and her driver caught her in a bear hug. Not that he was as big as a bear. He just held her tight in his strong arms before lifting her into them and carrying her up the porch steps.

  God, her mind was jumping all over the place. She needed a few minutes to take everything in. Should she go inside with a stranger who had practically abducted her? She could trust Therese. They might not have seen each other in the past couple of years, but when you went through the police academy together...it created a bond that didn’t go away.

  A dog bayed at the fence next door.

  “Hush, Junior, hush.”