I had work that needed to get done. And I definitely had no room for men—either young, blond ones, or darker, older, intense ones.
All I had room for was my nephew.
Chapter 2
Caden
Ihad the security camera installation plan to check, resumes to peruse, and several emails from other Langston Hotels security heads that needed my attention.
Crossing the lobby, I headed for the concierge desk. As I walked, it was habit to check the camera locations, take note of all the people milling in the lobby and the vehicles pulling up in front of the glass doors.
Nothing tripped my internal radar. No troublemakers or possible threats.
Okay, one thing pinged on my radar.
My gaze locked on the Langston Windward’s concierge. He was talking with a young couple in hiking gear, handing them a trail map. He had a wide, white smile and handsome looks that made him popular.
His name was Enzo Rossi. The background check I’d run on him was as clean as a fresh damn fall of snow, but my radar was pinging. Loudly. There was more to Rossi and I would find out who the hell he was. Eventually.
Thankfully, he appeared dedicated to the hotel and staff, so for now, he wasn’t a problem.
He caught my gaze, and I stared back steadily.
He shot me an amused smile. “Castro.”
“Rossi.” I circled the concierge desk and strode through the security room door.
The sound of hammers and power tools assailed me. I glanced around at the construction, and nodded to myself. It was coming along nicely.
The old security room had been tiny, but now the walls had been blown out to four times the size. Once everything was finished and the new technology installed, it would be state-of-the-art.
The previous head of security for the Langston Windward had happily retired. Deem hadn’t been bad, just the kind of guy who put in the bare minimum and thought that was enough. It was never enough. I knew it paid to stay on top of things before trouble brewed.
The new security room would help us do that. For now, the security guards were monitoring the hotel’s CCTV feeds in the conference room. It wasn’t ideal, but we’d manage until the space was finished.
I stalked out. I’d oversee the installation of the new cameras and sensors myself. The current system was woefully outdated, and had more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. I’d already done up a detailed plan, but it still needed some tweaking. I’d also hired some good locals to add to the security team. They all had military experience and were great additions. However, I still needed to find the right person to lead the team once the renovations were completed and I left.
I liked my job. Traveling around the world to different Langston hotels and upgrading the security was interesting and kept me busy. I never imagined I’d be running security for a hotel empire.
All I’d wanted growing up was to be a soldier. Like my grandfather. I’d been good at it.
Too good. Eventually, I’d gone into special forces. A muscle ticked in my jaw. I had no regrets. I’d done a hard job. I’d protected. I’d fought.
But I’d also seen things no man should see. Done things…
My steps slowed and I closed my eyes. For a second, I felt the humidity of the jungle, heard mud squelch underfoot, felt the trickle of sweat down the back of my neck. And I heard my friends screaming, moaning in pain…
Choking that thought off, I opened my eyes and continued across the lobby. My right hand clenched. It had been a different man who’d giddily signed up for the Army. A man following in his grandfather’s footsteps, with dreams of making a difference.
The man who’d come home…
I didn’t believe in dreams anymore. I didn’t believe in anything.
Lifting my ID card to the reader on the staff door, I waited for the lock to beep, then I entered the staff office area.
Ahead, I spotted a tall, lean brunette and stopped. She was talking with one of her housekeeping staff. I kept my face blank.
I was known as cold and hard to read, mostly because it was second nature for me to keep what I was feeling off my face. But what was usually very easy for me seemed to be hard around her.
