Don’t touch that dial. You’ve landed on Lisa Burton Radio, coming at you with 1.21 jigawatts of power all across the cosmos and beyond the veil. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl, bringing you characters from the books you love.
Today we’re going to have a little chat with Danny Caruso, owner of Nightforce Security, a new-ish company in headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania whose employees have rather impressive skillsets.
“Welcome to the show, Danny.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Ma’am! Such formality. Call me Lisa.”
“Sorry. Old habits die hard. Thanks, Lisa. Uh, glad to be here.”
“Don’t sound so enthused. This is supposed to be fun.”
“I know. I’m just not much of a showboat. I do my best work out of the limelight.”
“Then why’d you agree to come on the show today?”
“Because my employees insist I need to do more publicity. We haven’t been taking on the kinds of jobs we expected. We’ve been… sidetracked.”
“Oh? Sounds juicy. Do tell us more.”
“We’re a security firm, right? We’re supposed to be protecting movie stars in town to shoot a film. Singers here for concerts. Businessmen. Politicians at the occasional rally. And don’t get me wrong, we have those clients. But lately, pfft. Might as well have re-upped.”
“Re-upped? Are you former military?”
“See? This is why I hate being in the hot seat. There’s just certain sh—can I swear on the radio?”
“I don’t mind. I can’t speak for the FCC censors, though.”
“There’s stuff I don’t like to talk about.”
“I would think a military background would make you ideally suited for operating a security firm.”
“It does. I just don’t like to discuss it.”
“Seen some bad sh—stuff overseas?”
“What part of ‘don’t like to discuss it’ confused you?”
“Sorry. It’s my job to pry. So, you were saying you’re taking on jobs you didn’t expect.”
“Yeah. Fewer famous people needing a sense of security and more people caught in the middle of life-and-death situations.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“Infuriating.”
“Do tell.”
“I can’t talk about my cases.”
“Okay. Well, let’s change topics then, shall we? I understand you’re off the market now.”
“Excuse me?”
“You are in a committed relationship, correct?”
“Oh, that. Um… you were asking about cases. Here’s one for you. Noah Crawford, my right-hand man, just stumbled into one hell of a—oh, sorry.”
“Hell’s a place. I think you’re okay.”
“Right. Anyway, Noah was licking his wounds after a one-night stand.”
“Don’t single men often prefer no-strings fun?”
“Noah is the consummate bachelor. Or he was. Until the one who got away. He didn’t even catch her name. Had a bug up his… butt about it for the better part of a week.”
“Then what?”
“Then it all hit the fan. He bumped into her, but before they talked about things, they found themselves hostages in the middle of a heist. Of sorts.”
“Of sorts?”
“Well, he hasn’t written his final report yet, so I don’t have all the details. Just another job-that-isn’t.”
“What do you mean, job-that-isn’t?”
“We keep falling into these crazy situations. We aren’t hired, but there we are. Doing favors for someone or being in the victim pool. We don’t get money for that. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind helping where I can and I’d never turn down someone in need.”
“Hero complex?”
“Something like that, I guess. But I have to pay the bills, too. And that’s why I’m here today—trying to drum up some paying customers. Don’t suppose you need a bodyguard?”
“Sorry. Robots can take care of themselves. But if I did, you’d be the first person I’d call.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. I—hold on a second. I see we have a caller. Hello, you’re on with Lisa and Danny.”
“Hey, boss. Mind if I ask why you’re talking about my love life on the radio?”
“Uh… hey, Noah. Didn’t realize you planned on catching the show.”
“We nagged your sorry ass to do it. Think we weren’t going to tune in when the show was on?”
“We? We, who?”
“Me, Mac, Ethan. Cap’s here. We’re at his bar. The whole joint’s listening.”
“Perfect.”
“Even Gianni, Vinnie, Nico, and Coz are here. They brought their women.”
“Wait a minute. Noah, are you talking about the Notaro sisters and the Brotherhood?”
“Sorry, Lisa. Rude of me not to say hello.”
“Hi. Now, back to my questions. Are you telling me you know the Notaros and the Medici Protectorate?”
“Yeah. Danny introduced us. He and the guys go way back.”
“Danny, you’ve been holding out on me.”
“How so?”
“I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a few of your friends before. I never did hear how their situation turned out.”
“That’s not my story to tell.”
“You like to hold your cards close to your vest, don’t you?”
“Speaking of cards, did I mention Noah’s exploits took place in a casino?”
“Hey! Stop talking about me. You’ve got your own story to tell.”
“Lisa, where’s the disconnect button?”
“Oh, Danny. You think I’m going to cut off this conversation? It’s way too juicy.”
“We’re all hanging out at Cap’s bar, if you want to join us, Lisa. One Ugly Mug.”
“Sounds like an entertaining evening, but I believe Craig has plans for me after this.”
“Noah, don’t you have something productive to do right now?”
“Nope.”
“Do you like your job?”
“Yeah.”
“Then find something to do.”
“I’m off the clock, boss. Nothing but time on my hands. I can talk all night.”
“So, Lisa, I was telling you about Noah crashing and burning with this girl he met.”
“Okay, boss. Hanging up now. Lisa, the invitation stands. Anytime you want to hang out with us, just drop by.”
“Thanks, Noah.”
“Hang up, Crawford.”
“Geez, Dan. I’m going. We’re all still listening, though.”
“Noah!”
“All right. Bye.”
“Dickhead. Oh, shit. Damn it! Sorry, Lisa.”
“No worries. I know how you military guys are.”
“Ex-military.”
“Old habits die hard, right?”
“Exactly.”
“If the censors have a problem with it, they’ll bleep it out.”
“I’ve said enough, anyway. I think I’ll take off. I’ve got some employees who need a stern talking to.”
“He’s a handful, isn’t he?”
“They all are, Lisa. They all are.”
“Must make things at work… interesting.”
“Work is hard. Often dangerous. But the guys make it fun. I wouldn’t want them any other way.”
“I’m guessing you’re headed to One Ugly Mug now. Please give my best to the Notaros and the Brotherhood.”
“Will do.”
“And listeners, if you’re in the need for the services of a first-rate security firm, might I suggest Nightforce Security? You can’t feel safer than when you’re in the care of a team of former special ops officers.”
“I didn’t say anything about special forces.”
“Am I wrong?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Thanks for dropping by, Danny.”
“Thank you, Lisa.”
“All right, folks. Thanks for checking out the show. Please use those ‘like’ and ‘share’ buttons down below. The guys at Nightforce Security could use the support, and I know Staci will happily return the favor if I have you on the air.”
* * *
Staci Troilo’s Nightforce Security Series is a spinoff of her Medici Protectorate Series. The security firm, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, makes use of the talents and specialties of the people it employs—people with elite military and law enforcement backgrounds.
Visit old Brotherhood friends and meet the new crew destined to make your heart stop and your fingers flip the page for more.
Password is the novel that starts the series. Danny Caruso is busy expanding his security firm when an old friend approaches him with a job. Next thing he knows, he’s protecting the world’s most private and stubborn woman from an unidentified threat. Secrets, lies, and subterfuge slow him down, and if he can’t solve the mystery, they’ll cost him everything. Universal Purchase Link
Second in the series is the novella Gamble, which is available now. Noah Crawford can’t get a one-night stand out of his head. He can’t even track her down, because she didn’t give him her name. While trying to forget her, he goes to a casino with friends and runs into her. Before he can try to pick up where things left off, armed men take them hostage. The stakes are high, and they’re cut off from help. Noah needs to take them down or he could lose everything. Universal Purchase Link
Staci Troilo writes because she has hundreds of stories in her head. She publishes because people told her she should share them. She’s a multi-genre author whose love for writing is only surpassed by her love for family and friends, and that relationship-centric focus is featured in her work.
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