DAX
A Royal Protectors/Sidewinders Crossover Novel
Kat Mizera
Copyright © 2020 by Kathy Mizera
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editors: Tera Cuskaden, Ashley Martin
Cover Design: Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs
Contents
Also by Kat Mizera
Letter from the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Epilogue
Excerpt from TORE (Sidewinders: Generations, Book 2) Unedited and subject to change
Also by Kat Mizera
Las Vegas Sidewinders:
Dominic
Cody’s Christmas Surprise
Drake
Karl
Anatoli
Zakk
Toli & Tessa
Brock
Vladimir
Royce
Nate
Sidewinders: Ever After
Jared
Dmitri’s Christmas Angel
Ian
Sidewinders: Generations:
Zaan
Tore (2021)
Anton (2021)
Alaska Blizzard:
Defending Dani
Holding Hailey
Winning Whitney
Losing Laurel
Saving Sara
Chasing Charli
Tending Tara (2021)
The Royal Trilogy:
Nowhere Left to Fall
Nowhere Left to Run
Nowhere Left to Hide
Royal Protectors:
Sandor
Cocky Protector (book 1.5 and part of the Cocky Heroes Club books)
Xander
Axel
Dax (A Royal Protectors/Las Vegas Sidewinders crossover)
Inferno:
Salvation’s Inferno
Temptation’s Inferno
Redemption’s Inferno
Tropical Inferno (formerly “Tropical Ice”)
Romancing Europe:
Adonis in Athens
Smitten in Santorini
Lucky in Lugano
Other Books:
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Bobbi (Susan Stoker’s Special Forces World)
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Delilah (Susan Stoker’s Special Forces World)
Brotherhood Protectors: Catching Lana (Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors World)
Letter from the Author
Dear Readers,
If you’ve read my Royal Protectors series, please note this story takes place around the same time as the first book in that series, SANDOR. Just to clarify, the beginning of DAX goes back to just before Sandor and Lennox meet, so keep that in mind as you read. And of course, if you’ve read XANDER and AXEL (books two and three in the Royal Protectors series), those events haven’t happened yet.
Happy Reading!
—Kat
1
Isla
It had been raining for hours and I’d gotten soaked getting to my car when I left work. I was already running late for dinner with my family, but as I pulled into my spot in the garage, I realized I was going to be even later because I had to freshen up. My hair was matted against my head and my makeup had smudged. Not to mention my silk blouse was so wet my bra was visible through the fabric. And my seventy-four-year-old grandfather definitely wouldn’t approve.
I grabbed my bag and hurried up the back staircase to my room, stripping out of my clothes and pulling on black jeans with a pretty top. We were having company tonight, but I’d been too busy at work to ask who, though I suspected my grandfather was up to his usual tricks, trying to play matchmaker. My grandfather had pulled this nonsense for years. More so when I was younger, and then he’d seemingly given up for a bit. It had been six months or so since the last time he’d tried to set me up with someone, but his timing sucked.
My phone buzzed and I ignored it, assuming it was my mother asking where I was. I had to dry my hair and touch up my makeup and I’d be ready to go, so they could all just wait. I had a busy career, after all, and I wasn’t a child. At twenty-eight, it seemed unfair that my presence be demanded at dinner on a regular basis, and I was considering moving out next fall.
I wasn’t dressed for a dinner party, but that was okay because I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. Based on past experience, my grandfather and I had very different tastes in men. But Granddad didn’t seem interested in my thoughts on the matter. Normally, it didn’t bother me. I was an adult and led a full, busy life, but times like this, when he commanded my presence, made me a bit resentful. He’d never do something like this to my brothers, and since my father had passed away five years ago, it had only gotten worse. I’d thought he’d finally give up, but apparently not.
I touched up my lipstick and made my way downstairs. Most evenings, we ate in the less formal room just off the kitchen, the same room where we had breakfast or lazed around on weekends. Tonight, Granddad was pulling out all the stops, and I wondered who he’d set his sights on as a husband for me.
“Hello, love.” Granddad stood up as I walked into the dining room, and l lifted my cheek for a kiss.
“Hello, everyone.” I smiled politely, averting my eyes from the thirty-something-year-old guy sitting next to my empty place. “Sorry I’m late. Busy day at work.”
“Our girl works far too hard,” Granddad said, pulling out my chair for me.
“Wine?” Mum murmured, holding up the bottle.
“Thanks.” I nodded politely and took a sip as I waited for the inevitable introduction.
“Isla, love, this is the grandson of a dear friend of mine,” Granddad said, taking his seat at the head of the table.
I glanced up with a forced smile. “Oh?” I met our guest’s gaze with as much interest as I could muster up.
“Gideon Sinclair, this is my only granddaughter, Isla Campbell.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Gideon got halfway out of his chair and held out his hand.
“Likewise.” I shook his hand and took another sip of wine to avoid anyone seeing me sigh. I really hated these set-ups and made a mental note to nip this in the bud. If my grandfather wanted me to move out, I could and would, but continuing to allow him to manipulate me with regard to my personal life had to stop.
“Gideon’s grandfather is a founding partner at Sinclair and Associates.” Granddad met my gaze meaningfully.
Bloody hell.
Sinclair and Associates was the legal firm my grandfather had been courting to take over the family’s legal affairs for over a year. And now he’d thrown a grandson into the mix, as if I wasn’t under enough pressure in the dating department.
“Are you an attorney?” I asked Gideon politely.
He smiled. “I
