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