Mary Beth Wilkas landed her dream job as one of the few female United States Secret Service agents in the early 1990s. But when her integrity is unfairly called into question, the dream dissolves. Freed from the red tape of a federal agency--as well as its standards and resources--Mary Beth takes a role as a contractor, jetting between conflict zones and lavish destinations, protecting both government officials and the superwealthy.

Whether she's responding to an assault on a presidential palace or a diplomat's drunken advances, Mary Beth hews to her credo: never let them see you sweat. Her skill and determination propel her to become one of the most accomplished women in the dangerous world of international executive protection, where risk mitigation is as important as marksmanship.

Populated by dictators and debutantes alike, The Protector reveals how the ability to bounce back from disappointment can transform even the brightest-eyed novice into a confident, can-do leader.