“What did he agree to pay you for blowing up the prison?” Lucas asked.
“Enough that I’d never have to worry about money again. Now where is it?” Vic said, jamming the barrel against the back of his head.
“Do I look like I’ve got a few hundred thousand on me?”
“Try million. Three million,” Vic growled.
Lucas whistled, working his way around to facing Vic, shielding Chloe’s body from his gun. If he got an itchy trigger finger, Lucas would take it, and Zane would get Chloe out of here.
Zane shuffled toward the window, his gaze darting to the men outside. All they needed was one of them to spot the situation unfolding and take Vic out.
“You actually believed he had three mil? Even if he did, he would have had to use a fair amount to pay his men for storming New Hope.”
Vic’s eyes jumped between Zane and Lucas.
“You know you’re not getting out of this, right? It’s over. We’ve got forty men here, and there’s you. There’s no way you’re making it out of this alive,” Lucas said.
“The fuck I’m not. I shoot you, I shoot him, and I head right out that way,” Vic said, pointing to a dark tunnel heading underground behind him.
“You’ll never make it. The minute they hear a single shot, you’re done.”
“Maybe I’ll even put a bullet in your girlfriend here for good meas—”
Pop.
Blood spattered against the wall over their heads, droplets raining down over them.
“Have I told you how much I hate cocky fuckers who talk shit?” Tex said. “Oh, and I dig tunnels. They’re kind of my thing. Just ask Zane.”
Lucas blew out a breath and closed his eyes.
“Lucas?” Chloe whispered.
He slid his arms under her shoulders and lifted her off the floor. “Yeah, baby. I’m here.”
“No more kidnapping. Home. I want to go home.”
His face split into a grin, and he laughed, the sound more relief than humor. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
Epilogue
“Just tell me where we’re going already,” Chloe muttered from the seat next to him.
She’d come out of detox with a low tolerance with a low tolerance for bullshit, not that he’d complain. She’d come out, and that was the point.
“Anyone ever tell you that you suck at surprises?” Lucas asked, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
“I tried to count how many seconds before we made a turn and keep my bearings. Liam Neeson makes that shit look way too easy in Taken,” Chloe muttered next to him, bracing her elbow on the window and her chin on her hand.
“It’s easy to keep track when it’s fiction,” Lucas pointed out.
She slapped her hand against her thigh, her look of pure indignance. If you could call a woman with her hair in a high ponytail and a red bandana tied around her eyes the picture of indignation. “Are you saying his skills are bullshit and don’t exist outside of Hollywood?”
“Oh, some do, but to have all of those contingencies ready at a moment’s notice, just because he was an enforcer? Bullshit.”
She pursed her lips and jutted her chin. “I think you just don’t like that the badass makes me all giggly.”
“Oh please, I made you giggle last night. Then I made you chew your pillow so the kids didn’t hear all your naughty sounds,” he said. He pulled up to a metered spot on Broadway.
“A gentleman wouldn’t be so uncouth as to bring that up,” Chloe pointed out. “Can I at least take this off so I can get out?”
“Nope, I’ll guide you.”
“Great,” she muttered.
He climbed out of the car and took a deep breath of the salt-tinged air of Long Beach. Circling to the passenger side, he opened the door and took her hand. “I’ve got you tight against the curb.”
She reached out her arms, running her hands through the air, making her way down Broadway looking like a walking mime.
He chuckled. “I’ve got you; you can just walk.”
“I know, it’s ridiculous,” she said, continuing to wave her hands in front of her. “My brain just can’t seem to make my body act natural.”
“I’ll put you out of your misery. We’re here.” He slid the blindfold off her eyes and turned her to face the building.
“A tattoo shop?” she asked, craning her neck to look back at him. “Or is there something here I’m missing.”
“I don’t want you to spend another day feeling like you need to scrub away your past, but I know seeing the mark there bothers you. So, I thought maybe we could get a tattoo to cover the area and turn some bad memories into good ones.”
She glanced down to where she rubbed at the very spot in that moment without realizing it. “All this time, and I never once thought of that,” she said, smiling up at him. Pushing up on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yup, I think we should get matching ones,” she said before brushing a soft kiss over his mouth.
“Isn’t that a sure sign you’ll break up?”
“Only if it’s names. Anything else is free game,” she pointed out.
“So, what if we got the symbol of the phoenix? It’s an addiction and recovery symbol. Or maybe that would just be one more reminder.”
“A reminder that there is only one man who completely understands me. Who’s lived the pain. Unwilling addicts. How many of us can there really be? I think it’s perfect.”
“I love you, Chloe. Every single day I plan to show you. Well, if you ever agree to marry me.”
“One thing at a time, Hotpants. Tattoos today. We’ll talk marriage next week. Or next month, because I love you enough to stay with you without being married.”
“Back to that again,” he muttered, opening the door for her.
“Well, am I wrong?” she asked, patting his cheek as she stepped past him.
He took a minute, just a minute to appreciate the bounce in her step, the life force that just radiated in every direction from inside her.
He glanced up at the dark blue sky overhead. “Yes, Mom. I can finally admit the man upstairs is real. You can stop giving me signs now. I’m okay,” he said quietly before joining Chloe inside.
Two hours later, each with fresh ink on the inside of their left elbows, they headed for the car. Chloe's cell vibrated in her purse.
"Hang on, it might be the kids," she said holding up a finger.
"Zane? Everything okay?" She asked plugging her one ear against the thrum of traffic on Broadway.
She nodded and glanced at Lucas. "Yeah, he's right here. Hang on."
She handed him the phone. "He said he tried your cell."
Lucas took the phone. "Hey, man. What’s up?"
"They finally managed to ID the Jane Doe at New Hope."
"Good. Did they find any family?" He tilted the phone away from his mouth and spoke to Chloe. "They know the identity of the woman at New Hope."
"Lucas?" Zane said. "It's your sister."
About the Author
To see all books from Casey Hagen, go to:
While you’re there…sign up for her newsletter!
ABOUT CASEY HAGEN
Casey Hagen pens her snarky, passionate stories from the salty air of Kennebunk, Maine. She’s a born and raised Vermont native, a New England girl to the core, with Ben & Jerry’s in her heart and real Vermont maple syrup pumping through her veins.
She’s the proud mother of three girls and a soon-to-be first-time grandma with an insatiable addiction to Fall Out Boy, and a new, rather concerning obsession with tattoos and piercings. Can you say “cool grandma?”
The inked and pierced grandma spends her time tucked away in her office, coated in cat hair, alternating between tearing her hair out trying to find the perfect words and being one step ahead of her three scheming fur babies she is positive are plotting her demise with every swirl around her ankles at the top of her office stairs.
She loves writing stories about real people, with complicated histories, relatable everyday problems, and giving them the hard-won happily-ever-afters they deserve.
And she thanks every last one of you who picks up one of her stories.
Casey is done talking about herself in the third person.
*Casey out*
Fierce Protectors Series
Shielding Nebraska
Shielding Harlow
Shielding Josie
Shielding Blair
Trusting Jake
Trusting Zane
Trusting Lucas
Tallulah Cove Series
Tallulah Heartbeat
Tallulah Nights
Tallulah Trouble
Tallulah Bargain
Tallulah Speed
Tallulah Homecoming
Tullulah Crush
The Devlin Brothers
Blind Spot
Twisted Instincts
Falling in Paradise
Falling in Fiji
Falling in Angels Falls
Prime Time Editions Series
Safe House
Wolves and Warlocks Series
Bewitching Her Warlock
Captivating Her Warlock
Enchanting Her Warlock
Enrapturing Her Warlock
Other Books
Operation: Girl Next Door
Rock Me Hard
Consumed by the Dare
A Daring Proposition
Bare Souls
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Heather Blair: Rescue Me
Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn
Amy Briggs: Saving Sarah
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost
KL Donn: Unraveling Love
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo
Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava
Angela Rush: Charlotte
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Lynn St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire
Dee Stewart: Conner
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla
Barb Han: Kace
CM Steele: Guarding Hope
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Zoey
Securing Avery (May 2020)
Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)
Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)
Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)
Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)
Shielding Riley (TBA)
Shielding Devyn (TBA)
Shielding Ember (TBA)
Shielding Sierra (TBA)
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (Novella)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
susan@stokeraces.com
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