Savage Rising

  Savage Rising

  Redemption Harbor Series

  Katie Reus

  He’s a former Marine, her new fake boyfriend, and the only way to escape her dangerous past.

  Having a child changed everything for Olivia—she vowed to keep her little girl safe from the mistakes of her past. But when the most dangerous person she ever met blackmails her into doing one last heist, the world she’s so carefully built goes into a tailspin. Frantic, she heads to Redemption Harbor in search of help. Sparks fly when she meets Savage, a man who will do anything to keep Olivia and her daughter safe. He’ll help her get her life back, but can he handle seeing who she once was?

  Can they pull it off?

  Savage poses as her obsessive ex during a daring undercover operation—and soon the line between reality and their cover story becomes blurred. He’ll use every trick he knows to keep the sensual woman alive and out of jail—and in his life. But the clock is ticking and if they can’t find a way to trust each other, no one will make it out alive.

  Savage Rising

  Copyright © 2017 Katie Reus

  Cover Art by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs

  Editing: Julia Ganis

  Digital Formatting by Author E.M.S.

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

  Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book. This purchase allows you one legal copy for your own personal reading enjoyment on your personal computer or device. You do not have the right to resell, distribute, print or transfer this book, in whole or in part, to anyone, in any format, via methods either currently known or yet to be invented, or upload this book to a file sharing program. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  ISBN: 9781635560213

  Table of Contents

  SAVAGE RISING

  About the Book

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Thank You for Reading!

  Excerpt from LETHAL GAME

  Excerpt from RESURRECTION

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Complete Booklist

  Dedication

  For Arabella.

  Prologue

  Zac moved through the quiet hallway of the high-rise bank. Half a world away from home, this was his last job.

  That was what he’d been telling himself for the last five jobs, however. But then the CIA would offer him another contract and he’d take it. Sometimes the contracts involved “liberating” something, but more often than not lately it was taking out a target.

  There had to be more to his life than this. He just wasn’t sure he was ready to walk away yet. Because what else was he going to do? It was a hell of a thing to be skilled at. And work kept his mind busy—except when he was alone. Then his mind couldn’t seem to shut off.

  One of his best friends had recently been killed by a cartel, even if they’d never found her body. He’d been consumed with thoughts of her murder but there had been no one to blame. Not one individual he could go after. Because if he’d had a name, that person would be dead. He mentally shook off that thought. He didn’t have the headspace for that now. Not if he wanted to get out of here in one piece. Distractions got a person killed.

  Get your head in this, he ordered himself.

  The bright lights of Hong Kong glittered in the background from the windows of every open office door he passed. Normally he wasn’t hired to work in Asian countries because he was white and tall. He tended to stand out.

  But he’d been called in specifically for this job. The powers that be wanted an outsider. Someone not connected to the region and not likely to work it again. He fit the bill and had been available on short notice.

  At the sound of an elevator ding in the distance, he froze for all of a second before ducking into a nearby office. The place was supposed to be empty tonight except for one person. His target.

  Tense, he backed up against the wall behind the office door, pulling it as close to his body as possible. He could see through the crack well enough. Faint footsteps sounded in the distance along with laughter. Of someone young and female.

  A moment later the words became clear. A little girl chattered to a woman, mostly in English. Through the crack of the open door, he saw a dark-haired little Asian girl and a dark-haired woman—Caucasian, not Chinese, however—pass by him. From the file he had on his target he knew that the guy had married an American woman and for now they were living in Hong Kong. But they would be moving to London soon enough.

  Well his target wouldn’t. Maybe the family still would. Not his problem though. This had to be them. They must be coming to visit the man.

  He quietly texted his contact. For most jobs he went completely dark, but he occasionally took a burner phone with him in case. Because every once in a while, there was an “in case.” Family is here. Not sure how long. Going to abort for now. He could just take the guy out on the road, which would be trickier, but doable.

  The response was almost immediate. Take them all out.

  He blinked once, stared at the message. The target deserved to die. That was never in doubt. He’d seen the man’s files. He knew the dark things he’d done. That wasn’t why Zac had been hired to kill him, however. He’d been hired because the man had betrayed his handler. He’d been working both sides—and double-crossed the CIA. Because of his betrayal, four good agents had been executed. That alone was enough for Zac to go after him.

  But kill his family? No.

  Again, the response was immediate. This needs to happen tonight. Do it.

  Zac’s finger hovered over the keypad. He was tempted to text him back, telling him to go to hell. Instead he pocketed the phone and slipped back out into the hallway. As he did, a little toy car rolled out from the only office with the lights on.

  He stilled against the nearest wall. The little girl raced out, her long black hair flying behind her as she did. Scooping it up, she smiled to herself and looked in his direction. Because of the shadows she must have not seen him because no alarm crossed her face.

  God, she was so young. Maybe eight? He didn’t know shit about kids but she was young, small and innocent.

  And his contact wanted him to end her life as if it were nothing? “Wrong place, wrong time” was exactly what his contact would say. Screw that.

  When she skipped back into her father’s office, he hurried back the way he’d come, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the security cameras. This building definitely wasn’t as secure as it could be. Someone else would eventually do the job
but it wouldn’t be tonight.

  And it wouldn’t be him.

  Once he was on the crowded street he sucked in a sharp breath, his senses going into overdrive.

  A blast of warm, stale-smelling air rolled over him as he moved past a restaurant. Then he was inundated with jasmine incense, exhaust, and too many foods to sift through. He hated the smell of Hong Kong. It only made him miss home more.

  Even if he didn’t technically have a home, Redemption Harbor, South Carolina would always be where he considered home.

  As he passed a garbage can, he dropped the phone into it and kept walking. Instead of heading back to his hotel room, he stopped at an all-night cell phone store and picked up another burner. He sent his temporary number to Brooks, his best friend, and to Mercer—one of his closest friends and also the man who’d recently lost his wife to cartel violence. He’d send it out to the others later. For now he needed to grab his false ID, money and get out of the country.

  He was surprised when moments later the phone rang. Mercer.

  He answered immediately. Since Mary Grace—Mercer’s wife—had been murdered, he tried to be available to Mercer as much as possible. “Hey, I wake you with that text?”

  “No.”

  “What’s up? You okay?”

  “Yeah. I mean, no. I’ll probably never be okay again but…something’s going on with Brooks and Colt.”

  “Colt?” he asked, sidestepping a cluster of teenagers taking a picture of themselves. Colt was supposed to be on vacation or some bullshit. Not that he’d really believed Colt would take one, but he’d assumed the man was working another undercover op.

  “Yeah. He stopped by and left Brooks to babysit me while he goes out of town. He’s borrowing Brooks’s family jet too.”

  Colt worked for the CIA, something Mercer wouldn’t know. He might suspect though. And if Colt was using a private plane instead of one of the many resources at his disposal, he was up to something. Zac cleared his throat. “Do you need someone to watch you right now?” he asked carefully in reference to the “babysit” comment. Last time he’d seen Mercer the man had been deep in the denial stage. Not that Zac blamed him. He didn’t want to believe Mary Grace was gone either.

  Mercer cursed. “No, Jesus. I’m not going to kill myself. Though…I’ve thought about it.”

  “Hell.” Yep, he was getting out of here tonight.

  “Just being honest. Something’s going on with them. Colt left and Brooks is being cagey. Won’t leave my house. I hate to ask but I need you—”

  “I’ll be there as soon as possible. Give me a couple days. I’m not in the country.” He turned left at the next street, heading for the nearest bus stop. He might not care for the overpowering smells here, but they had the best public transportation he’d ever used. Since he’d basically just given the middle finger to his current contract job, he needed to find another way home. While he was almost a hundred percent sure no one would come after him for ditching this job, he wasn’t going to tempt fate. Besides, the man who’d hired him knew his rules. Then he’d gone and asked him to break his biggest one. He’d never killed a kid and he wasn’t going to start now. He had some of his soul still intact.

  “If you’re sure—”

  “Shut up with that. Yeah I’m sure. You’re my friend. My family.” The family he’d chosen.

  “I just don’t want to inconvenience anyone.” Mercer’s voice was low, quiet.

  And Zac felt like a complete and utter shit. “You could never inconvenience any of us. Ever. I know you’re torn up. But we all lost her. We all miss her.” His voice cracked on the last word. And Zac couldn’t even say her name. Couldn’t say Mary Grace out loud. Losing her had cut a hole right through their entire group. There were seven of them who’d been friends since they were kids, and while most of them had moved away from Redemption Harbor once they’d grown, their bond ran deep. She’d been like a sister to the rest of them. “And if you think for one second you could inconvenience me, then I’ve been a shitty friend the last couple months.” Which he was pretty sure he had been. Hell, he shouldn’t be on this job. He should be back home, with Mercer.

  “Savage—”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “Don’t tell Brooks you’re coming, okay?”

  He paused but said, “Okay.” Out of everyone, Brooks was more like a brother to him than anyone else. Even more so than any of the guys he’d served with in the Corps. It felt wrong to not tell him he was coming home, but for Mercer he’d do it.

  Even making the decision to head that way felt right. As if he was supposed to be there right now. He’d never believed in fate or any of that shit, but deep down, he knew he had to get back to Redemption Harbor. Right now.

  Chapter 1

  —When the past comes calling, don’t answer!—

  Seven months later

  Olivia frowned when she heard her doorbell ring. It wasn’t particularly late, at just after eight o’clock. But for her lifestyle, it was. She’d just put her daughter to bed and was cleaning up the kitchen from their arts and crafts evening of glitter and glue. A little over six years ago she couldn’t have imagined this would be her life. Couldn’t have imagined she’d love this as her life.

  But love it she did.

  Valencia, her daughter, was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Before Valencia she’d had a chip on her shoulder, had been out to prove to the world—aka her parents—that what they represented was bullshit. That she could live her life on her terms, any damn way she pleased. Because of that, she’d made mistakes. A lot of them. But her daughter wasn’t one of those mistakes.

  Nope. She’d saved Olivia’s life.

  Setting the bottle of purple glitter on the granite-top kitchen counter, she wiped her hands on her yoga pants and made her way to her foyer. When she peeked through the peephole, ice filled her veins, sharp and cutting.

  Kyle freaking Neely stood on the other side of her door. Blinking once, she looked again. Nope, not her imagination.

  Her lights were on and he no doubt knew she was here. Ignoring him wasn’t an option. No, it would just make things worse. There was only one reason a man like this would be here. Only one she could think of, anyway. He wanted her for a job.

  She’d just tell him no and be done with it. But she needed to be smart about it. Because he was a very dangerous man. She took a few steps back and called out, “Coming.” Hurrying back to her kitchen, she quickly texted her neighbor.

  Ex showed up, can you come over in five minutes to interrupt us?

  Kyle wasn’t her ex but her neighbor wouldn’t know that. None of her neighbors had actually met her ex. She’d moved into this neighborhood as a single parent. And she wanted someone to be aware that she wasn’t alone right now. Kyle wouldn’t make a move against her with witnesses. No, that wasn’t his style.

  She heard another knock and the tension in her shoulders spread.

  As soon as she got a positive response from her neighbor she tucked her cell phone into the back of her yoga pants and calmly walked to the door. She forced her steps and her breathing to remain even. Because a man like Kyle sensed any weakness.

  When she’d been young, she’d been dumb enough to do a couple high-end heists with him—before she realized what a psycho he was. Then she’d learned that he’d tortured and killed one of the guys he’d recruited for a job because he’d suspected the man of being a Fed.

  Steeling herself, she opened the door. And immediately realized her mistake. He wasn’t alone. Another man lurked in the shadows of her porch, a silent threat if there ever was one.

  She kept her focus on Kyle, and raised an eyebrow. “Been a long time.”

  His gaze swept over her, mostly clinical, a little disdainful. Probably because she wasn’t like he remembered. Body type, yeah, she hadn’t changed much. But instead of the sexy leather and lace she used to wear she had on yoga pants and a gray T-shirt that said Tired as a mother.

  Olivia placed a ha
nd on her hip. She needed to put on a calm yet annoyed persona. He was invading her personal space. No matter what, she couldn’t let on that she was afraid of him. “Can I help you with something?”

  Without responding, he shoved past her. Maybe she shouldn’t have opened the damn door.

  “Well come on in, then,” she snapped, glad her voice didn’t shake. You had to stay strong in the face of predators. Even if she was trembling inside, she’d never let him see that. Nope.

  The other man strode forward too so she stepped in front of him. “You stay outside,” she snapped. “I don’t know you and you’re not coming in my house.”

  The guy, dressed similarly to Kyle, paused, then looked over her shoulder at Kyle. Expression grim, he stepped back. “I’ll wait in the car.”

  They both had on dark slacks, button-down shirts and jackets. All custom made, of course. Kyle was about six feet tall, lean and elegant. The other guy was a couple inches shorter and stocky. Pure muscle. The kind of guy who looked like he could crush a skull with his bare hands. She was glad he left, though she still wouldn’t let her guard down. Kyle was too devious for that.

  Fear lanced through her as she thought of her sleeping daughter upstairs. And she was glad she’d been smart enough to text her neighbor. She could keep Kyle talking for five minutes.