I nodded but never took my eyes off Tatiana’s face. I wasn’t calling her bluff. I was a man who knew what I wanted, and if she was serious, she’d be my wife before the end of the night.
“I vowed never to take another road trip with you all. Last time it was a near-death experience for me.” She smiled.
“Nothing bad happened,” Max complained.
“You and Thad talked about sports for seven hours. The only thing that stopped me from throwing myself from the car was I hadn’t updated my will and I was afraid my bank account would go to fuckstick Monroe.”
“Who’s going to Vegas?” Zane cut in.
“We are. We’re getting married,” I told him.
“Christ. I better expand the fucking daycare center I’m being forced to build at the office. Can’t anyone just use regular babysitters? Or better yet, birth control?”
“You are so full of shit, Zane Lewis, I’ve seen you with your nephews. And what about you? You ever heard of birth control?” Tatiana gestured to a pregnant Ivy.
“Ouch,” Zane mumbled and looked down at his wife. “Mark this, woman. I’m keeping track, and after you pop my son out, I’m bending you over my lap and spanking you for every time you’ve pinched me over the last six months.”
Holy shit, Zane was having a boy. The world better brace. There was no doubt Lewis genes would prevail.
“Well, what are we all still standing around for? You wanna get married or what?” Zane tapped his foot with impatience.
“You ready to become Mrs. Miller?” I asked Tatiana.
“Hell, yes.”
“Let’s roll.”
Chapter 37
Thad
I was seriously questioning my life choices. It had been three days since I’d drunk way too much while celebrating in Vegas. Three days, and the headache was still present. Throbbing behind my eyes like someone was pounding a drum in my skull. The heat and stench of fermenting garbage wasn’t helping.
Zane hadn’t felt an ounce of pity when he sent us down to Mexico only a day after Brooks and Tatiana had said, ‘I do.’ The fucker had drunk as much as the rest of us, yet he woke up the next day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, barking orders like he hadn’t polished off a bottle of Knob Creek himself.
Now he and his wife, Ivy, were enjoying something she called a babymoon. Whatever the fuck that is. All I knew was, I was walking down Avenida Revolucioń with Max by my side and my Gator sunglasses were doing not a damn thing blocking out the bright rays of the afternoon sun.
Even the brightly-colored buildings were pissing me off.
“You need an attitude adjustment,” Max complained. I gritted my teeth in an effort not to tell him to fuck off.
It wasn’t his fault I was in a bad mood. Hell, I didn’t even know why I was annoyed. We’d all had a great time in Vegas and we’d been stateside for nearly three months. It was the longest I’d been out of the sandbox in recent memory. Maybe that was what my problem was. Three months was a long time to go without a purpose. But that didn’t explain my piss poor mood now. We were back on the hunt. Tex had picked up a trace on Leon Brown. It wasn’t a great lead but it was a start. Brown had been seen in Venezuela with a woman. With any luck it would be Ashaki Maloof. Though I had a feeling, being CIA she’d be in the wind and back undercover in no time. And as much as I hated loose ends and not fully understanding who she was and what role she played, she wasn’t our mission. Omni was. And even if we hadn’t been the ones to take out Prince Al Issa, he was dead. Soon Omni would be scrambling.
I needed to snap out of it and get my shit sorted. It may’ve been broad daylight but there was nothing particularly safe walking the streets of Tijuana. Statistically, I was safer taking a stroll in Kandahar. At least according to OSAC.
“You think Zane put us up in a lime green house just to be a smartass?” I asked Max as we arrived at the Cantina National.
I’d never seen a color so bright on a house in my thirty-two years. It was like a huge neon beacon flashing, alerting all of the homeboys on the block of our presence. We might as well hang a sign outside, too: White boys staying in the lime green house.
“Probably. Something he would do. The color is obnoxious. But it blends into the neighborhood. The one next door is flamingo pink. He coulda put us in that one.”
A pretty brunette with long shiny hair cascading to her waist greeted us. She was stunning. And young. Way too young for me to be ogling. Maybe that was part of my problem. It had been a very long time since I’d had the pleasure of anything other than my hand. So goddamn long I couldn’t even remember the last time I had female company.
“This okay?” the woman asked.
“Yes. Thank you.”
I sat at the table the hostess had guided us to and was grateful Max had been paying attention.
“Earth to Thaddeus.” Max knocked on the table, pulling me from my depressing thoughts.
I felt it before I heard it.
A crackle of energy. High-frequency, high-voltage, alternating current. I remembered that feeling. There had only ever been one person who could evoke the phenomenon. Her touch was like my own personal bolt of lightning.
I finally turned toward the clatter of dishes and had to do a double-take. I blinked and tried looking again. The mirage remained, the same beautiful woman at the next table over was staring at me. Green eyes wide in shock and full, kissable lips pulled down into a frown.
She quickly schooled her features and looked back at her lunch companion.
What the fuck?
Max lifted his chin in a silent question, asking if I knew her.
The answer was complicated. Did I know the well put-together woman sitting there eating lunch with a man in an expensive, perfectly pressed suit, donning a watch that cost a year’s salary, and douchey haircut that would put you back a whack? No, I did not know that woman.
Did I know Emerson Pierce? Intimately. I’d spent hours getting to know every inch of her. That seemed like a lifetime ago. A silly young man who was so stupid he’d mistaken phenomenal sex with love. It had been more than a decade since I’d seen her. I was twenty-two. The sex couldn’t have been as good as I’d remembered. Back then, I was so inexperienced I’d probably embarrassed myself. It couldn’t have been that great for her, she’d walked out on me.
Emerson stood and straightened the hem of her stylish short red dress and briefly glanced in my direction. Her pretty eyes weren’t dancing with desire and lust like they had been the last time I’d been lost in them. They were pleading. She shook her head ever so softly, begging me not to acknowledge her. A part of me wanted to stand and demand answers. But I remained in my seat, not drawing any attention to the fact I could still recall every breathy moan, every groan she made while she rode me. I could still feel her hands in my hair, pulling as my tongue thrashed between her legs. She was a wild thing. Totally shameless in her quest for pleasure.
Her expensive heels clacked on the worn wooden floor as she made her way past our table. If I’d thought the front of her skin-tight dress showed off her curves, it had nothing on the back. Not only did it hug her ample ass but it exposed the smooth skin of her back. My eyes were eating up every sexy inch until they stalled on the thick black lettering of her tattoo.
The last word I’d use to describe the lettering would be feminine. It was bold, going from shoulder blade to shoulder blade, the characters unmistakably Greek. The name unmistakably mine.
Θεοδωρος.
She had insisted on calling me Thaddeus. She said it was strong and sexy, just like I was. She said she’d never forget it. Seemed she was telling the truth.
“You okay?” Max asked.
“Not even a little bit.”
For the second time in my life, Emerson Pierce had rocked my world.
*
Emerson and Thad coming soon.
About the Author
Riley Edwards is a bestselling multi-genre author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and rai
sed in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.
Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley's favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.
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The Red Team
Nightstalker
Protecting Olivia
Redeeming Violet
Rescuing Erin
The Gold Team
Brooks
The 707 Freedom Series
Free
Freeing Jasper
Finally Free
Freedom
The Next Generation
Saving Meadow
Chasing Honor
Finding Mercy
Claiming Tuesday
The Masters Collection
The Awakening
The Collective
Unbroken 1 & 2 – Season One
Trust – Season Two
Standalone
Romancing Rayne
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
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Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Shauna Allen: Defending Danielle
Shauna Allen: Rescuing Rebekah
Shauna Allen: Saving Scarlett
Shauna Allen: Saving Grace
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Julia Bright: Rescuing Amy
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Victoria Bright: Going Ghost
Victoria Bright: Jostling Joker
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Barbie
Kendra Mei Chailyn : Pitbull
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Melissa Kay Clarke: Safeguarding Miley
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Samantha A. Cole: Cheating the Devil
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Jordan Dane: Fiona’s Salvation
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
Riley Edwards: Redeeming Violet
Riley Edwards, Recovering Ivy
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Erin
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Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
Casey Hagen: Shielding Harlow
Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie
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Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Kathy Ivan: Saving Savannah
Kathy Ivan: Saving Stephanie
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Defending Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Summer Breeze
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Silver James: SEAL Moon
Silver James: Assassin’s Moon
Silver James: Under the Assassin’s Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Heather Long: Guarding Gertrude
Heather Long: Protecting Pilar
Heather Long: Covering Coco
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Margaret Madigan: Buck the System
Margaret Madigan: Jungle Buck
Margaret Madigan: December Chill
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Bride
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Twin
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
KD Michaels: Protecting Shane
KD Michaels: Avenging Angels
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound 2
Wren Michaels: Shadow of Doubt
Wren Michaels: Shift of Fate
Wren Michaels: Steeling His Heart
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Goddess
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Vixen
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Heartbeat
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
MJ Nightingale: Betting on Benny
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Secrets
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Jen Talty: Burning Kiss
Jen Talty: Burning Skies
Jen Talty: Burning Lies
Jen Talty: Burning Heart
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Megan Vernon: Protecting Earth
Fire and Police: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Barb Han: Kace
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella) (April 2019)
Securing Sidney (May 2019)
Securing Piper (Sept 2019)
Securing Zoey (TBA)
Securing Avery (TBA)
Securing Kalee (TBA)
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (April 2019)
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 (July 2019)
Shelter for Penelope (Oct 2019)
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 Dakota
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tselling 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.
She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.
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