For now, she was thankful no one made a sound, which also broke her heart. These children, even the youngest of them, already knew what to expect when these...men showed up to deal with whatever was going on out there. How did anyone live like this? Then she reminded herself of the children in Aleppo, dying in bombings day in and day out. The youngest had been four months old.
She gathered Isabella to her side and put a protective arm around her. They had provisions if they needed them. They could hold out. She wouldn't give up the kids without a fight. She'd die for them. It was part of the job and part of how her parents raised her. Save those weaker than she was. Give them a chance to thrive and survive.
“It'll all be over soon and we can all go home.” But what home would be left? She didn't know where their parents had gone, or if they'd survived. “You're safe. I will not let anything happen to you.”
“I'm thirsty, Dr. Rae.” Isabella glanced up at her.
“Lucky for you, I have some water right here.” She shifted the little girl onto her lap, then reached into the container next to her and pulled out a bottle of water. “There you go.”
She didn't know how long they sat there. They were safe, though.
Or so she thought.
Feet stomped and shuffled above them and she placed her finger to her mouth to keep the kids quiet. The muffled conversation above them didn't make sense to her until the trap door opened and two men stared down at them.
The man held his hand out to her. “You're safe now. You can come out.”
Oh, hell no. They were wearing the same uniform as the man who tried to kill her. “No.”
The men exchanged glances. “Ma'am, you're safe, I promise.”
“Sure, we are,” she snapped. “That's why one of your men tried to shoot me.”
“Ma'am, I assure you, they weren't with us.”
She pushed the kids farther into the dark. “I'm sorry, we're not coming out. You're going to have to kill us.”
The man stood. “Go get Asher. She won't budge until she sees we're the good guys.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guy crouched. “Are any of you hurt? Do you need medical attention?”
Rae shuffled the kids closer to her. “We're fine,” she lied. Juan continued to grow sicker by the second. He needed fluids. He needed pain meds and antibiotics. “Mostly.”
Maria elbowed her in the side. “We need an IV down here and antibiotics. I have a child who's been snake bitten and another that has pancreatitis.”
“Shit. I'm coming down. I'm not armed.”
She was going to kill Maria if they got out of this alive.
About the Author
TL Reeve, a bestselling, multi-published author was born out of a love of family and a bond that became unbreakable. Living in Alabama, TL misses Los Angeles, and will one day return to the beaches of Southern California. When not writing something hot and sexy, TL can be found curled up with a good book or working on homework with a cute little pixie.
You can sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/bv07fn or join TL’s and Michele’s group: www.facebook.come/groups/RandRravingreaders
Michele Ryan is an author with Decadent Publishing, After Glows Publishing, and now Twisted Erotica Publishing. Michele embraced her creative passion and co-authored several books with fellow author and best friend TL Reeve. Michele has also published two solo novellas.
Michele is a lifelong resident of the state of New Jersey, along with her husband and three children, whom she refers to as her hobbits. When Michele is not plotting or writing, she can be found either volunteering at her children’s school or reading.
Also by TL Reeve & Michele Ryan
Welcome to our Window Rock Universe
Apache County Shifters
http://www.apachecountyshifters.com/
Kalkin: Apache County Shifters
Twins (free read): Apache County Shifters (found in the back of Kalkin)
Caden: Apache County Shifters
Teacher (Free read): Apache County Shifters (found in the back of Caden)
Rapier: Apache County Shifters
TSU Series
https://turnskin-university.blogspot.com/
Unrequited Mate: TSU
Sorority Row: TSU
Bearing It All: TSU
TSU After Dark
https://tsuafterdark.blogspot.com/
Radio Sass
Revelations (BTS Halloween)
Lupercalia (BTS Valentine’s Day)
Martyrs (BTS Ruined)
Psychic Retrieval Agency
https://psychicretrievalagency.blogspot.com/
Midnight (BAD Bad Alpha Dad)
Leaving the Past Behind
https://windowrockorphanage.blogspot.com/
Unbreakable
Entrapped
Lost and Secrets
Black Ops: Project R.O.O.T (Running Out of Time)
https://blackopsprojectroot.blogspot.com/
Rule Breaker
Extracting Mateo
Shattered Leaving the Past Behind
Blackmail – Leaving the Past Behind (Novella)
Jaqueline’s Quest – Black Ops: Project R.O.O.T
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
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
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Suzie
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Brielle
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
Casey Hagen: Shielding Harlow
Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie
Casey Hagen: Shielding Blair
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
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
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
Deanndra Hall:Justice for Aleta
Barb Han: Kace
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 Piper (Aug 2019)
Securing Zoey (Jan 2020)
Securing Avery (May 2020)
Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)
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 (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 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.
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.
If you enjoyed this book, or any book, please consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors more than you’ll know.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
susan@stokeraces.com