Unexpected Love

by KaLyn Cooper

  Unexpected Love

  KaLyn Cooper

  Unexpected Love

  Black Swan Book Three

  Copyright 2017 KaLyn Cooper

  * * *

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction.

  Names of characters, places, and events are the construction of the author, except those locations that are well-known and of general knowledge, and all are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental, and great care was taken to design places, locations, or businesses that fit into the regional landscape without actual identification; as such, resemblance to actual places, locations, or businesses is coincidental. Any mention of a branded item, artistic work, or well-known business establishment, is used for authenticity in the work of fiction and was chosen by the author because of personal preference, its high quality, or the authenticity it lends to the work of fiction; the author has received no remuneration, either monetary or in-kind, for use of said product names, artistic work, or business establishments, and mention is not intended as advertising, nor does it constitute an endorsement. The author is solely responsible for content.

  * * *

  Editors: Marci Boudreaux Clark

  Cover design & Formatting by:

  Drue Hoffman, Buoni Amici Press.

  Contents

  A Letter to Readers

  Acknowledgments

  About the Black Swan Series

  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

  About the Author

  Also by KaLyn Cooper

  A Letter to Readers

  Dear Reader,

  If you are new to my books…Welcome! I hope you enjoy Unexpected Love.

  Already enjoying my books… Thank you for continuing!

  A stand-alone, Unexpected Love is a contemporary, romantic suspense that is the third full length novel and the fifth story about the military active duty women warriors who were secretly trained in Special Operations. You’ll find a complete list of the books in the Black Swan series below.

  Thank you for purchasing Unexpected Love. If you enjoy this book, consider purchasing the other books in the Black Swan series as well as the related Guardian Security series.

  Always,

  KaLyn Cooper

  * * *

  Black Swan Series

  Unconventional Beginnings: Prequel (Black Swan Novella # 0.5)

  Unrelenting Love: Lady Hawk (Katlin) & Alex (Black Swan Book #1)

  Noel’s Puppy Power: Bailey & Tanner (A Sweet Christmas Black Swan Novella #1.5)

  Uncaged Love: Harper & Rafe (Black Swan Book #2)

  Unexpected Love: Lady Eagle (Grace) & Griffin (Black Swan Book #3)

  * * *

  Guardian Elite Series

  Smoke and Mirrors (Novella #1 Guardian Elite series crossover with Paige Tyler’s Dallas Fire and Rescue Kindle World)

  Double Jeopardy (Novella #2 Guardian Elite series crossover with Hildie McQueen’s Indulgences series)

  Rescuing Melina (Novella #3 Guardian Elite series crossover with Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle World)

  Snow SEAL (Novella #4 Guardian Elite series crossover with Elle James Brotherhood Protectors Kindle World)

  * * *

  Cancun Series

  Christmas in Cancun (Cancun Series Book #1)

  Conquered in Cancun (Cancun Series Novella #1.5)

  Captivated in Cancun (Cancun Series Book #2)

  Claimed by a SEAL (Cancun Series crossover Novella #2.5 with Cat Johnson’s Hot SEALs Kindle Worlds)

  Crisis in Cancun (Cancun Series Book #3)

  * * *

  For the latest on works in progress and future releases, check out KaLyn Cooper’s website

  www.KaLynCooper.com

  http://www.kalyncooper.com/

  Follow KaLyn Cooper on Facebook for promotions and giveaways

  https://www.facebook.com/kalyn.cooper.52

  Sign up for exclusive promotions and special offers only available in KaLyn’s newsletter http://www.kalyncooper.com/newsletter.html

  I dedicate this book to the women who have fought for our country, for their battle is on many fronts, their challenges often unimaginable. Many leave their children and families to work and train side-by-side with men who all too often do not see them as equals. These are some of the strongest women in the world. Their dedication and inner strength should never be doubted.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank my critique partners: contemporary and historical author Vikki Vaught, My thanks to Drue Hoffman for this stunning cover, formatting and the many things she does for my career. Thank you, Marci Clark for making this a better book. My sincere thanks to Jennifer Ufret for sharing insights into Augusta Georgia. Last, but not least, I thank my husband who lets me continue this writing “hobby” of mine.

  About the Black Swan Series

  Rara avis in terris is Latin for “a rare bird in the lands.”

  In the ancient world, it was believed that the landing of a single black swan created a change that would affect the entire world.

  Fact: A woman can get a man alone within hours...and kill him in seconds.

  Fact: Men always underestimate beautiful women.

  Fact: The military doesn’t do anything without years of successful training, most often completed in secret.

  Fact: In February 2013 the United States military opened combat roles to women, but no woman has "officially" been trained in military Special Operations.

  Chapter 1

  “Lady Eagle, ready,” Grace Hall spoke softly into her miniaturized communications unit without lifting her cheek off the stock of her custom-made sniper rifle. She lay on her belly, flattened against the yellow earth on a ridge five hundred yards from the Islamic radicals’ encampment. Through her scope, in infrared mode, she watched two red blobs casually pace the perimeter on the west and north sides. She’d been watching them for over two hours as the insertion teams sneaked close and prepared to breach.

  She listened while several more teams checked in with the United States Special Operations Command Control Center half a world away.

  Her tangoes had met once again at the corner. When they seemed to be exchanging something, she knew they would stand next to each other for at least two minutes as they smoked cigarettes. Good. She wouldn’t have to move the gun much at all to quickly take out both vile excuses for humanity.

  Lady Eagle thought about the fourteen little girls who had been kidnapped from their schools, some as young as nine years old. Not for the first time, she sent a quick prayer that they would be able to find the girls swiftly and extract them without injury to the U.S. team.

  “Gray Two, ready.” The sound of Parker “Griffin” Mitchell’s smooth Southern drawl through her com sent a shiver down her whole body. She’d reacted as though he’d whispered sweet sonnets in her ear while lying naked in bed. Not that they had ever done anything more than kiss good night—and she could count those on one hand—but a girl could dream. That da
rn man had the most beguiling effect on her…mostly confusion.

  “Operation Save the Children is in position and ready. Do we have a go?” Lady Hawk’s voice broke through Lady Eagle’s reverie.

  She refocused her attention on the crimson forms leaning against the wall at the northwest corner.

  “You have a go.” General Lyon’s voice came through loud and clear.

  “On three,” Lady Hawk instructed.

  Lady Eagle inhaled deeply.

  “One.” Lady Hawk counted down.

  Lady Eagle released her breath as she aimed and wrapped her index finger over the trigger.

  “Two.”

  She tucked in tight and chose her first target.

  As her team leader said the word “three,” she pulled the trigger. She was too busy lining up the second shot to watch the first man drop to the ground. Immediately after acquiring the second tango, he lay sprawled on his back from the force of the .50 caliber bullet to the head.

  Part of her mind registered two other shots on the far side. Only two shots. Good. Lady Falcon had also been successful. Her friend would remain in place and cover the extraction team.

  For a long five seconds, Lady Eagle stared through the small circle checking for any movement. She was sure of her shots, but the slightest gust of wind that she hadn’t calculated for could move a supersonic bullet a fraction of an inch along its flight and graze rather than kill. She had to be ready to correct that mistake.

  No movement. Not even a muscle twitch. With one last scan of the area out to half a mile, Lady Eagle ignored the yellowish green indicating residual heat rising from the high desert. Seeing no red, she came to her feet and flipped down her night vision goggles.

  “Lady Eagle on the move. North and west sides secure.” She was down the ridge and sprinting toward the compound.

  “Lady Hawk is in.” Leave it to her team leader to be the first one into the valley of the shadow of death.

  “Gray One is in.” It was no surprise that Alex Wolf would be right behind her. To keep things simple for USSOCOM, the men from the Guardian Security team had agreed to use codenames for this mission, rather than their former military handles.

  “Lady Harrier is in,” their team doc announced.

  Lady Eagle mentally checked off each person as they entered the makeshift compound.

  Please God, protect our team as they do your will and release those little girls from the evil men who kidnapped them. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  When she was halfway to her entry point, she slung the sniper rifle onto her back and pulled her M4 across her chest. Her hand automatically dropped to check the position of the pistol she wore strapped to her right thigh. With every step, she felt the other gun at the small of her back. Her first mission, several years ago in South America, had taught her that her backup needed a backup.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. With her next footfall, she went to her knee and brought her rifle to her shoulder. No one from the rescue mission was supposed to be in that position. She watched the crouching figure stand then hobble toward the ridge she had just left.

  It was a child. Had one of the girls managed to escape out the backside?

  She moved to intercept.

  At twenty feet away, the child began screaming in an Arabic dialect that was unfamiliar. She couldn’t allow anything to attract attention to her. She tackled the small frame and slapped her hand over the screaming mouth.

  In the Arabic she’d been taught at language school, she tried to reassure the child.

  The body under her stilled.

  As best she could, Lady Eagle explained that she was there to rescue her and the other girls. She asked the child to promise to be quiet.

  When the little head under her nodded, she raised her hand a fraction of an inch.

  Sitt, Arabic for woman, was the only word she caught.

  She had to smile. Most people were surprised at the fact her team, the Ladies of Black Swan, were all female. She replied with a nod and the Arabic word for yes.

  Large brown eyes stared at her. The child spoke again, too quickly for her to completely understand.

  Bacha bazi and iinqadh were the only two words she recognized.

  Lady Eagle’s heart broke in two.

  Never, in all the hours of planning this mission, had anyone considered the possibility there might be kidnapped boys. Bacha bazi, translated into dancing boys or boy play. Sexually abusing young boys was an acceptable practice in some Middle Eastern cultures and had been quite prevalent in Afghanistan. As the Taliban and their followers had been pushed out of that country, many had migrated into the area where the borders of Iraq, Turkey, and Syria were little more than constantly disputed lines on a paper map.

  Lady Eagle wasn’t positive which of those countries she was in at the moment. It made no difference. Only the lives of those innocent children mattered.

  She rolled off the boy, who looked to be around ten, and told him he had to be very, very quiet.

  “Ladies…I repeat…Ladies.” All chatter in her ear went silent.

  “Lady Eagle,” the new commander of USSOCOM sounded concerned. “Are you injured?”

  “No, sir. But we have an additional situation.” She stared into a dirty round face. “I have rescued a bacha bazi.” The boy’s whole body flinched at the term.

  Male voices whispered curses. “Christ.”

  “Jesus.”

  “Yes, gentlemen. He has brought these innocent young boys to our attention.” With command in her voice, she added. “We need to find them and take them with us, too.”

  “Make it so,” General Lyon ordered.

  A chorus of “Yes, sir,” followed.

  Thinking quick, Lady Eagle asked the boy if there were others like him in the compound. When he nodded affirmatively, she hesitated before she asked in Arabic, “Can you show me where they are kept?”

  Frightened eyes darted between her and the horrific place he had just escaped.

  “We need to rescue them as well.” Either way, she had to go through those hovels to get to the extraction point.

  In the light of a crescent moon, she watched the boy inhale deeply and square his shoulders. He quickly stood and reached for her hand. He slowly and carefully said his next words asking her to follow him.

  The plan was for her to enter through the north side, but he was pulling her in the opposite direction. “Lady Eagle on the move toward the southwest corner. Someone else needs to clear from the rear.”

  “Operations, Gray Three. I’ve got it.”

  Lady Eagle wasn’t sure exactly who he was, but all the men on the Guardian team had once been Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, or Marine Special Operators. Whoever he was, he could take her original job and handle cleanup. She had young boys to find and save.

  “Operations, Lady Harrier. I found the girls.” There was audible sigh from several people. Then the other shoe dropped. “Only eleven of them. Obviously, some of the men are using the others.”

  “We’re on it,” Gray One announced.

  Bat, tat, tat. The three-round burst of rifle fire signaled that they were no longer covert and everyone needed to expedite the mission.

  The boy stopped and turned huge round eyes toward her.

  “We have to hurry,” Lady Eagle explained. When they neared the corner, she announced. “We’re heading down the south side. Lady Falcon, please don’t shoot us.”

  “I’ve got you covered,” her friend assured. “You’re clear.”

  They had only taken two steps and the boy disappeared. He had been right there in front of her and now he was gone.

  Her gaze swept the length of the building then the barren landscape. Nothing moved.

  She felt a light tap on her boot and looked down at a small hand jutting out from the foundation. She kneeled and the boy’s slight face appeared. He frantically waved his hand as though signaling her to follow him.

  At five feet, seven inches, an
d 132 pounds, there was no way she could fit into the small hole that didn’t look big enough for a woodchuck back home in Iowa. Disappointed she couldn’t go after the boys herself, she tried to explain to him, “I need you to be a hero. You were strong enough to escape, so I know you are strong enough to help the others. Bring them here and give them a boost. I’ll pull them through and together we’ll get all of you to freedom.”

  When the child hesitated, she gave him a big smile she hoped was reassuring. “You can do this. I have faith in you.”

  With a jerky nod, he disappeared for what felt like an hour. Because she checked her watch several times, she knew it had been less than five minutes. She hated being this exposed. She’d slipped around the corner twice to check her six and Lady Falcon had her covered.

  A long string of automatic rifle fire nearly drowned out Gray Two’s voice. “Die, you child fucking pigs.” Through his miniature microphone, everyone heard two young female voices screaming. In Arabic, he kept repeating the words rescue and safe. Lady Eagle was relieved when she heard Griffin finally announce, “I’ve got two of the girls. Heading your way, Lady Harrier.”

  Less than a minute later, Lady Hawk confirmed she’d found the last of the girls.

  Thank you, God. Please protect all of us as we get these innocent girls… she looked down at the hole then added…and boys, to safety. In Jesus’s name, amen.