by Anna Blakely
Rescuing Katherine (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)
Bravo Series Book 2
Anna Blakely
Contents
Foreword
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
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Anna Blakely
More Special Forces: Operation Alpha World Books
Books by Susan Stoker
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
© 2020 ACES PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this work may be used, stored, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher except for brief quotations for review purposes as permitted by law.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy.
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Special Forces: Operation Alpha Fan-Fiction world!
If you are new to this amazing world, in a nutshell the author wrote a story using one or more of my characters in it. Sometimes that character has a major role in the story, and other times they are only mentioned briefly. This is perfectly legal and allowable because they are going through Aces Press to publish the story.
This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I might have assisted with brainstorming and other ideas about which of my characters to use, I didn’t have any part in the process or writing or editing the story.
I’m proud and excited that so many authors loved my characters enough that they wanted to write them into their own story. Thank you for supporting them, and me!
READ ON!
Xoxo
Susan Stoker
This book is for my parents, who always made sure my brother and I had everything we needed. We may not have been rich with money, but we were—and still are—rich with love. Thank you, Mom and Dad…for always believing in us. I love you very much!
About the book
HE GAVE HER HIS HEART—AND SHE SHATTERED IT.
Bravo Team operative Matthew Turner used to believe in happily ever after, but that was years ago, before the only woman he’s ever loved betrayed him and shredded his heart. Since then, he’s worked hard and played even harder, determined he’ll never be vulnerable again.
NOT EVERYTHING IS AS IT SEEMS.
Katherine Marsh has only ever loved one man, but she was forced to cut Matt loose a decade ago to protect him. Since then, she’s focused on her research as a biomedical engineer…and tried not to regret losing the man who still haunts her dreams. Even from afar, she’s tried to continue protecting him by creating a military-commissioned formula that will save thousands of American operatives’ lives. But someone’s out there, determined to use Kat and her work as a weapon against the United States.
HE’LL FIGHT TO THE DEATH TO SAVE HER.
When Katherine unknowingly hires Matt’s private security team to protect her from recent threats, they’re forced to confront their tumultuous past. Just when their passion is rekindled and it seems they could find happiness together, the evil hunting Kat strikes.
With help from his Bravo teammates and Ghost’s Delta Team, Matt find himself on the most important mission of his life: to save the only woman he’s ever loved. Will he reach her before this nemesis destroys Matt and Katherine’s second chance at love forever?
Prologue
Ten years ago…
Matt’s fingertips brushed against the small, delicate ring hidden deep in his pocket. His pulse relaxed, knowing it was still there. Not that he should’ve been surprised...after all, he’d only checked on the damn thing a million times since that morning.
Still, it calmed his nerves to know it was safe and secure. No way in hell could he risk losing it. It was too important. She’s too important.
Though he couldn’t see it, Matt knew the smile spreading across his face was the same, goofy grin his buddies had been giving him shit about for the past few weeks. The past year, really.
A year ago today, he met the girl who’d changed everything. Kat was beautiful, funny, and smart as hell. Like, genius-level smart. But somehow despite the fact that they came from totally separate worlds, she’d chosen to be with him.
Matt’s smile grew, knowing in less than an hour Kat would no longer be his girlfriend. She’d be his fiancée.
If she says yes.
He ignored the tiny voice threatening to kill his emotional buzz. Of course, she’d say yes. She loved him every bit as much as he loved her. Even more so, to hear Kat tell it. But she was wrong.
The fact that he’d never been in love before didn’t matter. Not to Matt. Neither did his young age. Even at twenty, Matt knew he’d never love anyone more than he loved her.
Kat was his and his alone. He’d known it almost from the moment they met, but as he toyed with the simple diamond ring once more, Matt relished in the fact that soon the whole world would know it, too.
Her dad’s gonna be so pissed.
That tidbit of knowledge only added to the joy he was feeling. Thomas Marsh was a silver-spooned blowhard who owned half of California. Thankfully not the half Matt lived in.
From day one, the prick had fought Kat’s decision to date him. Thankfully Kat didn’t share her father’s opinion of those who lived in a lower tax bracket.
She judged people by the size of their hearts, not their bank accounts. It was one of about a billion reasons Matt loved her.
Speaking of Kat…
Matt checked his watch, his nerves ratcheting up once more when he saw what time it was. If he didn’t leave now, he’d be late.
With one final pat of his pocket, he threw on his boots, grabbed his sunglasses and keys, and headed to his truck. The fifteen-minute drive to the pier flew by as Matt used that time to mentally rehearse what he planned to say.
A year ago today, my buddies and I came to this same pier to go fishing. I thought my life was perfect, and then I saw you.
You were standing right over there with a group of girls. You were all talking and laughing, and I remember a small breeze blew by, sending some hair into your face.
You turned your head against the wind to brush it away, and when our eyes met, it was as if lightning had struck. I knew, from that moment on, my life would never be the same.
Matt pictured himself pulling the ring from his denim pocket and dropping to one knee. He imagined Kat’s face lighting up with surprise and tears of joy welling up and streaming down her soft, flawless cheeks. Then, he’d say…
“Katherine Jean Marsh, I have loved you from the second I first saw you. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
She’d sa
y yes and jump into his arms. And after he placed the modest ring on her hand, they’d go to their special place. They’d make love, then. Like they almost always did when he took her there.
Kat was a virgin when they’d started dating and had wanted to wait a while before having sex. As hard as it was—literally—Matt had respected the hell out of that.
For the first six months of their relationship, he’d walked around with balls as blue as the open sea. But man, had it been worth it. Knowing he was her first…that he would be her only…filled him with a ridiculous amount of alpha pride.
Thankfully, Kat understood the way male hormones worked and didn’t fault him for not being a virgin when they’d met, too. He had, however, kept himself only for her. And he would for the rest of his life.
His friends all thought he was crazy to even consider getting married at such a young age, but Matt knew she was worth the commitment. She was…everything.
He spotted the red mini coupe her dad had bought her for her sixteenth birthday and pulled into the space beside it. Through his windshield he could see her at the end of the pier.
Facing the water, she didn’t see him, so he took a few extra minutes to relish in the moment. Even from here he could tell she was wearing one of her strappy sundresses and sandals, and like a year ago, the breeze blew against her long hair.
As Matt made his way across the wooden platform, he was grateful for the fact that they were alone. It was always a crapshoot when coming here.
Normally he didn’t care if others were around. But today was different, and he wanted their special moment to be private.
“Hey, sweet girl,” he said from behind her.
Matt thought maybe she’d swing her body around, but she just stood there. Staring out at the North Pacific waves.
Maybe she didn’t hear you.
Using the extra minute to its fullest, Matt took in the view, appreciating the slow curve of her lean figure as he silently closed the distance between them. Without another word, he reached for her hips and spoke softly in her ear.
“Hey, beautiful.”
On a start, Kat turned to face him. Instead of the smile that always brightened his day, she stared back at him with an uneasy expression.
“Hi, Matt.”
Hi, Matt?
It had been nearly a month since they’d last seen each other, and that’s all he got? No hug and kiss. Not even a ghost of a smile.
Matt’s gut began to churn like it did when he was on an op that was about to go sideways. Something was off. Way off.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing,” she lied badly.
“Kat.” His tone brokered no argument.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Tears welled in her eyes, but not for the reason he’d imagined while driving here.
“It’s okay.” Matt placed his hands on her bare shoulders. “Take your time and tell me why you’re so upset.” Though she didn’t feel cold, Kat trembled beneath his touch. “Okay, Katherine, seriously. You’re starting to scare me. What’s going on?”
Without looking at him, she whispered, “I think…” She swallowed and began again. “I think we should…take a break.”
What. The. Fuck?
Matt stared back at her as he thought of the ring burning a hole inside his pocket. Unable to believe what he’d just heard, he did everything he could to control his voice.
“You’re breaking up with me?”
Sniffling, Kat wiped her nose with the back of her hand and shook her head. “I didn’t say that. I said I thought we needed to take a break.”
Matt’s voice raised as he dropped his hands and took a step back. “That’s pretty much the same damn thing, Kat.”
Okay, so maybe his control was already gone, but fuck. He had no idea why she was doing this.
You know why.
“This is because of your father, isn’t it?”
Kat’s dad had been trying to drive a wedge between them from day one. It was the reason Matt hadn’t gone to him, asking for permission for her hand. He already knew what the asshole’s answer would’ve been, so he hadn’t bothered wasting his breath.
Still avoiding eye contact, Kat looked everywhere but at him. Swiping the tears from her cheeks, she cleared her throat and said, “This is my decision.”
“Then why can’t you look me in the eye?”
Naturally, the beautiful, stubborn woman did just that. Normally Matt could read her like a book, but there was a guarded, almost emotionless look in her eyes. One he’d never seen before.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked, the pain in his heart reflected in his voice. “This makes no sense. I thought you loved me.”
He sounded like a pussy-whipped adolescent, but Christ. She was tearing his heart into pieces, and he had no fucking clue as to why.
“I do love you,” Kat whispered before looking away again. She licked her lips—something she did when she was nervous—and looked around.
A nagging feeling tickled the back of his mind, but Kat’s crushing blow overshadowed whatever it was.
“Really?” Matt’s anger began to shine through. “Sure seems like you have a funny way of showing it.”
Shoulders dropping, Kat sighed. “Matt, please. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”
“I’m the one making things hard?” He took a step forward and pointed at himself. “I’m not doing shit, here, Katherine. You are.”
More tears filled her eyes before falling over her lower lids. With a quivering chin, she said, “I’m only doing what’s best.”
“For you, maybe,” Matt shot back.
Blinking back his own tears, he did his best not to let his emotions take over. If he did, Matt knew he’d break down and bawl like a fucking baby.
“What happened?” he asked in disbelief.
Her answer was a mumbled, “Nothing.”
“Bullshit. Two days ago, you couldn’t wait for me to get home. Now this?” Matt took a chance and stepped in closer. With a hand cupping her face, he said, “Please, baby. Talk to me.”
Eyes the color of dark chocolate stared up at him. A sliver of the love he’d seen reflecting back at him over this past year burrowed its way through, sending Matt’s hopeful heart pounding against his ribs.
For a second, he thought she was going to say she’d changed her mind. That she didn’t want to end things between them, after all. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
“I told you.” Kat stepped out of his reach. “Nothing happened, Matt. I think it would be better for both of us if we were friends. That’s all.”
He looked down at her as if she’d grown two heads. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Come on, Matt. We barely see each other as it is.” Kat turned and walked toward the edge of the pier. “This past year has been fun, but…”
“Fun?” He chuckled humorlessly.
His breath froze inside his lungs, shock leaving him unable to say anymore. Dizzy, he turned away from her, too. Running a hand over his face, Matt shook his head as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
One minute, he’s planning to propose, and the next, she’s tossing him into the friend zone? What an idiot he’d been.
Using his silence to try to explain the unexplainable, Kat drew in a deep breath before turning back around. With her chin held high, she stared back at him with the same, icy gaze her father used and said, “To be honest, I’d rather be with someone with more—”
“Money?” he accused, unwilling to let her finish the damning thought.
Her cold eyes flickered. “I was going to say time.”
“Time.” Matt rubbed the clean-shaven skin covering his tightened jaw. “Right. Except, time was never an issue before.”
The same, odd look flashed again, but like before it vanished in an instant. “Well, it is now. I’m sorry, Matt. I never meant to hurt you.”
“You never meant…” He laughed, unable to finish the rid
iculous words. “I think what you were trying to say was you never meant to fall in love with a guy like me. Isn’t that right?”
“No.” She shook her head vehemently.
He’d never doubted her. Not once in all their time together. But now, Matt realized he couldn’t believe a fucking word coming out of her pretty, bow-shaped mouth.
“I should’ve seen this coming,” he told her coldly. “After all, you’re The Thomas Marsh’s daughter, and I’m just the guy from the other side of the tracks. Your dad owns nearly everything and everyone around here, and mine…well, we both know what my father’s like.”
“I told you this was my decision.”
“I know.” Matt nodded calmly. “You decided Daddy was right. You want some suit-wearing guy who can support the lifestyle you’re used to.”
“Matt—”
“A guy like that…I’m sure time wouldn’t be an issue. They’re home every night at five o’clock on the dot.”
“Matt, please—”
“I guess your father was right.”
“What?”
“The first time I met him, he told me you’d come to your senses one day and realize what a…how did he put it? Oh, yeah. You’d realize what a nobody I was.”
With a steady stream of tears running down her face, Kat shook her head. “I’ve never thought that.”
More hurt and pissed than ever before, Matt needed to get the hell out of there. Needed to get away from her.