The Predecessor (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)
Halo of Protection Book 1
Kimberly McGath
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
To my readers
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
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Kimberly McGath
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.
© 2018 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.
Cover Design by Kimberly McGath
Manufactured in the United States
ISBN:
Aces Press, First Edition 12/24/18
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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
To my very own special forces–
Quinn,
Ryan, Jessie, Landon, Reed, Kahley, Tanner, and Kate.
My love without end.
About the book
Living in the shadows of a legend, bodybuilder Jacey Love has his heart set on joining the Marines. Conflicted by a promise he made, Jacey postpones his dream and accepts a mission to uncover a dark secret that has plagued his family for years.
Armed with a special gift, he must face a hidden adversary whose evil intent is beyond imagination. On his journey he encounters a mysterious young woman, yet despite his attraction, he is unsure who he can really trust. With unexpected twists and turns, this romantic mystery will have the reader guessing until the very end.
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to Author Susan Stoker for the amazing opportunity to join her kindle world. What an honor. A huge shout out to top Crime Writer, Sue Coletta, for being the finest mentor and dearest friend. Love you soul sister.
To my mother, Edna, for all your support and encouragement and never hesitating with your red pen. I love and admire you beyond words.
To my readers
There is a medical mystery that I have woven into the story. I will announce a contest on Twitter soon and will award a prize to the first person to correctly identify the disease in question. If any of you do not have Twitter, just shoot me an email at [email protected] and I will write you back the correct answer after the contest period has ended.
Prologue
No one took the threat seriously at first, but that’s the way it always begins. A clever enemy lurks in the shadows until the time is right and by then it is too late. The prognosticators warned the people not to forget the lessons of Nuremburg, for most rationalized history could never repeat itself, not in modern times anyway. The atrocities of man are not topics discussed at cocktail parties after all, so the insidious events were filed away in books that collected dust on their metaphorical shelves.
The elections were the most tempestuous in history. Riots spread across the globe like the plague, with casualties surpassing those of the Partition of India. With a slight margin, the confederation of the European Union had elected a chancellor, one that would rule the continent’s countries without a parliamentary body. The EU became the most dominant superpower to ever rule the big blue marble. While many applauded the shift in world politics, there were those pundits that were predicting worldwide economic instability and civil unrest. Shares were sold off in unprecedented numbers, bringing further volatility to the already frail markets.
Unlike the doomsday preppers and cult figures that were gorging themselves on the evening news fodder, the non-European heads of state dreaded the briefs. Epoch-making allies formed, reshaping the diplomatic landscape.
Amidst the sinister stench of dictatorship, military experts sensed there was a broader plan of dominion unfolding and a greater scheme behind the chancellor's election. In desperation, they sought out a shunned group of U.S. soldiers to unveil the politician’s true intentions. These elite Marines, a clandestine cell known as the HALOs, were tough fighters with remarkable gifts.
The squadron was beyond presidential and congressional oversight; as such leaders were oblivious to their presence. Only members of a covert branch of government with special clearance were even aware the unit existed. Like any subject that made the electorate uncomfortable, these officials knew it was wise to keep a distance from any controversial topic publicly. The propaganda machin
e was always in motion. It served to discredit anyone who spoke on such matters, and hence the government could privately explore such disciplines without interference. Telling the masses the Earth is flat is effective as long as it isn’t questioned. Online humiliation and ridicule on social media replaced the beheadings and the stake burnings of yesteryear.
The HALOs were “officially” disbanded after they failed to prevent a Prime Minister’s assassination, leaving a political vacuum overseas. After intense negotiations, a small division was allowed to remain under the guise of special ops. These soldiers were tasked with the grave responsibility to foresee events and intervene before their unfolding. Their many heroic victories went uncelebrated, but ironically their only failure brought disgrace to their squadron and ultimately the Corps. Any future foundering on their part would seal their dissolution for good.
The select few who possessed these unique qualities were a dying breed. The seasoned agents were weary; their skills in decline. The only hope for the program to continue was to find the few that remained–if there were any.
These were desperate times indeed.
Chapter 1
Club Venus
December 2006 Tampa, Florida
Mozart hated last minute assignments, but this one was different. He couldn’t complain about the venue, it was every SEAL’s dream job. This actually seemed more like attending a bachelor party than a hard day’s night, but still he had to keep his mind on the mission.
The orders were simple–protect the asset. The NCIS agent briefed them over a secure line on the flight, but the transmission containing the woman’s photo hadn’t gone through. The description would have to do–five-foot seven, one hundred twenty-five pounds, and long, jet-black hair. Tantalizingly, the agent added she had legs that didn’t quit. The SEALs placed a wager on how many times the agent had violated policy by looking up her driver’s license picture. They were going to check the database to settle the bet when they got back on base to debrief.
Mozart, Wolf, and Abe stood behind the stanchion and presented their bogus IDs to the bouncer. The thumps of the bass could be heard from their place in line and vibrated the walls with every beat. Every time the door opened, a beacon of light signaled as if it was a subliminal broadcast to tempt all the lonely men in town.
Entering the club was like going through the wardrobe to Narnia. The hazy atmosphere, the flashing lights, and intense music were a drastic change from the calm outside and quickly set the mood. The three SEALs dispersed to take their respective positions. After a childish game of rock-paper-scissors, Mozart won the prime location at center stage by throwing a horizontal hand that trumped the other five fists. Cookie, Dude, and Benny grumbled the entire drive over from the airport about getting stuck with parking lot duty. They were going to miss all the excitement. Wolf promised them a special trip to Sin City to make up for the crappy detail. He even offered to throw in some champagne and caviar, but he could tell they were still ticked off.
All the SEALs wore baggy clothing to downplay their bulging muscles and to conceal their military tattoos. Mozart ordered a Crown on the rocks and signaled to the others that he was in place. The overwhelming stench of cheap cologne unsettled his stomach and made his balls ache.
Kimi Love sat backstage sipping her third Jack and soda. She wasn’t about to do this role sober, but maybe she should have stopped after the second round. One of the SEALs would have to drive her home and that meant leaving her unmarked car at the seedy joint overnight. She just knew from experience that someone was going to graffiti her poor Impala. That would mean a long drive to fleet to pick up a loaner. What a pain in the ass. She hoped at least they’d think of something original to write like I did Miss Piggy or I banged Bacon Bitch. Plus, the more she drank, the more likely she would trip on stage in her platform shoes. She must have been buzzed because she chuckled out loud at how hilarious of a fail that would be. She’d never live that one down. The guys on her squad would probably autotune it and post it on YouTube.
Staring into the cheap mirror, she penciled in another layer of plum liner to emphasize her chartreuse eyes. She noticed the club owner staring at her from behind. What a creep and a distraction. The balding prick made her smudge her makeup. She fantasized about arresting him for some obscure city ordinance violation and hauling him to lockup. The scuz had it coming for something. If only this were her jurisdiction.
The hair club for men representative that ran the bar wasn’t the only thing that gave her the fidgets. She couldn’t wait to get home and take a scrub brush to her body to wash off the filth. A germaphobe, this was not an ideal setting for the compulsed. Even sitting in the chair made her want to soak her Virginia in vinegar for a hot month. That’s what she called it after one of the investigators on her squad misspelled the female body part. Anyway, the thought of all the bodily fluids that were exchanged in the seat made her dry heave. She was hoping it would pass before she had to go on stage. If she hurled on one of the customers she’d probably blow her cover…literally.
Kimi was starving. For the past month she had somehow managed a diet of Roman tomatoes and crackers so she could fit into her skimpy attire. Her stomach growled and even the booze didn’t take off the edge. At least if she did vomit during her act, there wouldn’t be too many chunks. Either way, once she finished this assignment she was headed straight for the nearest buffet.
She envied the twigs that could gorge on carbs without consequence. The universe was cruel but not without mercy. What she lacked in metabolism she more than made up for in cranial capacity. An imagination of seeing her thin colleagues with double chins like Fat Bastard made her choke with laughter. The liquid sprang from her mouth and spattered onto the glass. The anorexic next to her giggled. Kimi wanted to hand her a Snickers bar, but she knew the beanpole would probably just barf it up.
“You’re next,” Destiny whispered, leaning in with her abundant cleavage. There’s no way those breasts are real. Kimi lied to herself glancing down at her own. She knew the tart’s boobs were too bouncy to be silicone, but it made her feel better about her own meager offering. She fibbed to herself on the regular. How else could she make it through the day? Whoever labeled delusional persons ill was an ass hole. They were probably the sanest bunch around.
“Don’t worry, you’ll do fine” the exotic dancer said patting the detective on the leg. Oh my gosh…she feels sorry for me, Kimi thought. She was used to the condescending treatment from the men, but she wasn’t going to let this twit belittle her. Kimi puffed out her chest to announce there was a new hen taking over the coop. Hell, if the cop thing didn’t pan out, she could make a living at this. She snickered over the idea.
Kimi’s hunger pains were overtaken by butterflies. She had never been this nervous for an undercover assignment, but then again, she never had a role this sleazy. At least the prostitution and escort assignments were private and required conversation more than action. She was a pro at dirty talk. The State agency turned one of her undercover calls into a training tape. She was a natural flirt, but this was a much more public display which made it all the more intimidating. The thought of so many men seeing her nearly naked, well that was the scariest of all. Even though she was stick-thin now, haunting memories of her chubby childhood brought on an intense diffidence about her figure. The vision of Oompa Loompas didn’t help and now that damn song was stuck in her head.
Kimi knew her turn was coming up based on the change in music. The beanpole had chosen Don’t Cha and when she heard the lyric don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me, she laughed. More like a skeleton than a girlfriend, but still it was a good selection for a striptease.
It was almost time. You can do this doompety doo; she coached herself, trying to get rid of her nerves. Maybe she could get some of that gum from Willy Wonka and float away like Violet…doompety da. Enough of that damn ditty and her insecurities. She moved her face closer to the mirror and gave herself a final pep talk. Those helpless girl
s need you, she coaxed. Catching this serial killer would at least let them rest a little easier in their graves. She had a soft spot for the underdogs of the world–prostitutes, pill-heads and the like. Most of her fellow dics complained when their victims were shady in any way, but not this girl. Something about their plight made her fight even harder for them. They were human after all and deserved a little dignity.
Feeling empowered, the realization there would be SEALs in the audience shook away her newly found confidence. Kimi knew she needed them but it was just added pressure. Still, she was grateful the NCIS agent jumped at the chance to assist and made the arrangements on the spot. She had helped him years earlier on a high-profile investigation. Kimi let the agent take all the credit even though she broke the cold case wide open. She loved the puzzles, not the hype. The fact that the mystery she’d cracked had gone unsolved since the 60’s made the debt even greater. The agent earned a promotion and the unit got great publicity for months. Of course it didn’t hurt that the agent tried to get in her pants at homicide school. She suspected he would have done her a solid just to lure her into the sack. Either way, the entire NCIS unit owed her big time, and she wasn’t one to shy away from cashing in on a favor, especially one that helped the victims everyone else discarded.
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