by Dale Mayer
Did he even know what had happened?
She’d never trust the authorities in this time period if they could appear in someone’s home, swoop them up, and bring them here without just cause.
Levi had tried to explain that it had something to do with terrorist charges, but there was no way in hell they were terrorists.
He’d told to her to not worry, but she couldn’t see how to avoid it. His lawyers were dead and if there were others left to man the firm, they were likely corrupt. His best friend was dead, and he’d been blackmailed into doing criminal activities at the Council’s whim and his other friend was part of this same Council that had had them ‘retrieved’.
Suspicious indeed.
Yet strangely, Milo had been allowed to keep his personal comp. He’d been working away on it ever since. Levi had also been able to send several messages. If she only knew who he’d contacted, she might feel better.
She hoped it was that powerful family he’d alluded to. They could sure use some help right now.
A commotion at the door heralded the arrival of a dozen suited men. All in black. She almost smiled with relief to see men dressed in power suits and not skin suits.
She stepped forward and slipped her hand into Levi’s. He smiled down at her. “It’s going to be fine.”
“You said that already,” she muttered.
He squeezed her hand. “And I meant it.”
“What kind of place allows that kind of invasive maneuvers without just cause?” she whispered. Several Combots stood beside her. One turned to explain. “You are changed with terrorism. You no longer have rights.”
“Then as you entered our home without warning, without a search warrant or any other legal process in place, you are now charged with terrorism,” she snapped.
The Combot looked at her. Then looked at Levi, who was trying to hide his smile, and then back at her. “That is not possible.”
“If what you did to me is possible, then what I am doing to you is possible,” she cried. “Or have you not heard of citizen’s arrest?”
The Combot stared, then lifted his hand unit and asked for direction.
A computerized voice answered. “You are not under arrest. Man your post.”
The eldest of the Council members, Levi said his name was Carlson, stood up. “Dani Summerland. Step forward.”
Dani whispered to Levi, “Do I have to?”
“Yes.” He gave her a gentle nudge.
Fine. Then she’d do it her way. “Dani Summerland following orders like a Combot.” And she took two steps to stand front and center. A choked twitter rustled through the room.
“You mock us?” Carlson put on glasses and studied her. After a moment, he frowned and took them off again.
She glared at him. “Can’t run your secret scans on me, huh?”
Silence. His face reddened. “You will show respect here, young lady, or face the consequences.”
Dani didn’t know where the anger came from; something more like rage bubbled up from deep inside. “Respect? For you? For a corrupt Council? For men who ordered the genocide of a complete group of people for no other reason than they chose to live life differently?” Her voice rang out. “A group of men who ordered the execution, the annihilation of all the Naturals?”
The Councilman slapped a hand over his heart. The others gasped, fear and anger building across the group so strong she felt the wave of emotion. Carlson straightened, fury building on his face, but Dani stood tall, not backing down. She’d been ripped out of her home, watched as her cat received the knowledge she desperately wanted for herself, and still she’d made the best of it by finding her love of a lifetime in Levi. She had made that work…now this, this corrupt Council threatened to take it all away from her.
She had nothing to lose.
“You will not hide your murderous soul from me or from the rest of the world. You will not hide your ordering of the slaughter of men, women, and children – the fringe group you call the Naturals – at the flick of your stuck-up, white-ass finger.” Shock hit the Council members. She rolled right over them as they opened their mouths, and words ripped out of her from deep inside the pit of her gut, her voice filling the massive chamber. “The world will know of your black heart and even blacker actions. You had Lina Stewart murdered. Because of you, Johan Stroud is dead. And John Driscoll is also dead. You abused your power and position to corrupt this place – a place of goodness – of fairness – and this place full of people who want nothing more than to live fulfilling lives free of your corrupt rule. How dare you, sir.”
Dani had run out of steam, but ire kept the stick in her backbone in place as an overwhelming silence filled the great hall.
She lifted her chin. She’d be damned if she’d back down now.
Stephen stepped up onto the Council dais. His calm, very serious voice carried in the silence. “Dani Summerland, these are very serious charges. Do you have proof to back up your accusations?”
She smiled directly at Carlson, an icy movement that had the man twitching on the spot, the others cringing from what she’d say next. For all her anger, this was the pivotal moment in history and she, Dani Summerland – no – Dani Blackburn, was going to make sure it was done right. It seemed this world was desperately in need of a champion. And it had found one – in her. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
She spun and stared at Milo.
He’d changed her life so much, and she’d forgiven him for everything he’d done these past few days – but if he couldn’t produce the material she needed at her fingertips right at this moment, she was going to kill him herself.
The Combots wouldn’t get a chance.
He’d be dead before they ever reached him.
“Milo?”
He nodded and clicked away on a few buttons. Instantly, a huge – as in back up several steps before she became part of the monitor display and ended up looking like a female version of Charmin’s cotton ball – huge monitor display materialized.
A video of the slaughter, memoirs of the orders, names of the dead, emails and texts, all implicating the four men on the Council in front of her, rolled in an endless display for all to see. A growing murmur of horror swept through the audience.
“Send this out to the world, Milo,” she ordered. “Take over every goddamned computer and vid screen in offices and in homes, on computerized ads and any other place where it can be viewed across the world. Let the people see how power corrupts. Let them see how these four men have shamed their position, how they have lied and cheated and killed in the name of their own heartless selves.”
“In progress.” Milo said, “It’s streaming out to the world now.”
“Stop him,” Carlson screamed. “Combots, stop this. Remove these criminals from the chamber.” The Councilman stood up tall, waving his arms around. “Return this chamber to order. I command you.”
The Combots stared back but did not move. Dani grinned. Probably Milo’s doing. She turned to look at the Combots standing like a solid army at her side. “Good. You should never follow orders that are just plain bad.”
She looked around to find everyone staring at the huge display of data. Horrible mind-numbing numbers showing a humanity gone wrong data. She spun back to face the Council and found a team of Combots standing behind the four men on the Council. Stephen stood off to one side. She caught his eye. He gave her a smile and saluted her.
Her gaze widened, and she became flustered.
A sound started in the chamber. First low and quiet, then it quickly built in volume. She didn’t understand the noise at first over the buzz from the massive monitor at her side.
Then she recognized it. Clapping.
She turned in a slow movement to find the Council chambers full to the overflowing with men and women of all ages. And they were all clapping. More than that, they were all staring at her.
Her astonished gaze went from face to face. Maybe she was slow, but really, were these people clappi
ng for her?
Her gaze landed on Levi, pride swelling his chest, a proud grin on his face as he clapped harder than anyone. Milo. Tommy. Stephen.
They were clapping for her.
Tears crept into her eyes.
Maybe she could do something special in this lifetime after all.
She smiled through her tears and waved.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
*
Levi couldn’t believe that calm, quiet Dani was standing up to the Council, talking … no…berating, as in damn near shouting as she hurled accusations, heaping shame on the Council that had never faced opposition like this before.
The Council had had so much power for so long, they were accustomed to complete obedience, and that had been the chink in their armor. They didn’t know what to do with her.
Or how to stop her.
When she hooked Milo into showing everyone the damaging evidence, even the Combots had shut down. Although, he cast a suspicious eye at Milo, he might have been behind that, too.
This Council was finished.
The individual members would pay heavily for their crimes against humanity. Dani was right. These men had defiled their way of life. Committing the ultimate sin in the name of power.
Stephen was a shoo-in for a new Council. That was a good thing. He was a fair man.
Levi had been incredibly angered at being hauled down to the Council like a common criminal. Sure, he’d crossed the line, or at least dipped his toe over the line. He’d had to protect his own. That wasn’t justification. It was an explanation. He knew why, and the reason still stood. If need be, he’d do it again.
But to have seen Dani stand defiantly before their most honored – and corrupt – government system and systematically rip them to shreds, publicly exposing the world to their grievous deeds…well, he wanted to thank the Combots for bringing him…them…here.
To see the fall of the Council.
This was a great day.
And to think Dani had brought about the necessary change they’d so badly needed.
Innocent Dani, who’d been dubbed a Natural for no reason of her making…had picked up the cause and sought justice for her fellow man.
He’d never been prouder.
And she’d never live this moment down.
She’d become an icon now.
Milo, he knew, had already sent the video of her speech worldwide. Maybe a dangerous thing to do, but after this, she wouldn’t need to hide anymore – except from her adoring fans.
She wouldn’t need to cringe when someone spoke to her. Everyone would assume she didn’t know much about their world because she had been part of one of the fringe groups. And being one would no longer be a negative trait. She’d elevated the fringe groups to equals. Something they’d never likely understand as they didn’t care.
But it was a good thing – especially for her.
Dani had been amazing.
When the clapping started, he’d been one of the first to join in. When she’d lifted a hand in the air to wave, he’d cheered with the crowd. He’d loved her before this, but now his heart swelled and was ready to burst.
To think he’d worried that she would not be able to find her place in his world. Instead, she’d shown the rest of the world what really mattered.
Respect. Honor. Justice.
Truly, he loved her, this beloved woman of his.
He stepped forward, cheers ringing through his ears, and tugged Dani into his arms.
Dimly, in the background, the cheers resounded louder and louder in approval. He picked her up and twirled her around and cried out to the world, “Damn, I’m a lucky man.”
She wrapped her arms tight around his neck, her breath warm and sexy against his ear as she whispered, “And I’ll keep reminding you of it every day of our lives.”
He roared with laughter and squeezed her tight. Just then, his wrist unit beeped. He glanced over to see Charmin’s face fill the screen. He smirked again. “Dani, look who wants in on the action.”
He watched as she caught sight of Charmin’s face, a huge smile breaking across her beautiful features. “Charmin,” she cried.
“About time you contacted me,” Charmin said, pouting. “You left me all alone.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t get a chance to tell you.” She rushed to tell him. “The Combots took us away within seconds.”
He sniffed the air, his flat nose going sky high. “And you couldn’t tell me when you had a chance? Geez, I had to find out from Milo.”
“We’re coming home,” she said. “Soon.”
“Sure you are.” He scowled. “Like you promised to never leave me alone again?”
“I didn’t want to. Honest.” She gave Charmin a breathtaking smile so full of love, Levi felt a twinge of jealousy. But he rejected it. There was room in her heart for both of them. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
The cat eyed her carefully, and Levi frowned. Was something devious moving in the back of Charmin’s big marble eyes?
“Okay, I’ll forgive you, if…”
She frowned suspiciously. “If what?”
He beamed a huge, crafty smile at her. “If you bring me home something special. Tuna or shrimp would be good. Lobster?” He flopped to one side in front to the monitor. “You’ve been gone so long, I was afraid you weren’t coming back. I’m starving….” He moaned. “Feeeed meeeee.”
The End
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Broken Protocols 1–3! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review.
Dear reader,
I love to hear from readers, and you can contact me at my website: www.dalemayer.com or at my Facebook author page. To be informed of new releases and special offers, sign up for my newsletter. And if you are interested in joining my street team, here is the Facebook sign up page.
Cheers,
Dale Mayer
If you’d like to read about other books I’ve written, please turn the page.
Broken Protocols 3.5
Get this book at your favorite vendor.
When Charmin Marvin wonders when Christmas Day would be in their new time frame, he sets events in motion no one could have expected.
Dani and Charmin lost a lot when they were brought 200 years into the future. But nostalgia brings the possibility of Christmas back into Dani’s life – if she can make it happen.
Levi hates to deny Dani anything, but all holidays were removed from his society by the government decades ago. He has no idea what she’s talking about – and when he does research and finds out – he wonders if something can be done. And someone outside of their small family wonders, too…
Dani has the best of intentions – but creating Christmas in a world that no longer knows what a holiday is makes her life very complicated very quickly.
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Broken Protocols 3
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It’s a Dog’s Life
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It’s the first day of Ninna’s job in the local animal shelter…and a dog is talking to her. Not just any dog…a fat, old, smart-alecky Basset Hound who says his name is Mosey.
She can’t quit, she needs this job. And then there’s the yummy vet. Who turns out to live across the street from her in a much bigger house than her tiny house. Big enough to hold a few animals – including the mouthy Mosey. With all this going on, she doesn’t have time to worry about the rash of break-ins and the sense of being watched. She’s too busy worrying that she’s nuts.
When Ninna agrees to dog sit for the cute vet from work, she sees it as a trial at being a pet owner and a way to build on her budding relationship with the vet. For Mosey, this weekend means time to get to know each other.
For the stalker who’s tracking Ninna’s movements, it means…op
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Shunned and ridiculed all her life for something she can’t control, Samantha Blair hides her psychic abilities and lives on the fringes of society. Against her will, however, she’s tapped into a killer – or rather, his victims. Each woman’s murder, blow-by-blow, ravages her mind until their death releases her back to her body. Sam knows she must go to the authorities, but will the rugged, no-nonsense detective in charge of tracking down the killer believe her?
Detective Brandt Sutherland only trusts hard evidence, yet Sam’s visions offer clues he needs to catch a killer. The more he learns about her incredible abilities, however, the clearer it becomes that Sam’s visions have put her in the killer’s line of fire. Now Brandt must save her from something he cannot see or understand…and risk losing his heart in the process.
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Two people are forced by circumstances into a therapy class to help them deal with their problems. They are strangers. Forced to be partners. Naturally opposites.
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About the Author
Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).