Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5)
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Nobody’s Lost
(Fifth in the Rescue Me Saga)
A standalone novel about two characters with very minor mentions in the earlier books.
Ryder Wilson returned from serving multiple deployments but can’t leave the hell of combat behind him. Frustrated and ashamed of his inability to function in the world as well as the veterans he served with, he retreated, choosing to engage only with those he trusted. When retired Master Sergeant Adam Montague sends him on a mission to protect his sister from some unknown danger, Ryder’s days of hiding out may be over. Can he fulfill his mission without failing again?
Megan Gallagher has two big-brother Marines bent on protecting her from the evils of the world, but she’s tougher than they think. When her older brother sends Ryder, one of his recon Marines, to her doorstep in the wee hours one night following a break-in, she realizes he needs rescuing more than she does. A friendship forms quickly, but unexpected passions run hot and complicate her resolve never to have a romantic relationship, much less marriage. So why are her body and her heart betraying her every time he comes near?
Can these two wounded people lower their defenses long enough to allow love to grow?
Nobody’s Lost
(Fifth in the Rescue Me Saga)
Kallypso Masters
Copyright © 2014 Kallypso Masters LLC
Nobody’s Lost
Fifth in the Rescue Me Saga
Kallypso Masters
Copyright © 2014, Kallypso Masters LLC
Kindle Edition
Pre-order Version November 28, 2014
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Edited by Meredith Bowery, Jacy Mackin, and Ekatarina Sayanova
Cover design by Michelle Preast
Formatted by BB eBooks
Cover image licensed through Getty Images;
Image graphically altered by Michelle Preast
This book contains content that is NOT suitable for readers 17 and under.
Thank you for downloading this e-book. Please be aware that this e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be reproduced, uploaded to share on Web sites, e-mailed, or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author, Kallypso Masters, at kallypsomasters@gmail.com or PO Box 1183, Richmond, KY 40476-1183, or within the sharing guidelines at a legitimate library or bookseller’s lending programs.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction, sharing, or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (See http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/ for more information about intellectual property rights.)
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons—living or dead—or fictionalized places, events, or locales is purely accidental. The characters are reproductions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
To discover more about the books in this series, see the Rescue Me Saga section at the end of this book. For more about Kallypso Masters, please go to the About the Author section.
Rescue Me Saga
Reading Order
The first four books are not stand-alone novels,
however, Nobody’s Lost can be read as a new entry point to the series.
(In a saga, of course, characters recur to continue working on real-life problems in later books, so Megan and Ryder, the couple in this book, will appear in Nobody’s Dream and later books.)
The first four titles are available in e-book and print formats:
Masters at Arms & Nobody’s Angel (Combined Volume)
Nobody’s Hero
Nobody’s Perfect
Somebody’s Angel
Available in e-book only (coming later in print):
Nobody’s Lost
Next expected title in series:
Nobody’s Dream
Also available in Spanish editions:
Sargentos Marines (Masters at Arms in English)
El Ángel de Nadie (Nobody’s Angel in English)
El Héroe de Nadie (Nobody’s Hero in English)
Additional titles are being translated into Spanish as quickly as feasible, but it takes time to do a good translation!
Table of Contents
About Nobody’s Lost
Title Page
Copyright Page
Rescue Me Saga Reading Order
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Author’s Note
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Epilogue
What’s next?
About the Author
Get your Kally Swag!
Excerpt from Hart Attack by Cristin Harber
The Rescue Me Saga
Dedication
This one is dedicated to all of my patient and supportive readers who stood by me during my recent battle to overcome cancer. I know with your prayers and encouragement I beat it much more quickly than anyone expected.
Thanks especially to the members of my Rescue Me Saga Discussion Group, a secret group on Facebook, who were there to brainstorm ideas for this story, helping me find Megan and Ryder and bring them together.
And to my author friends who agreed to join me for my first KallypsoCon without having a clue what I had in mind. (Because my instructions were vague—fun, relaxing, and intimate!) Thanks, Lexi Blake, Eliza Gayle, Annabel Joseph, Kennedy Layne, Red Phoenix, and Cherise Sinclair for giving so much of yourselves that weekend. And to all the readers who traveled near and far to be there. We certainly had no idea what it would take for me to be there only three weeks post-op, but all of you provided the best-ever healing medicine enabling me just two weeks later to start writing Nobody’s Lost, something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do without that weekend.
Acknowledgements
My editorial team—Meredith Bowery, Jacy Mackin, and Ekatarina Sayanova—for working so quickly, sometimes in the midst of a major holiday week, to help me polish this book. They help me continue to improve and grow as a writer with each book I put out, large or small. Of course, I’m always changing something after my editorial team and subject experts sign off on a book and that invariably leads to new errors. So, as always, all typos and errors are solely my responsibility (and if you find any, please report them to Charlotte Oliver at charlotte@kallypsomasters.com.
My awesome beta readers, Margie Dees, Kathy Holtzclaw, Kellie Hunter, Kelly Mueller, Ruth Reid, and Lisa Simo-Kinzer who read through the entire book (some of them more than once!) and helped me fix both major and minor (but important!) problems.
I’d like to extend a special thanks to Iliana GK, a new beta reader who took on the challenge of reading Lost without having read any others in the series. She let me know that it truly is an enjoyable standalone read for those new to the series. She also provided great insights to help me improve several major scenes, especially the kink ones.
My proofreaders who all find my typos and errors�
�just not the same ones as each other—Alison K., Eva Meyers, Christine Sullivan Mulcair, Gilda Mary Sacca, and Lynde Shaw.
Toymaker and Mr. Sayanova who read over my BDSM scenes to help point out any problems in making them Safe, Sane, and Consensual.
Top Griz for his expertise on weapons, military, and Marine Corps references. And, as always, for helping me tune into Master Adam more clearly.
Ruth Reid and Ekatarina Sayanova for confirming that I nailed the psychological aspects of Ryder’s deep, deep pain and survivor guilt.
My Facebook friends and fans who, even before I realized this would be the next book in the series, helped me brainstorm ideas to help me understand who Megan, Ryder, and many other upcoming characters. I pose countless questions in my Rescue Me Saga Discussion Group on Facebook, as well as on my Facebook timeline and author page and they always come through for me. You always are there to help me out when I need you!
One of the discussion group questions was to ask readers to find me the perfect stock photo for the cover of this book and Stephanie Henderson found the perfect Ryder and Megan for the couple in my head (except that we had to add a touch of gray to Ryder’s hair).
Another question asked in the discussion group was to pick a first name for Wilson from Masters at Arms and Erin Miller came up with Ryder. Lots of other names were suggested, but that was the overwhelming favorite from the poll we took in the group.
And to whoever put together the information on vision quest rituals and purification lodge ceremonies at several Web sites (especially Barefoot’s World). This and other sites helped me take Ryder on the journey into his soul. I also learned from watching videos like the one produced by the Salt Lake City Tribune “Trib Talk: The importance of sweat lodges to Native American veterans”, as well as “Introducing the Sweat Lodge,” produced by GRYPHON Media Productions. It’s encouraging that the Veterans Administration acknowledges the importance of these Native American traditions in helping our wounded heroes find spiritual and emotional healing.
The Kallypso’s Street Brats who always entertain me with their pimping exploits. And to my Masters Brats (fans) the world around. Without you all telling all your friends about my books, I never would have reached so many readers.
My awesome new administrative and personal assistant, Charlotte Oliver, who helped keep me sane through so much activity and so many trials this year. She had everything under control when I had to check out of my writing world those first three weeks after surgery. I’m especially grateful to her for making my first KallypsoCon come together just the way I envisioned it and hoped for—only better.
Thanks to Leagh Christensen and Lisa Simo-Kinzer for keeping my online groups hopping and everyone informed of what’s happening in my unpredictable life.
Author’s Note
As I said on the dedication page, this book came about in large part because of my love for my readers. For those who might not follow me in social media and aren’t aware of what happened, let me explain. In September, just about two months before Nobody’s Dream was supposed to be released, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Five days later, I underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and am now happy to say I’m cancer free.
But the surgery was more debilitating than I imagine. While I expected physical issues, when I sat to work on Luke’s book five weeks after the operation, I quickly realized I was not going to be physically or mentally able to accomplish that feat this fall. After spending a day crying about disappointing you and not giving you a fall release I promised (although I know most understood), the next day, I started writing Nobody’s Lost.
This story poured out of me in a matter of five weeks. I had no idea Ryder was hurting so badly, but am happy to bring him and Megan together—and give you an unexpected installment in the Rescue Me Saga. Even if it’s not the one you were expecting, those who read it pre-publication say it’s one of my best.
Please enjoy reading this newest novel in the Rescue Me Saga. It very much is part of the series for those who are reading in order. However, because so little is known of these two, I wrote it in such a way that it also can be a new entry point for someone who hasn’t read the other books yet. It is my hope they will then want to go back and read the earlier books—but at the very least I hope they will continue forward with Megan and Ryder as they will appear in later books in the series including Nobody’s Dream.
Thanks to all of my readers who have always rallied around me to support my writing wherever the muse and characters took me. We writers aren’t easy to understand, and I’m sure some of you are wondering how I could write an entirely new novel instead of just finishing one that’s already so far along. I can’t really explain it other than with fewer subplots and timeline issues to wrangle into place, this one was much more manageable.
Enjoy Nobody’s Lost and the journey with Megan and Ryder. I’ve already begun working on Nobody’s Dream again. Now that I’m feeling stronger and healthier than ever, I hope to bring you Dream within the next few months.
IMPORTANT: If you believe that reading about PTSD flashbacks of incest or combat, catharsis by whipping, mindfucks, and related topics might be triggering for you, please make sure you only read this book in a safe environment with supportive people available to you. Put the book down as often as you need to regroup or talk with someone. Be gentle with yourself, survivors.
Here are some web sites that can help if you need to talk with someone.
Crisis and Suicide Prevention Services (United States):
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
For military-service related PTSD, the Veterans Administration or any veterans group.
I’m also very impressed with and appreciative of the work done by these organizations for veterans and their families:
Hope for the Warriors:
http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/
Save a Warrior:
http://www.saveawarrior.org/
Snowball Express (for the children of the fallen):
https://snowballexpress.org/
Cast of Characters for
Nobody’s Lost
Gino D’Alessio—served with Ryder Wilson while training at Camp Pendleton in the reconnaissance Marines unit. His brother, Marc D’Alessio, later served as Ryder’s Navy Corpsman in the same unit.
Marc D’Alessio—Navy corpsman (“Doc”) in Ryder Wilson’s recon Marine unit in Fallujah.
Carlos Chosa—friends with Ryder since high school and introduced Ryder to the ways of his tribe on the Jemez Pueblo. Gave Ryder a hand up after Fallujah.
Mrs. Chosa—Carlos’s late grandmother whose house Ryder stayed at when learning the Native American ways. Ryder now lives in her house.
Patrick Gallagher—Megan Gallagher’s brother and Adam Montague’s half-brother
V. Grant—a Lance Corporal communications specialist who was briefly attached to Ryder’s recon Marine unit in Fallujah
Adam Montague (pronounced MON-tag)—Ryder’s master sergeant (referred to him as “Top”); Megan’s half-brother; married to Karla
Karla Paxton Montague—wife to Adam Montague; singer in the Masters at Arms Club
Damián Orlando—served with Ryder in Fallujah; rides a Harley and is a Patriot Guard Rider
Jerry Patterson—a Vietnam veteran who runs a BDSM club in Los Angeles frequented by several characters in the Rescue Me Saga
Marcia Wilson—Ryder’s older sister who lives in Santa Fe
Ryder Wilson—served in the recon Marines with Adam Montague in Kosovo, Kandahar (Afghanistan), and Fallujah (Iraq). Appeared briefly in Masters at Arms where he was known as Wilson.
Sherry Wilson—Ryder’s ex-wife
Prologue
Fallujah, Iraq, 15 November 2004
Ryder Wilson enjoyed talking with Lance Corporal Grant. She was young, but sure as hell knew her shit when it came to advanced satellite communications.
His recon Marine unit had been on this rooftop in Fallujah for hours, waiting
for something to break and to go after the insurgents who had terrorized this part of the city for the last few days.
Too damned quiet. Sergeant Miller suggested they eat in shifts while they could. He was informing Damián Orlando of the SITREP while Ryder spent time getting to know the Marine newly attached to their unit.
Didn’t usually find women Marines assigned to combat units, although the cease-fire they were under meant they probably wouldn’t have any direct engagement. He hoped not anyway.
“So where are you from?” Grant asked.
“Born and raised in New Mexico. Albuquerque. How about you?”
“Army brat. I’ve lived all over and then some.”
“That why you enlisted?”
Silence dragged out before she responded. “I guess so. Pissed my dad off that I didn’t choose the Army, but I had something to prove to myself. I just hope I’m still in when women Marines are allowed to serve in combat.”
“Not so sure that’s a good idea.”
She sat up straighter and glared at him. “Why not? I can perform just as—”
“Grenade!”
Orlando’s voice jarred them from the conversation. He and Sergeant Miller were hurtling across the rooftop in their direction when the sound of an explosion threw Ryder against the wall he’d been leaning on. His ears rang from the blast. They were under fire.
Momentarily dazed, Ryder tried to remember what he had been doing, but his focus shifted to protecting Lance Corporal Grant. She was his responsibility and shouldn’t be in the middle of this shit.
“Get behind me,” he said picking up his rifle.
“Sergeant Miller and Orlando have been hit.” Ignoring him, she moved toward the two fallen Marines, and he followed.
“Madre de Dios! No! Sergeant, don’t you fucking die!”
Orlando was lying under the body of Sergeant Miller. Holy fuck! Ryder and Grant reached the body at about the same time and lifted their Sergeant off Orlando with reverence and speed combined.