Vote Then Read: Volume II

by Lauren Blakely

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Other Books By Melissa Mcclone

  Dragon Baby by Milly Taidan

  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

  Copyright © 2019 Anna Blakely

  All rights reserved.

  All cover art and logo Copyright © 2019

  Publisher: Anna Blakely

  Cover by Lori Jackson Design

  Content Editing by Trenda London

  Copy Editing by Tracy Damron-Roelle

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduces in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and places portrayed in this book are entirely products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  The unauthorized reproduction 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 $250,000.00.

  If you find any eBooks being sold or shared illegally, please contact the author at anna@annablakelycom.

  Dedication

  First and foremost, to my incredible husband and children. Thank you for never giving up on me, and for being so understanding all those times I was so busy typing away, that I only half-listened to the conversations around me. Thank you all for giving me your unconditional support in pursuit of my dream. It’s because of each of you that this book is here, and there aren’t enough words to tell you all how blessed and grateful I am to call you mine. I love you more than you will ever know!

  To an amazing author and friend, Caitlyn O’Leary. You have been such an incredible mentor to me. That you were willing to take the time to help a “Newbie” like me is still overwhelming, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for every second you invested in me. Because of you, I believed my dream could become reality. I hope I do you proud.

  To my favorite paranormal romance author, Elle Boon—where do I even begin? I guess I should probably start by apologizing for blowing up your phone on a daily basis. (True story, ya’ll!) No matter how many times I texted or called, you always answered. From that very first phone conversation, to our many Starbucks dates, you’ve been there to walk me through every, single step. “Thank you” doesn’t begin to cover it, but I’ll say it anyway…THANK YOU! For your endless help and support, and for your friendship. Hugs, hugs, and more hugs!

  To those I like to call my “Creative Team”, beginning with Angelia S. You’ve been the best beta reader I could ever ask for. You went above and beyond for me on this book, and I will never be able to repay you for all of your help and support. Love you so much! Trenda London and Tracy Damron-Roelle, you both did a fabulous job editing this book, and gave some excellent advice along the way. I can’t wait to start the next one! To Andria C., thanks for being my very first beta reader, and cheering me on all this time.

  Last, but definitely not least, to the oh-so-talented cover artist, Lori Jackson. I don’t know how you put up with me, but I’m sure glad you did! You made this cover exactly the way I imagined it. Thanks so much for all of your hard work and patience.

  Much love to you all,

  Anna

  Chapter 1

  Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. The metallic scent of copper filled the air as a red stain appeared on Cody’s chest. Olivia’s eyes locked with the young male nurse as his grey shirt quickly became saturated with his blood. Yet, she remained frozen. Her own body and mind battling against her efforts to understand.

  Moments before, a series of thundering pops had filled the humid air. Time stood still while men continued to yell. Screams echoed all around her, and still, she felt no fear. Olivia felt…nothing.

  Her gaze slid back up to Cody’s face. His always hilarious—and often inappropriate—jokes had kept their spirits raised in the midst of such devastation. Looking at him now, though, Olivia didn’t see his contagious smile.

  Instead, she found a face twisted with pain. Eyes filled with confusion and fear. Then, like a puppet losing its strings, Cody's body went slack, his muscles rendered useless.

  She watched numbly as he slid from the log upon which he’d been sitting before landing in the dirt with a sickening thud. Olivia was still trying to comprehend what was happening when another terrified scream pierced the air.

  Turning slowly, she saw that, much like Cody, the rest of her new friends had begun to fall. Movement to her left caught her attention, and she looked back just in time to see Malani, the young woman who’d lost so much in the storm, drop to the ground by her feet.

  Wide eyes stared into Olivia’s, their rapidly expanding pupils conveying the fallen woman’s desperate plea for help. Seconds later, Malani’s head tilted to one side; her beseeching gaze no longer there. Olivia realized that nothing was there anymore.

  No light. No laughter. No life. If Olivia didn’t know any better, she’d almost think that Malani was—

  Dead.

  The word slammed into her with brute force, bringing Olivia back from wherever her shocked mind had escaped. The scene sped into focus, and she finally, finally understood. Her group was under attack and, with an indescribable horror, Olivia realized she was the only one still alive.

  Dear God.

  Adrenaline surged through her body as her belated fight or flight response kicked into gear. She shot up from her log and spun around in a dizzying attempt to assess her situation.

  Several men—at least ten—were quickly approaching. They appeared local and, with one exception, were all dressed in head-to-toe in camouflage. Each carrying an automatic rifle at their side.

  Olivia’s initial thought was to fight, but going up against these men would be suicide. She was far too outnumbered, not to mention unarmed.

  The well-dressed man headed straight for her. He wore all black, from his dress shirt down to his shiny, black shoes. He would have reminded her of a Wall Street businessman if not for the long, jagged scar running down the right side of his face. The puckered mark, paired with the set of deadly eyes now focused solely on her, sent new waves of terror pulsing through her veins.

  Instinct told her this was the man in charge, and given the way he was looking at her now, Olivia knew she was as good as dead. Despite her odds, she refused to just stand there, waiting to be slaughtered. She had a snowball’s chance in hell of escaping, but she still had to try.

  With one final look at Malani and her other fallen comrades, Olivia bolted toward the road leading away from their camp. She thought she heard laughter coming from behind her, but the sound of her own blood rushing through her ears made it impossible to tell.

  Leg muscles burned as she forced them to work harder than ever before. Tears fell from her eyes as she thought of her dad and b
rother. Of the mother she never really knew.

  Her entire family was already gone—taken from her far too soon—and Olivia found herself praying that when the bullets hit, she wouldn’t have to wait long before seeing them again.

  Another image flashed before her eyes. One that nearly brought her to her knees.

  Jake.

  More tears came as Olivia realized she’d never see her best friend again. Never be on the receiving end of his sexy-as-sin smile or hear his deep-chested laugh.

  Even more heartbreaking was the knowledge that she’d never get the chance to say everything she’d always wanted, but—even at thirty-one—was afraid to.

  Why didn’t I tell him?

  She should have shared her feelings with him years ago, rejection be damned. At least he would’ve understood how deeply she cared for him. That just thinking about him could make her smile, even at the worst of times.

  A person should know that, right? Everyone needed to know they were loved. Especially, someone as good and kind as Jake. And now, it was too late. Oh, God!

  A loud sob escaped her throat as she forced her tiring legs to keep moving. She was going to die without ever having the courage to tell Jake she was in love with him. That single thought was more painful than anything these men could ever do to her.

  Though she’d never been shot, Olivia knew to the depths of her soul that a bullet piercing her flesh would be nothing compared to the pain searing through her heart at this very moment.

  With more thoughts of Jake and a lifetime of regret, she glanced back over her shoulder. The scarred man was right behind her, now. He raised his gun, and Olivia screamed.

  She tried to run faster, but it was too late. He was too close, and her body had nothing more to give. She squeezed her eyes shut and pictured the last thing she wanted to take from this world.

  Jake’s handsome face appeared in her mind’s eye. He smiled, the movement deepening the shallow lines bracketing each side of his mouth. His piercing blue eyes sparkled back at her.

  I love you. The words whispered through her mind just before a sudden, sharp pain exploded in the back of her head. And then…nothing.

  Jake McQueen couldn’t think. God Almighty, he couldn’t breathe. The dizziness and nausea hit him like a freight train as he reached for the remote, desperate to block out the nightmare playing before him. He willed his thumb to press the power button, but his fingers refused to follow the simple order.

  “The brief clip you just saw was from the memorial service held yesterday in honor of the eight men and women who were violently murdered in what authorities are still reporting as a drug-related raid. Five weeks ago, the group of American doctors and nurses arrived in Toamasina, Madagascar to offer volunteer medical aid to those in need. As I’m sure most of our viewers already know, Toamasina was one of the many areas devastated by the massive hurricane that hit Madagascar early last month.”

  Ah, God, not her. Anyone but her!

  Jake shook his head, his denial instant and final because no way, no fucking way was this really happening. The media, the so-called authorities…they had to be wrong.

  He continued listening to the TV, searching for something, anything that said this was all just some horrible mistake. However, the longer he sat there, the more Jake’s unwavering wall of denial began to crumble. Everything he’d just seen and heard pointed to only one truth—Olivia was dead.

  While he and his team had been completing their most recent mission, her entire group had been gunned down. Their bodies burned beyond recognition. A week ago.

  Jesus.

  Finally regaining some bodily control, Jake raised the remote. He refused to sit and listen to another goddamn word about how she’d been brutally gunned down and then fucking burned.

  Just then, Olivia’s face filled the oversized screen. He froze in place. He couldn’t tear his gaze away now if his life depended on it.

  Jake knew the picture well. He’d taken it the day Olivia received her nursing degree. She smiled back at him now from his TV, her laugh from that long-ago moment forever captured.

  Gorgeous eyes with their mesmerizing swirls of greens and browns bore deeply into his own. They were eyes he’d always sworn he could get lost in, if given the chance.

  Jake blinked, and her name appeared on the screen in bold letters beneath the picture—Olivia Bradshaw.

  His best friend’s little sister. The girl he and her brother, Mike, had spent countless hours of their childhood tormenting…all the while, protecting her with everything they had. She was also the same girl who’d grown before his eyes into the most beautiful, compassionate woman he’d ever known. And the most stubborn.

  Olivia had given him so much shit throughout the years, challenging him at every turn. Despite all her sass—or maybe because of it—Jake had never wanted a woman more.

  For years, she’d been the star of more fantasies than he could count. The cause of more wet dreams than he’d ever admit. She was also the only woman who’d managed to steal his heart, and last week she’d died without knowing the truth about how he really felt.

  A rush of bile hit the base of his throat and Jake barely made it to his kitchen sink before losing the fast-food lunch he’d scarfed down on his way home. A few minutes later, his hands shook so violently, it took three tries to get the damned faucet turned on so he could rinse the rancid taste from his mouth.

  After running the garbage disposal, Jake splashed his face with cold water before reaching for the nearest dish towel. In a daze, he wiped the moisture from his skin before tossing the towel aside. His hands became two vice grips, grabbing hold of the sink’s edge, his knuckles white from the strain.

  Hanging his head between his shoulders, Jake summoned every ounce of his training to force some much-needed air into his lungs. After several controlled breaths, he attempted to calm himself. To accept the unacceptable…Liv was dead.

  He thought about the last time he saw her. Regret filled his gut when he realized it’d been nearly two full months. Too fucking long.

  When his team wasn't away on a job, Jake and Olivia would talk on the phone or hang out whenever they could, just as friends. No matter how busy they both were, he always made sure he saw her before leaving town again—except this last time.

  His team’s most recent job had been the very definition of last-minute. Jake had been home less than an hour, and hadn’t even had time to unpack his bags from the previous job when he got the call from his handler at Homeland, requesting a hostage location and extraction.

  He’d barely had time to shower, let alone see Olivia, before heading out again. So, he’d left her a voicemail, promising to make it up to her as soon as he got back. Now he’d never get that chance.

  Filled with sorrow, Jake squeezed his watering eyes shut. Rather than blocking out the pain as intended, his mind instantly conjured up images from their last day together.

  The two had eaten and talked. They’d laughed. More than anything, they’d laughed. I can still hear her laugh.

  It was always like that with her. They could joke around effortlessly, or just sit in comfortable silence. When it came to Olivia, everything was easy…especially loving her. So, why the hell hadn’t he ever told her?

  You know why, asshole.

  Jake had vowed a long time ago never to reveal his true feelings, for several reasons. To start, she was his best friend’s little sister. As cliché as it may be, the unwritten rule between guys was very real. You didn’t date—or do anything else—with your buddy’s sister. Ever.

  Sure, her brother had been gone for the better part of ten years now, but when Jake’s feelings for Olivia had first begun to change, Mike had still been around. Jake had no doubt that Mike would have kicked his ass from here to Timbuktu if he’d ever known even a fraction of the thoughts Jake had entertained about the other guy’s sister. Especially the ones involving Olivia naked and in his bed.

  By the time she’d lost her brother, there were other
, more serious, reasons preventing Jake from taking things further. Come on, dickhead. Own up to it. It was the fucking lies that kept you from making your move.

  Jake had lied to her. About his job. The way he felt. And then there was the lie. The one that had the power to destroy her.

  Sometimes when he was with her, he’d forget. They’d be hanging out, and she’d tell him a funny story about something that had happened in her E.R. He’d be listening to her talk, and the guilt of his betrayal, the secret that years ago he’d sworn to never reveal, would momentarily vanish.

  Unfortunately, it never lasted. The damn thing was always there, hovering over him like a cloud of poisonous gas, just waiting for the perfect moment to swoop in and destroy the most precious thing in his world.

  It didn’t matter that every lie he’d ever told Olivia stemmed solely from his need to protect her. Good intentions or not, Jake knew holding on to those secrets meant he’d never get the chance to be with the woman he loved.

  It had to be that way. Not only to keep her safe, but also because Olivia deserved the world on a fucking silver platter, and Jake knew he could never give her that.

  He did, however, give her as much time as he could between jobs. Since starting R.I.S.C.—the private security firm he owned—Jake had actually managed to never leave for an extended op without seeing Olivia first. This last time was the one and only exception.

  With his line of work, he never assumed he’d make it back home in one piece. So, he made it a point to see her beforehand. Just in case.