by Louise Dawn
TENDER STRIKE
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Dubai, U.A.E.
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"You're a maniac."
"No—I'm a 'luniac.'" Luna held the phone higher as the instructor adjusted the cord.
Her sister glared through the screen, ignoring Luna's excitement. "You woke up this morning and chose violence?"
Grinning, Luna waggled the phone over the edge. "The only violence would be if the cord snaps and I fall to the concrete." She glanced around at the view, fifty meters above the Dubai Marina.
"Didn’t you bungee jump before?"
"No—I chickened out, remember? I was only seventeen. Now, I'm older and wiser."
"I don't know about wiser… I'll tell Mom."
The instructor nudged Luna, and she nodded excitedly. "Don't you dare. I gotta go!"
"Wait! What about work?"
"I start in two days. I have a lot of fun to cram in before I'm strapped into a tactical vest. Bye!"
After handing over her phone and apologizing for holding up the jump, Luna stepped to the edge of the platform. This was freedom—the start of her new life on her first deployment, and she whooped with joy.
"Are you ready? You’ve got the green light."
Luna gave the thumbs up and, without hesitation, stepped over the edge. The world spun as she fell fifty feet. The air rushed by as she shouted at the vaulting universe. The moment stretched, and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of free-falling.
Once her joyride was over, she stopped at a nearby café and ordered a smoothie. As she stepped back into the heat, her hands still shook, and her cheeks still felt flushed. The joys of being a strawberry blonde with a reflective white complexion. Her messy bun had come undone, and Luna placed the drink on a table and tucked her bag between her legs as she re-tied her hair.
A tall man walked across the wharf, heading her way, and she frowned into the glaring light. He wore a dark suit and walked stiffly like he had a pole up his ass. Aside from his rigid demeanor, he looked like a scrumptious snack—like a male model who strived for coolness over casual. When he stopped in front of her, she cocked her head.
"Agent Hill. It took a sweet moment to find you."
She continued to tie her hair. "And you are?"
"Agent Ramirez. Agent Leo Ramirez."
"Well, Agent Ramirez, can you pick up my bobby pin? I dropped it by my foot."
Even behind his sunglasses, he looked affronted. "Your what?"
"Bobby pin. The black spiky thing on the ground. Hurry up, or I'll drop my bag. I have strong thighs, but a girl can only squeeze them for so long."
He'd been bending and staggered back, shooting her a shocked glance. His ears reddened, and she couldn't help laughing. "Just a joke. Relax."
He handed her the bobby pin and turned away. "There's an emergency briefing at five in Abu Dhabi. You've been added to the schedule."
"I have? There goes date night. Oh well, a briefing sounds way more exciting."
"You have a date?" He looked curious.
"With myself and a bottle of Chardonnay. Best date ever." After sliding the bobby pin in place, Luna retrieved her drink and hoisted her bag over her shoulder. Forcibly ignoring the fascinating specimen standing with his hands in his pockets, she skip-walked down the steps.
"Did you just skip?"
"How did you find me in Dubai? Let me guess, Instagram? Damn the allure of social media."
"I was in the city and you weren’t answering your phone. I asked if you just skipped? Like a kid?" he asked with a grimace.
"I do it often. You should try it sometime. You can't help smiling when skipping. Look, dimples." She pointed at her cheeks.
He gave her a WTF look. "If I hadn't seen your file, I would've doubted that you were a DS agent."
"DS agents can't be happy? I was at the top of my class." Luna admired the docked yachts and their white sails set against blue skies.
"It won't last—that shiny veneer."
Pausing, she swiveled to face the cynical agent. "And that would make you happy? Are you the Grinch?"
"I'm the senior agent, so watch your tone."
"Happiness is a choice, not a result. Have you heard that quote? The same goes for the opposite. Grouchiness is also a choice." She ignored his aquatic scent, which smelt like a musky sea breeze.
"You're calling me grouchy?"
"I don't know you, Agent Ramirez. But I do know where I have to be—heading back to my apartment to clean up. I'll see you at five." With those final words, she dismissed him. Luna would bet that the agent didn't do well with dismissals. That was his issue. She may look like sunshine, but she wasn't a pushover.
Widening her stride, she unlocked her rental car and climbed in. The agent hadn't moved. He watched her like a hawk as she put the Camry in gear and reversed out of his view. What a disturbing man. Luna hoped that they wouldn't work together.
As handsome as he was, he unsettled her on an elemental level. She wasn't here to deal with ornery men. Luna expected hard work and added adventure. She hadn't been lying when she said she was at the top of her class. Luna had always been a gifted child, and success came easily. So what if she was a rookie agent? She'd be the best damn rookie at the embassy.
Acknowledgments
This series focuses on diplomatic agents. I have friends who work as Special Agents for Diplomatic Security, and often, this branch is overlooked by the general public for its bravery in the field. From rescuing kidnapped girls in Nigeria to stopping extremists to protecting U.S. and local personnel in unstable environments, the men and women of DS are always on alert and working to save lives.
Pearl's story isn't all that unique when examining families fleeing violence around the globe.
The Hague Abduction Convention is a treaty that many countries have joined. The purposes of the Convention are to protect children from the harmful effects of international abduction and secure the effective rights of access to a child. This should be decided in court, but the fleeing parent is escaping violence or abuse in many cases. They fear for their lives and for that of their children. This is when a case can become complicated. Under the Convention, the courts may deny the return of a child if that would risk mental or physical harm to the child. And if the return would violate fundamental principles of human rights. I applaud the attorneys and lawyers who deal with these complicated international abductions and try to rescue damaged parties.
Finally, I'd like to thank all those that contributed to Striking Blow with their support. Terry Shepherd, Nichole Severn, and Toni Anderson are all dear friends who have supported me throughout my career. I love you all! Thanks to my incredible family, who are always there for me, no matter how far apart we are. To my editor, Joan Turner, at JRT Editing—thanks for all your hard work. My cover artist—Jaycee DeLorenzo—look at these beautiful covers!
ALSO BY LOUISE DAWN
Check out the rest of the MOBILE INTELLIGENCE SERIES series!
Heart pounding romantic suspense. Highly trained covert SF soldiers who will fight to the death for the ones they love.
* * *
SIREN IN THE WIND ($0.99) - Book One
An MIT Team leader on the hunt tracks down a woman, hiding from dangerous enemies.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ORrB5e
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STAIN ON THE EARTH - Book Two
A Special Forces Medic watches over a flight attendant exploring dangerous territory.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xcQyzY
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FIRE IN THE KNIGHT - Book Three
She's getting lost in Morocco, and he's finding her.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2S0GjaF
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JADE IN THE SNOW - Book Four
A sniper trying to forget will fight for a woman in the crosshairs of a determined killer.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JGHKuR
* * *
KITE ON THE ROCKS - Book Five
Friends to lovers face dang
erous foes on a collision course with fate.
Amazon: https: https://amzn.to/2vPs2rT
* * *
Also, check out the STRIKE ZONE SERIES!
The Strike Zone Series follows a group of Diplomatic Security Agents and the women in their lives. Romantic suspense with a political thriller edge.
* * *
STRIKETHROUGH - Book One
An MSD Agent protects the US ambassador’s daughter.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qzOKvR
About the Author
Louise Dawn writes heart pounding romantic suspense. She’s also a graphic designer and fine artist in Utah. Louise loves traveling and has lived in many countries before choosing the States as her home. Her passion is reading and writing fast paced stories simmering in romance. If you enjoyed this book, consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors both new and established.
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