by Susan Stoker
“Thanks,” Bubba told Gumby. “I’m getting a flight to Anchorage, then the lawyer and my dad’s business partner are going to charter a plane to take me to Juneau. I’ll call before I leave Anchorage and let you guys know how things are going.”
“I’ll be waiting for that call,” Rocco told him, frowning.
“Why do you look so worried?” Bubba asked. Then he tried to lighten the mood by saying, “Are you afraid terrorists are gonna hijack a two-seater float plane or something?”
“Not funny, Bubba,” Gumby said with a frown of his own.
“Seriously, now you’ve jinxed yourself,” Ace said.
“Lighten up, guys,” Bubba said. “I’ve ridden in one of those little things too many times to count. Since there aren’t any roads in or out of Juneau, the only way to get there is by flying or going in by boat. I’ve never been in a float plane that’s crashed yet.”
“Shit!” Rex complained, turning to knock on the wooden railing around the deck. “Now you’ve really done it.”
Bubba rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’ll call before I head out and when I land in Juneau. Will that calm your overactive imaginations?”
After enduring more of his friends’ warnings to be careful, and their condolences, Bubba finally left twenty minutes later. Getting hugs and kisses from the little girls also made him feel better; being around them always made his mood better.
But as soon as he left, Bubba was lost in his memories. He wished he’d kept up with his dad and brother better. He knew his dad’s business was successful, but wasn’t even a hundred percent sure of what he did. And while he didn’t think his dad had been involved in a serious relationship with a woman, he did know that he was close with someone who cleaned his house, did errands for him, and occasionally cooked. He knew her name was Zoey, but that was about it.
He had so many questions and no answers, but hopefully after he got to Juneau and met with the lawyer and Malcom, he’d get some things cleared up.
Feeling regret rise up in him once more, Bubba vowed to do a better job of not putting off things he wanted to do. Life was too short. Starting today, he wouldn’t take anything for granted anymore.
It was a vow he’d remember making days later when the chartered float plane he was in began to have engine trouble—and he and the woman in the seat next to him had to prepare for a crash landing.
Months ago in Timor-Leste, ten minutes after Piper and the SEALs escaped the orphanage.
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Kalee Solberg groaned and flexed her toes, trying to make sure she wasn’t paralyzed. She heard men yelling and gunfire in the distance and froze. For a second, she couldn’t remember where she was or why she hurt so bad.
Then it all came back to her.
The orphanage. The rebels. She’d rushed outside to try to grab some of the other children and had run straight into hell. The rebels had already arrived and were rounding everyone up. The second they’d seen her, her life as she knew it disappeared.
Some of the men had taken the older girls and disappeared back into the jungle. Kalee didn’t want to think about what they were doing with them or where they were taking them. She prayed they just wanted them to take up arms for their cause, but she had a feeling the reality was a lot worse.
They’d kept her with the younger girls, terrorizing them, bragging about all the things they were going to do to them, and insisting no one would care since they were orphans. They laughed when the children cried.
For a full day and a half, they’d made them sit with their eyes covered as various groups of rebels came and went.
Then they’d taken Kalee into the jungle…and done horrible things to her.
Things Kalee didn’t want to think about ever again.
Things no woman should ever have to suffer.
She’d heard gunshots through her pain and humiliation, and just when she didn’t think things could get any worse, they’d forced her to walk to the edge of a massive hole in the ground.
She remembered looking down at all the bodies of the girls she’d spent the previous day comforting. She’d wiped their tears and reassured them, told them everything would be all right.
But she’d lied. Things weren’t all right.
That was the last thing she remembered, until now.
Pushing up slightly on her arms, Kalee opened her eyes…
And barely suppressed the horrified scream that crawled up her throat.
She was lying on top of the same bodies she’d seen from the edge of the hole.
She dry heaved violently, but her stomach was too empty to actually throw anything up. Scrambling to get away from the bodies, she pushed herself higher, almost collapsing from instant dizzying pain. Her head hurt and she brought a hand up to her temple—hissing when she touched what had to be a graze from a bullet.
She remembered now. The sound the gun had made right before she’d passed out had been louder than anything she’d ever heard in her life.
She shivered, even as she felt a bead of sweat drip down her temple. She wasn’t wearing a shirt, only a bra, but that didn’t matter at the moment.
Gritting her teeth, Kalee held her breath to try to block out some of the horrifying stench…tried not to think about how happy little Eden had been when she’d remembered the English word for teacher…
When she saw a bright red ribbon under her hand as she crawled over lifeless arms and legs, she recalled how proud Amivi had been to wear the simple accessory in her hair…
The memories almost broke Kalee, but she forced herself to continue to the side of the hole—and turned her thoughts to Piper. That was better than thinking about where she was herself, and what she was doing at the moment.
Had her friend survived? Had she stayed hidden?
Kalee felt immense guilt for getting her best friend involved in this. She’d been the one to encourage introverted Piper to come visit her. It’ll be fun, she’d said. An adventure.
Some adventure this had turned out to be.
Kalee grabbed the edge of the hole and, using every last bit of her strength, pulled herself up and out of the death pit.
She heard a noise and looked up—straight into the beady brown eyes of one of a half-dozen rebels.
Before she could fall back into the hole, they grabbed her and hauled her upright. They had a conversation in Tetum that Kalee couldn’t understand, then they held a knife to her side, blindfolded her, and forced her to walk.
Where they were going and what they were going to do with her, Kalee had no idea, but she did know that she was about to experience more hell.
Help me, she prayed. Please, someone find me and help me.
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I know you’re all dying to find out what happens with Kalee, but next up is Securing Zoey. Does anyone else think that Bubba should’ve just kept his mouth shut about that small plane he’s going to get on in Alaska? :)
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Also by Susan Stoker
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SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Piper
Securing Zoey (Jan 2020)
Securing Avery (May 2020)
Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)
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Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)
Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)
Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)
Shielding Riley (TBA)<
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Shielding Devyn (TBA)
Shielding Ember (TBA)
Shielding Sierra (TBA)
* * *
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (novella)
* * *
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope (Oct 2019)
* * *
Ace Security Series
Claiming Grace
Claiming Alexis
Claiming Bailey
Claiming Felicity
Claiming Sarah (Sept 2019)
* * *
Mountain Mercenaries Series
Defending Allye
Defending Chloe
Defending Morgan
Defending Harlow
Defending Everly (Dec 2019)
Defending Zara (Mar 2020)
Defending Raven (July 2020)
* * *
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
* * *
Stand Alone
The Guardian Mist
Nature’s Rift
A Princess for Cale
A Moment in Time- A Collection of Short Stories
Lambert’s Lady
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Special Operations Fan Fiction
http://www.AcesPress.com
Beyond Reality Series
Outback Hearts
Flaming Hearts
Frozen Hearts
Writing as Annie George:
Stepbrother Virgin (erotic novella)
About the Author
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.
If you enjoyed this book, or any book, please consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors more than you’ll know.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
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