“Ranger says you’re supposed to go next door,” Jimmy said when I heard his knock and let him in. “Hey, Blanca,” he said, looking beyond me.
As I stepped aside and watched them embrace, the jealous feelings I’d anticipated didn’t materialize, thankfully. I was a happy man and wanted to stay that way for as long as I could.
“Oh, Maisie is on her way over here too,” he said, motioning to the other camp where I could see her and Ranger on the front porch. I turned away when I saw them kiss and walked over to Blanca to do the same to her.
“That’s on, then?” I asked after Blanca kissed me back and then laughed and swatted my ass on her way into the bedroom.
“If you mean Maisie and Ranger, the answer is it’s hot and heavy. She spends nearly every night over there.”
I was happy for Ranger and would’ve said so if I didn’t feel like I would be rubbing Jimmy’s nose in it. He hadn’t talked much about his ex-wife or their divorce, but it was obvious enough he was unhappy.
“Thanks for all you did to help Montano fix up the camp,” Blanca said, returning from the bedroom wearing one of my sweatshirts over a pair of jeans. “And for telling him about the swing.” She put her arm around my waist, and I put mine over her shoulders.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you finally got your birthday wish.”
“Many birthdays’ wishes,” she said, beaming up at me.
“I’m really happy for you both.”
At the same time Jimmy opened the door to let Maisie in, I saw two SUVs pull into the driveway. “That’s my cue,” I said, leaning down to kiss Blanca one more time.
38
Onyx
“How is Blanca?” Merrigan asked after we’d all said our hellos.
“I’d go so far as to say she’s never been better,” I said quietly enough that only she could hear me.
“I’m so glad. I take it that means you’re feeling as she is?”
I leaned closer. “We’re getting married.”
Merrigan embraced me. “Onyx, I’m so happy for you both.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
She raised a brow. “I may be semi-retired and raising our family. However, I haven’t lost my edge. You’d do well to remember that,” she said with a wink.
I smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Her expression changed. “We should get started. There’s a lot we need to cover this afternoon.”
I took a seat when Doc asked everyone to, surprised when he came and sat in the chair beside me while Merrigan remained standing.
“This will be the one and only meeting I facilitate on behalf of our new unit, K19 Shadow Operations,” she began. “After today, the team, along with its missions, will be in the hands of Onyx and Ranger.” The small group applauded.
“By now you all should’ve received the final report on what we’re referring to as the Flannery-Descanso mission. If there are any questions, I’ll address them. However, I’d prefer not to spend more time than is necessary on it. Suffice to say United Russia will endure near-debilitating sanctions until the demands of the negotiators have been met. Including, but not limited to, the resignation and imprisonment of their leader. If he lives that long,” she added under her breath.
I hadn’t read the report, but if we weren’t delving into its contents, I didn’t understand why we were meeting. Before I could ask, Doc stood and handed an envelope to each person in the room other than Merrigan.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Your first official mission,” he answered, opening his own envelope and pulling out its contents.
I did the same and read over the first few lines. When I looked up at Merrigan, she was studying me.
“What is this?” I asked, not understanding why we would be hired to conduct an investigation of a kidnapping and murder that would normally fall under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement if state lines hadn’t been crossed and FBI jurisdiction if they had.
“We have been retained by the victims’ families,” Merrigan answered, evidently anticipating my confusion.
“Wait. Families?” I asked, turning the page to see there was more than one investigation involved. My eyes met Merrigan’s again. “Three?”
“Yes,” she said solemnly. “What we believe, is that there is a serial killer on the loose. One who is targeting the daughters of wealthy families in the area.”
Area? I took a closer look. All three kidnappings and subsequent murders took place within the Adirondack State Park.
My eyes met Ranger’s, and a chill came over me. He was on his way to the front door by the time I got to my feet.
“No!” I heard him shout, noticing the door of Blanca’s camp was wide open.
Guns drawn, we entered the cabin while other members of the team went around the back. Once inside, I raced over to Blanca who, along with Jimmy, was gagged, blindfolded, and bound to a chair.
“Where the hell is Maisie?” I heard Ranger shout at his brother, whom Wasp was untying.
“They took her,” Blanca cried before Jimmy could answer.
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Ranger
the first book in Heather Slade’s new series,
K19 Shadow Operations,
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Code name: Ranger
Target: Maisie Ann Jones
Mission: Uncover the whereabouts of a smart, sexy spitfire
RANGER
Undercover, confidential, and dangerous, the new K19 Shadows lurk where others won’t, ready to act in a moment’s notice. When Maisie Ann Jones disappears with a serial killer on the loose, it doesn’t look good. The others have turned up dead.
I refuse to let anything harm this woman, after all, she stole my heart. I’m determined to find her, save her, and take down anyone who gets in my way.
MAISIE
A teenage crush. At least that’s what I thought it was. But when Ranger comes barreling back into my life, nothing stops how I feel or what I should want—I just want him.
I’m a Dartmouth grad who took over my family’s business before I turned twenty-five. I don’t need a man. I’ve never been a damsel in distress. Until now.
But I’m worried that he’s met his match. Will this serial killer destroy the only man I’ve ever loved?
Code Name: Ranger
1
Ranger
It was as though someone was tracking my thoughts. The moment the person briefing us on our next assignment said a serial killer was targeting daughters of wealthy families in the area, I thought of Maisie. She fit the victim profile better than anyone.
My eyes met those of my friend and boss, Onyx, who had to have been thinking the same thing I was, given he was on his feet, following me.
It defied logic, but my gut was telling me to get next door, where I’d left Maisie less than thirty minutes ago, and see with my own eyes that she was safe.
She had to be. My brother was with her. And Onyx’s girlfriend. Or was she his fiancée? Either way, Maisie, Jimmy, and Blanca were fine. Once I confirmed it, I’d come back and we could resume our meeting.
“No!” I shouted when I saw the door to the camp wide open. Why was the fucking door open? It was the middle of winter.
I drew my gun as I raced through the doorway where my worst fears were confirmed. Both Jimmy and Blanca were gagged, blindfolded, and tied to chairs.
“Where the hell is Maisie?” I shouted at Jimmy, who one of the other guys in our unit was untying while Onyx did the same with Blanca.
“They took her,” Blanca cried as soon as the gag was out of her mouth.
“Who?”
“Two men. Dressed all in black. Ski masks,” Jimmy said between gasps of air.
“He’s been hit,” said Wasp, who�
��d untied him, pointing to the blood seeping into the fabric of my brother’s shirt. I took a step to the side when Doc Butler, my boss’ boss and a physician’s assistant, rushed in to help Jimmy.
“Is there anything else you remember?” I could hear Onyx’s words, but they were muffled by the roar of blood surging through my body. Every inch of my skin felt as though it was being pricked by a thousand pins as my brain triggered a fight-or-flight response.
I’d felt it before, more times than I could remember, but this was different. This wasn’t fear for me. Someone took Maisie, and it was up to me to find her. Save her. Before it was too late.
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Ranger
About the Author
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Also by Heather Slade
BUTLER RANCH
Kade’s Worth
Brodie
Maddox
Naughton
Mercer
Kade
THE WICKED WINEMAKERS’ BALL
Coming Soon!
The Wicked Bachelors’ Auction:Brix
The Wicked Bachelors’ Auction:Ridge
K19 SECURITY SOLUTIONS
Razor
Gunner
Mistletoe
Mantis
Dutch
Striker
Monk
Halo
Tackle
Onyx
K19 SHADOW OPERATIONS
Coming Soon!
Ranger
Diesel
Wasp
Cowboy
THE ROYAL AGENTS OF MI6
The Duke and the Assassin
Coming Soon!
The Lord and the Spy
The Commoner and the Correspondent
The Rancher and the Lady
THE INVINCIBLES
Decked
Undercover Agent (written in Cocky Hero Club World)
Edged
Grinded
Riled
Handled (written in KB Worlds Everyday Heroes)
Smoked
Bucked
Irished
Coming Soon!
Sainted
Hammered
Ripped
COWBOYS OF CRESTED BUTTE
A Cowboy Falls
A Cowboy’s Dance
A Cowboy’s Kiss
A Cowboy Stays
A Cowboy Wins
Onyx (K19 Security Solutions Book 10) Page 20
