Slamming on his brakes, Railroad put on his hazard flashers, grabbed the first aid kit from under the passenger seat along with his cell phone and dashed out of the truck. Sprinting across the road, he dialed 911 as he slid down the embankment to the car. Informing the operator where he was and what had happened, he hung up and used his cell as a flashlight. Dropping to his stomach, he stuck his head into the smashed window to look for survivors.
The driver hung upside down from the seat belt, her long dark hair covering her face. Gently, he reached in and pushed her hair aside, noting a slow drip of red pooling on the ripped ceiling under him. "Miss?" he spoke softly, trying not to move her too much. "Are you all right? I've called for help. Hold on."
A soft groan erupted from the woman. She slowly moved her hand to her head where a cut bled profusely. Railroad opened the box and pulled out some gauze. Placing it against the cut, he asked her if she was hurt anywhere else.
"I... I don't think so," she whispered. She tried to turn her head then groaned. "Ow, that wasn't smart."
He frowned as the words sounded familiar. He felt like he knew this woman. Moving around to her front, he once again moved her dark hair from her face. This time, he could see her face. Almond shaped eyes of dark brown wrinkled in pain. Her lips were petite as was her nose and chin. She looked like a porcelain china doll and was very familiar to him.
"Ara?"
"Hudson? Is that you? Where am I?" she tried to move again but stopped when pain sliced through her, making her hiss.
Railroad's heart thudded faster in his chest. "Shhh, be still. I called the police. They'll be here soon. You've been in an accident. Just try to relax and don't move."
"Don't leave me, Hudson. Please."
"I won't, Ara. You have my word."
His promise had a soothing effect on her. She closed her eyes and sat very still. In the distance, he heard the scream of sirens even as another car stopped behind his truck and a woman rushed out.
"I'm an EMT," she told him. "I can help."
He let the woman wiggle in and take over Ara's care. Sitting back, he held his phone up so she could see what she was doing. Within minutes other emergency personnel had descended on the scene, and he was finally able to back up.
Ara Palmer was a trauma counselor for the Naval base and had seen several of his team’s loved ones over the past couple of years. She was also a fellow woodworker, and they had often met up for coffee together on base to discuss their shared passion. He counted Ara as a friend. As a friend, it infuriated him to know she could have been grievously injured tonight.
While they worked on getting her out of the car, Railroad went around to the back driver side and shone his light into the wheel well. He frowned at what he saw. The tire was gone, and the rim had warped and twisted at an awkward angle. Shining his light behind the wheel, he found what he was looking for.
The memory of how the SUV had pulled up beside her followed by the two flashes told him everything he needed to know about the so-called accident. Finding the bullet holes in the wheel-well confirmed what he already knew.
Ara had been forced off the road, and the people in that SUV wanted her dead.
About the Author
I was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in Houlka, a small rural town forty-five minutes southwest down the famous Natchez Trace. Living in the country with no close neighbors guaranteed I would develop an over active imagination. I didn't have playmates so often made my own up including backstories and lives of their own. I spent hours daily playing games with them, building sand castles for them to live in, and taking them "swimming" in the mud holes of the soybean fields surrounding our home. That imagination would become a love for creating my own worlds.
It wasn't until college that I tried to write my first novel. Unfortunately, it was quite bad and became lost in the shuffle of transitioning between teenager to adult. This minor failure didn't deter my desire to write - it just cooled it for a while. That fire was rekindled in 2012 with the death of a close friend who also aspired to become an author. Robin's passing reminded me that life is too short to ignore your dreams. Because of her, I sat down, determined to finish one book and publish it. Less than a year later, I achieved that goal by publishing Shattered Dreams. My only regret is not being able to share this ride with her. I know if she was here, she would be in the mix of it with me.
Love you, Robin, Mean it!
Several years and many novels later, I continue to pen my stories covering several genres from paranormal to romantic suspense. I currently reside in Meridian, Mississippi with my very supportive family - husband Robert and daughter Rebecca. When I'm not sweating over a new story, I enjoy reading everything I can, talking to my friends all over the world, honing my skills as a YouTube connoisseur, and being bossed around by my pet conure, Poppy.
Website:https://www.mkclarke.com
Blog: https://melissakayclarke.wordpress.com/
Also by Melissa Kay Clarke
Luna's Children
Shattered Dreams
Broken Melody
Lorestone: The Strength Within
The Legacy Reborn
Reclamation
Team Cerberus
Protecting Joselyn
Saving Olivia
Rescuing Annabeth
Safeguarding Miley
Justice for Breeze
Hometown Heroes
Harmony in the Key of Murder
(paperback version)
Anthologies
Defending Demma
(a Team Cerberus novella available in Can't Buy Me Love)
Harmony in the Key of Murder
(a Hometown Heroes novella available in Once Upon a Summer)
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
ALL the below books are in Kindle Unlimited!
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Shauna Allen: Defending Danielle
Shauna Allen: Rescuing Rebekah
Shauna Allen: Saving Scarlett
Shauna Allen: Saving Grace
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Julia Bright: Rescuing Amy
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Victoria Bright: Going Ghost
Victoria Bright: Jostling Joker
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Barbie
Kendra Mei Chailyn : Pitbull
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Melissa Kay Clarke: Safeguarding Miley
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Samantha A. Cole: Cheating the Devil
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Jordan Dane: Fiona’s Salvation
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
Riley Edwards: Redeeming Violet
Riley Edwards Recovering Ivy
Riley Edwards: Romancing Rayne
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Erin
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Suzie
Nicole Flockton: Guarding Brielle
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
Casey Hagen: Shielding Harlow
Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie
Casey Hagen: Shielding Blair
Casey Hagen: Trusting Jake
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Savannah
Kathy Ivan: Saving Stephanie
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Defending Honor
Jesse Jacobson: Summer Breeze
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Silver James: SEAL Moon
Silver James: Assassin’s Moon
Silver James: Under the Assassin’s Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Heather Long: Guarding Gertrude
Heather Long: Protecting Pilar
Heather Long: Covering Coco
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Margaret Madigan: Buck the System
Margaret Madigan: Jungle Buck
Margaret Madigan: December Chill
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Bride
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Twin
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Mission
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
KD Michaels: Protecting Shane
KD Michaels: Avenging Angels
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound 2
Wren Michaels: Shadow of Doubt
Wren Michaels: Shift of Fate
Wren Michaels: Steeling His Heart
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Goddess
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Vixen
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Heartbeat
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
MJ Nightingale: Betting on Benny
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Secrets
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Debra Parmley: Split Screen Scream
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Jen Talty: Burning Kiss
Jen Talty: Burning Skies
Jen Talty: Burning Lies
Jen Talty: Burning Heart
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Megan Vernon: Protecting Earth
Fire and Police: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Barb Han: Kace
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (April 2019)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
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 (Feb 2019)
Shelter for Koren (June 2019)
Shelter for Penelope (Oct 2019)
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
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 Dakota
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Sidney (May 2019)
Securing Piper (Sept 2019)
Securing Zoey (TBA)
Securing Avery (TBA)
Securing Kalee (TBA)
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
[email protected]
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