by Nico Rosso
Police searchlights chased them but couldn’t catch up. The helicopter turned and ascended. The landscape spun below her and grew smaller. April lost her sense of equilibrium. The craft nosed down and sped beyond the lights of civilization and toward an endless black landscape.
James shouted next to her, “We rendezvous with more friendlies at Edwards.”
She had a vague idea that the Air Force base was in Southern California. “Who cleans up?” Her voice strained. All her energy flagged.
“We’ll point the FBI at the hacker. He’ll go down.” He placed his hand on her thigh. “And we were never here.”
“Invisible.” The mission was over. It had meant everything. It had driven her and James together. Had motivated her to stand and battle. She’d found new life where it had been hidden. But now?
James brought his mouth to her ear. “You’ll never be invisible to me.”
The knots across her body loosened. She wasn’t judged. She was free to chase after and hold the life she wanted. Her hand found his. They’d survived. She turned and kissed him, tasting blood and his sweat and his commitment.
Epilogue
April helped push the tables together in the middle of Hayley and Art’s restaurant. After hours, and Da/Sí was for reserved for exclusive diners. The door was locked and the lights low, darkening the lustrous wood décor. James swiveled another table into place on the other end of the row, creating enough space for everyone.
Raker brought two chairs to the long table, followed by his wife, Liv, an African-American woman, who curtsied polite thanks to him. He tipped an invisible hat and pulled out her chair.
Art also collected chairs, aided by other members of Automatik April hadn’t gotten to know as well. But tonight was a good venue to talk to Ben Jackson and Mary Kuri, who spent most of the time so far sassing each other. Ben’s former SEAL teammate Harper was in the mix, too, not letting a slight limp keep him from giving Ben hell about moving to San Francisco with Mary. The woman was reserved, but not cold, and April saw her affection for Ben.
Hayley stepped out of the kitchen in her chef’s coat and asked, “Drinks?”
Art tapped James on the shoulder. “Beer and wine.” The two of them moved to the back of the restaurant, disappearing with Hayley into the kitchen.
Raker and Liv sat next to each other and talked close. The others all knew each other well. April felt adrift and considered taking out her phone to feel busy.
But Ben came over to her with a genial smile. “If I’d known you were relocating to San Diego with Sant, I could’ve set you up with my old apartment.”
Mary stood at his shoulder, shaking her head slowly. “No one wants to pull your old mirrors off the ceiling.”
April shrugged. “Maybe we would’ve left them up.”
This garnered a genuine smile from Mary. Ben nodded approval. “I knew you were good people.”
“Drinks,” James announced with his return. He and Art carried bottles of wine and ice-filled buckets of beer. The people collected around them as they went down on the table.
Raker opened a bottle of white wine and poured a glass for Liv. He waved the bottle at April. She took an empty glass from the table, and he filled it. While April was at her shoulder, Liv spoke in a low tone, “I know we’re not here for shop talk, but I wanted you to know that the FBI warrants on Tomas Miller’s computers were fruitful. They’re piling identity theft and cyber fraud charges on him.”
It had taken a week after Quartz Hill for her to learn the hacker’s name. That time had been a whirlwind of travel and debriefings with Automatik. James hadn’t left her side the whole time. But Liv hadn’t been in on any of those meetings. “I didn’t know you were...”
Liv smiled. “I’m still active duty in the army.”
Raker tapped his temple. “Intelligence.”
“Ah.” April puzzled pieces together. Automatik worked with the military for certain resources. That was how they’d been able to get a helicopter from Edwards Air Force Base so quickly. Liv must be another one of the ties. “Thanks for the update.” She clinked Liv’s glass.
The woman toasted her back, “Here’s hoping he rots.” They both drank. “I know his handwriting will never be the same.”
April shook less when she thought about that night. James had talked to her about his experiences in combat, and that helped to normalize things. Establishing a new house in a new city with him had softened some of the memories as well. Her website was back up, the community there thriving and she was growing in new light as well. And she’d entered into a new community of close-knit friends and partners. Soldiers who trusted each other with their lives and shared the ethic of Automatik.
James came over to her with a beer in his hand. He put his arm around her waist. Their bodies locked together. Her house in El Paso was in escrow, and she didn’t trust the deal would go through completely until all the signatures were in place. Their new home wasn’t completely furnished after two months. But the disarray didn’t grind her nerves the way it used to. She learned to ride the waves of life, sometimes steering, sometimes letting the currents take her.
“What’re we toasting?” James asked.
Liv held up her glass. “April’s flashlight.”
“I’ll drink to that.” James clinked glasses with April, Liv and Raker.
The rest of the group collected around them, Ben inquiring, “What’s the toast?”
James’s gaze enveloped April in admiration. “To the newest Automatik operator.”
A flush crept across April’s chest. They all tapped glasses and drank. She was in the network now, part of the cyber security team. James leaned down and kissed her temple. The heat rose higher on her face. He tapped her glass with his bottle. “To my cheeky bird.”
“Food,” Hayley announced from the back. Art moved to her and helped carry trays with bowls of salads and steaming pastas. Plates were passed, and everyone piled on the delicious-smelling dinner.
April sat next to James and took in the group. Some quiet and observing, others lively. She belonged at the table with them. The group thrived on challenges. They overcame. So did she. She leaned her shoulder into James. He brushed his knuckles on her thigh. Her blush deepened to a warm glow. The next second, and the one after that, were unknown. But that didn’t chase her into the darkness. She couldn’t wait to find out.
* * * * *
Author’s Note
The website foundafter.com is fictitious; however, if you visit it, I’ve listed links to other real websites that support widows and families of service people. Neither I nor my publisher have direct associations with these sites, and the list does not represent an endorsement or advertisement.
Also available from Nico Rosso
and Carina Press
The Last Night
Heavy Metal Heart
Slam Dance with the Devil
Ménage with the Muse
Countdown to Zero Hour
One Minute to Midnight
About the Author
Nico Rosso discovered the romance genre through his wife, romance author Zoe Archer (aka Eva Leigh). He’s published a wide range of romance stories, including some with demon rock stars, a sci-fi space opera, steampunk Westerns and now romantic suspense with the series Black Ops: Automatik. When he isn’t at his desk, he can be found in the workshop, building furniture and completing other projects for his new home with Zoe in central California. Check out his website at nicorosso.com, and find him on Twitter at Twitter.com/nico_rosso and Facebook at Facebook.com/nicorossoauthor.
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ISBN-13: 9781459293601
Seconds to Sunrise
Copyright © 2017 by Zachary N. DiPego
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