by Shauna Allen
Daniel held my hand as we watched them go. “They coming back, Mommy?”
“I don’t know, sweetie.”
Johnny turned to me, his eyes guarded like he was putting on a front. “Got a minute?”
I swallowed. “Uh, sure.”
Mrs. Ray took the boys inside to watch TV and Johnny took my hand and led me slowly down toward the pond. When we got there, he leaned against a tree, the sunlight painting his features in kisses of yellow.
I picked up a pebble and tossed it into the water.
He was silent for several moments until I finally turned to him with questions in my eyes.
“The doctor cleared me to go back.”
My stomach dropped to my toes. I wanted to vomit. “When?”
“Next week. We leave on a classified mission right after that. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”
Bam. Just like that.
I sunk to the cold ground. “Oh.”
He crouched beside me and I could feel his gaze on the side of my face. “This doesn’t have to be the end of us.”
I whipped around to look at him. “Doesn’t it?”
“No.”
“You live in California, Johnny. I live here. Not to mention I’ll never know if you’ll be coming or going or when I’ll see you again.” I glanced away. “If I’ll see you again.”
“Baby—”
“I have two little boys to think about, too, Johnny. I need to do what’s best for them. It’s not just about me. Or you.” I let the tears fall. What did I have to lose at this point anyway? “I always knew you’d be leaving, Johnny. It’s not like I expected anything long term. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I fell in love with you.”
“Then why did you?” His gritty, emotional words tore at my heartstrings.
I blinked and faced him again. “Because I didn’t have a choice.”
He leaned over then and kissed me. It was tender and heartfelt and the sweetest, saddest, most perfect goodbye I’d ever known.
Seventeen
Johnny
Maverick’s Café Grand Opening, Oceanside, California, Spring Break . . .
I was one miserable son-of-a-bitch.
It had been two and a half months since I’d seen Scarlett and the boys, and while she’d answered my texts and taken my calls, something about it all felt stilted and unnatural, and I had the sneaking suspicion that she was just as unhappy as I was, but was just better at covering it up. I’d tried again to talk to her before I left, reassure her that we could try to make it work, but she brushed me off. She said she needed time to think about what she wanted. What was best for the boys. I couldn’t really blame her. My life was not for the faint of heart. If she was in, I needed her all in.
But I was about ready to hoof it back to Texas so I could lay eyes on her to make sure she was alright and shake some sense into her if need be after Joanna had called because she was concerned that Scarlett was losing weight and sleeping more than usual, which was not like her. She had to take care of herself. The boys needed her. I needed her.
I’d been toying with the idea of not re-upping when my enlistment was over and making a go of ranch life so I could be with her. It didn’t exactly fit into what I’d had planned for my life, but I’d come to the conclusion that I’d do just about anything for that woman, including shovel horse shit, if it made her happy.
Maverick shoulder-checked me. “Cheer up, bro. It’s my party. You have to be happy.”
“Technically, it’s your woman’s party.”
“Same difference.” He grinned.
“True enough.” I watched as his girl, Rebekah, flitted around the bustling café, welcoming guests and showing off her trendy menu offerings. It was obvious this was going to be a popular spot on the beach.
Tito sidled over and took a seat next to me. “What’s good?”
“Not much.”
“Man.” His smile fell. “You really need to get laid.”
I nearly growled and he backed off, his hands up in mock surrender. “Sorry, bro. Bad timing.”
I glanced down into my drink and swirled it around. “Any word from Lucky and Tex?”
“They just landed in Mexico about twenty minutes ago and they’re on their way to the motel to set up comms now. I told him to check in with me as soon as they knew something.”
I glanced over. “You sure this is a two-man op?”
Concern flitted through his light eyes. “No. But the way we figured, if the bastards are watching us, they’ll think we’re all here with our guards down. This way, maybe they can get in, get any intel they can gather, and get out before anyone is the wiser.”
I nodded and tipped my drink to my lips. We had to find some way to say a step ahead of that damn El Lobo Blanco.
“Who knows . . .” He shrugged. “Maybe this Grace woman isn’t a cover. Maybe Lucky can get her to spill something we can use.”
“Maybe.”
Rebekah sauntered up a few moments later and pressed a kiss to my cheek then Tito’s. “Having fun, guys?”
“Yup,” I lied, wishing like I hell I could be anywhere but there, but not wanting to ruin her party.
“I’m glad.” She leaned against the table, blocking my view of the door and making me nervous. “So . . . did I tell you that I hired this amazing new accountant to do my books for the café?”
“Uh, no.” I frowned and glanced at Tito.
He just shrugged.
Her grin split her face. “I did. I was really lucky to find her. She’s wonderful and sweet.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “And beautiful, too. I think you’ll love her.”
My frown was thunderous. “Rebekah, listen. I—”
She stepped away, leaving a beam of sunlight to stream in through the windows and straight onto . . .
“Scarlett?”
I leapt to my feet, my eyes raking over her hungrily. I couldn’t believe she was standing in front of me, looking good enough to eat in a flowing blue sundress and loose curls that I wanted to lose my fingers in. Her eyes lit at the sight of me, but before she could speak, two sets of little arms threw themselves around my legs.
“Mr. Johnny!”
I knelt and hugged Nathan and Daniel, never happier to see anyone in my life. “Hey, guys. How are you doing?”
“Good!” they chimed in unison.
I laughed and hefted them with me, one on each hip, as I stood.
“Hey,” Scarlett finally said.
“Hey.” I tilted my head to an empty booth in the back, away from the noise of the crowd.
She followed, but I couldn’t miss the way she twisted her hands nervously, though I had no idea what she had to be nervous about. Maybe California was overwhelming for her.
We sat and the boys crowded me, but I only had eyes for her. She looked beautiful. Beyond beautiful. She was radiant. Maybe it was the time apart, but she was even more spectacular than I remembered, and my memory was stellar.
I reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.” Her voice wobbled.
I frowned. “You’re nervous?”
“A little,” she admitted.
“Why?”
Her eyes darted away then back. “This is all so much. It’s nothing like the ranch.”
I smiled. “True.” Still, I could tell she had more on her mind. “Gimme a second?”
“Sure.”
I took the boys and we headed over to the rest of the team and their women, who were now congregated on the outdoor patio. “Hey. Would you guys mind watching these two for a few minutes so Scarlett and I can talk?”
Caroline glanced down with a grin. “Of course not. Hello, boys.”
“Hello!” Nathan took her hand immediately, ever the adventurous one. Daniel followed his lead a moment later.
I went back inside to Scarlett and sat down. That’s when I noticed she still had my keychain. It was clutched in her hand on the table. I smiled, det
ermined to believe that meant something. “You look beautiful.”
Gold-flecked eyes darted up to mine. “Thank you. So do you . . . look good, I mean.” She huffed out a breath. “You look good.”
“Baby.” I waited until she looked at me again. “Why are you nervous? This isn’t like you at all.”
Another breath. “You’re right.” She sat up straighter. “I have some news.”
I sat up, too. “Shoot.”
“The boys and I are moving to California.”
Wait. What? I simply stared at her, not comprehending what brought this on. “Moving?” I echoed dumbly.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her face fell a fraction, but she quickly pulled it together. “Because. I thought about what’s best for us and that’s you. And you’re here.”
“I know, but—”
“And we love you. The boys love you. I love you . . .” She bit her lip. Looked me straight in the eye. “And you’re going to be the father of my baby. Who I know will love you, too.”
I blinked. Hard. Blinked again.
This was so not what I’d imagined would be happening to me today. Yet here was the woman of my dreams, offering me everything I never knew I wanted on a silver platter. All I had to do was grab it.
“Baby?” I parroted her again, because apparently, I’d turned into a dumbass.
“Yes.”
“Baby?” Yup. I was a moron.
She tilted her head. “Are you okay? Do I need to go get some help?”
Slowly, I stood, and she eyed me like I might go crazy at any moment. I took her hand and drew her to her feet to wrap her in my arms. “I’m okay. Just a fucking idiot for leaving you.”
Her brows tipped down. “No—”
“Yes. I know it’s my job and I didn’t have a choice, but I still feel like the world’s biggest asshole. I was going to get out as soon as my enlistment was up and come home to you and the boys next year.”
Her eyes lit with shock. “You were?”
“Hell, yes, I was.” I dipped my head and brushed my lips across hers. “Because I love you, too, darlin’. More than you’ll ever know.”
“Oh . . .” she whimpered as I peppered kisses across her jaw and throat. “Well, we couldn’t wait that long, and now you don’t have to get out.”
I lifted my head. “Are you sure? I will. For you, if that’s what you want.”
She met my gaze. “What I want is to be with you, Johnny, and for you to be happy.”
“I’ll be happy as long as I’m with you, baby.”
“Then I guess it’s settled.” She smiled up at me like I’d saved her life again, but I think we both knew it was the other way around.
Epilogue
Lucky
Piedras Negras, Mexico, 2145 . . .
I left Tex back at our rundown motel to finish setting up comms while I tracked Grace Trevino. Like a lion stalking its prey, I watched her, studied her every movement, her every breath.
She was beautiful, yes, all elegant, long lines, caramel skin, hair as black as a raven’s wing, and eyes just as dark, but I wouldn’t fall for her allure. She was our last and only lead in this long, winding, clusterfuck of a mission that had been dogging us for months and nearly killed my buddy.
She was not getting away from me now. I would find a way to get to her. Break her. Own her. Find out everything she knew about Marco Esteban, El Lobo Blanco, and any other illicit shit this cartel was up to that I could bring back to my government. I was done playing games.
It needed to end, and soon.
I watched as she left her office and got in her Mercedes to head home. If that didn’t scream cartel cash, I didn’t know what did. I followed close, but not close enough to give myself away, until we reached a high-end neighborhood. I parked a few houses down and waited until she got out of her car, her eyes darting around as if she could feel me watching her. She paused when her gaze landed on my vehicle and I froze, even though I knew she couldn’t see past the tint job.
Finally, she ducked into her house and the porch light flicked on.
Still, I waited.
Was there anyone inside? Was she married? Did she have security? Was she armed?
I had no idea what I would be walking into, and without Tex to break into her security feed, I couldn’t risk it alone.
“Fuck!”
I turned tail and raced back to her empty office. Maybe there would be a clue there for me. I snuck up the walkway, casually, careful not arouse suspicion. I slid around, my back pressed against the warm stucco, until I reached a side door that was away from the street.
I jimmied the lock and it gave easy enough. Jesus. What shit security. They hadn’t covered their bases on this one. I smiled to myself and ducked inside, closing the door silently behind me.
Using only my small pocket flashlight, I perused the place, looking for anything obvious.
I shot Tex a quick text to let him know I was in and asked him if he wanted me to grab anything specific for his purposes. He told me how to copy any computer hard drives that I found.
I moved to the receptionist’s desk, then paused, eyeing the back hallway.
On instinct, I padded silently down the hall, making my way to the farthest office. I pressed open the door and peered inside. It was dark and I caught the faintest hint of exotic flowers and passionfruit, which made my groin tighten, knowing it was her scent.
I ignored it and moved to her desk to boot up her computer. I plugged in the USB and followed Tex’s instructions, downloading everything as I rifled through her desk drawers without making it obvious anyone had been there.
But I had a sudden flash of all the nasty messages from their fucking white wolf hacker friend, and the way this cartel had messed with my team and our families, and how Bubba had nearly died. I decided it was time to let them know we could invade their turf and play dirty, too.
I picked up her pretty fountain pen and pulled out a sheet of paper to leave her a little love note of my own . . .
Do you feel Lucky?
I’d just added my secure sat com phone number when I glanced up and saw it.
The hair stood up on the back of my neck, and on instinct, my gaze darted around the room, searching for threats. I was alone. My eyes zipped back.
How in the hell had I missed that when I walked in?
“The fuck . . .?”
I moved around her desk, my hand outstretched to touch the eerily realistic fur on the oil painting that took up nearly the entire wall in front of her desk . . . of a giant, yellow-eyed, vicious beast.
A white wolf.
Thanks for reading! I hope you loved Johnny and Scarlett’s story and enjoyed the adventure I’ve created. Please forgive any inaccuracies in my story, as I did take some artistic liberties in the name of fiction. Also, as in many of my other books, I have touched on a sensitive subject with Scarlett’s domestic abuse. Please, if you or anyone you know suffers at the hand of someone else, know you are not alone and there is help available. Contact your local police, battered women’s shelter, or The National Domestic Violence Hotline here: http://www.thehotline.org/
Find someone, anyone, to help you. It’s not okay and your life is worth too much.
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If you missed it, you can catch Maverick and Rebekah’s story, as well as the beginning of the hunt for El Lobo Blanco, in Rescuing Rebekah exclusively at Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2wjifX4
As well as Red and Danielle’s story in Defending Danielle at: http://amzn.to/2fWR62V
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Up next, I hope you’ll come back as both teams continue the hunt for the cartel, and as Lucky comes face to face with the beautiful and elusive Grace Trevino. Is she all that she seems to be?
Can he trust her with his life?
With his heart?
~ ~
Other Books by Shauna Allen
You can find links to all of my books at my website here: http://www.shaunaallen.com/
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The Family Creed Series
The Executioner
The Rainmaker
The Gunman
The Prodigal
The Silencer
The Dove
Jack ‘Em Up Series
Burnout (Blake & Delilah: The Beginning)
Crank (Blake & Delilah)
Torque (Jesse & Rachel)
Hitched (A Jack ‘Em Up Wedding novella – Jesse & Rachel)
Throttle (Trace & Tori)
Rev (Micah & Jewel)
Inked Series
Jed
Noble
Tristan
Charlie
Kindle Worlds
Awakening Aubrey
Defending Danielle
Rescuing Rebekah
Saving Scarlett
Standalones
Elvis is a Keeper
Circle of Redemption
Books written as SC Montgomery
Crossing the Line Series
Lines in the Sand
Two Blue Lines
Blurred Lines
Between the Lines (Coming Soon)
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Shauna Allen Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1jawXro
Shauna Allen BookBub Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shauna-allen
Shauna Allen website: www.shaunaallen.com
SC Montgomery website: www.scmontgomery.com
For an up-to-date listing of all the books in Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle World including buy links, please visit: http://www.stokeraces.com/kindle-worlds.html
