Ever since he joined the military, the fact that the team leader was responsible for each and every one of his men had been ingrained into his very DNA.
And he was responsible, always would be. But maybe … maybe …
“Stubborn, as usual. Well, I’m not wasting any more time on your pity party. I called in the evac as soon as your copter touched the ground. They should be here any minute. I don’t know about the rest of you, but my ass is ready to sleep on a soft bed, after I take a long hot shower.” Hicks walked away before he could get a chance to argue.
“You know he’s right, it’s not your fault,” Caroline said softly in his ear. “None of this is your fault.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her; she captivated him, cast a spell over his senses, dragging him deeper and deeper.
Reaper dropped his head to hers, closing his eyes to simply feel her. “I don’t know if I’ll ever believe that.”
Caroline cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. “I’ll help you. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Even after I left you? Why?” He didn’t deserve her or his men. And he should hate her for making him feel this undeniable swell of hope. But he couldn’t. The simple truth was that he loved her, no matter what.
“Because I love you. I always will. We are going to find our way through this together.”
His throat closed. His heart beat hard and fast. He wanted to believe her so badly; could he?
His entire life was filled with people he’d trusted, leaving and betraying him. Could he take that chance again?
The answer came to him without hesitation. “I love you too.”
His past may have been nothing but abandonment but Caroline was his future.
“If you two love birds are through necking in the corner, our ride has arrived.”
Reaper glared at his teammate, Hicks. “You’re becoming a real pain in my ass.”
Hicks gave him a salute and crossed the room to the still unconscious Quantum. He squatted down and lifted his teammate in his arms, like it was nothing. “Just doing my job.”
Hicks strode from the room, but Reaper wasn’t watching his friend anymore. Caroline smiled, that tiny movement transforming her entire face. Yes, he had a future with her, one full of bright glowing light. He wouldn’t have to worry about the dark shadows of his past anymore. “Are you ready to go home?”
She placed a feather light kiss on his lips, and Reaper felt it in his very heart.
“With you.”
Epilogue
General Rainier stared out the fourteen-foot-tall window of his study at the lush green lawns and manicured gardens of his country estate, barely aware of the perfection on the grounds. Perfection that he’d demanded and fired three groundskeepers over. He couldn’t see past the molten fury boiling up inside.
Everything he’d worked so hard to build was slipping through his fingers. That bitch Dr. Averton had betrayed him. She’d destroyed every single computer in his lab, along with stealing his own personal stores of the remaining serum. He had nothing but the few measly vials he’d kept on his personal property.
Captain Reaper had managed to take down his entire personal guard and steal Caroline, his source. Her twin sister, who’d escaped Jack Mankel’s clutches just before the Special Forces team had finally managed to kill that fucker, was now safely hidden from the world. His ability to create more serum and more super soldiers was gone.
And he’d already received a hefty deposit of $5 million for the first delivery of soldiers.
And the man placing these orders would not accept delay or failure.
His hands fisted at his sides, and he used the edge of pain from his fingernails digging into his palms to help keep him grounded. He had to do something before he put his fist through the glass. Generals didn’t display outward signs of violence, not like that, even in private.
There was a knock at the door. Rainier kept his back turned, “Come in.”
The door swung open, and Rainier knew from the change of atmosphere in the room exactly who had entered.
“Sir.”
The leader of the single remaining group of soldiers created by Project Mayhem, a bloodthirsty assassin with a natural propensity for violence, stood behind him, calmly awaiting orders. There were others out there, not a fresh team but a few stragglers that Mankel had tried to create on the side that had released or escaped or whatever; Rainier didn’t care. They were the outcasts. His team was the only elite unit remaining outside of Captain Reaper’s men.
And they were his greatest asset in hunting down his Caroline, so he could maintain production. If they failed that mission … then they were all dead.
“Were you successful?”
“Yes, sir. The tracker device hit Dr. Averton, who was unconscious at the time. No one, including her, knows the device is there. We know exactly where they are.”
“Good, you are dismissed.” Rainier waited until he heard the soft snick of the door shut behind him before slowly uncurling his fingers. He strode across his room with measured steps and sank into his custom-made leather chair, entered the encrypted password on his own personal computer, and pulled up the GPS. A tiny red flashing appeared over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Rainier leaned back, placed his elbows on the armrest, and steepled his fingers with satisfaction.
Project Mayhem would continue.
The End
Want to find out about Reaper’s fallen brother, Merc??? Start here…Revenge River: Men of Mercy
Merc:
His name is Merc.
He has no past.
No future.
Only a thirst for revenge against the traitor who betrayed his team and his country – Agent Jack Mankel.
When he’s handed a mission to rescue a sitting US senator’s daughter from the traitor’s clutches, Merc jumps at his chance for vengeance, never dreaming the girl he rescued could be his downfall…
Nightshade:
She walks in the night.
She is a shadow.
An operative so elite even the president doesn’t know of her existence.
Her whole life, she’s lived to serve, raised in the black-ops team her father, Jack Mankel, created. Then her whole world is turned upside down when she learns the sister she once thought dead is really alive; and to save her, Nightshade will have to take on the hardest mission of her life…
Merc knows he doesn’t deserve her. Nightshade knows she can’t have him. But a connection so powerful neither of them can resist draws them closer, even as a betrayal so deep threatens to destroy their very existence.
Before you go…
From the author: I hope you enjoyed Mercy and Mayhem and thank you so much for joining the adventure. If you loved the story and want to help me out, I’d love for you to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
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To claim your FREE copy of Redemption River: Men of Mercy Book 1, click HERE
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–Lindsay Cross
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To connect with Lindsay Cross
@lindsaycross101
lindsay.cross.author
www.lindsaycross.com
[email protected]
Also by Lindsay Cross
Redemption River: Men of Mercy Book 1
Resurrection River: Men of Mercy Book 2
Reckless River: Men of Mercy Book 3
Ravaged River: Men of Mercy Book 4
Ethan’s Promise: Men of Mercy, Book 5, in Desiree Holt’s Team Omega Kindle Worlds
Aaron’s Honor: Men of Mercy, Book 6 in Susan Stoker’s Special Ops Kindle Worlds
Revenge River: Men of Mercy, Book 7
Relentless River: Men of Mercy, Book 8
Riser’s
Resolve: Men of Mercy, Book 9, in Elle James Brotherhood Protectors Kindle Worlds
Mercy and Mayhem: Men of Mercy, Book 10
Raylan: Novella
David: Novella
Praise for the Men of Mercy Series
“Lindsay Cross delivers high-powered action, alpha heroes and an exciting conclusion!”
- ELLE JAMES
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“This is one of those books that the phrase sit down, shut up and hang on would be used because it’s a wild ride from page one to the end.”
- 5 Star Goodreads Review, Redemption River
“This book was wall to wall action. Once the danger hit, it never slowed down. I was late leaving my house because there was no way I could stop reading.”
- 5 Star NetGalley Review, Redemption River
Acknowledgments
I want to give a huge thank you to Megan Mitcham for your daily motivation and for keeping it real. Your badass Base Branch Series rocks!!! I couldn’t have done it without you!
Another big shout out to Kari March - without you and a bucket load of patience, the Men of Mercy would never have these truly awesome covers. Thank you Lynn Mullan for your awesome proofreading skills!
Thank you to my dad for giving me the love of reading and to my mom for dropping everything to read my books and catch those last minute mistakes.
My beautiful beta readers, Jenna, Jamie and Lauren-you’ve helped make the Men of Mercy shine.
And last, but most definitely not least, thank you to my true military hero-my husband. I love you all.
Mayhem's Warrior: Operation Mayhem Page 26
