CODE NAME: LUMINOUS
A Warrior’s Challenge series
Book Four
Natasza Waters
Sensual Romance
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book
Sensual Romance
Code Name: Luminous
Copyright © 2014 Natasza Waters
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63105-380-1
First E-book Publication: November 2014
Cover design by Dawné Dominique
Edited by Tamara Hoffa
Proofread by Laurie White
All cover art and logo copyright © 2014 by Secret Cravings Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
Dedication
For the warriors who dedicate their lives to a greater cause, and a greater good.
And to love, which shows them the way home.
Acknowledgments
No writer brings a book to publication without many moving parts. I love all of mine.
My family, who gives me the time I need to allow my stories to breathe life.
Tamara Hoffa, you are more than an editor, but I think you know that.
Justin Tatum, you are the face of Tony (Tinman) Bale, and I know you understand what a warrior is, because once upon a time you were one. From soldier to model, a new journey for you has begun. Good luck!
Waters’ Warriors, thank you for your help and support.
Tonya Smalley and Sheri Fredricks, my BFFs who live too far away, but are never far from my heart, a thousand hugs. T.J. Mackay, you’ve made sacrifices that many don’t know about, but that’s what a brave woman does when she changes the world.
Once again, I thank the warriors around the world who stand boldly in the way of our enemies, but never lose grip of their humanity. May you all have loving arms waiting for you at home.
The Cravings Ebook Club
The Cravings Paranormal Ebook Club
Have you heard about the newest idea in ebooks, the ebook club? Secret Cravings Publishing has two ebook clubs, The Cravings Ebook Club or the Cravings Paranormal Ebook Club, and we invite you to become a member.
As a new member, you will receive Trouble With a Cowboy* by Sandy Sullivan and Blood Kisses** by H.N. Sieverding FREE, just for joining!
You’ll also receive 4 BRAND-NEW EBOOKS, specially selected by our Editorial Director, every month in a variety of genres for a total price of only $9.99 for all 4. This comes out to barely $2.50 per book, much less than the retail price and you’ll be able to enjoy your books even before they are uploaded to the popular sales sites. One of several privileges of club membership.
*Trouble With a Cowboy, a western, erotic romance:
18 wheels had her heart until one hard-up cowboy found her kickin' up her heels and propositions her to take his bull to Vegas.
Jacie Hawkins drives big wheelers for a livin'. Something not a lot of women do. Littleton Oklahoma is just a dry stopover for a few hours of rest and relaxation at the nearest bar. Jacie needs to find a hot cowboy to release some of her pent up frustrations on for the night, but wannabe's aren't her style.
Tucker Marshall needs a big-rig driver to haul his prize bull to National Finals Rodeo and he needs one fast. Who would have thought he'd find one shootin' pool at the local bar dressed to kill and takin' numbers?
Can some slashed tires and an ornery bull bring two hard-headed people together for some fun in the sun and a little more?
**Blood Kisses (Nightwalkers 1), paranormal erotic romance:
Ashleigh Brown, the author of the popular Nightwalkers series, lives a quiet life free of the limelight. She keeps her real identity secret by writing under the pen name, Victoria Allure. She soon finds herself in a bind when she's kidnapped by a group of handsome vampires seeking Victoria. She then agrees to meet their Master, who's a huge fan of her books. But instead of meeting him, she accidentally crosses paths with her rock star crush. He is the sexy muse behind Nightwalkers and the man she based the hero in the series upon. She would do anything to meet him but little does she know her crush has a secret...
We will try to match your books to your preferences, however, if you’re a major paranormal fan, we suggest you join the Cravings Paranormal Club. Everything is the same except that three of your four books will be paranormal. The remaining book will be of a different genre.
As a club member, you will also receive:
· our monthly newsletter
· sneak previews of new books
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To join, visit the Secret Cravings Publishing website. At the bottom of the page you’ll see a button for the club. You can sign up there and share your preferences for genre, format and heat level with us. You will be charged, automatically, through PayPal, only $9.99 every month. Your books will be shipped within 1 day after PayPal payment has cleared. You may cancel at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” button located on the Cravings Club tab at the bottom of our website and keep the FREE BOOKS as our gift.
We hope our Secret Cravings books will delight you each and every month.
Best wishes,
Beth Walker
CODE NAME: LUMINOUS
A Warrior’s Challenge series
Book Four
Natasza Waters
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Lumin paced across the hotel room, stopping at the window to gaze at the mountains skirting Las Vegas. She squinted as the sun breached the peaks, spearing her eyes. A pre-recorded message on her phone droned on while fear chilled her to the core. She laid her palm against the glass. The heat of the July morning penetrated its thickness, but not the cold reality of the moment.
The voice directed the caller to press the appropriate number for different departments. None sounded right. Her fingertips slid down the glass as the little bit of hope she clung to evaporated. The bed sheet she held to her body drew taut as she twisted. Swallowing hard, her gaze swept over the man’s body lying on the bed. Yeah,
he was still dead.
“Press zero for an operator,” the voice instructed. Why did they always leave that to the end?
“Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, how may I direct your call?” the woman on the other end asked.
“Please.” She cleared her throat. “I need to find someone who works on your base.”
With a healthy dollop of boredom, the operator inquired, “What department does he work in, ma’am?”
“His name is Tony Bale, he’s a SEAL, uh, Team One, Alpha Squad. Can you please find him for me?”
“One moment, please.”
Lumin squeezed the cotton sheet between her fingers and breathed out slowly while her heart thumped in her chest. How could she have gotten herself into this? She knew better. She was smart. Educated. In Las Vegas she’d learned to watch and listen, but never slip into the darkness that was an unseen counter-balance to the bright lights and tourists who lost their restraint in an adult playground indulgent of misdemeanors, if not sin.
“Ma’am.”
The operator’s voice made her jump. “Yes?”
“Petty Officer Bale is not on the base.”
“Could you find him, please? This is very important.”
“Ma’am, we do not give out personal information.”
It sounded like the switchboard operator was going to hang up. There was no one else she could share the information with. She’d met Tony Bale last December when he’d asked for her help. Pedro Quadero, the head of a large cartel operating in Las Vegas, had kidnapped a little girl. She’d taken Tony and his friends, Mace and Nina, to Steven Porter, a powerful man in Las Vegas who helped them find Quadero. Steven Porter and his wife, Moira, were like Lumin’s adoptive parents, but they couldn’t help her now. If she involved them they might all end up dead. Tony was a Navy SEAL; maybe he would know what to do.
“Ma’am.” She altered her voice, professional, calm, the farthest from what she was feeling. “This is extremely important. Mr. Bale told me to call him if I had information of a—” She paused. “A sensitive nature. You don’t have to give me his number, but can you patch me through to him?”
A deep sigh penetrated the phone line. “One moment.”
Lumin stepped to the room’s control panel and checked the air temperature. She was freezing, and switched off the AC.
“Tony Bale.” His voice enveloped her like a warm blanket. Optimism glinted like a shiny coin for the first time since she’d opened her eyes this morning.
“Tony,” she whispered, holding back tears of relief. “It’s—”
“Lumin?”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t know who else to call.”
“What’s going on?”
Loud music in the background, water splashing, and the laughter of small children and adults filled the airwaves between them. She bit her lip with doubt. They’d only spent a short time together last December. She pictured Tony in her mind, his image clear. A lean body with roping muscles and a chest any woman wanted to be held against dangled in her thoughts. Their meeting, although brief, seemed unfinished when he’d left her on the steps of Steven and Moira’s home.
While every man in Vegas looked at her and saw a tall blonde whose legs they wanted to lie between, Tony had looked deeper. His eyes broke through her exterior and saw more, making her nervous and excited at the same time. Tony’s actions, the way he talked about the little girl they were trying to find, and the way he carried himself proved to her he was brave, noble, but when trustworthy popped into her head she knew she’d hit on the right word. “I think I’m in big trouble. You need to tell me what to do.” The signal cut out, and her heart leaped into her throat. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here, sweetheart, what kind of trouble?” he asked, his voice hardening. “Is it Quadero? Did he find out you helped us?”
The adult voices in the background ceased.
“No, it’s not Quadero. Where are you?”
“In Mexico. Nina and Mace just got married. Are you in Las Vegas?”
Lumin hooked her fingers in a strand of hair, tugging to replace her rampaging fear with pain. She hesitated.
“Don’t hang up,” Tony commanded as if sensing her misgivings. “You can tell me, Lumin. I can hear you’re scared. Whatever it is, you’re not alone, okay?”
“Do you know what Yersinia Pestis is?” she blurted.
A deep rumble from Tony’s throat preceded his answer. “The Bubonic Plague.”
“Yes. In the Middle Ages it was passed through contact, but imagine if it were engineered into an airborne virus and mutated every thirty-six hours. It would kill millions of people.” She licked her dry lips. “I think they’ve made one.”
“The Bubonic Plague is a bacteria, and who is they, Lumin?”
“I—don’t know who they are, but I think they know who I am.” Her voice stuttered. “You must have contact with people who can look into this. I heard a name, Dr. Clifford Bjornson. That might lead you somewhere. I have to go.”
“Wait! How do these people know you?”
Lumin dropped the sheet and reached for her dress. She pulled it over her head. Squeezing the phone between her ear and shoulder, as she did up the buttons she said, “Because Dr. Bjornson’s partner is lying dead in my bed.”
“Okay, listen—I want you to drive to San Diego.”
“I don’t have a car.”
“Then get on a plane and fly to San Diego. I’ll meet you.”
“But you’re in Mexico.”
“I’m leaving now. Wait for me. Stay in the airport until I get there.”
“I can’t.” Lumin twirled, looking for her flats. The tip of her shoe poked out from under the couch. She bent to retrieve it, and dug her hand underneath to grasp the other. “If they’re trying to find me, I’m not going to draw their attention to you. I just wanted someone to know. You’re the only Navy SEAL I’ve met.” Her voice choked off in fear as her gaze slid over the carpet and came to rest on the dead scientist. “I don’t know what killed him. He doesn’t look sick, but he might be infected and now maybe I am too.” Fear squeezed a tear from her eye, and rolled down her cheek. “I can’t take the chance of infecting others if I am.”
“Listen…to…me. If he isn’t showing signs of the Plague than he died some other way. Get on a plane and wait for me in San Diego. I’m coming.” Tony’s voice softened. “Don’t make me track you down, because I will. We’ll lose time and it sounds like time is running out.”
A bang on the door made her pulse jump. She waited to hear the words “Housekeeping” but they didn’t come, only another hard knock. “Too late. They’re here,” she whispered, backing away. There was nowhere to go. She was on the thirtieth floor of the Grand Palms Hotel with no way out.
“Lumin.” Tony’s voice strained tight. “Sweetheart, do exactly what I say, and do it quick.”
* * * *
Four hours later Tony hit the San Diego terminal gate at a full run. Nearly at the head of the lineup for Customs, he turned on his phone. Lumin had followed his instruction and luck helped. The men who broke into her room didn’t want to stick around with a dead body on the bed, and he’d counted on it, telling her to hide between the mattress and box spring, concealing the edges with the sheets.
A couple with burns that screamed “give me Aloe Vera or give me death” were the only people ahead of him in the Customs lineup. Checking if he missed any calls from Lumin, he spared a glance at the agents, hoping he didn’t get the old gal who wore a scowl like she had it out for the world. He thumbed the numbers in his cell till he found Lumin’s number.
“Hello!”
“I’m just about through Customs. Where are you?” he asked.
“At the bus stop.”
“Bus stop? Why—”
“I could pay cash.”
Lumin might be scared, but her focus and good sense were intact. Keeping his attention on the kiosk, he suppressed a groan when the old biddy Customs agent became available. �
�I’m up next. Take a cab to this address.”
“Where is this?” she asked, after he gave it to her.
“My condo. I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.”
“Tony, maybe I shouldn’t. Not until I know for sure if I’m infected or not. Getting on the bus was risky enough.”
“Don’t argue with me, Lumin. I know for sure. If you were sick, you’d be experiencing symptoms by now. Get in a cab. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” He plastered a charming smile on his lips. Old, young, didn’t matter. He had the gift of drawing women’s attention. For once it was going to come in handy for something besides a roll between the sheets.
Keeping his patience and his answers short, Tony tapped his foot. The old girl gave him the stamp of approval, and he took off at a fast run. He pushed past two businessmen and hustled through the airport doors to the taxi stand.
Cutting off a couple of young tourists about to step into a taxi, he apologized. “Sorry, it’s an emergency.” He grabbed the gal’s bag from the back seat and thrust it at her.
“We can share,” she said, smiling at him and raising her shades, giving him a once-over.
“Sorry, beautiful.” He hopped in and closed the door, giving the cab driver his address. Traffic was light on the Coronado Bridge. “Can you hurry it up, buddy?” he said to the Mexican driver.
“No speed. No ticket.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tony gripped the door handle, his heart hell-bent on overdrive since departing the team in Mexico. Mace offered to come, as did the other guys, but he and Nina were on their honeymoon. They didn’t have a lot of time before their next deployment and needed their time together.
Code Name: Luminous Page 1
