by Melody Anne
Rising
Anderson Special Ops, Book Two
Melody Anne
With
John Henley
“What a book. Could not put it down and cannot wait for the next book. Had tears in my eyes at some parts then burst out laughing at others. It was good reading about the Anderson’s again and loving the new team.”
-Amazon Reviewer
“Thoroughly loved this first book in the new series. I love the way all her works interlink bringing you back to characters you know so well time and time again. Can't wait for the next installment, this one has made me want to revisit the entire clan.”
-Amazon Reviewer
This book is a great collaboration bringing together Anderson Family love and military superstars. Both factions are welcoming, intense and intriguing.
-Amazon Reviewer
This series is definitely going in a different direction from what I've read of the Anderson family. With the greatest respect to the soldiers who put their lives on the line for us, thank you. I'm thankful the Anderson family is continuing their saga in the military world.
-Amazon Reviewer
Copyright © 2020 Melody Anne
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Beeville is a fictional town.
Printed and published in the United States of America.
Published by Falling Star Publications
Editing by Karen Lawson and Janet Hitchcock
Note from Melody Anne
This new series is so much fun to write!! I’m loving every single minute of it. I fall in love a bit more with these characters the more we dive into them. Working hand in hand with my co-writer is a new experience for me as well. He’ll send a chapter, then I edit it, then add a new chapter. It’s helped break my routine and makes me work harder and dive deeper into these characters.
I hope you’re enjoying these men as much as I am. I think Smoke is my favorite. I can’t wait to flesh out his story.
Thank you so much for your continued support, especially during 2020 when the world has been flipped upside down. I hope these books are giving you some fun, and taking you away from reality for a little while. I also love how this series intertwines with my other series; it’s been a challenge and a lot of fun to make sure we stay with the storyline throughout the different books. Since I’ve been working on both this series and my other Anderson series at the same time we’ve had to have extra editing to make sure I’m not jumping ahead or behind based off of release schedule.
If you don’t want to get confused look in the back of this book for the read order. Thank you, as always, for staying at my side. Now, let’s get on to the story
With Love,
Melody Anne
Note from John Henley
It was never an aspiration of mine to write a book, or co-author in the case of this series. But after a little nudging and maybe a bit more than an elbow in my ribs, Melody Anne convinced me to do this project with her and it’s been exciting as well as terrifying. Each of the Anderson Special Ops characters are loosely based on men I’ve worked with over the years. Names and places have been changed and any military operation mentioned is in no way meant to indicate a real-life situation or personal knowledge of one.
I’m ever thankful for all of the reviews that The Anderson: Special Ops, Shadows has received. The great, as well as the critical, as we learn from each other, and your words have already pushed me to think of the way my portion of the story is being told.
To my wife and children, thank you. The sacrifices each of you made while I was away for training, working overseas, and transitioning back into civilian life, are always appreciated and never taken for granted. None of this would have been remotely feasible, or possible, without your own strength and endless encouragement. Your love of family, God, and country are wonderful pillars to build the foundation of life on. Go, and be great!
Last, and in no way least, thank you to the men and women serving and protecting the freedoms we enjoy. From the front-line warrior, to the supply chain guru, to the cook in the galley, to the decision maker, and everyone between, all of you together make the mission work, and when it works well it’s a thing of beauty. From my family to you and yours, thank you for letting us stand on your shoulders. Continue to be the giants you are.
If interested in learning more about the US Military, please select the branch and read their own amazing stories:
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marines
National Guard
Navy
Books by Melody Anne
Romance
BILLIONAIRE BACHELORS
*The Billionaire’s Dance
*The Billionaire Falls
*The Billionaire’s Marriage Proposal
*Blackmailing the Billionaire
*Runaway Heiress
*The Billionaire’s Final Stand
*Unexpected Treasure
*Hidden Treasure
*Holiday Treasure
*Priceless Treasure
*The Ultimate Treasure
BABY FOR THE BILLIONAIRE
*The Tycoon’s Revenge
*The Tycoon’s Vacation
*The Tycoon’s Proposal
*The Tycoon’s Secret
*The Lost Tycoon
*Rescue Me
THE ANDERSON BILLIONAIRES
*Finn – Book One
*Noah – Book Two
*Brandon – Book Three
*Hudson – Book Four
*Crew – Book Five
BECOMING ELENA
*Stolen Innocence – Book One
*Forever Lost – Book Two
*New Desires – Book Three
FINDING FOREVER SERIES
*Finding Forever
TAKEN BY THE TRILLIONAIRE
#1 Xander – Ruth Cardello
#2 Bryan – J.S. Scott
#3 Chris – Melody Anne
#4 Virgin for the Trillionaire – Ruth Cardello
#5 Virgin for the Prince – J.S. Scott
#6 Virgin to Conquer – Melody Anne
SURRENDER SERIES
*Surrender – Book One
*Submit – Book Two
*Seduced – Book Three
*Scorched – Book Four
UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRES
*Kian – Book One
*Arden – Book Two
*Owen – Book Three
*Declan – Book Four
FORBIDDEN SERIES
*Bound – Book One
*Broken – Book Two
*Betrayed – Book Three
*Burned – Book Four
HEROES SERIES
*Safe in his arms – Novella
*Baby it’s Cold Outside
*Her Unexpected Hero – Book One
*Who I am with you – Book Two – Novella
*Her Hometown Hero – Book Three
*Following Her – Book Four – Novella
*Her Forever Hero – Book Five
BILLIONAIRE AVIATORS
*Turbulent Intentions – Book One (Cooper)
> *Turbulent Desires – Book Two (Maverick)
*Turbulent Waters – Book Three (Nick)
*Turbulent Intrigue – Book Four (Ace)
TORN SERIES
*Torn – Book One
*Tattered – Book Two
7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS
#1 Luke – Barbara Freethy
#2 Gabe – Ruth Cardello
#3 Hunter – Melody Anne
#4 Knox – Christie Ridgway
#5 Max – Lynn Raye Harris
ANDERSON SPECIAL OPS
*Shadows – Book One
*Rising – Book Two
*Barriers – Book Three
*Broken – Book Four
*Reborn – Book Five
Young Adult / Fantasy
PHOENIX SERIES
*Phoenix Falling – Book One
*Phoenix Burning – Book Two
*Phoenix Ashes – Book Three
*Phoenix Rising – Book Four
Prologue
“Okay men, we have a mission,” Eyes said, his eyes grave, his tone serious. He looked each of the men in the eyes, making contact and holding it before looking down at his paper. No one said a word as they waited to hear what they’d be doing. “This mission will involve every . . . single . . . one . . . of . . . us. And I can’t state this more importantly — you must be ghosts. You cannot, in any shape or form, give yourselves away.”
Each of the four men at the table nodded once to acknowledge they were aware of the risks and more than willing to put their lives on the line.
“I need to tell you right now there’s a good possibility we’re going to lose one of our own tonight.”
Those words sobered the men and got a reaction from them, as he’d known they would, but the men still nodded. Though they’d now only been working together for a couple of months, it didn’t matter. They were so close that to lose any one of them would change the dynamics of their team. It would be like losing a sibling. When they did these types of missions, they bonded in a unique way.
“Good. I’m glad you understand,” Eyes said. He looked at Hendrick, aka Green. “Green, I’m going to need you at this location.” He turned on the huge screen in front of them and pointed to a sixty-foot wall with a beach below. “I need your aim to be one hundred percent accurate. You cannot, under any circumstance, miss your shots.”
“How many targets?” Green asked, confidence in his eyes. He wouldn’t miss even in a storm with debris falling all around him.
“Twenty,” Eyes said.
Green didn’t even blink. “I won’t let the team down,” he assured them.
“I have no doubt about that,” Eyes said. Then he turned to Steve, aka Brackish. “Brackish, this mission calls for you to be on site with your magic. There will be various machines, and you can’t miss a single beat. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” Brackish said. “What will I be working with?” Excitement brewed in Brackish’s eyes. It wasn’t often he found something to challenge him, but he always hoped for it.
“I’ll brief each of you at the end of the assignments,” Eyes said. Brackish was naturally impatient, but he nodded and waited for Eyes to go on.
Eyes turned to Tyrell, aka Smoke. “Smoke, we need your speed and stealth. You’ll go directly into harm’s way, closing in on the civilian, and you must not be seen. You’ll drop what needs to be dropped and then disappear like the ghost you are.”
“Yes, Sir,” Smoke said with a smile. His call sign was Smoke for a reason. He could be in and out of a room of a hundred civilians without anyone knowing he was there.
Jon, aka Eyes, continued. “I’ll be coordinating the mission, going between stations to make sure everything runs smoothly. I’ll also do some drops. It’s imperative we don’t screw this up. It’s a life or death matter.”
“What will Sleep be doing?” Smoke asked.
Carl, aka Sleep, sat back in his chair as Eyes answered. “He’ll be with the civilian,” Eyes said.
There was a look of worry among the men as they fought the urge to argue the mission. With Green being responsible for taking out twenty targets, and Smoke being a ghost in the room, they were all worried about Sleep. He’d be at ground zero, and they knew that put him in the worst position if anything went wrong.
“I’m faster, maybe I should be at ground zero,” Smoke said. “Sleep can take my mission.”
“I’m sorry, Smoke, but this is a position only I can do,” Sleep said. “But knowing you’re my brother, knowing you’re willing to sacrifice for me means more than words can express.”
“What in the hell are we doing?” Green asked. He was trying to be patient, but they each had their assignment. Now it was time to learn the nitty gritty of what was about to happen. They normally had more time to prepare than one afternoon.
“The mission begins at 2100 hours tonight. There’s a lot of work to do to prepare,” Eyes said, not answering the question. “This is the location of Sleep and our civilian,” he continued as he pointed to a cove on the beach.
“Is this a drug deal?” Green asked. “This place only appears to have two exits. Sleep could easily get surrounded.”
“He won’t with our team in place. It’s not a drug deal, but it’s a deal that will affect him for the rest of his life,” Eyes said.
“Where are the targets coming from?” Green asked. “I want to make sure my gun is sighted.”
“The targets will be in these locations,” Eyes said as he used his pointer on the map. “There are four locations with five targets at each.”
“How do you know? This area doesn’t seem the best place for the enemy.”
Smoke was studying the image. “I can come in through here, and be in and out in seconds, but I need to know what I’m carrying. And I can make the drop, and grab up Sleep, and be out of there before anyone knows what’s happening.”
“You might need to pull Sleep out,” Eyes said. “We’ll have to see how the mission goes.”
“I won’t need pulled out,” Sleep insisted, his eyes narrowing.
“We aren’t saying you can’t do the job,” Smoke assured him. “But I don’t like this location. There are too many variables, too many high points for the enemy to get into place. How did this spot get chosen, and is it too late to move?”
Eyes looked at each of the men, proud to be their team leader. They were brilliant, and they were lucky to have each other to work for the good of their communities. The world was already a better place because they were fighting for justice.
“Yes, it’s too late to move. But I’m not worried. We have a good team.”
“I want to take the possibility of a loss of life to zero percent. I don’t like going in knowing we might lose one of our own,” Brackish said. “I’m sure we can fortify better, but we don’t have a lot of time.”
“It’s too late, Brackish. One of us might be lost already. I’ll explain,” Eyes said as he pointed at the map again.
“Brackish, you’ll be over here. There’s a sound system. You’ll be starting the sound at exactly 2100 hours. It will play for ten minutes. When you get the signal from Sleep, you’ll switch it to another station. Here’s the first drive, and here’s the second,” Eyes said.
Brackish looked at Eyes as if he’d lost his mind. But he simply nodded, holding on to the disks he wasn’t going to be able to check until they adjourned.
“Green, you’ll first drop items from right here,” he said, pointing again at the top of the cliff. “As soon as the signal is given, you’ll switch to over here,” he told him, pointing about six feet away. “And that’s when you’ll shoot the targets.”
“Do I get to see what I’m dropping ahead of time?” Green asked.
“Of course, I’ll hand out the materials in just a few minutes.”
“Sounds good,” Green told him.
“Smoke, I’ll be with you over here,” he told him. “We’ll come through this path as soon as Sleep and the civilian is at the water’s edge. We’
ll leave our items right here in this location,” he continued, moving his pointer. “As soon as we’ve dropped the items, I’ll get a head start on you to the exit. You’ll light this fire right here, then haul ass out before Sleep and the civilian turn.”
“Light what fire?” Smoke practically shouted. “Is it a bomb? What in the hell are we doing?”
It took everything in Eyes not to smile when the men gaped at him. They were utterly confused, which none of them liked. He kept his expression neutral, and then he pulled folders from his briefcase. He passed papers to each of the men, then sat back and waited.
A full ninety seconds went by before the first reaction was snapped out.
“Are you serious?” Green gasped. There was a look of disbelief on his face. It was obvious he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be feeling in that moment. Finally, a smile broke through as his gaze zeroed in on Sleep. “I guess we are losing one of our own.”
“Yep, it’s obvious he’s a goner,” Brackish said.
“I never would’ve thought it could happen,” Smoke said, shaking his head.
“This just shows that none of us are truly safe,” Eyes told the group. “Any of us could be taken out in a single heartbeat. Although it’s hopeless now for Sleep, we’ll still take this mission and help tie the noose around his neck.”
“What else can we do?” Green asked. “He’s made his choice.”
Sleep laughed. “You know it’s going to happen to each one of you someday, and I won’t forget this moment,” Sleep said with a grin. The rest of the men smiled back at him.
“I’m just glad it’s not me,” Smoke said. “It never will be.”
