Treasure Me (Alpha Four, Book 1)
Page 11
Slowly, she opened her eyes. Almost as if he were an angel, Rebel appeared within the white, cloudy mist. His combat boots crunched the debris beneath them as he approached Robert.
“Need a hand?”
He offered the other man a hand and then lifted him from the floor to stand.
“Thank you,” Robert wheezed.
An eerie silence filled the smoky room and screamed impending danger. Sophie swallowed hard, her gaze pasted to the man trained in mortal combat. A man schooled in the quiet, methodical act of hunting. Without a word, Rebel swung his fist and connected it to Robert’s jaw. Her stomach churned at the crack of knuckles on bone.
“Any time,” Rebel said as the other man fell back to the floor.
“You okay?” He stepped over the unconscious man and reached to move her hair back from her eyes.
“Yes. I thought you’d never get here.”
“We came as fast as we could. How did you manage to call me?”
Sophie leaned back and looked up at him. “I slipped my hand into my pocket and dialed without looking. I wasn’t even sure if I dialed you.”
“I think you took ten years off my life. I heard every word you said but I couldn’t do anything.”
“What was that explosion?”
“Chaos was in charge of diversion.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Thank God my truck wasn’t here.”
“Why?”
“He’s blown up my last two trucks.”
“What did he blow up this time?”
Chaos came through the door and answered her question. “Flash-bang.”
“Grenade,” Rebel explained as he shook his head. “Did you call the police?”
“Yeah. Thunder and Ace are on their way.”
Sophie put her arms around Rebel and tilted her head to look into his eyes. “Robert was behind the whole thing. He was smuggling diamonds.”
“Diamonds. Figures.”
“Do you think he’ll confess?”
He glanced at his watch. “He should come around here in the next few minutes. Then we’ll see what he has to say. I have a feeling he’ll spill his guts when Thunder gets ahold of him.”
“So our charade is over,” she told him as her stomach churned.
“Not necessarily.”
“What do you mean?”
He lifted her left hand and ran his finger over the diamond on her finger. “I mean, if it’s okay with you, I’d like for you to hang on to this.”
Her heart thumped like a herd of elephants. “It’s perfectly okay with me.”
“I love you, Sophie.”
“And I love you, my dark warrior.”
EPILOGUE
Kate hung up the phone after booking yet another massage and filling up her schedule for the next two week. Business was good. Too bad she didn’t have a little more downtime – she just might make a trip to Alpha Four. Something told her that all four of those men needed a little relaxation.
Although, Sgt. Taylor had surprised her at Sophie’s engagement party. The man definitely had moves and she oughta know. They’d danced most of the evening and by the time they took a break, they both could’ve smoked a pack of cigarettes.
She giggled under her breath. If only he relaxed more often.
The bell over the front door interrupted her stroll down memory lane and since she stood at the appointment desk with her back to the door, she had plenty of time to wipe the mischievous grin from her face. Her visitor, though, intervened. She had approximately thirty seconds to react before a very large hand closed around her biceps.
She glanced up to see Chaos standing beside her. Speak of the silver-tongued devil.
“We need to talk,” he said quietly.
Still somewhat shocked at his domination, she attempted to push words out of her mouth. Unfortunately, her tongue refused to cooperate.
“Alone,” he insisted.
He dragged her out of the reception area and down the hall to her office – how he knew where it was, he didn’t know. By the time she sat in her cushy, leather, executive’s chair, the shock began to fade and annoyance took its place. Who did he think he was to issue orders?
“You need another massage,” she drawled.
He actually grinned through the look of utter seriousness that covered his handsome face. “Not this time.” He released a hard breath and then squatted in front of her chair. “Kat, I don’t want you to panic when I tell you what this is all about.”
Panic? Did he not realize she was the Queen of Calm? Panic wasn’t even in her vocabulary – others panicked, she simply inhaled deeply and gathered strength.
“Okay,” she told him.
“Someone wants to kill you.”
Although the words that Chaos spoke made perfect sense, she didn’t quite understand what he said. Probably because her blood boiled so loudly it gurgled in her ears. Suddenly, the room began to spin and her head felt like a balloon, threatening to float off her body.
“Did you say kill me?”
Some sort of mumbled expletive left his lips just before a hand pressed the top of her head until she leaned between her knees.
“Breathe.”
Impossible. Air refused to fill her lungs and she continued to gasp, well on her way to full hyperventilation.
“Kat,” he barked. “Raise your head and look at me.”
She managed to lift the lead balloon that she supposed was her head and meet his emerald green eyes. Eyes narrowed in concentration. Eyes swimming with authority.
“In.” He prompted her to follow his lead as he took a breath. “And out.” He released the air. “Again.”
She did as she was told, finally settling into what seemed to be an acceptable breathing pattern. Soon, the noise in her ears subsided.
“Who?”
“I don’t know,” he answered while his fingers still wrapped hers. “But I’m going to find out.”
“How?”
“Don’t know that either.”
She paused for a second while she finally felt normal again. “You’re just full of information, aren’t you?”
“I have information but you don’t need specifics.”
“So, what now?”
“So now, that beautiful body is mine.”
Other books by Mia Dymond:
Leather, Lace and Rock-N-Roll
(SEALs, Inc., Book 1)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/87362
It is perfectly acceptable to attend a rock concert bare-bottomed with your panties in your pocket. And even more acceptable to flash your "goodies" to get backstage. That's what beautiful, brainy architect, Rachel Newberry learns when she loses a bet to her fearless best friend, Cameron Tremaine. Determined to ditch her annoying habit of being reserved and controlled, she learns that breaking the mold may prove too much to handle.
Rock-n-Roll icon Jaydon Hawke (Hawke) is ready to settle down, build a home, and start a family. Spoiled and pampered, he's used to getting exactly what he wants, and what he wants now is Rachel. Except, she may not have the same idea. For the first time in his life, he struggles to win a woman's affection.
Hawke’s carefully orchestrated plans go awry when Rachel's professional reputation is challenged because of their relationship - and the crazed stalker who has sights set on Rachel doesn't help much either. In a desperate attempt to gain her trust, Hawke must break her heart to save her very life.
Outspoken Angel
(SEALs, Inc., Book 2)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/90312
What do you get when you cross a flamboyant, smart-mouthed interior designer with a disciplined, reserved Navy SEAL?
A bald, beefy Adonis with exceptional fashion sense.
Cameron Tremaine lives life to the fullest, successful in business and fiercely independent. She digs in her heels when her best friend, Rachel, assigns the task of protecting her from a stalker to Max, head of security for Rachel's rock star husband. She doesn’t need a bald, bossy bodyguard
– thank you very much – especially one oh so delectable as Max.
Handbags, stilettos, and spa dates – not retired SEAL Max Sterling’s usual m.o. – until Cameron Tremaine. Max is a self-disciplined, no-nonsense ex-Navy SEAL, for Pete’s sake. Under his command, soldiers fall in line and follow orders as expected. Except, Cameron’s no soldier – she challenges his every command and does it with a sweet, syrupy smile.
Duty bound, Max tolerates her sass and smart mouth until she pushes too far. When someone decides to silence her for good, he learns that bold and brassy go hand in hand.
Freaky By Nature
(SEALs, Inc., Book 3)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/97541
Former Navy SEAL and private investigator Brett Steele didn't realize there was a politically correct term for stripping until he met Holly London. Initially drawn to her long legs and curvy, toned body, Brett soon learns there is more to the sensual dance instructor than he thought.
Holly has a colorful secret: psychic ability allows her to read aura through color. Believing she is a freak of nature, Holly avoids personal relationships and ignores her curse, rendering it a nuisance - until the atmosphere warns her she has become the target of a madman. Faced with exposing her secret, Holly must risk trusting Brett in order to stay alive.
Tightly Wound
(SEALs, Inc., Book 4)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/107217
Claire Steele has spent her whole life dodging shadows. Psychic since birth, she uses her talent to chase the evil lurking in the recesses of her mind.
For years, Lt. Malcolm "Shadow" Windsor has walked the fragile boundary of friendship, silently waiting for Claire to acknowledge her love for him. An ex-Navy SEAL and expert tracker, he knows patience is the key to her surrender - until sinister forces threaten to eliminate her.
Caught between love and death, Claire and Shadow must combine both talent and skill to survive.
The Cat’s Meow
(SEALs, Inc., Book 5)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446561
Tess Michaels, bookkeeper and human calculator, keeps business at The Cathouse clearly profitable - until the numbers begin to fade. When the profit margin drops, she realizes that there is no number more final than zero.
Matt Brooks, former Army Ranger and newest member of SEALS, Inc., agrees to investigate, immediately intrigued and aroused by Tess’ numerical ability. Her uncanny love of numbers strikes a chord with his own analytical mind and he soon learns that there is a whole lot more to the sexy number-cruncher than he thought.
Swept into a whirlwind romance, the couple works diligently to discover the cause of the profit loss. Yet when Tess becomes his prime suspect, Matt must do some quick calculations of his own to prove her innocence.
Never Cry Uncle
www.smashwords.com/books/view/115187
Often a dead-end job is so ... dead.
When Allison Campbell and Lucy Monroe learn their boss is cheating them out of bonus money, they decide blackmail is the perfect revenge - until he ends up dead and they become prime suspects. Fearing the worst but refusing to ask for family assistance, Allison hires Luke Owens, private investigator.
Working behind the scenes are Allison's uncles (members of the notorious Scarletti family) who discreetly conspire to use the situation to their advantage. With help from Don Antonio Scarletti, now reincarnated as a two hundred pound Rottweiler known as Scar, they launch an elaborate matchmaking scheme.
Armed with honorable intentions, Luke ultimately finds himself helping the lead detective, chasing Allison, and working for the Scarletti family all at the same time. He finds out firsthand just exactly what paves the road to good intentions.
Racing the District Attorney to solve the mystery, Allison and Luke must risk both their hearts and their lives to catch the real killer.
Playing with Fire
(Primrose, Minnesota, Book 1)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/123319
Liberty doesn’t come cheap. In fact, she costs $200 an hour.
Dr. Liberty Prescott is trained to heal - problem is, she can’t practice what she preaches. Forced to deal with her own weaknesses, she leads a quiet, solitary life, focused on healing her patients.
Fire Inspector Shane Hartwell fights demons in the dark. Held hostage by both fear and pride, he refuses to give in until he has no other choice. Desperate to end his torture, he seeks Liberty’s help.
As attraction sparks between them, an arsonist burns out of control and evidence points straight to Liberty. Against his heart’s denial, Shane accuses her until new evidence emerges. Now with his heart in his hands, can he reclaim hers?
Positively Criminal
(Primrose, Minnesota, Book 2)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/287558
Dr. Sabrina Miller is the queen of camouflage, and keeps her closely-guarded secrets locked deep in her heart. Fiercely dedicated to helping others, she refuses to let anyone interfere with her carefully-planned, somewhat out-of-the-ordinary techniques.
Detective Jake Rawlings knows he holds the golden key to unlock Sabrina’s secrets, even if she claims otherwise – he just has to find a creative way to expose them. Much to his dismay, she outfoxes him every time.
Yet, when someone other than Jake discovers what she keeps hidden, he must trust both his instincts and her techniques to keep her alive.
The Rogue Reviewer
(Primrose, Minnesota, Book 3)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/347860
Be careful what you wish for - that's what romance novelist Dara Hamilton reminds herself when she finds a corpse in her living room. Never mind that her best friend wants to raise of glass of wine in a toast, the murder may not have been all that accidental. Armed with an arsenal of research, Dara intends to solve the crime.
Detective Mace Turner always gets his man, even if that man is a beautiful woman. A seasoned homicide investigator with an incredibly touchy stomach, Mace works diligently to assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a task made nearly impossible with Dara’s interference. It is under extreme duress that he finally accepts her input.
Pummeled by erotic images planted in his mind by Dara's talent, Mace vows to find the person responsible for murder. Little does he know, that person may be right under his nose.
Tri Me
(Primrose, Minnesota, Book 4)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/398317
What happens at Girls Night Out, stays at Girls Night Out-unless someone is murdered.
Defense attorney Alex Jennings intends to follow the code until her life is threatened by an anonymous caller. Although not keen on asking for help, she knows there is one man in whom she can confide.
Former Detective Jackson Stewart knows it is in his best interest not to interfere with Ladies Night, but when Alex seeks his help, he has no choice but to man-up and take one for the team. After all, if Alex is concerned, the world may very well be coming to an end.
When Alex’s threats turn to attempts on her life, Jackson must break through her wall of stubborn independence to keep her alive.
Kiss My Sass
(Primrose, Minnesota, Book 5)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/412990
St. Thomas + Army Ranger = Tropical Boot Camp.
Tucked in a tropical paradise, sixth grade teacher Marnie Carpenter has no idea how chaotic witnessing a wedding can be – especially with a groomsman obsessed with detail. Never mind he’s easy on the eyes and oh so sexy, he’s also bossy, domineering and entirely too structured for his own good.
Retired Army Ranger Ryker Adams readily accepts his assignment to attend his teammate's marriage and learns the true meaning of DRAMA when he must call upon his specialty training to secure a certain unruly witness. A drop-dead gorgeous, tiny stick of dynamite wired for destruction, Miss Carpenter proves to be one of the most difficult assignments he’s ever undertaken.
Challenged at every turn,
Ryker does his best to accommodate her independence while keeping her under thumb, an act that proves almost impossible. Yet, while sparks fly between them, the couple dodges both danger …. and desire.
Tattoo My Heart
(Heroes of Seaside Point, Book 1)
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It all began with a sixth shot of Tequila …
Independent, carefree Annessa Dupree doesn’t realize her talent attracting trouble until she witnesses a wedding day murder and is forced to run home to hide. Although scared out of her mind, pride keeps her from running to the arms of the one man who will protect her.
Sheriff Casey McIntyre has loved Annessa since the tender age of twelve, trouble and all – and he has the scars to prove it. Scars that time healed, all except one.
When Annessa is finally forced to confess the reason behind her abrupt homecoming, Casey must practice extreme discipline to keep from throttling her. Only, when she reveals why she couldn’t confide in him, he can’t blame her. Hell-bent on mending past differences, he must save her life while he earns her trust.
Cross My Heart
(Heroes of Seaside Point, Book 2)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446552
Sometimes honesty is a bitter pill to swallow.
Attempting to escape a minor distraction in her medical career, Dr. Verity Thomas finds that statement to be true when she keeps her past private and her present, secret. Only, her meticulously-planned intentions go horribly wrong when her skeletons escape from the closet and take center stage.