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Chapter Thirty Nine
Chantal paused to examine her bleeding hands before switching from the window to her chain. She knew, if she slept anymore, she’d waste time. She began a fresh count to five hundred, and would switch tasks unless she made progress with either the bracelet around her ankle or the chain link.
It took an agonizing moment to lower herself to the ground. Her body screamed with exhaustion and relentless pain. Was this how her mom felt every day?
And Chantal had wanted a break—thought about walking away? What kind of daughter was she, to abandon her impaired mother, to run off and “find herself”?
Except she’d found herself—with Gage. Each moment they’d spent together was etched in her shattered mind. For the hundredth time, she analyzed their last moments together. And Alexis… the way she’d looked before pulling the trigger and deliberately firing past Chanta
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Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty
As they converged on the courtyard, a mercenary fired from the shadows and Gage aimed and took out the threat. The man fell just as Chantal’s scream alerted them to her location. Gage switched to berserker mode, abandoning his training as he rushed the door. “Chants!”Gannon wrestled him away. “I’ll use an explosive breach. Hang back!”“Fucking hurry! I’ll do it.”“We need steady hands.” Gannon knelt beside the door and pulled out the putty. He worked quickly and stepped back.“Clear!” Gannon yelled, and the door blew inwards. Gage followed, rushing into the small space. His heart paused as he took in the carnage. Blood pooled on the rough floor, and Harris lay across Chantal with a blade to her neck. Gage recognized the knife as his own and savage regret surfaced.“One more step, and I’ll kill her.”Gage gave direction. “Chants, don’t
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty One
National Hospital.Colombo.The reunion with her daughter had been short-lived. Connie and her detail met them at the National Hospital. Chantal had been rushed from the helipad on the roof to the third floor after Gage’s men radioed ahead, coming in hot on a military chopper. Hours later, her daughter lay in a safe and comfortable bed with Gage by her side.Connie cradled her third cup of coffee and watched the couple from the door. Their heads touched as Chantal whispered with the team leader. His easy smile indicated his affection as he tucked Chantal’s tangled hair behind her ear. They both looked like they’d survived a war—or a plane crash. The MSD agent had better not break Chantal’s heart.The lash marks on her daughter’s arms and neck had Connie turning away. She’d give them more time.
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty Two
One week later. Welikada Prison, Colombo. “Are you sure you’re up for this?” Gage asked, his concern evident. “I’m fine—just a little tender.” Chantal lied, but she needed to have this conversation. She stood with Gage in a dark passage. The rest of the team remained on guard outside the walls, and Dishan waited in an adjacent courtyard. Team Five insisted on accompanying her, regardless of their debriefings and orders. Chantal’s heart twisted, knowing they mourned the loss of their teammate. Local and U.S. teams had retrieved the ambush victims’ bodies, and DSS would fly Jason’s remains back to U.S. soil. Gage looked restless, and she knew he was concerned over their surroundings. Welikada Prison was the largest prison in Sri Lanka. Regular prison clashes resulted in numerous deaths. They weren’t exact
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty Three
Christmas Day, two months later. Quantico, Virginia.“Connie, grab the salad tongs. They’re in the drawer next to the sink.” Gage leaned over and placed the large salad at the center of the table. He paused to look around his new home. So, maybe his whirlwind romance with Chantal had moved a little fast. He’d ended up spending the rest of the year in Virginia, commuting between DC and Quantico as the investigation into the Sri Lankan attack dragged on via multiple debriefings.Gage spent every spare moment with Chantal and wanted more—a cemented life with the gorgeous chiropractor. A home. Not just any home—a place they’d chosen together. Technically, they’d moved into their own place, but…“You used my first name without a reminder. Finally.” The ambassador tapped Gage on the arm with the tongs and grinned. “Your secret salad dressing had be
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Book Two - Preview
Watch out for “Striking Blow.” (Strike Zone Book #2)This is Pearl and Antonio’s story. Filled with international intrigue and subterfuge.Striking BlowColombo.Sri Lanka.Pearl needed directions—a map—a freaking GPS back to herself. Finding her worth again meant starting with a physical transformation. For starters, the blonde princess staring back at her in the mirror wasn’t real, and it was time to pack “socialite barbie” away in a dark drawer; time to step away from the two-hundred-dollar haircut and her designer lifestyle.Of course, that wasn’t the reason for the hair clippers clutched in her nervous grip or the box of Brown Sable hair color on the counter. Returning to her natural shade would help to hide her identity. Pearl’s monstrous ex-husband wouldn’t be happy with her escape
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter One
Colorado.Kneeling in the same spot for hours resulted in cramping muscles and a dampening forehead. Shifting positions would show weakness. Sweat burned the eyes, not ideal when staring down a scope.“Any moment now.” Papa’s whispered words drew Jona’s attention back to the bird’s eye view of the school.The empty tenth-floor apartment in the partially completed residential building afforded the best vantage point at the perfect distance. A couple of school kids pushed open the doors from the auditorium. Around Jona’s age, they seemed carefree while galloping down the stairs. Spoilt Americans.“Remember what I have taught you.” Papa’s warm hand touched Jona’s shoulder. “I would take the shot, but my hands are no longer reliable.”This assignment was Jona’s first kill—first human kill. Animals didn’t count, although Jona had hunted alongside Papa
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Two
Twelve years later. The U.S. Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka. “Taylor, what time is it?” Ignoring the burning pain radiating down her left arm, Ambassador Connie Durant sped up as they entered the quiet passage. Her assistant battled to keep up. “Eight-thirty in the evening.” “And my daughter decided to go straight to Martin.” Although Connie trusted Martin Roberts with her life, it annoyed the hell out of her that Chantal hadn’t come to her mother first. Why would she? Their strained relationship lacked the affection they’d once shared. “He is the RSO.” Which was why Connie should feel gratitude. In the past, she’d worked with Martin in DC—established a friendship—and when he’d landed the job at her embassy as the Regional Security Officer a year ago, Connie had breathed a sigh of relief. With twenty-two years on the job, Martin was a seasoned agent with a stellar reputation within diplomatic secu
Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Three
Three months later.Colombo, Sri Lanka.Gage Hendrix headed across the soft sand with his friend and teammate, Jason Webb. They carried food and paper cups from the nearby street stall and slowed as they reached the rest of his MSD team. The sun hadn’t yet topped the horizon, and aside from a few fishermen, the beach lay quiet.“Wakey, wakey. Eggs and Bakey.” Gage kicked the prone body stretched out on the dunes. “We leave you for five minutes, and you’re already snoozing.”Gannon sat up and yawned, running a hand through shaggy blond hair. “Fucking jet lag is already kicking my ass. I’m not a Spazmanian Devil, like you.” He glanced at the watch on his muscled wrist as Jason walked to the other men at the shoreline. “And you were gone for twenty minutes, bro.”Gag
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- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty Three
- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty Two
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- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Forty
- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Thirty Nine
- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Thirty Eight
- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Thirty Seven
- Strikethrough Book One - Strike Zone Series Chapter Thirty Six
