Kyle Read online

  Kyle (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

  Gold Team 3

  Riley Edwards

  Contents

  Foreword

  Before you begin

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  About the Author

  Other Books by Riley Edwards

  More Special Forces: Operation Alpha World Books

  Books by Susan Stoker

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  © 2019 ACES PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this work may be used, stored, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher except for brief quotations for review purposes as permitted by law.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy.

  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the Special Forces: Operation Alpha Fan-Fiction world!

  If you are new to this amazing world, in a nutshell the author wrote a story using one or more of my characters in it. Sometimes that character has a major role in the story, and other times they are only mentioned briefly. This is perfectly legal and allowable because they are going through Aces Press to publish the story.

  This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I might have assisted with brainstorming and other ideas about which of my characters to use, I didn’t have any part in the process or writing or editing the story.

  I’m proud and excited that so many authors loved my characters enough that they wanted to write them into their own story. Thank you for supporting them, and me!

  READ ON!

  Xoxo

  Susan Stoker

  About the book

  Anaya Baker knows pain—she got her first taste when she was orphaned and put into foster care. Then it was forever embedded into her soul when she was sold to a sex trafficking ring. Nearly two decades later the stench still clings to her. It coats her skin and burns her gut. Since being rescued, Anaya has dedicated her life to helping others, yet no amount of good she’s done has lessened her anguish. While on an assignment with the Peace Corps she learns of brothel posing as an orphanage and she cannot turn her back. Not even the civil unrest or the death of her friend will stop her. Anaya has one mission: save the young girls for the horrors she herself had suffered.

  Kyle Smith couldn’t say no. Not when the beautiful woman with haunted eyes asked him and his teammate to escort her to a remote island to save a bunch of children. Her plan was crazy. The island was overrun with rebels and the unrest was at an all-time high. There was no stopping the woman, she was resolute and Kyle was just as determined to keep her safe. His personal life was in turmoil, his team at war from with a high-power criminal syndicate. He had no business falling in love—but was helpless against her bravery and strength. He tumbled head first and now he had to let her go. But when the threat closes in and one of their lives hangs in the balance, Kyle has to make a choice. And the wrong one could mean death.

  Before you begin

  Thank you for purchasing Kyle. I’m beyond thrilled to once again write in Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha universe. I’ve been a fan of Susan’s for many years and have read every book she’s published (multiple times.) While I’ve tried my hardest to stay true to her original characters (because, hello, they are already awesome) I am not Susan, I wrote them as I, the reader, experienced them.

  I want fans of Susan to feel like they’re visiting old friends when they see her beloved characters. I hope I’ve done them justice. But please remember, I’ve taken some liberties.

  In Kyle, I use Susan’s characters from her new Legacy SEAL series: Rocco, Ace, Gumby, Phantom, Bubba, and Rex. I’ve also borrowed plot elements from Securing Piper. You can certainly read Kyle as a standalone but I recommend reading Securing Piper first.

  And of course, The King of All Things Cyber, John “Tex” Keegan makes an appearance.

  I hope you enjoy the world I’ve created for you as much as I loved writing it.

  For Susan.

  Thank you for giving us, your adoring readers, such wonderful characters.

  Chapter 1

  “Do you have to go?”

  Guilt started to claw away at my insides. If my best friend only knew the real reason I had to go back. The burning need and where that need stemmed from, then maybe she’d understand. But she didn’t and she never would because I’d never tell her. Telling her would mean I’d have to open up about my past and that was never going to happen.

  “Yes,” I groaned, answering for the third time.

  “Anaya,” Evette snapped then continued to berate me. “It’s dangerous. Kalee…”

  My best friend trailed off, Kalee’s death still too painful to talk about. Too fresh. It hadn’t been that long ago that Kalee Solberg was murdered in Timor-Leste. And if the reports were to be believed, she was tossed in a pit with all the others who had been senselessly killed and left. My beautiful, sweet, caring friend left to rot. The thought so revolting I had to push it from my mind or I’d go crazy.

  “Evie. I have to. Part of why is Kalee. She died over there doing what she thought was right. She was making a difference.”

  I’d met Evette London and Kalee years ago at a literacy event for under-privileged children. The two of them had been friends since junior high and had quickly pulled me into their friendship. We became fast friends. It was because of Kalee I’d joined the Peace Corps. When we were both sent to the small island of Timor-Leste, we were so excited to go together.

  Now she was gone.

  “I’ve read—”

  I’m sure she had read the reports. She worked for a newspaper and would have access to information before the general public.

  “I’ll be fine. I’m not going back to Timor-Leste with the Peace Corps volunteers, I’ll have a bodyguard.”

  “A bodyguard?” she gasped. “Anaya!”

  Shit. Why had I told her that? Evette was a worrier, always had been. Out of the three of us, she was the most cautious. Kalee and I couldn’t even get Evie on a plane to fly to Timor-Leste to visit us. Evie was so insane about it she could recite NTSB crash reports verbatim.

  “I have to go. My flight leaves in a few hours.”

  “But you’ve only been home a few days. I didn’t get to see you.”

  Guilt slithered its way down to my stomach. I’d purposely avoided her
. But I knew if she saw me, I wouldn’t be able to hide my feelings from her. She’d dig them out of me and it would worry her more. I had to go back to Timor-Leste and no amount of begging from my friend would stop me.

  “I know. I’m sorry. I won’t be gone long. When I get back, I’m all yours.”

  “Please be careful.” I could hear the hitch in her voice and my stomach tightened. “I can’t lose you, too. We didn’t even get Kalee back to…” Evette trailed off. “To you know, bury her. Poor Mr. Solberg. I haven’t been over to see him yet.”

  I had tried, but when I went to his house, he hadn’t opened the door. I could see him pacing the front room through the open curtains, but it was like he was so lost in his grief he hadn’t heard the door. I’d left without speaking to him.

  “I think he needs time to come to terms with her death. Give him time.” I hated to change topics on her, but I had to go. “Listen, Evie, I have to finish getting my stuff ready and go meet with the two men who are taking me to Dili. My flight leaves tonight but I’ll email you from the plane and check in.”

  “Anaya—”

  “I promise I’ll be safe.”

  “Okay. But check in every day or I’ll fly over there and find you.”

  “Right.” I smiled. There was nothing that would make Evie get on a plane.

  “Bye, love you.”

  “Love you. Bye.”

  I glanced around my apartment, a place where I spent very little time, and spied my phone charger and paperback I’d need for the twenty-five-hour plane ride. I shoved the items in my backpack and grabbed my small duffle.

  If all went well, I’d be home in a week.

  I walked into the lobby of the Hotel Coronado and immediately spotted Beckett “Ace” Morgan and his wife, Piper. The man was hard to miss—between his almost-mohawk, close-cropped beard, and imposing demeanor, one didn’t simply walk past Ace without staring.

  I’d met Piper Johnson, now Piper Morgan, when she was visiting her best friend Kalee in Timor-Leste. That was right before the rebels had decimated the village Kalee and I had been staying in and slaughtered the children and workers in a nearby orphanage.

  Once again my blood heated thinking about what those savages had done. Their evil knew no bounds. And what was worse than that were the so-called ‘private orphanages’ in the city. They were nothing more than brothels. Young girls groomed for a life of prostitution, sold into the sex trade, or into servitude to old men who wanted to marry a young girl.

  It was horrifying.

  “Hi, Anaya,” Piper greeted.

  Being back in the States had done wonders for her appearance; she looked healthy. However, her eyes told the real story. The tale of hiding in a crawl space for days with three orphans while the rebels had killed everyone right above their heads.

  I wondered if she’d heard the same cries I had while I’d been hiding, praying the band of insurgents wouldn’t find me as they tortured and killed others mere feet away from me.

  “Hi, Piper. How are the girls?” I asked.

  She and Ace had adopted the girls she’d protected. Thank God for Piper and Ace.

  “Adjusting. Ace is introducing them to the wonders of all things candy. So, I’m steady behind him reminding the girls to brush their teeth.”

  I knew she was making light of the girls’ acclimation to life in the United States but the smile on her face was genuine.

  “Declan and Kyle are waiting for us,” Ace announced.

  “Thanks again for setting this up for me.”

  I’d already met with Declan Crenshaw and Kyle Smith, the men who were going with me to Timor-Leste. The meeting had gone well, Declan had asked most of the questions, which was good because every time Kyle spoke I’d been captivated by his deep voice and penetrating stare. Kyle was the kind of man who held your eyes when he talked to you and demanded you did the same. Not verbally of course, it was in the way he pinned you with his gaze. He held you hostage and the ease in which he did it was disconcerting.

  He made me nervous and when I was sitting across from him I’d had to fight not to squirm in my seat or blurt out all my secrets I was sure he was reading. I figured no one hid much from Kyle, and that didn’t make me nervous—that scared the shit out of me. I’d made an art of out hiding. I was good at it. But I was no match for Kyle. Which meant I had to keep my distance. And that was going to be hard considering we’d be sharing the same space.

  Then there was the small problem that Kyle Smith was incredibly good-looking. And not in the cute, boy-next-door way. No, in the, I’m-a-badass-man kind of way. His posture and demeanor screamed danger. An air about him that left no doubt you did not want to get on his bad side. But when he smiled, everything changed. A gentleness crept in and that was even scarier. And unfortunately Kyle had smiled at me a lot during our meeting. He’d done it to try and quell my nervousness, not knowing that each time he’d done it, his smile had the opposite effect.

  “If I can’t talk you out of going back, then at least I’ll feel better knowing Kyle and Declan will be with you.” Ace’s expression couldn’t be misinterpreted. He wasn’t happy.

  “I have to—”

  “I know you do. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less dangerous. And Amisha will not be happy you’re sniffing around her business. She makes a lot of money off the girls.”

  Amisha, the woman who ran a private orphanage, was the reason I was going back to Timor-Leste.

  “I know she does,” I ground out. “It’s not right. I can’t just pretend I didn’t see what I did. I can’t sleep at night knowing—”

  Piper’s hand on my wrist stopped my outburst. “I think what you’re doing is brave and kind. But Ace is right, it’s dangerous. Please be careful.”

  The sadness I’d seen in Piper back in Sydney after she, Ace, and his team were able to leave Timor-Leste with the girls, shone in her eyes. She was thinking about Kalee.

  “I promise I will.”

  “Thank you,” Piper whispered and looked to Ace.

  His features were still hard, but they conveyed understanding. He’d seen, it too. He’d been to the very orphanage in question. The woman didn’t even try to hide her misdeeds. She flat out had told Ace and Piper their oldest girl, Kemala, was almost ready to find a husband. But Ace and his team had seen what went on next door. Where the real horror happened. Where the teenage girls weren’t sold into marriage they were rented out by the hour. That was why I had to go back. I knew what was happening and I’d never live with myself having that knowledge without trying to stop it.

  I silently followed Ace and Piper into a small room the hotel rented for business meetings, and found Declan and Kyle already seated side-by-side behind a round table.

  The two men were identical in intensity. The best way to describe them was, they had their game faces on. And that was scary, too. The danger that normally surrounded Kyle had been ratcheted up and it was sexy in a frightening kind of way.

  Neither stood but Declan motioned for us to sit. I took the seat farthest from Kyle thinking it was best to keep my distance. There was something about the man that made my body sizzle with awareness. And frankly it was alarming. He was not my type, yet he woke up all of my girly parts I’d forgotten I had. His dark blond hair, tanned skin, and set-in-stone eyes were the opposite of what I’d once dated.

  Once upon a time, I’d liked my men on the happy-go-lucky side. There was nothing cheerful about Kyle.

  “Thanks again for doing this,” I broke the silence.

  Declan’s gaze swung to me and I immediately regretted speaking. “From this point on, you are to listen to everything we tell you. Once we land in Timor-Leste, you do not question our decisions. If we feel it’s too dangerous, we pull back.”

  I felt my eyes twitch in irritation. “Yeah, see, that doesn’t work for me.”

  “Doesn’t have to,” Declan continued. “Our only purpose is to keep you safe, and if we feel you’re in danger, we’re pulling the plug.”
r />   Pulling the plug. What? I don’t think so. There was no way I was going all the way back to Timor-Leste to have these two stop me from doing what I needed to do. I’d figure something else out. I had to.

  “Then you might as well not even go. I know I’ll be in danger, because Dili is overrun with criminals and rebels. You forget, I’ve spent more time in Timor-Leste than you have—that is, if you’ve ever been there at all. I know my way around. I know who I need to see. And I know what I need to do. What I don’t need is you keeping me safe. I need muscle so I can move the girls. If you can’t do that, then thank you for your time, but I’ll go alone.”

  “That’d be the stupidest thing you could do,” Declan went on. My eyes zeroed in on an angry red scar on his neck and I briefly wondered how long ago someone had tried to slit his throat. It had to be fairly recent, the welt hadn’t completely healed.

  “Wouldn’t be the first time someone told me that.” I shrugged.

  I was tired of people telling me I was stupid. It was worse than the patronizing comments about me trying to save the world said by people who gave a few bucks to the Red Cross and thought they were doing something.