Soldier's Christmas Secrets. Laura Scott

Читать онлайн книгу.

Soldier's Christmas Secrets - Laura Scott


Скачать книгу
Also know I love hearing from my readers. I can be found through my website at www.laurascottbooks.com, through Facebook at Laura Scott Author and on Twitter @Laurascottbooks. If you’re interested in when Ryker’s story will be available, join my newsletter through my website. That’s where I announce new releases, and I offer a free novella that is not for sale anywhere else, to all newsletter subscribers.

      Until next time,

       Laura Scott

      Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

      —Deuteronomy 31:6

      This book is dedicated to Michael Christman, a man who has bravely faced cancer only to come out stronger within his faith. This book is for you.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       About the Author

       Booklist

       Title Page

       Copyright

      Note to Readers

       Introduction

       Dear Reader

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

       ONE

       TWO

       THREE

       FOUR

       FIVE

       SIX

       SEVEN

       EIGHT

       NINE

       TEN

       ELEVEN

       TWELVE

       THIRTEEN

       FOURTEEN

       FIFTEEN

       SIXTEEN

       EVENTEEN

       EIGHTEEN

       Extract

       About the Publisher

       ONE

      Hawk Jacobson parked his SUV and moved silently through the dark, cold December night, automatically raking his gaze over the area searching for a possible threat. As a private investigator, he didn’t have set hours, and tonight he was returning home later than usual.

      After entering his house, he didn’t bother turning his lights on as he made his way through the interior. Hawk paused near the side window, the one overlooking Jillian’s home. Dark windows outlined by bright Christmas lights indicated his neighbor, Jillian Wade, and her young daughter, Lizzy, had retired for the night.

      Just as he was about to step back from the window, he saw two men, dressed in black from head to toe, ski masks covering their faces and guns held at the ready in their hands, moving silently through the night and heading straight for Jillian’s house. No! Hawk sprang into action. Armed with a knife and a gun, yet hoping not to use either, he silently let himself out of his house. Picking the second man who was still standing on the driveway as his target, he stealthily approached from behind. With surprise on his side, he took him down, hitting him in the back of the head and rendering him unconscious. With one hostile out of commission, he went searching for the other.

      The front door of Jillian’s house was ajar, and he hated knowing the guy had breached her personal space. Years of military training enabled Hawk to move silently down the hall. The gunman was hovering between the two bedroom doorways, as if unsure which one to try first. Indecision was his enemy. Hawk grabbed him from behind, covered the guy’s mouth and took him roughly to the ground and held his gun at his temple.

      “Who sent you?” Hawk asked in a harsh whisper. “Why are you here?”

      The man’s eyes, which Hawk could see from the round openings of the ski mask, showed no emotion. The hostile didn’t make a sound, apparently too well-trained to talk. Hawk was about to knock the guy unconscious when a slight movement caught his eye. The door to the second bedroom was open a crack and he saw Lizzy’s frightened face peering out at him.

      He froze, wishing more than anything that the little girl didn’t look so terrified. Was she afraid of the gun? Probably, but he couldn’t risk hiding it from her. “It’s okay,” he called softly. “It’s me. Hawk.”

      She quickly closed the door. With a frustrated sigh, Hawk pressed on the man’s twin carotid arteries to put him to sleep, making sure he was unconscious but not dead. He took a moment to lift the ski mask, but the man’s face wasn’t familiar. Hawk didn’t recognize him. Leaving him be, Hawk rose to his feet and lightly rapped on Jillian’s door. “Jillian? It’s Hawk. I’m coming in.”

      “Hawk?” Jillian’s voice was sleepy. “What are you


Скачать книгу