Dark highlanders, p.17
SECOND CHANCES: A REAPER Security Novel - RCAC, page 17
“That man is a keeper,” she said to Gray.
Baptiste carried the small bundle to the front porch where everyone was gathered.
“It’s a girl…Elizabeth Irene,” he said looking at his mother. A tear slid down her wrinkled face and she looked at the small pink bundle in her sons arms.
“She’s beautiful child,” she said kissing her son.
“Congratulations brother,” said Gaspar. “Damn, another girl.”
“I think we need to start a new security division,” said Baptiste. “D.A.D.D. Dad’s Against Daughters Dating.”
The entire team laughed as he walked back inside to lay beside his wife and daughter. He counted her fingers and counted her toes, her shriveled pink skin so soft against his rough callused hands. He looked over at Rose who was sound asleep and kissed her sweetly on the lips.
Moving from the bed, he knelt beside it and clasped his hands, thanking God for his great fortune, and for having found his second chance.
EXCERPT FROM FIRST CHOICE – REAPER Cyber Security Team
Stone
Stone Roberts didn’t look like your typical cyber geek. He didn’t wear horn-rimmed glasses, he didn’t wear sweater vests, and he damn sure didn’t watch sci-fi movies on his smart phone. He had served ten years as a United States Marine, specializing in electronics and communications. But once a Marine always a Marine and that didn’t include looking like an overweight former Marine.
He tested the limits of his body every day, pushing hard, running his usual six miles around the compound. The state-of-the-art gym that Nine had built when the compound was first expanding, was stellar. And every day Stone rose at 0500, completed his run and then worked out.
At six foot one, he was small by REAPER standards. Most of the other guys had been Special Forces and were still huge, intimidating men. But Stone was more of long, lean muscles, instead of big and bulky. His chest was well-defined with muscular arms, both arms were covered in tattoos from his various missions and they were definitely not something he regretted.
Reaching the end of the path, he walked the rest of the way, cooling his body down before he entered the offices of RCS – REAPER Cyber Security. Although most of the team had moved to New Orleans, Stone was one of several guys that had chosen to stay with the cyber team. Sylvester DiMarco had been one of those guys as well. A brilliant hacker that had served his four years in the Army and gotten out.
“Morning Sly,” he said stepping into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
“Morning,” he said looking at the sweaty man. “You know, all that running is going to kill you man.”
“That so?” he said laughing. “I’d be more inclined to say all that pizza and candy are going to kill you man.” Sly looked ten years younger than his age. His red hair, blue eyes, and freckles made him appear eighteen, when in fact he was twenty-eight. But he hadn’t taken care of himself at all. Sitting in front of a computer for ten hours a day would do that to you.
“Whatever…I used to run like a jack rabbit but I just don’t want to anymore.” He said looking at the lean muscular body of his friend. He wasn’t into guys, but Stone did have a great shape and he certainly turned heads with the ladies. His dark hair and blue eyes were often referred to as dreamy by the women at Malone’s, while Sly sat back and watched his gut get bigger.
“Well, if you ever want to start running again man, I’m happy to be your running buddy.”
“Yea, thanks,” he said looking away. Sly suddenly felt ashamed for letting his body go the way he had. But things get away from you, or that’s what he told himself. “Hey, we’ve got a new system that has to be installed and it’s a good one.” He smiled at Stone.
“Oh yea, where is it?”
“The Silver Pony,” he said grinning.
“The strip joint on Jackson?”
“Yep, the very one. This should be fun brother,” said Sly walking out of the kitchen.
“Yea…fun,” he said under his breath. “If you like seeing your ex-girlfriend strip for other men.”
Bronwyn
God she hated this job. She hated the other girls, she hated the men, she hated the music. She hated the pissy smell in the bathroom. She hated the stale smell of beer behind the bar. And more than anything she hated that she stayed for two desperate reasons and couldn’t fucking leave.
One. She needed the money. Desperately needed the money. It wasn’t that she couldn’t make ends meet, but her alcoholic mother was going to be kicked out of her house if she didn’t at least help her for another few months. The tips here were great, but Bronwyn had made it very clear from the beginning that she wouldn’t strip.
She was fine with dancing on the pole or even doing private dances, but never stripping. That was where she drew the line. The bouncers were good guys and always made sure that the girls were taken care of during the private dances, so she never felt unsafe as long as they were around. When she felt unsafe, was when she was leaving the building. Every fucking night.
Bronwyn knew that someone was watching her, she could feel it. That feeling of chills creeping up your back, the faint sounds of breathing. She had begged the owner for more security and today they were finally going to install it.
And that brought about the second reason she had to work at this skin joint. Her sister Jane. Jane had been stripping at the club for almost two years by the time Bronwyn found her. Younger than Jane by three years, her mother hadn’t told her she was missing until it was too late.
In the beginning, she had asked too many questions and the owner had threatened to fire her. Now she was just waiting for the right person to walk in the door and give her one simple clue as to where the shit her sister was.
She watched the other girls rehearsing, her skimpy bikini bottoms riding up her ass crack. She pulled the sweatshirt around her, the cold air conditioning blowing on her neck. Lou liked to keep it cold in here, he said it made their tits perkier and the customers loved that. She hated it.
Just once why couldn’t the universe send her someone to help her? Her whole life she had been trying to take care of her mother and watch out for her stupid older sister. And now she was just asking for one…
The front door opened, sunlight blinding her in the dimly lit room. A tall, well-muscled body walked in carrying a bag slung over one broad shoulder and two big boxes. His muscled arms, flexed with the weight of the boxes, his forearms ridged with long lean muscle.
Following him was a heavier guy that she completely ignored. Because the one with the boxes was the one she knew. Of all the fucking men to send her.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” she said standing moving toward the guy. “Stone Roberts. Where the fuck is my sister?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Kennedy is the mother of two adult children and grandmother to two beautiful grandsons. She works full-time at a job she loves and writing is her creative outlet. She lives in Texas and enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking. Her passion for assisting veterans and veteran causes comes from a strong military family.
REAPER Security is a series of thirteen books. The new series will follow the Cyber Security team and their geeky perfectness.
Dear Readers,
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Kennedy, Mary, SECOND CHANCES: A REAPER Security Novel - RCAC
