Police and Fire: Operation Alpha
Counterstrike Book 2

By
Cara Carnes

She’s never met a fight she couldn’t win…
until now.

After brutally murdering someone in Angie Bierman’s dojo, the killer targets her first and then people she cares about to scare her off the investigation. Determined to prevent further tragedy, she does the one thing she can to keep them safe—run.

Six months and ten cities later, she’s financially destitute, emotionally spent, and desperate for help in the relentless fight for her life. One close call too many brings her into contact with an elite organization. Their offer to help is too good to be true. The ruggedly handsome operative promising to put himself between her and the psychopath hunting her may have no intension of mixing business with pleasure, but he’s a temptation she can’t resist.

There’s no line he won’t cross…

John “Twitch” Stanz spent years serving his country and returned home to help his friends run Counterstrike—an organization created to help individuals caught up in impossible situations. Despite all the lives he’s helped save before, the fearless, beautiful woman now in his charge is a danger he’s never faced. She’s tenacious, passionate, and everything he could ever want, but the beast chasing her won’t stop until she’s dead.

Twitch will use every resource at his disposal to keep Angie alive even if that means taking the bullet for her.

Dojo owner and martial arts expert Angie Beirman has left everything behind to keep the people she cares about safe. She had been attacked several times in a short period of time following the brutal murder of a member of her dojo. Angie was looking for some kind of evidence to point to the real murderer, she doesn’t believe that Hannah’s ex Eric was capable of it. She has a suspicion of a wealthy business man but getting the police to investigate isn’t happening. They have Erik and believe the case is closed.

Unfortunately no matter where she goes she is found and attacked. She’s been in Chicago only two days when hired thugs find her again. They don’t have the answer she needs. Injured, she runs yet again and she’s helped by two women who know just who can help her.

The network Zero D (Zoey from the Arsenal) started is the perfect way to help Angie disappear but there’s a problem they don’t know about yet. Counterstrike is the branch that will start the process and the Arsenal steps in to help when necessary.

This is a favorite scene.

Ben pulled out a cell phone. “I’m going to make a call, put it on speaker. Listen to what he says, then we’ll figure out the next step. Okay? I’ve helped a lot of people in trouble thanks to this crew I’m gonna call. They can help.”

Angie wished it was that simple. Rather than argue, she leaned her head back on the pillow and willed the pain away. Ben took her hand and squeezed as the line rang.

“This is Jade.”

“Hey, man. I’ve got someone here who needs help. Angie’s been shot. Looks like there was an altercation of some sort here. A local thug was killed.” Ben paused. “She has evidence of recent injuries.”

“Angie?” The man’s voice boomed through the cell phone. “I’m Jade. I facilitate entry into a network to help people in trouble. The more information you give me, the safer I can make you.”

Angie swallowed. Remained silent.

“Who’s after you?” Jade asked.

When she made no reply, Ben squeezed her hand. “This network has never failed anyone they’ve helped, Angie.”

“Someone’s hunting me,” Angie admitted. “I can’t prove who, but he hires local thugs to capture me wherever I go. Ten cities now. Six months. I’m sorry. You can’t help me with this.”

Silence descended a few heartbeats. Jade sighed heavily. “The shit you call in isn’t ever easy, Ben.”

The man smirked. “You wouldn’t want the simple problems.”

“True that.” Jade paused. “Zero D’s restructured the network. I’m gonna route the call to Counterstrike. They’re an organization that’s helping run things now. If things are bigger than they can handle, Zero tags in her crew. I’ll be honest. There ain’t much Counterstrike can’t handle.”

“Thanks, man,” Ben said. The line went quiet several moments.

Unease pricked Angie’s skin the longer she waited. Every wasted minute increased the risk someone would find her. Exhaustion demanded she give Ben’s contacts the chance to help. Running had gotten her nowhere.

“Angie? My name is Twitch. I’m going to help you get to a secure location.” The man’s gravelly voice boomed from the speaker. “Ben, I understand she’s not alone with you.”

“No. There are three others here. Several more saw her enter this apartment,” Ben said. “She was shot, too injured to move.”

“She’s stable now?”

“As stable as I can get her,” Ben said.

“Okay, good. Can we trust those around to keep quiet about this?” Twitch asked.

“What the fuck?” Isa’s boyfriend shouted. “I ain’t no snitch.”

“I’m more worried about you talking if whoever is after her puts pressure on you,” the man said. “I determine how best to contain the situation.”

“She killed someone in a local thug’s crew,” Ben said. “At least, that’s what we’re assuming based on police activity near where she was.”

“Angie?” Twitch asked.

“I had no choice. They attacked.” She swallowed the revulsion rolling through her. It’d become too commonplace to justify the blood on her hands, the damage she’d done to stay alive. “This wasn’t the first attack, won’t be the last.”

“It will if I have anything to say about it,” Twitch replied. “Ben, someone will be in contact in a few hours. They’ll want the names of everyone there now and as much information as possible on the altercation.”

“Understood.”

“Angie, are you strong enough to leave on your own, or do I need to send someone to retrieve you?” Concern softened the man’s words. “I need an honest answer.”

“I’ll manage.” Angie sat up. Dizziness overcame her a moment. She eyed her backpack in the corner of the room, near the door.

“She’s lost a lot of blood,” Ben said.

“I’ll manage,” she repeated, her voice stronger than before.

“Very well. We’ll trust her judgment for now, but you can take her the first few steps until she’s out of Chicago, if you’re okay with the risk. You understand what that means.”

“I do.” The man’s lips thinned. “I’ll get her out safe.”

“Get her out of there. Take us off speaker. I’ll give you instructions once that’s done.”

Angie stood, leaned against Ben. “I can’t let him endanger himself any more than he has. I’ll do it alone.”

“Let him help you, girl,” Vani pleaded as she stood.

“Thank you for saving me.” Angie hugged the woman. Then repeated the action with Isa. “I can’t risk any of you more than I have. I wish I could repay your kindness. Please, let me do this alone. You’ve done enough.”

Silence ticked by a few more moments. Twitch sighed heavily into the phone. “Fine. I’m going to trust that you can do this alone. But the first sign of trouble, and I’m sending someone to help you.”

“Fair enough.” Angie gritted her teeth and ignored the achy throb along her injured side.

“Call me if she gets into trouble,” Ben said.

“I will.” Confidence exuded from Twitch. Angie clicked the speaker off when she took the phone.

Determination kept her standing. She looked down, noted someone had changed her shirt. She picked up her backpack and winced as pain lanced her side. The corridor outside the apartment was empty. Thankful for the lack of witnesses, she exited the building.
Cara Carnes. Justice For Angie (Kindle Locations 328-372). Aces Press, LLC. Kindle Edition.

Right from the start of her escape with Twitch on the phone with her she somehow picks up a tail. This is going to be an issue, but ever persistent, Twitch gets her to safety and then finally on a plane to him.

This book is intense, suspenseful, page-turning, action-packed, and romantic with some sizzle too.  It is also filled with so many characters I love. It was great meeting Twitch and Angie and seeing the Arsenal folks as well as Cruz and Quint from Susan Stoker’s crew.

I can’t wait to see what Cara has in store for us next!

5 Contented Purrs for Cara!

Cara Carnes

Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13. In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves traveling, photography and reading.