By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Heather Slade

Code name: Caleb “Diesel” Jacks
Target: Bryar Davies
Mission: Use intelligence to ignite the fire
of the sexiest FBI agent I’ve ever met.

DIESEL
As a Cornell grad and former CIA operative, I’ve got the wits and thirst for danger to go deep into the shadows. Seeing my fair share of death and destruction, I never flinch when my life is on the line. But when I meet her, I know she’s the only one who can truly destroy me.

BRYAR
This damn serial killer investigation is going to be the death of me—literally. And now, Diesel won’t let up, protecting me like I’m some damsel in distress. He knows I’m far from it. My FBI badge and education matches him wit for wit and danger for danger. But let’s be completely honest, Diesel has all the right fuel to ignite my fire. I just hope this doesn’t all go up in flames.

If you are reading this series, I’m sure you noticed Diesel’s reaction when he heard of the ambush on the prisoner escort in the first book. Especially when it comes to FBI agent Bryar Davies.

He knows exactly how long she was in surgery. When she calls him to tell him she’s being released, he rushes to the hospital regardless that her boss Ryan Fitzsimmons want him at headquarters. He works for Onyx not the FBI.

We do have another kidnapping to worry about in this search for the serial killer. Patricia Fasano the psychologist who was working with Maisie. Even before that takes off into full swing, she’s found and brought to the ER at the same hospital where Bryer is still a patient.

Diesel is going to question her if she’s able, but first he goes to Bryar. It seems Pershing ‘Admiral’ Kane, her boss over Ryan was on his way here, presumably to escort her back to DC. Diesel has another idea though, one that gets a bit of twist when he discovers Bryar thinks he slept with Patricia Fasano. Something that never happened.

Things are about to get a whole lot worse for Bryar, beginning with an attempt on her life.

This is a favorite scene.

Someone groaning startled me awake. I opened my eyes and realized it was Diesel, who was clearly in the midst of a nightmare. I knew the signs well enough from experiencing my own.

When I said his name and he didn’t wake up, I leaned over as far as I could and put my hand on his arm.

His eyes sprung open, and he looked around. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” My words came out as a whisper, and even that took energy I didn’t feel I had. “What happened?”

“Nightmare. Sorry.”

I shook my head. “With me.” I feel like he’d already told me, but I couldn’t remember.

“Cardiac arrest… resuscitated… stable.” He said more, but those were the only words that registered.

I nodded my head and closed my eyes. The bizarre dreams I’d had made more sense now. Maybe what I thought were nightmares were bits and pieces of what had actually happened. I didn’t see a white light or anything like that. Instead, I just remembered feeling horribly alone.

“Hey,” Diesel said, brushing the tears away that had rolled down my cheeks. “You’re okay now. You’re on the road to recovery, and soon, you’ll be out of here.”

I knew he was only trying to make me feel better, but it wasn’t working.

So I’d recover, then what? I’d still be just as alone as I felt earlier. The sole thing in my life was work. In fact, before I’d been assigned to this case, when I was off, the only people I interacted with were strangers I saw at the market or the restaurants where I’d get takeout. I could go an entire weekend without seeing or hearing from another person.

It hadn’t been much different in college. Unlike Diesel and Agent Kane, I hadn’t become friends with my roommates. They were just people who lived in the same dorm I did.

I’d had friends in high school, but no one I’d kept in touch with after we graduated.

What kind of life was I living? A horribly lonely one. As much as I hated it, I had no idea how to make it any different. I’d never been outgoing.

“Bryar, look at me.”

I shook my head when I felt his fingers touch my face.

“Don’t,” I managed to whisper. If it didn’t take so much damn energy to talk, I’d tell him to leave. Why was he here anyway? I knew why. Because I had no one else.

I tried rolling to my side so my back was to him but must’ve disconnected a wire since machines started beeping. A few seconds later, the door flew open, and three people rushed in.

“You’ll need to wait outside, sir,” I heard one of them tell Diesel. Maybe I’d get my wish, and he’d leave. The thought made me cry even harder.

“Ms. Davies, you need to settle down.”

I nodded and took as deep a breath as I could without it hurting.

“She disconnected the EKG.” I heard a disapproving voice announce.

“Be more careful. We still need to monitor your condition,” the first voice scolded after the others left.

I wanted to tell her to shut up. Why did nurses have to be so fucking mean?

“Ms. Davies needs to rest. You can come back in the morning,” I heard the same woman say.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“I can call security.”

“And I’ll call your boss.”

She huffed and walked out.

“I don’t think she’ll do it, do you?”

I shrugged and smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“She’s right. You don’t have to stay,” I whispered.

“I’m not leaving you here alone with Nurse Hatchet.”

I smiled again. “Ratched.”

“Nurse Ratched Hatchet.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“I’m sure crying hurts just as bad.”

It did, but not in the way he meant.

He held my hand in his, stroking it with his thumb. “Get some sleep.”
Heather Slade. Code Name: Diesel (Kindle Locations 671-704). K19 Shadow Operations Book Two.

Now you’d think that would be enough, but dang it gets worse.

Aside from finding a leak in the FBI, the serial killer and kidnapper, there’s now the plot to frame Bryar.

There’s plenty of action, suspense, romance, and just a touch of sizzle as this next chapter of this new arm of K19 continues. I can’t wait to read the next one!!!

5 Contented Purrs for Heather!

Coming Soon!

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