ONE TO
LEAVE
By Tia
Louise
BLURB
Some
demons can't be shaken off. Some wounds won't heal. Until a pair of hazel eyes
knocks you on your ass, and you realize it's time to stop running. Meet Stuart Knight Dec. 29, 2014. #SexyCowboy
EXCERPT
One to
Leave By Tia Louise *unedited draft, subject to change Release Date: Dec. 29,
2014 Years earlier, behind enemy
lines. Long nights, sitting against the wall staring into darkness. We’d
shared just about everything to pass the time, to keep from going insane from
the monotony combined with the stress of knowing at any time we could be blown
up or shot. We were walking targets, and we’d been lucky. “You’re right,” Derek
exhaled, looking away again, out at the expanse of beige. “I’m proud of my
service, but when the time comes, I’ll walk away.” “You’ve got another road
ahead of you.” I didn’t think any less of him. Some guys in this outfit didn’t
have the right stuff, the right attitude or the honor, but that could never be
said of this guy. “I’m glad we served together.” “Now who’s getting soft?” His
deep laugh was the last sound I heard before the staccato CLANK! of a grenade dropped into the
space with us. We had seconds, if that long. No time to speak, only time to
act. Reaching down, I grabbed it, and threw it as fast and hard as I could. It
was just out the window when the BLAST!
threw us both against the wall. My back had been curved from the throw, and I
hit a bare space. I was winded, but not hurt. Derek was out cold. White smoke
filled the room. Our luck had run out, and we were under attack. Shots fired
outside as I made my way through the blindness to where his dark body was
slumped on the stone floor. “Fuck!”
I shouted. He was as big as me and twice as heavy, but I’d be damned if I left
him. With a deep grunt, I hauled him onto my shoulders. His voice was a groan
in my ear. “Stuart. Go on. Go.” “You’re not dying today, soldier,” I shouted
back. Months of working out and not much else between the explosions and the
darkness had me strong as a damn mule. I went up the short flight of steps to
the exit. I had no idea what I’d be stepping into when I went through that
door, but they knew we were in here. We couldn’t stay. I held Derek steady on
my back as I peered into the smoke and dust filling the air. Two bodies in robes
right ahead of us. Not Americans. There wasn’t anything we could do for them,
but I would do something for us. A convoy had been preparing to transport the
last of us two houses down. If I could make it that far, it was possible we’d
be safe. I couldn’t see a damned thing as I made a break for it. My thighs
burned with the exertion and the extra weight, and my lungs seized from the
smoke. Derek was a fucking dead weight on my back, but I barely noticed with
the adrenaline pumping in my veins. I was born for this. Blinking hard, I could
just make out the hulking shapes of the armored trucks waiting to take us away.
“We’re almost there,” I shouted, even though I was pretty sure he was out
again. Taking the first step, I dug in with my heel, trying to gain speed with
traction. Combat boots, thirty-seven pounds of weaponry, ordnance, spying shit,
and my commanding officer. I ran as fast as I could to the symbol of safety. I
was just there when my feet went out from under me. My ears rang with the noise
of the explosion, and pain shot like fire through the lower half of my body. I
flew forward and landed on my chest in the dirt. I couldn’t stop shaking. It
wasn’t fear—it was adrenaline combined with the effort I’d been pushing to get
us to safety faster. My brain tilted on its side. The trucks were near, but
they couldn’t see us in all the smoke and confusion. Bodies were running all
around us. I needed to get up, but I was dazed. God dammit! I was made for this. I tried to force myself to get
up, but my body didn’t respond. I was above myself looking down. Derek lay on
my back exposed, unprotected. What the
fuck was happening to me? I fought against this pansy-assed flake-out. I
had to get back down there. I had to carry my brother to safety. I was stronger
than this. Somebody had to see us, but the whole place was in confusion.
Another whistling rocket, another explosion. I struggled to open my mouth and
yell for backup. Nothing came out. I saw a truck jolt and fly back. It was hit.
Then, like an old-fashioned television switching off, everything blinked to
black. I didn’t see anything anymore.
Books By Tia Louise
One to Hold
(Derek & Melissa), 2013
One to Keep
(Patrick & Elaine), 2014
One to Protect
(Derek & Melissa), 2014
One to Love
(Kenny & Slayde), 2014
One to Leave
(Stuart & Mariska), Dec. 29, 2014
Purchase Signed
Copies: http://smarturl.it/SignedPBs
About the Author
Tia
Louise is a former journalist, world-traveler, and collector of beautiful men
(who inspire all of her stories... wink)—turned wife, mommy, and
novelist.
She lives in the center of the U.S.A. with her lovely
family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging,
hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations~ It’s possible she has a slight truffle addiction.
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