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2024-10-29 19:42:56That night Alex didn’t get much sleep. The fact that he never really slept the whole night through didn’t normally bother him. But that night he wanted nothing more than to lay there holding Joanne and doze off peacefully. But his mind just wouldn’t shut down, so he gently moved her off his chest and went into the living room to work on his laptop. He checked their travel arrangements and chatted online with his contacts. Then he emailed his foster sister, Loretta, and told her they were going to be in town.
He learnt that she had also just moved back to the States.He checked the news in Columbia and checked in with his sources there. When he got in touch with Marshall, he was shocked to hear that he’d had to disappear for a while and was now back in quebec. Evidently word had gotten out that he’d helped some prisoners escape, and he was blacklisted around Columbia. So he’d hightailed it back home to lay low. He’d ended up doing some more research on Joanne’s fath
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Risen To The Top CHAPTER 27
After getting their luggage, they grabbed a taxi and less than thirty minutes later were walking up to his foster sister’s front door. The newer stone home was in an older part of town, and he knew they’d just finished renovating the whole thing. It was where they stayed while they were in town, but their larger full-time home was in a small town called Pride almost two hours away.As they approached, the blue front door swung open and a small girl with dark hair came running towards them.“Ales, Ales” she said over and over again. He laughed and pulled her up into a tight hug. She’d grown so much since he’d seen her four months ago. Her little chubby cheeks were still as kissable. But when she started talking, he noticed a few more teeth in her mouth.“How’s my sunflower?” He swung her in a circle and kissed her all over her face, causing her to giggle.He looked over and saw his foster sister and brother-in-law, standing in the front doorway.His foster si
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 28
The next morning, after eating a huge breakfast and saying goodbye to Lor, Ric, and Daphne, Joanne and Alex settled in their rental car for the hour-and-half journey to see his foster parents.She watched the scenery change outside of town and the houses started getting further apart and smaller. Green fields covered most of the landscape and the trees were thicker.By the time they turned off and drove through the town, she could feel her nerves building again. But shortly after they’d made it through the town, she lost herself in the drive again. The road narrowed to a small two lane and she couldn’t remember seeing a drive more peaceful or relaxing. Several times she would get a peek at the large river, the Columbia, which sat just beside the winding road.The drive seemed to go on and she realized that they had hadn’t even passed any towns for a while.“Here we are,” Alex said as they pulled into a small side road which led
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 29
They climbed a twisted staircase with shiny wood railings up to a landing. There she stopped and looked down at the living space. She could really enjoy the view of the large fireplace from here. There were large windows on either side and she could just make out the river in the distance.“How often do you get to stay here?”“Well, I try to make it home for the whole holiday season. The last few years, since I’ve been working alone, it’s been easier for me to schedule my time so I make sure I’m here more often. But I don’t get to stay as often as I’d like.”They walked into a large bedroom that had a mini version of the fireplace along the inside wall. The bed was huge, most likely a California king. She looked at Alex and realized he’d need a large bed to be comfortable in. The bed in his Lima home had been large, but not this large. She’d noticed his feet hung off it and thought that in this bed, he’d actually have room to spare.“We built it with three bedro
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 30
The next morning they met his foster parents for a day trip to the beach, something they’d done since he was a kid. Usually they’d spend the whole night sleeping in a tent or sleeping bags under the stars if the weather held out.This time they had stayed late enough to have some of his foster dad’s homemade mussel soup. He’d laughed as he taught Joanne how to dig for mussels. She’d been a little grossed out at first, but after he’d showed her how to collect the first few, she’d rolled her sleeves up and been totally focused.She’d even helped him collect wood for their fire. He’d always enjoyed having a campfire on the beach. Something about the smell of burning wood and the salt from the ocean made him feel like he was truly home.As they sat on a large piece of driftwood in front of the fire, he pulled her close as he watched his foster parents laughing about a story they were telling.It was almost like life was going in slow motion for a few minutes. His mi
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 31
She knew she was being extra quiet on the long taxi ride to her condo in the rich part of town, thirty minutes from home. Alex sat quietly beside her. Most likely he was trying to figure out what to do next. She had no clue what to do, herself. By the time they had exited the taxi, she’d made up her mind that she did want him to stay. So the only question remaining was how to convince him.When she walked into her place she still felt uneasy about how to tell him that she wanted him to stay. She walked around turning on the lights, and when she noticed the light on her answering machine, she walked over and hit the button, hoping it would fill in the quiet that was hanging around the room.“Joanne, it’s Michelle I need to talk to you the second you get back.” Her secetary and best friend's voice was the first she heard.Great! she thought. She hadn’t thought about the repercussions of everything with her company. She wondered suddenly if she
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 32
That night she lay in her bed for a few hours listening to the sounds of the city around her. She missed the sounds of the jungle and of Alex sleeping beside her. She missed his warmth, his smell, his touch.She knew she was going to have a hard time falling back into a pattern. How could she ever go back to a normal life after what they’d been through? Did she want to? More importantly, did she want to do it all alone? Even though they’d only known each other a few weeks,she couldn’t stop thinking about him.The shadows on her ceiling did little to soothe her as the light hit the leaves that were starting to fall from the large tree outside her window. She turned and hit her pillow a few times, trying to get comfortable. She’d had no problem sleeping in the dirt or wet sand last week. Why was her pillow-top mattress that she’d spent a fortune on so uncomfortable now?Damn him for making her feel like she wasn’t good enough. Damn him for wal
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 33
The next morning Joanne marched into her company with her shoulders high. There was no way she was going to let Michelle fire at her. She walked out of the elevators and past the security with her head held high. She avoided talking to anyone; she just wanted to make it into her office. She was so focused on getting there, she didn’t see the new man sitting behind her desk until after she’d closed the door, leaned back on it, and released a sigh of relief.“Was it that bad?” Dory asked from her chair. She couldn’t help it, she squealed. She’d only met Dory Reno once before, on the day he’d been hired almost five years ago. He was an older gentlemen with silver hair. His suits always looked pressed and he never had a hair out of place. He had a reputation for being a hard-ass and she’d done everything she could to avoid dealing with him in her special team.“Oh,” she stood up straight and ran her hands over her skirt, trying to make sure she look
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 34
Joanne was bored. Since returning home, she’d gone to work, gone to the grocery store. Her kitchen was now fully stocked with groceries. When she’d arrived home last night she had realized there wasn’t anything to eat since she’d left for a long journey. She’d visited her friends and done other boring everyday tasks, but was still bored out of her mind. How could she ever get back in the swing of a normal life after what she’d gone through with Alex?She’d been happily surprised to see Marshall yesterday at the store. When they’d come back to her place, he’d come in and installed several small cameras throughout her place. She’d talked to him and had found out that he’d had to quit his job and leave Columbia on account of helping them escape. She felt bad, but was happy that he was going to be helping Alex out now.She was in the middle of watching the evening news, when the doorbell rang. She hadn’t even heard a word the announcer said since she’d been too busy thinkin
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- Risen To The Top
CHAPTER 181
Evelyn came awake slowly. Painfully. A sharp ache pulsed inside her head and made her wince as she tried to open her eyes. What? She was facedown over an animal, no saddle. The animal’s spine dug into her hips and stomach.Her hands were bound. The lack of blood flow and frigid temps meant they were like ice blocks on the ends of her arms. Dammit, what if she had frostbite and was too far gone to even know it? She wriggled her fingers, and the returning blood made her gasp. She kept moving, tried to wriggle her legs but they were also bound. The struggle shifted her center of gravity until she was in danger of toppling upside-down beneath the animal and being trampled. Hell. Who’d done this to her? What did they want?The smell of musty fur was overpowering, making her throat heave as her stomach rebelled.“I’m going to be sick.” The contents of her stomach splashed against the gray talus that the horse was working hard to cross. D
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CHAPTER 180
They’d followed the spoor for two hours but ground sign was disappearing as dust swirled in the wind. Duke was torn. Did he keep following the unknown originator of these tracks or go back to base camp and regroup. Base camp was calling his name but he wasn’t sure whether that was because Evelyn had destroyed his objectivity or because it was the smartest thing to do.Hell, right now he was going in circles.“Let’s mark this GPS position and head back,” he said to Sri luc quietly. The sound of horses hooves drumming against solid earth made him glance in the direction of the biologists’ camp. The student—Ivan—came flying into view, coat open and flapping in time to the rhythm of the horse.“What the feck?” They’d all rendezvoused at the snare where the tracks had been spotted, but he’d sent Ivan and the local man back to camp on horseback an hour ago. He hadn’t liked the idea of Evelyn being alone, although she’d managed without hi
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CHAPTER 179
He split them into three groups.“Can’t I go with the doc?” Lucas moaned. He might have the reputation of being the ladies’ man of the Mountain Troop, but after what Duke had been thinking five minutes earlier while trying not to kiss Evelyn Cox’s lips, legs, and everything in between, maybe he was a frickin’ ladies’ man too.He wanted her and he’d let his eyes tell her exactly how much he wanted her.What was he thinking? There was a time and a place for that sort of thing and this wasn’t it.“No.” He kept his voice light. None of them were here to get laid. “You’re with Sri luc. Jordan you go with the Great Dane. I’m with the doc.” He gave them a firm smile that told them this wasn’t up for debate. “We’ll get the biologists to give us a demo how to tranq and release the Polar bears before we head out. I want hourly radio checks.” He nodded to the men. “It might be a couple of days until the other guys get here. I’m
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CHAPTER 178
When she woke she was staring straight into the startling cobalt eyes of Officer Robert Duke. He looked like he’d wait all day for her to wake up.“I must be dreaming,” she croaked.He held out a mug of black tea.“Definitely dreaming.” She sat up, took it, and sipped. The warm liquid eased her dry throat. “Thanks. What time is it?”“0600.” His voice rolled over her. She blinked groggily. There was enough of a burr in his accent to make his voice very sexy and she figured he was laying on the charm this morning.His face was scrubbed and clean-shaven. She found herself studying his features. The vivid eyes shaded by thick brows, the cheeks scraped smooth, the jaw firm and obstinate, his nose too flat to be conventionally handsome. Yet the combination stirred up her insides like hot coals. She fought the urge run her fingers through his short blond hair. He was tall and lean and he looked really, really g
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CHAPTER 177
Evelyn shoved back the yurt flap. Mikado flung up his hands in surprise and gave a nervous laugh. “You’re back. You scared me.”“There’s a lot of that going around.”He smiled at her, brown eyes twinkling. “Ivan was worried when the horse came back without you, but I told him you be okay.”Mikado had more faith in her than she did. He returned to whatever he was doing with the cubs.She strode to the computer and opened her email and read the message. Christ, the Trust really had forbidden her to release the animals. She inhaled deeply and tried to calm the rage that continued to burn inside. They thought she was overreacting and had no proof, and in the next sentence they told her it was too dangerous for her and Ivan to go after a guy with a gun. Ivan came slowly into the tent. She didn’t know if he was scared or angry. He had a right to be both.“Did you reply to this email?” She was vibrating with em
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CHAPTER 176
For fuck’s sake. He spat in the dirt. Great. He’d spent his whole life fighting against scumbag terrorists and what happened? He ended up accused of being exactly the same sort of nutcase by someone he was trying to help. It stung. He wasn’t about to let her know that.“That’s right, love. That’s why they pay me the big bucks, so let’s move it.” He maneuvered her in front of him. “Step where the trooper steps if you want to keep your legs.” He let her walk a few paces ahead and spoke into his comms. “Jordan and Lucas, keep a low profile as we head back to the RV. See if this bastard’s hiding somewhere and decides to follow us.”They both acknowledged with radio clicks and he followed Evelyn through the bush and along the rocky path. The old guy must be damn good or damn lucky to have spotted them near that other collar. He must have night vision equipment to move so swiftly at night too. Or he had insider information.Duke moved cl
- Risen To The Top
CHAPTER 175
The midday sun beat harshly on this patch of barren rock, melting the inch of snow that had fallen during the morning. The woman beside him had finally stopped wriggling and fallen asleep a couple of hours ago. His team was in position and they’d been on stag duty while he caught a quick nap. Now he was wide awake and refreshed, but so far, nothing yet.What had made Vladimir jores turn his back on his former homeland? What made him defect to fight on the side of people who got their kicks out of brutalizing innocent civilians?Duke understood terrorists better than anyone this side of a suicide vest. He’d grown up with them, would probably have become one himself if not for the tragic death of his sister. That was the family business, right alongside farming. Being immersed in that indoctrinated shit from a young age meant he understood how people born into it found it hard to break free. It was so ingrained, so fecking normal. Talk about brainwashing. H
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CHAPTER 174
How many years had it been since she’d held hands with a guy? A soldier? A shiver brushed over her skin like a ghost from the past.It felt strange. As if she’d been transported back in time. And yet, here she was, relying on the strength of those long, strong, foreign fingers to guide her safely through the night. Adjusting her footing in response to subtle pressure changes, tuning her body to match his. Trusting a man she’d just met. Relying on a man, period.It wasn’t something she did.It wasn’t who she was.She believed in saving things, in using data to make her point, not violence. But data wasn’t going to save her Polar bears from their current predicament. Her fingers tightened involuntarily and he slowed to match her pace. The guy was fit, not even breathing heavily, despite everything they’d been through and how many miles they’d walked. She was fit too, she ran and worked out, but exhaustion was making her
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CHAPTER 173
As Evelyn lay down, her mind kept wavering back to years ago when she was still a child.When her grandfather was still the minister of ammunition, their family had been good friends with the Connery family so they always stood by each other.Her grandfather had hated L.j corporation because they and Connery corporation were rivals.They each made weapons for governments and L.j corporation were beginning to outsell Connery corporation.She remembered the old Mr Connery coming to visit her grandfather and the two of them talking in hushtones about the issues.During that period, a heated rivalry had begun and it all came to its peak one cold night, years ago.she remembered it clearly.Her mind went back through the years, reliving the moment.“Come away from there, Evelyn. Quickly now.”Evelyn knew better than to argue with her mother, but sh
