Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1)
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Authors: N.A. Alcorn
Tags: #Strong Series, #Book One
Covertly Strong
Copyright © 2014, N.A. Alcorn
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
License Notice
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you wish to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Disclaimer
This is a work of adult fiction. The author does not endorse or condone any of the behavior enclosed within. The subject matter is not appropriate for minors. Please note this novel contains profanity and explicit sexual situations.
Cover Image:
Scott Hoover Photography
Cover Model: JC Mason
Cover design: Melissa Gill -
MG Book Covers & Designs
Editor: Mickey Reed-
www.mickeyreedediting.com
Formatting: Stacey Blake,
Champagne Formats
Irrational Premonitions? February 11th, 2014 0300 hours, San Diego, CA
The First Moment, June 1st, 1998
She’s The One, August 14th, 1998
Young Love, September 8th, 1998
This Isn’t Goodbye, May 28th, 1999
Unwilling Goodbyes & Shattered Hearts
Part Two: The Serendipitous Present
February 11th, 2014 1245 hours, Sloan’s Apartment San Diego, CA
1335 hours, Discreet Location Near San Diego Bay
2000 hours, San Diego Conference Center
February 12th 0130 hours, Cab Ride
February 13th 1030 hours, Solana Beach, California
1900 hours, Eric Church Concert
February 18th 1800 hours, Two Days Until Departure
February 19th 2000 hours, Ten Hours Until Departure
February 20th 0100 hours, Five Hours Until Departure
Part Three: The Covert Present
February 25th 1200 hours, Guadalajara, Mexico
March 1st 1400 hours, San Salvador Hospital
1000 hours, Dr. Mendez’s Office
1300 hours, Dr. Mendez’s Office
March 8th, 1300 San Salvador Hospital
March 9th 0500, San Diego, California
March 9th 0700, San Diego, California
Part Four: The Distorted Present
March 10th 1300 hours, Arturo Compound
2359 hours, Hallucinations Take Over
Part Five: The Adrenaline-Pumping Present
March 11th 0000 hours, Discreet US Military Base Pueblo, Mexico
Part Six: The Life-Changing Present
March 14th, Hospital in Galveston, Texas
March 28th 0530, Homeward Bound
The Beautifully Gray Beginning
May 30th, Nix & Sloan’s Home, San Diego, CA
July 1st, Sloan’s Parents’ Home, San Diego, CA
This book is dedicated to:
One distracting little four year old in a superhero cape named Sid, and his Miniature Schnauzer side-kick named Gus—also known as Batdog—who were no help in writing this book.
And to all of the heroic men and women of the United States Military. Thank you for all of your service and sacrifice.
God Bless America
HE REMEMBERS THAT IT HURT. God, it hurt to even look at her.
His clammy, sweat-soaked arms clutch at his chest as fragments of his nightmare drift away, his mind slowly clearing and coming back to the present. The room is illuminated by the soft glow of the moon, night still hovering in the sky. His heart pounds furiously within his chest, the frantic beating resonating inside his ears. His lungs wildly struggle for air.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
He fights to calm his anxious body as remnants of adrenaline continue to course through his blood stream. He focuses on reality—
on the here and now
—as his sleepy eyes work past the fog. Sweat creases his brow. His eyes blink several times until his vision is no longer blurred. Cerulean irises adjust to the darkness, aiding in his ability to understand that was all just a dream.
It was a fucking nightmare.
Years. It’s been years since he’s dreamed of
her
, since Sloan has fought her way back into his mind. Years since he’s been able to picture her face so vividly. His chest still aches from the devastation that consumed him during sleep, during the awful nightmare of seeing her lifeless body.
She
was dying
. She was fucking dying and he couldn’t do a goddamn thing about it. All he could do was watch as her life unraveled thread by thread, helplessly witnessing her struggling to survive…
“
FUCK!”
he shouts into the silent room as his hands run roughly through his hair.
What in the hell brought this on?
That seemed like more than just a dream… It felt so real…
He pushes that nagging feeling away and chooses to ignore the thoughts of irrational premonitions—visions of what’s about to happen. Nixon West doesn’t believe in bullshit like this. He’s a goddamn SEAL for fuck’s sake. He’s a warrior. He doesn’t live his life following
feelings or emotions.
He thrives off facts. Off strategy. Off exact plans of action.
There is zero room for
irrationality or
intuitions
.
His large, muscular form sits on the side of his bed, his sheets left in a tangled mess. His head rests in his hands as he strives to get his shit together—strives to ignore the overwhelming feelings that pierce his soul.
Get it together, Nix. Get it the fuck together.
Now that his heart rate is under control and the unease of his nightmare has left his system, Nix lies back on his bed. He can’t stop his mind from reminiscing. He lets himself do something he hasn’t done in a very long time—think about
her
. He lets himself remember what they had—
love.
They had so much love, but for some fucking reason, she gave up.