Reckless River: Men of Mercy, Book 3 Read online

  Reckless River

  Men of Mercy, Book3

  Lindsey Anderson

  Cypress Bend Publishing, LLC

  Contents

  Copyright

  Introduction

  Acknowledgments

  DOSSIER

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Epilogue

  Before you go…

  David: Men of Mercy Novella

  Ravaged River

  Also by Lindsay Cross

  Copyright © 2015 by Lindsay Cross

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  ISBN: 978-0-9968360-2-9

  Introduction

  Praise for the Men of Mercy Series

  “Lindsay Cross delivers high-powered action, alpha heroes and an exciting conclusion!”

  - ELLE JAMES

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

  “This is one of those books that the phrase sit down, shut up and hang on would be used because it’s a wild ride from page one to the end.”

  - 5 Star Goodreads Review, Redemption River

  “This book was wall to wall action. Once the danger hit, it never slowed down. I was late leaving my house because there was no way I could stop reading.”

  - 5 Star NetGalley Review, Redemption River

  Acknowledgments

  I want to give a huge thank you to Megan Mitcham for your daily motivation and for keeping it real. Your badass Base Branch Series rocks!!! I couldn’t have done it with out you!

  Another big shout out to Kim Killion and Jennifer Jakes-without you and a bucket load of patience, the Men of Mercy would never have these truly awesome covers.

  Thank you to my dad for giving me the love of reading and to my mom for dropping everything to read my books and catch those last minute mistakes.

  My beautiful beta readers, Jenna, Jamie and Lauren-you’ve helped make the Men of Mercy shine.

  And last, but most definitely not least, thank you to my true military hero-my husband. I love you all.

  DOSSIER

  TASK FORCE SCORPION (TF-S)

  A branch of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)

  Ft. Grenada, MS

  MACK GREY: Detachment Commander, Captain

  ♣Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ft.

  Benning, GA

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare,

  special reconnaissance, interrogations

  specialist, psychological warfare

  ♣First in Command. Responsible for ensuring

  and maintaining operational readiness.

  ♣Height: 6’

  ♣Weight: 195lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Gothic

  Serpent, Somalia.

  Operation Desert Storm, OIF, Operation

  Crescent Wind,

  Operation Rhino, Operation Anaconda,

  Operation Jacan, Operation Mountain Viper,

  Operation Eagle Fury, Operation Condor,

  Operation Summit, Operation Volcano,

  Operation Achilles

  HUNTER JAMES: Warrant Officer, Detachment Commander

  ♣Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment,

  Ft. Benning, GA

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare,

  special reconnaissance, psychological warfare

  ♣Responsible for overseeing all Team ops.

  Commands in

  absence of detachment commander.

  ♣Height: 6’3”

  ♣Weight: 230lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Enduring

  Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind,

  Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana,

  Operation Mountain Viper

  RANGER JAMES: Team Daddy/Team Sergeant, Master Sgt.

  ♣Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment,

  Ft. Benning, GA

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon

  ♣Plans, coordinates & directs Team

  intelligence, analysis and dissemination.

  ♣Height: 6’4”

  ♣Weight: 225lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Enduring

  Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind,

  Operation Anaconda, Operation

  Jacana, Operation Mountain Viper,

  Operation Eagle Fury

  JARED CROWE: Weapons Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class

  ♣Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon, Sniper

  ♣Weapons expert. Capable of firing and

  employing all small arm and crew

  served weapons

  ♣Height: 6’0”

  ♣Weight: 220lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Enduring

  Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation

  Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation

  Condor, Operation Summit, Operation

  Volcano, Operation Achilles

  HOYT CROWE: Asst. Weapons Sergeant, Staff Sgt.

  ♣Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon, Sniper

  ♣Weapons expert. Capable of firing and

  employing all small

  arm and crew served weapons

  ♣Height: 6’0”

  ♣Weight: 210lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Enduring

  Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation

  Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation

  Condor, Operation Summit, Operation

  Volcano, Operation Achilles

  AARON SPEIRS: Medical Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class

  ♣Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare,

  special reconnaissance, medic

  ♣The life-saver. Employs the latest field

  medical technology

  and limited surgical procedures

  ♣Height: 6’1”

  ♣Weight: 195lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Anaconda,

  Operation Jacana, Operation Condor,

  Operation Summit, Operation Volcano,

  Operation Achilles

  RISER MALLON: Asst. Medical Sergeant, Staff Sgt.

  ♣Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventio
nal warfare, special recon, medic

  ♣The life-saver. Employs the latest field

  medical technology

  and limited surgical procedures

  ♣Height: 6’2”

  ♣Weight: 215lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Anaconda,

  Operation Jacana, Operation Condor,

  Operation Summit, Operation Volcano,

  Operation Achilles,Operation Mountain Viper,

  Operation Eagle Fury

  MERC: Engineer Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class

  ♣Recruited from Special Operations Group

  (SOG) of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon,

  Demolitions, psychological operations

  ♣Demolition expert. Trained in psychological

  warfare, conducts field interrogations.

  ♣Height: 6’5”

  ♣Weight: 250lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Classified

  ETHAN SLADE: Communications

  Sergeant/Commo Guy, Sgt. 1st Class

  ♣Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment,

  Ft. Benning, GA

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon,

  communications

  ♣Communications expert. Employ latest FM,

  multi-channel,

  and satellite communication devices.

  ♣Height: 6’0”

  ♣Weight: 200lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Condor,

  Operation Summit, Operation Volcano,

  Operation Achilles

  SHANE CARTER: Weapons Sergeant, Staff Sgt.

  ♣Recruited from the Marine Corps Forces

  Special Operations Command (MARSOC),

  Camp Lejeune, NC

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon,

  weapons expert/sniper

  ♣Weapons expert. Capable of firing and

  employing all small

  arm and crew served weapons

  ♣Height: 5’11”

  ♣Weight: 180lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Iraqi

  Freedom, Operation Condor, Operation

  Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation

  Achilles

  CORD CARTER: Weapons Sergeant, Staff Sgt.

  ♣Recruited from the Marine Corps

  Forces Special Operations Command

  (MARSOC), Camp Lejeune, NC

  ♣Specialized Skills: direct action,

  unconventional warfare, special recon,

  weapons expert/sniper

  ♣Weapons expert. Capable of firing and

  employing all small

  arm and crew served weapons

  ♣Height: 6’1”

  ♣Weight: 210lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Operation Iraqi

  Freedom, Operation Condor, Operation

  Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation

  Achilles

  

  MR J: CIA Liaison, Embedded with ISA

  ♣Special Activities Division (SAD) of the

  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

  ♣Specialized Skills: Classified

  ♣Training: Classified

  ♣Height: 5’10”

  ♣Weight: 170lbs

  ♣Combat Experience: Classified

  Prologue

  “Remind me why we’re here again.” Hoyt tossed the fresh-caught fish from the river down on the log at their campsite and pulled his fillet knife from his belt.

  “You know why were here.” Jared’s curt reply left much to be desired by way of explanation.

  “I know why, but what I don’t know is why.” Hoyt grabbed the first fish off the stringer and cleaned it, using the overturned log as a makeshift table.

  Jared continued to stoke the campfire, the river rushing by twenty feet away. The sun dropped low on the horizon, hiding behind the tall Tennessee Mountains. Tennessee…God, how he hated this place.

  “I heard there’s movement at Crowe Camp, you know this may be our chance for long overdue revenge.” Jared threw the last log on the fire, the loud crash sending sparks flying into the air.

  Katlyn Crowe, a.k.a. Miss Kay, was Hoyt and Jared’s aunt. She was also the woman who had single handedly tried to kill them when they were children, and would have succeeded if it not for a scared little girl with the biggest golden eyes. She’d helped the brothers escape from Kay and Crowe Mountain.

  “You really think Kay doesn’t know someone is trying to overthrow her? She owns that mountain and all the people on it. One whiff of treason and she’d have the whole county reporting,” Hoyt said.

  Just thinking about Kay had Jared clenching his hands into fists. She was the reason for his nightmares. The reason he had to flee his home. “I think any chance to get our revenge is worth a shot.”

  “And what if it’s a trap?” Hoyt brought the fish filets over, laid them in a cast-iron skillet and placed it on the grate over the fire.

  “Either we take the chance at getting even or we puss out. I think we made the right decision.” The smell of cooking fish filled the air, but Jared doubted he could eat with his stomach crammed this full of revulsion.

  Hoyt shook his head, the tired lines around his eyes deepening. The glow from the fire branding his skin a golden tan and his curly blond hair almost honey. Hoyt didn’t possess the deep-seated hatred for the Crowes that Jared did. But Hoyt was younger than him, enough so that he didn’t remember the pain, the starvation, the beatings Jared had taken to protect him.

  Jared did though. He remembered every single one.

  “I love you, brother. And you know I’ll follow you anywhere,” Hoyt hedged.

  “But what? Finish what you wanted to say.”

  “But I think you’ve let this hatred eat at you for too long. I thought you were moving past it. But now I find out you’ve been keeping tabs on that place, after all these years. You’re obsessed. If you’re not careful, you’ll spend your whole life hating and miss out on all the good.” Hoyt’s voice was quiet but dead on. His brother had always been the kind one, the happy-go-lucky ladies man, but he didn’t shirk from the shit either.

  “How can you be so damn optimistic? You’ve seen the same crap I have on missions. You’ve seen the genocide, the rape, the murder. Hell, worse even than that. Not sure where you’ve been, but all I’ve seen is plenty of evidence that the human race is fucking evil.” The last mission the brothers’ Special Forces team had been on was a case in point. They’d tracked the terrorist, Al Seriq, to his compound in Pakistan to find hundreds of dead bodies, and to boot, they’d lost their teammate. There’d been nothing but death. And their team, Task Force Scorpion, had lost track of the terrorist. Fuck.

  “What about back home? There’s a lot of good there.” Hoyt flipped the fish over and uncapped a bottle of water.

  “Home? We don’t have a home. If you’re talking about Mercy, Mississippi, that’s where Hunter and Ranger are from. Not us. You think they want us staying around there?” After escaping Crowe Mountain the brothers had quickly learned how hard it was to survive on their own. They’d seen the military as a light at the end of the tunnel. It provided three meals a day, a place to live, and a way to earn a living. Something the brothers had never had. Jared had joined up the day of his eighteenth birthday and Hoyt followed suit. “You think they want a couple of white trash orphans hanging around their family?”

  Hoyt removed the fish from the heat and split it between two paper plates. He remained silent as he handed one to Jared and then took his spot on the ground, sitting cross-legged near the fire. The chilly fall air had a stiff bite tonight and Jared found himself hugging the fire, too.

  They ate in silence. Had he been too harsh? Was Jared slowly murdering his brother’s hope for no reason?

  Or was h
e protecting him from heartbreak?

  “I really like it there.”

  Jared was jerked from his thoughts by Hoyt’s soft response. “I know you like it in Mercy, but you know better. You never get attached. Attachments are weaknesses. Next thing you know you’ll be trying to get married and settle down. But you and I both know that’s not in either of our cards.” What did they have to offer? Nothing but white trash DNA and a past so screwed up even the SF psychologist steered clear.

  Hoyt jumped to his feet and clenched his hands at his sides, his blue eyes burning as bright as the campfire. “Dammit, I’m sick of never being good enough. When will it end? When do we get to settle down and live out our lives without our past hanging over our every move?”

  Jared stayed down, knowing Hoyt needed to get this out and come to terms. “When have I ever steered you wrong, little brother?”

  Jared had devoted his life to raising Hoyt and protecting him. When the military tried to separate them into two different SF Teams, Jared had simply refused. After multiple fights and demerits, he’d succeeded. And now the Crowe brothers were the most decorated snipers in the whole Special Forces.

  “You’ve never steered me wrong, but you’ve never let me live either. And now look where we are. We’re back on this fucking Godforsaken mountain, probably walking straight into a trap, and for what? All because you need revenge for something someone did to us when we were little kids!”

  Anger coursed through Jared’s veins and he surged to his feet. “You might not remember what she did to us, but I do! I have to live with it every time I close my goddamn eyes. Of course I want revenge! I have to put these demons to bed.” Before I lose my mind.

  “I hope you’re right this time, brother. I really do, because this is the last time I’ll come back here. I intend to move on from this. I will make Mercy my home and I will find someone to have a real relationship with. I’m sick of being homeless and I’m sick of being married to the military. I want more!” Hoyt threw his plate into the fire and stomped off into the woods. He stopped at the tree line and turned around. “Don’t follow me. I’ll be back for second watch.”