Read Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1) Online

Authors: N.A. Alcorn

Tags: #Strong Series, #Book One

Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1)

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

 

 

Dedication

Irrational Premonitions? February 11th, 2014 0300 hours, San Diego, CA

Part One: The Beautiful Past

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

The Lovely Letters

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

1500 hours, Sloan’s Apartment

1900 hours

2000 hours, San Diego Conference Center

2045 hours

2100 hours

2200 hours

2300 hours, Gallagher’s Pub

February 12th 0130 hours, Cab Ride

0200 hours, Sloan’s Apartment

0800 hours

1030 hours, Nix’s Apartment

February 13th 1030 hours, Solana Beach, California

1600 hours

1800 hours, Sloan’s Apartment

1830 hours, Nix’s Apartment

2200 hours, Nix’s Bed

February 15th 1000 hours

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

0600 hours, Departure Day

Part Three: The Covert Present

February 25th 1200 hours, Guadalajara, Mexico

February 28th 1700 hours

March 1st 1400 hours, San Salvador Hospital

March 5th 0900 hours

1000 hours, Dr. Mendez’s Office

March 6th 0100 hours

0800 hours

1300 hours, Dr. Mendez’s Office

1400 hours, Arturo Compound

March 7th 0800

March 8th, 1300 San Salvador Hospital

March 8th 1900

March 8th 2300

March 9th 0500, San Diego, California

March 9th 0600

March 9th 0700, San Diego, California

March 9th 1800

March 9th 2200

Part Four: The Distorted Present

March 10th 1300 hours, Arturo Compound

1400 hours

1600 hours

2200 hours

2359 hours, Hallucinations Take Over

Part Five: The Adrenaline-Pumping Present

March 11th 0000 hours, Discreet US Military Base Pueblo, Mexico

March 11th 0200 hours

0400 hours, Arturo Compound

0411 hours

0414 hours

0417 hours

0421 hours

Part Six: The Life-Changing Present

March 14th, Hospital in Galveston, Texas

March 24th

March 26th

March 27th 0845 hours

1000 hours

1400 hours

2200 hours

2359 hours

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

Reader Exclusive

Note from the Author

Other Books

Acknowledgments

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.

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