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Two devoted border patrol agents...two wounded hearts…
Agent
Brooke Hudson’s faith is shaken when she’s obligated to arrest a child
as an illegal immigrant on the Texas-Mexican border. Though tempted to
resign, she decides to try reassignment instead.
After
a violent, passionate outburst against the perpetrator of a mass
murder, troubled Agent Darien McKee is forced to transfer. Will he be
able to handle his new position?
Brooke
and Darien are assigned partners. When a deadly terrorist attack rocks
their world, they lean on each other for support and promptly fall in
love. But will an evil force tear them apart?
$3.99 Ebook
$14.99 Print
EXCERPT
Copyright 2014 © Alice Wootson
As Brooke stood at the corner with Darien waiting to cross the street, a voice caught her attention.
“Hello,
Officer Hudson.” The young man lifted his chin and glared against the
sun. “I thought you was off on Tuesdays.” He didn’t smile, which was
unusual.
“Paco?
Is that you? I haven’t seen you for a while. My schedule changed since
we talked last.” She smiled. “I almost didn’t recognize you. You were so
proud of that moustache and now you’ve shaved it off.”
“I like this way better. It looks cleaner.”
“It makes you look younger. Are you still going to night school?”
“Nah.” He shook his head and looked away. “Not for a couple of months.”
“Paco, I thought we agreed you would get your high school equivalency.”
“I
might go back.” He shrugged. “Or maybe not. It don’t matter no way.
They only let the poor get so far in this country.” He looked at her,
then away. “Besides, I don’t have time.”
“You still work for Joaquim in his store. Right?”
“No. Not no more. I got more important things I gotta do now.”
Concern
filled her mind. Paco couldn’t be involved in the drug trade. Not when
he had so much promise. Not when it was so dangerous. He couldn’t. “What
things?”
“Just…just some things.” He looked at her for a few seconds and tilted his head to the side. “Just some things,” he repeated.
Brooke frowned. “You told me that Joaquim was like a big brother to you.”
“Yeah,
well, I already got lots of brothers.” He glanced around, then settled
his gaze on Darien. He stared. “You new around here?”
“This
is my partner, Officer McKee,” Brooke said. She turned to Darien. “I
met Paco when I was first assigned to town duty.” She turned back to the
young man. “So you changed jobs already.”
“Yeah.
You know how it is.” He nodded slightly and glanced at the patrol
office across the street. “You checking in? So you still on first shift
like before, huh?”
“Yes.
Going off duty in a few minutes.” She glanced at her watch. “We’re a
bit early, but we have things we can do until it’s time to clock out.
I’ll probably see you around, Paco.” She touched his arm. “You stay out
of trouble, okay? And think hard about going back to school. You know
you’re limited without an education.” Brooke turned to go.
“Wait
a minute,” Paco said. Brooke turned back. “If I need somebody to help
me with my schoolwork, you know, my math and English and stuff, think
you can find somebody to help me?”
“I’m
pretty sure I can.” She smiled. “Tell you what. If I can’t find
someone, I’ll tutor you myself. Deal?” She held out her hand.
Paco hesitated, then he took it. “Okay. Sure. Deal.”
Brooke turned away, but again his voice stopped her. “I see you in a big hurry, but I got another question.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“Uh, how can I get in touch with you if I need to? You know, about the tutoring and stuff if I change my mind about school?”
“Just leave a message at the desk inside headquarters telling me how I can reach you.”
He hesitated before answering. “Okay. I’ll do that. So, you going off-duty, huh? You leaving kind of early today, huh?”
“You
got it.” She stared at him. “I already said that. You gotta stay
focused, my young friend.” She patted his arm. “You’re too young for
memory lapses.” She smiled. “I’m gonna be looking for that message from
you, so make it soon. Don’t disappoint—”
A
tremendous blast shook the area, slamming Brooke to the ground. Before
she could assess her injuries, a second explosion scattered debris into
the air, then a plume of flames shot up.
Brooke
tried to look around, but thick dust hanging in the air almost blinded
her. She squinted her eyes shut against flying shrapnel. More fragments,
some lightweight, but others large enough to make her wince, pelted her
back.
Her own deep cough echoed that of other people spread on the ground.
It seemed to take forever for the rumbling to fade.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice
Greenhowe Wootson grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She
attended Cheyney University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Elementary Education. She married and remained in the Philadelphia area
after graduating. She later earned a Masters Degree in Education, and
Reading Specialist Certification.
Alice
is the award-winning author of ten romance novels. She is also an
award-winning poet and a member of the Philadelphia Writers Conference
and The Mad Poets Society.
Alice has taught writing workshops for several chapters of RWA and other groups.
Alice is active in several ministries in her church, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church of Philadelphia.
Alice
spends any spare time she can find reading, writing, traveling and
enjoying her three grandchildren. She lives in Philadelphia with Isaiah,
her husband.
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