The Betrayed Series: Ultimate Omnibus Collection With EXCLUSIVE Post-Shiva Short Story (165 page)

Despite both Lopez and Prenner pedaling a hundred miles a minute, they were losing altitude. Then the plume of smoke hit, giving them a little air under their wings. They sailed out over Bangkok. They sailed over the police at the front door. They tried to shoot, but Davidson backed them off. When the police got into their cars to give chase, they found that Davidson had shot out their tires.

On their own, they flew over the streets of Bangkok. And no one noticed. Really? A two-man, bike-propelled flying apparatus with two people dangling from the struts, and barely anyone looked up, and if they did, they simply looked back down. No craning of necks or pointing of fingers.

This really was Bangkok.

Losing altitude, they coasted toward the airport. Brandt seriously doubted they had clearance, but given their “apparatus,” he doubted they needed it.

Soon, their feet were barely above the tarmac.

“I’m going to try to land us,” Lopez said. “But you might want to be ready to run.”

Brandt didn’t think he could run, even if he tried. After all the missions, he was taken down by a knee injury. It was just dumb.

Rebecca dropped off first. Bracing for the pain, Brandt let go, as well. His knee, which had always behaved before, just couldn’t hold him up. Crumpling to the tarmac, Brandt cringed. Rebecca rushed over.

“Don’t move it,” she insisted, dropping down beside him.

They watched the “flying apparatus” bounce once on its wheels, then roll onto the tarmac. Still peddling, Lopez brought the “apparatus” around to them.

“Was that so steampunk, or what?” he said, grinning ear to ear.

Brandt wasn’t even sure what that was, but he nodded. It had worked, and that was all Brandt cared about.

Lopez hopped out. “Okay, I am going to find something that isn’t leg powered and get us out of Thailand.”

Brandt liked that idea best. Stark shoved the flash drive they had collected into the small tablet he was carrying. “Sending now.”

“Got it,” Bunny said. “And yes, these are the Disciples’ records. We should be able to track down their safe houses with this information.”

Gingerly trying to rise, that news made the injury worth it. If Rebecca and he ever hoped to have a “normal” life, the Disciples had to be taken down.

Forever.

EPILOGUE

══════════════════

Rebecca walked down the tidy hallway of the Camp Zama US Army hospital in Japan. Lopez had flown them here from Thailand, since it was the closest military hospital in the area. Levont was already in surgery for his broken leg, and Brandt should have the results back soon from the MRI of his knee.

In her hands, she carried a gift for him. Not stupid balloons, or even candy. Nope, she brought him beef jerky. And not that wimpy, sweet Teriyaki jerky, either. Nope, this was heavily peppered. Nice and hot jerky, just like he liked it.

She knew how worried he was about the injury. And if peppered jerky couldn’t cheer him up, nothing else could, except possibly her news.

Rebecca walked into Brandt’s room to find him lying back, with his swollen knee propped up. Between the brace, you could see the damage. Black and blue didn’t even begin to describe it. There were purples and yellows and greens. The entire color spectrum was represented in his flesh. She had known it was bad given how ginger he was on that leg, but she hadn’t known it was
that
bad. No wonder he was so worried about when he could return to the team.

“Here ya go,” she said, tossing the jerky to him.

He caught it mid-air with a grin. “Peppered, right?”

“Yes, He-Man,
peppered
,” Rebecca said, then turned to a more serious topic. “Get the results back?”

Brandt shrugged, which was never good. It was like his shoulders were trying to shuffle away the bad news. “Blown ACL with a meniscal tear. A few surgeries and physical therapy and I should be as good as new.”

She doubted that. Football players seldom recovered from an injury that severe, and they weren’t throwing around grenades and such.

“Stupid, isn’t it?” Brandt asked.

“What?”

“Levont is tortured for two weeks and will be out in the field in 6 weeks. I’ll be lucky to be back in 6 months.”

She walked up to his bedside and took his hand. “About that.”

“Oh, I don’t like this already.”

“Bunny says that there is a position open with Homeland Security in San Francisco.” Brandt went to speak, but she put a finger over his lips. “Before you say ‘no,’ feel this.” She put his hand over her abdomen.

“Is it that weird gas thing you’ve been having?”

“No!” Rebecca smacked him in the arm. “I know that I’m not showing as much as Maria, but…”

Brandt’s hand slid over her belly. “You mean… you mean you’re
pregnant
?”

Looking into his eyes, she nodded. “Yes.”

He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her from the floor. Then he tried to spin her around, but his knee wasn’t quite up to the task, and they fell back onto the bed. “San Francisco it is!”

They kissed until the door burst open and Lopez, Davidson, and Prenner walked in.

“Did I hear ‘pregnant’?” Lopez asked.

“Yes, you did,” Rebecca replied.

“I thought you had a certain glow,” Davidson said, giving her a hug.

“Congratulations,” Prenner offered, as well.

“And we’re sure it’s Brandt’s this time, right?” Lopez joked.

Rebecca punched him in the arm. “Yes!”

“Too soon?” Lopez asked with a broad grin.

“Forever plus a day would be
too soon,”
Rebecca countered, given the fact that Lopez had allowed Brandt to marry another woman when the baby had, in fact, been the corporal’s.

But all of that angst and torment was over. She and Brandt were married and about to start their family. The only slight twinge of regret was Vakasa, the little girl who had sacrificed herself to save Rebecca. She knew that Vakasa would have loved to have had a little brother or sister.

Rebecca put her hand to her belly, thinking of the life growing inside. No matter a boy or a girl, the child would be named Vakasa.

“Hey, is that beef jerky?” Lopez asked.

The magical moment was shattered by the men tearing open the bag and digging in like a bunch of Neanderthals.

Over the men, her eyes met Brandt’s. With a smile, he laughed. “At least we’re ready for kids.”

As Lopez elbowed Davidson for some jerky, Rebecca knew he was right. They were ready for the next chapter in their lives. One that didn’t involve the Disciples and RPGs.

# # #

Afterword

Thank you so much for reading the entire Betrayed collection! Hopefully you were as thrilled to read it as I was to write it.

If you did enjoy the collection I would ask a favor of you and have you go back to Amazon and leave a review. Indie authors live and die by their reivews!

Do you love Davidson, Bunny and Lopez? Well, then you 'll be thriller to know that the second cycle of the Betrayed series will star them in
Caught
which should be out later this year. In the meanwhile, check out the next section for more great thrillers!

Other Works by Carolyn McCray

The Robin Hood Hacker Series – Carolyn’s action packed techno-thriller series

Praise for the Robin Hook Hacker Series…

“
Encrypted
by Carolyn McCray is a fast paced, hair-raising thriller with a cast of fascinating characters. The heroine, Ronnie, has Laura Croft's moves, Sherlock Holmes' intellect and Indiana Jones' charm.”

Charlotte

Amazon Reviewer

“From the moment I started reading this book, I was in awe.
Encrypted
is action packed from the first sentence. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. From hackers, special agents, to the plague, you won't be able to put this one down until the end!”

The Book Goddess

Amazon Reviewer

“I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. The author definitely told a unique story that left me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for what's coming next.”

E. Smith

Amazon Reviewer

“Could not put it down, Kept me up until 4:00 AM once. Just when you think you have it figured out as to what happens next you discover you are wrong. Cannot wait for book 2 in the trilogy, Cipher, due out late this year.”

J. Benson

Amazon Reviewer

* * *

Moonrush – Carolyn’s pulse-pounding space thriller

It's 2049 and it's not gold the prospectors are looking for, it's “Star Diamonds.” And these precious gems aren't in California but up on the moon!

Join Jarod and his team of treasure hunters, Rogues Incorporated, as they dodge a nefarious competitor, crazed moon-panning prospectors, and even their own government for the ultimate “motherlode.”

Praise for
MoonRush
…

“Reading this book after taking finals at school was like taking a much needed vacation…to Outer Space! All the characters are so developed and unique and the plot twists and turns make this book rank so high on my list that I'm writing a review about it. Something that I don't normally do. So buy this book and get ready for some quality entertainment from some witty innovative writers! “

Lisa Thurman

Amazon Reviewer

“This was a fast-paced adventure with entertaining characters and an engrossing plot. Reading Moonrush was like watching a great blockbuster summer movie except that I could enjoy it while on the beach. Won't disappoint.”

BookLover1960

Amazon Reviewer

“This book played out like an action packed adventure movie in my head. You know, an action packed adventure movie with a plot, and characters that you can really relate to, and care about. It's filled with everything from science fiction to teenage angst, and nerd humor. All of the elements of a great story are there, and that's what makes it so much fun.”

DudeMcMan

Amazon Reviewer

To purchase
Moonrush
on Amazon, click
here
.

* * *

Fated – #1 Historical Romance set in ancient Rome

Torn Apart by History

Bound for Eternity

If you enjoyed the historical aspects of
30 Pieces of Silver
, I might suggest you try my latest historical paranormal romance,
Fated
. And yes, I know I just said historical paranormal romance and most of the guys out there cringed and went to scroll past. However, just like
30 Pieces of Silver
,
Fated
defies classification and has equally glowing reviews from men and women alike.

Set in ancient Rome,
Fated
is told from the perspective of Brutus in the months leading up to Caesar’s assassination.
Fated
has the feel HBO’s Rome—only with a unique McCray twist.

But don’t believe me. Here are just a few of the early reviews for
Fated
…

Praise for
Fated
…

“From Carolyn McCray comes a historical romance that will leave you hoping that for once, fate will be kind. You will be gripped from the first page to the last, caught in a love that spans eons and an ancient political intrigue whose consequence still reverberates today. This is truly a masterpiece that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.”