Nikolai's chuckle caused his chest to rumble. "No backing out now."

His words were in jest, but as she looked up at him a strange, faintly eager and needy look flashed in his eyes.

"Never."

Harper reclaimed his lips, losing herself in the maelstrom of emotions that threatened to pull her under. The man before her may have his faults, and she had her own issues as well, but together they were perfect in their imperfection. Them and all their dirty lies.

The End.

About the Author.

Sydney Lea is an avid reader who enjoys falling in love with one book boyfriend after another. After years of dreaming up Mr. Perfect, she has finally put pen to paper and created him herself.

www.sydneylea.com.

Also by Sydney Lea.

NEW HOPE VALLEY SERIES.

Claimed.

Tamed.

SHIFTERS UNIT.

Rekindling Their Faith.

SILVERSTONE RANCH.

Cowboy Interrupted.

Her Heart's Protector.

by Caitlyn O'Leary.

A Midnight Delta Series Novella.

It's the worst case scenario for David Sloane as a Military Police officer. An earthquake has rocked Las Flores, leaving devastation in its wake. The local government leans heavily on David to lead the manhunt to recapture the escaped convicts.

In the midst of the chaos, former army nurse Sarah Kyle arrives with the international aid workers. As David comes face to face with the woman he's never forgotten, danger continues to escalate as the desperate prisoners do anything they can to leave the island.

When conditions deteriorate will these former lovers survive, let alone have the happily ever after they deserve?

To all Who Have Served.

1.

Hot, tired and pissed didn't even come close to covering it. He really didn't give a shit what Ortiz was saying. He got it. The man had just been hired, and then he'd fired half of the department because of corruption. That was his problem. As a member of the US Army Military Police, David's problem was to make sure his two men didn't end up spending the rest of their lives in a Las Flores prison.

Wait a minute.

"Can you repeat that?" David asked the Las Flores Chief of Police.

"In my opinion, your men were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have one of my questionable officers saying they assaulted him. I'm not buying it. I can't figure out why he'd accuse them, but he does have a broken jaw."

"Fuck. Why isn't that statement in the e-mail my commander sent me?"

"Because I didn't want it in the official report yet. Like I said, I don't trust the little shit. Before a member of the Las Flores Police Department decides to make a report against members of the United States Army, I wanted to make sure I knew everything."

David pulled out his smartphone. "Okay, I only see your write-up of general facts and Rigg's statement. Where is Harrison's statement?" David asked, referring to the other American NCO.

"Harrison isn't talking. We're just getting name, rank, and serial number. This is a...what I think you call...a clusterfuck," Ortiz said the last word in English. "Did I use that word correctly?"

"Yep, you used it correctly," David continued in Spanish. He took another long sip of his coffee so he could take the time to consider all that Ortiz had told him.

"Can I read over your officer's statement? The one that you haven't put into the report."

Ortiz fished his keys out of his pocket, unlocked his desk drawer, pulled out a file, and slid it across the desk toward David.

"I've also included private notes. They outline what I think really happened. I knew you would be here asking questions, and I wanted you up to speed."

Picking up the file, David leaned back to read it.

"Take your time. I know my handwriting isn't the best."

"Isn't he expecting a copy to sign?"

"He's still in the hospital flying high on pain medication. I figure I have another day to stall. I'm hoping you can get Harrison to speak up by then."

David nodded and went back to reading. He went over the information four times since it was in Spanish and he didn't want to miss any nuance, as Spanish wasn't his native language.

"There are enough holes to drive a truck through," he said throwing the report onto the desk.

"That was my take, that's why I included my supposition," Ortiz said.

"You mean to tell me everybody in the bar stood by while two foreigners decided to beat a cop with no provocation? Then there's the part where Harrison picked up the pool cue. I'm sorry, but I've seen the military files of both men. Harrison is bigger than I am. He wouldn't need a weapon to break anyone's jaw."

"The doctors say my man's injury was done by a fist. They are quite adamant in their assessment. So I know he is lying."

"And you're thinking"

What?

A jerky tremor knocked David off of his chair.

Was it a bomb?

The floor shoved him up and vibrated, shaking him. The trembling sensation increased. Increased. Increased.

Earthquake!

He needed protection. His chair!

Pulling the tipped over leather chair on top of him, just before the ceiling crashed on top of him.

Fuck!

Ow! Goddammit, that hurt.

Plaster and dust swirled in the dim light. When would the earth stop heaving? He heard the annoying sound of faint car alarms ringing.

Who was shrieking? That wasn't him groaning, was it?

"Carmen!" Ortiz shouted hoarsely to the screaming secretary.

The earth wouldn't stop heaving until finally it abruptly stopped.

Pieces of the ceiling continued to thud around him.

He tried to move the chair, but it was stuck.

"Fuck!"

Moving his leg was a bad idea, it hurt like a son of a bitch.

"Sloane?"

"Ortiz? Are you okay?"

"No." Pushing with his shoulder the chair moved a little bit. "I'm bleeding. The window," the man gasped.

The woman's shrieks had gotten softer. David needed to concentrate on Ortiz first. He tried moving his leg again. It hurt, but it wasn't broken. He pushed harder, and the chair finally moved.

Sitting up in the darkness, David felt around and realized that a wooden beam from the ceiling had fallen on his leg. He could move his foot. It hadn't hit his knee, just the upper thigh.

Okay, you can probably walk, so suck it up. Taking a deep breath, he hefted the beam and pulled his leg out from underneath it.

"Damn." He sighed in relief. The leg still hurt, but God, not nearly like it had. David felt around in the dark and realized there were some portions of the debris that was stable enough to stand on. He pushed himself up. Pain zinged, and held him in its grips for long moments. Breathe. One. Two. Three. One foot in front of the other.

"Ortiz, I'm coming for you."

Damn, a flashlight would be welcome. It had been cloudy outside, so only weak light was shining into the room through the broken windows. He stepped carefully around the desk.

"Ortiz?" Please let the man be okay.

He wasn't. He was dead. A large shard of glass had pierced his chest.

Be well. You were a good man.

David walked to the window and looked out onto the main street.