Love After Us, page 1
part #1 of Covert Affairs #2 Series
Contents
Also By Claudia Burgoa
IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
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
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Epilogue
Excerpt
Suddenly Broken
Almost Strangers
The End of Me
About Claudia Burgoa
Also By Claudia Burgoa
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www.claudiayburgoa.com
Copyright © 2022 by Claudia Burgoa
Cover by: Hang Le
Special Cover Edition: Amanda Shepard
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Model: Martin
Edited by: Brandi Zelenka, Chrisandra Johnston, Chloe Trivelpiece, Sisters Get Lit.erary Author Services, Judy Zweifel
Also By Claudia Burgoa
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* * *
Love After Us is also available in Audio
The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers Series
* * *
Loved You Once
A Moment Like You
Defying Our Forever
Call You Mine
As We Are
Yours to Keep
Paradise Bay Billionaire Brothers
* * *
My Favorite Night
Faking The Game
Can’t Help Love
Along Came You
My Favorite Mistake
The Way of Us
Meant For Me
Finally Found You
Where We Belong
* * *
Heartwood Lake Secret Billionaires
A Place Like You
Dirty Secret Love
Love Unlike Ours
Through It All
Fade into us
Better than revenge
Breathe Me Life
Hard to love
* * *
Against All Odds: The St. James Family
* * *
Until Next Time, Love
Something Like Love
Betting on Love
Accidentally in Love
Waiting for Love
* * *
Decker Family Novels
* * *
Unexpected Everlasting:
Suddenly Broken
Suddenly Us
* * *
Somehow Everlasting:
Almost Strangers
Strangers in Love
* * *
Perfect Everlasting:
Who We Are
Who We Love
* * *
Us After You
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Covert Affair Duet:
After The Vows
Love After Us
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The Downfall of Us:
The End of Me
When Forever Finds Us
* * *
Second Chance Sinners Duet
Pieces of Us
Somehow Finding Us
* * *
The Spearman Brothers
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Maybe Later
Then He Happened
Once Upon a Holiday
Almost Perfect
* * *
Against All Odds Series
* * *
Wrong Text, Right Love
Didn’t Expect You
Love Like Her
* * *
Luna Harbor
* * *
Finally You
Perfectly You
Always You
Truly You
* * *
My One
My One Regret
My One Desire
* * *
The Everhart Brothers
* * *
Fall for Me
Fight for Me
Perfect for Me
Forever with Me
* * *
Mile High Billionaires
Finding My Reason
Something Like Hate
Someday, Somehow
Standalones
* * *
Chasing Fireflies
Until I Fall
Christmas in Kentbury
* * *
Chaotic Love Duet
Begin with You
Back to You
* * *
Co-writing
Holiday with You
Home with You
Here with You
Dear Reader,
I write highly emotional romances that include thought provoking subjects. If you would like to see a list of them, please check the link below with more information.
This book has a cliffhanger, it’s necessary to read Who We Love to fulfill the most anticipated HEA.
TW Website
* * *
Happy Reading,
Claudia
Chapter One
Mason
It’s never easy to know that I’ve lost a man during a mission. It doesn’t happen often, but casualties occur even when we do our damn best to protect everyone.
But, losing my son… my pride and joy?
My little Seth?
Just a few days ago, we were finally beginning to understand each other, maybe even get along. At least that’s what I had hoped would happen after the heart-to-heart conversation we had. Now…
I run a hand through my hair, looking at the devastation.
“Maybe he’s hiding.” Hawk, one of my best friends and business partners, pats my shoulder.
“No one survived this massacre,” I say, looking at the bodies covered with blankets. But where is my son?
“The people who died have bullet wounds just like the ones we found in Portland,” Hawk reminds me. “If he didn’t die there, I’m guessing someone saved him here too.”
But who’s behind this?
That doesn’t matter. My first priority is to find my son.
Harrison and Sanford, our best snipers approach us.
“The same guys were here. Either they helped Seth and Teddy or finished them along with the Z’s,” Harrison offers his theory.
“My guess is they just killed the Z’s. Not Teddy or Seth. There was a sniper on the scene.” Sanford points at the tallest building. “He was there, most likely using technology that let him see in the dark. They have assets.”
“We’re dealing with a company like ours,” Harrison concludes. “I’m just not sure of their intentions.”
“What happened to the men who were in the accident a few blocks from here?”
“Nathan said they ran away. We can’t confirm if they’re the same men who died during the explosions.” Beacon approaches us. He’s pale. Everyone is having trouble continuing this investigation when we’re almost certain there’s no way Seth and Teddy are alive.
“The friendly fire killed the Z’s after they…” I can’t finish that sentence. Did they kill my son?
What am I going to tell my wife? Sorry I couldn’t save another one of your sons. The first wasn’t my fault, but this one…
“He’s alive,” Grace’s voice is almost a whisper. “Dad, don’t think the worst. If you were under attack, what would you have done?”
“They were attacked with an RPG,” I remind her. “He didn’t have armor and…”
I scan the area becau se maybe they were able to get away in time. “Check the nearest hospitals. Ask for anyone who might’ve arrived with head injuries, bleeding… broken bones. He probably would have used a pseudonym for himself and Teddy.”
“You got it,” Sanford says, walking away and barking orders to the team.
Beacon, Grace, Harrison, and Hawk stay with me. I don’t know what else to do. For the first time since I started The Organization, I feel lost. Only a few days ago, I had to tell my sister and brothers-in-law that we lost their daughter.
I promised I would find her, but so far, I’ve failed them. She might be dead or in the hands of people who’ll torture her before we find her.
Now… my entire world is crumbling. The perfect bubble I created for my family popped, and I feel like everyone I love is in danger.
How am I supposed to continue?
“What do you want to do next?” Hawk asks. Everyone looks at me, waiting for orders.
Sending everyone underground is an option, but it’s not how I do things. We have to finish this mission.
“Gather all the intel you can from the scene. We’ll go to headquarters and reconvene while we have groups looking for Theodora, Piper, and Seth. Someone will try to use them to their advantage. We’ll teach them what happens when they fuck with The Organization.”
“If they captured Seth, I know he’ll stick around to gather information before he escapes,” Beacon says. “We might get ahead of the game if that’s the case.”
“Does he have a tracker with him?” I ask, hopeful.
“Unless he has a phone with him, no,” Beacon responds. “I’ll have Nathan do a sweep and see if he can find him.”
“We will find them, and we will finish this.”
Chapter Two
Seth
The doctor in San Francisco suggested I stay away from screens and physical activity for two weeks. It only lasted ten days. After that, I began to train with the men who saved me from the last shitshow I found myself in. Now I’m getting ready for what might be the most important mission of my life.
I practically sold my soul to a stranger who could be a serial killer so I could save Teddy, keep my family safe, and end the Z’s once and for all.
If I had access to my resources I could try to figure out who these men are and if I can trust them. I don’t have time to investigate Finnegan Gil, the man everyone calls The Boss, and many fear. I haven’t stopped to think if he’s one of the good guys or just another mercenary who works for whoever pays more and doesn’t care who dies under his gun.
It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but my three goals.
Seth Bradley is forgotten. I’m just another man working for Gil, thirsty for vengeance and ready to be a killer.
Darkness descends on Cloud Lake, New Mexico. We creep through the woods bordering the estate where we believe the Z’s are keeping Teddy captive. This was the only condition I gave them when they suggested I join their team to finish off the cartel. I had to know Teddy was safe.
She wasn’t. It took us all this time to find her. I don’t know what they’ve done to her or if she’s still alive. Nothing matters right now. I have to get her to safety.
After this, she’ll never be safe. This is all your fault.
“Ready?” Finnegan’s gray eyes glance at me.
I nod once.
“We’ll rescue her, but you’re not here to take her with you,” he reminds me. “We have a person designated to take her out of the house. Our doctor is waiting at the hangar, and the plane will be ready to take her to Seattle as we agreed. After that, you’re ours until we’ve finished with the Z’s.”
I know the promise I made and the price I’ll pay, but what if they kill the man who’s supposed to rescue her? What if she needs someone to trust because they broke her?
I don’t challenge his plan or his orders. I owe this to Teddy, her family, and even to this stranger who’s thirsty for vengeance.
The wait is agonizing. Sweat falls from my hairline. I check my equipment one more time. An automatic weapon, night vision goggles, and knives. I have everything I need to go into battle. We’ll finish them off once and for all this time—even if it’s not with my team and The Organization. Plenty of people have paid for my first mistake. This time it’ll be different… I’ll make sure of it.
“Go,” Finnegan says through the earpiece.
We walk toward the house at a fast pace, like predators watching their prey. I have to remind myself of the assignment as we break into the big mansion. Go in and search for intel in the server room. Everyone else will watch my back while Derek, or Blade as most of the guys call him, rescues Teddy.
“Look in the basement. That’s where they hide their prisoners,” I say, remembering the layout they had in the Amazon rainforest all those years ago.
The computer room isn’t hard to find. There are two young men working. They remind me of Archer and me. I want to spare their lives knowing there’s someone who’ll miss them. But as Finnegan told me when we ran simulations, I have to push away who I am and think only about the mission. The consequences of letting them live can be what ruins the success of the entire operation.
I follow orders, killing both men. They probably thought they could buy their way into the one percent of the population and become billionaires. Fools. The Z’s would’ve killed them at one point or another.
The shower of bullets begins to rain down on us. I don’t pay attention, knowing there are two men outside covering me while I download all the intel Gil and I need to finish off every single one of them to end their reign of terror. This information will tell us how many months it’ll take us to wipe this cartel off the map. Will someone come back to take their place?
No doubt.
As long as there’s something illegal to sell, someone will try to do it. This is why companies like The Organization exist. Is Gil’s company the same?
When this is over, I’ll ask—if he doesn’t kill me first. He might be using me to end his war, but I have to be ready to escape when it’s over. My watch beeps. I have a minute before we have to leave.
“Do they have her?” I ask, staring at the uploading bar on the screen—eighty-nine percent. Fuck, can’t this go any faster?
“You got twenty seconds,” one of the men by the door says.
I pull out the USB and ask again, “Is she with you?”
“We have her,” Gil comes through the communicator. “Do as we planned.”
I’m tempted to ask for proof of life, instead I pray that there’s a smidge of a heart inside that man, and he has Teddy with him.
Without losing time, I place the explosives in the server room as planned and start the thirty-second timer. I make my way outside the computer room, rushing behind the men who covered me while I worked. We run because the explosives on the computers aren’t the only ones.
