Rogue Protector, page 23
“Mikayla, you are the love of my life. I have never met another woman who challenges me like you do, who trusts me like you do, or who can hold her own against…well…anything. I love you. Now and forever.”
“Forever?” The single word escapes on a whisper.
“Yes. I don’t do things halfway. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Mikayla Salim. We don’t have to get married. Unless you want to. But now that I know what it is to have you in my life, I don’t want to let you go.”
For a full minute, Mik doesn’t say a word, and half a dozen scenarios run through my mind. Her kicking me out. Her telling me she can’t be with me because I let Branch and Wally die. Her telling me two solid days of closeness was just too much.
“So, when do I get to meet all of these people?” Mik asks. “This new…family of…ours.”
“Ours?”
“Yes. Ours.” She cups the back of my neck and pulls me down for a kiss, and for the first time since I walked out of Hidden Agenda’s headquarters exactly one year ago today, my life makes sense.
My name is Austin Pritchard. I protect my family. Even when that means going rogue. And I love Mikayla with everything I am.
Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.
Thank you for reading Rogue Protector. Austin’s story was one that I’ve wanted to tell for over a year now, and you’ll definitely see him and Mikayla again in future books. In fact, he has a pretty important role to play in the next book in the series, Rogue Officer.
Want to know more about Griff? You can preorder Rogue Officer now!
* * *
THE END
Acknowledgments
Writing a book might seem like a solitary affair, but I assure you, it isn’t. This book in particular took a small army—or at least a village—to complete.
JW: You read my books when they’re still half-finished ideas, rough and ugly. And then you read them again when they’re done. That’s a lot of reading. Perhaps even more importantly, you deal with all of my random insecurities and panic attacks when life gets in the way of…everything.
JF: We’ve had this discussion too many times to count. But even though, yes, I can write emotions, when you edit for me, you always seem to find that perfect place to add that perfect word or phrase at least a couple of times in every book.
Special thanks to my beta team for this book. You were amazing and everything you did? All your help? Above and beyond anything I could have asked for.
Donna, Sadie, Kari, and Kayce…I can honestly say this book would not have been done without you.
About the Author
I’ve always made up stories. Sometimes I even acted them out. I probably shouldn’t admit that my childhood best friend and I used to run around the backyard pretending to fly in our Invisible Jet and rescue Steve Trevor. Oops.
Now that I’m too old to spin around in circles with felt magic bracelets on my wrists, I put “pen to paper” instead. Figuratively, at least. Fingers to keyboard is more accurate.
Outside of my writing, I’m a professional editor, a software geek, a singer (in the shower only), and a runner. I love red wine, scotch (neat, please), and cider. Seattle is my home, and I share an old house with my husband and cats.
I’m on my fourth—fifth?—rewatching of the modern Doctor Who, and I think one particular quote from that show sums up my entire life.
“We’re all stories, in the end. Make it a good one, eh?” — The Eleventh Doctor, Doctor Who
I hope your story is brilliant.
You can reach me all over the web…
patriciadeddy.com
patricia@patriciadeddy.com
Also by Patricia D. Eddy
Away From Keyboard
Dive into a steamy mix of geekery and military prowess with the men and women of Hidden Agenda and Second Sight.
Breaking His Code
In Her Sights
On His Six
Second Sight
By Lethal Force
Fighting For Valor
Finding Their Forevers (a holiday short story)
Call Sign: Redemption
Gone Rogue (an Away From Keyboard spinoff series)
Rogue Protector
Rogue Officer
Dark PNR
These novellas will take you into the darker side of the paranormal with vampires, witches, angels, demons, and more.
Forever Kept
Immortal Hunter
Wicked Omens
Storm of Sin
Elemental Shifter
Hot werewolves and strong, powerful elementals. What’s not to love?
A Shift in the Water
A Shift in the Air
By the Fates
Check out the By the Fates series if you love dark and steamy tales of witches, devils, and an epic battle between good and evil.
By the Fates, Freed
Destined: A By the Fates Story
By the Fates, Fought
By the Fates, Fulfilled
In Blood
If you love hot Italian vampires and and a human who can hold her own against beings far stronger, then the In Blood series is for you.
Secrets in Blood
Revelations in Blood
Holidays and Heroes
Beauty isn’t only skin deep and not all scars heal. Come swoon over sexy vets and the men and women who love them.
Mistletoe and Mochas
Love and Libations
Restrained
Do you like to be tied up? Or read about characters who do? Enjoy a fresh BDSM series that will leave you begging for more.
In His Silks
Christmas Silks
All Tied Up For New Year’s
In His Collar
Patricia D. Eddy, Rogue Protector
