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Soldier's Christmas Secrets
Laura Scott
He’ll do whatever it takes …to protect his family When a plane crash leaves special ops soldier Hawk Jacobson with amnesia, all he knows is that the plane was sabotaged and he has a target on his back. His survival depends on letting everyone—including his wife, Jillian Wade—believe he’s dead. Until gunmen come after Jillian and the daughter he never knew existed. Can Jillian help him regain his memory in time to expose a killer?
He’ll do whatever it takes
To protect his family
When a plane crash leaves special ops soldier Hawk Jacobson with amnesia, all he knows is that the plane was sabotaged and he has a target on his back. His survival depends on letting everyone—including his wife, Jillian Wade—believe he’s dead. Until gunmen come after Jillian and the daughter he never knew existed. Can Jillian help him regain his memory in time to expose a killer?
Justice Seekers
LAURA SCOTT is a nurse by day and an author by night. She has always loved romance and read faith-based books by Grace Livingston Hill in her teenage years. She’s thrilled to have published over twenty-five books for Love Inspired Suspense. She has two adult children and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband of over thirty years. Please visit Laura at laurascottbooks.com (http://www.laurascottbooks.com), as she loves to hear from her readers.
Also By Laura Scott (#u761bb363-ccd6-5b9f-b8a2-37fd1d710fbe)
Justice Seekers
Soldier’s Christmas Secrets
Callahan Confidential
Shielding His Christmas Witness
The Only Witness
Christmas Amnesia
Shattered Lullaby
Primary Suspect
Protecting His Secret Son
True Blue K-9 Unit
Blind Trust
Military K-9 Unit
Battle Tested
Military K-9 Unit Christmas
“Yuletide Target”
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
Soldier’s Christmas Secrets
Laura Scott
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-09891-5
SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS SECRETS
© 2019 Laura Iding
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Note to Readers (#u761bb363-ccd6-5b9f-b8a2-37fd1d710fbe)
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A movement outside caught Hawk’s attention. The men had found the cabin.
“We need to go. Get your coats, leave the duffel behind. We’re heading out the back.”
“The back?” The confusion in Jillian’s green gaze morphed into fear. “They’re here?”
He nodded. Keeping Jillian in front of him, he covered their backs as he guided them into the woods. Hawk continued sweeping his gaze over the area, looking for signs the hostiles were near.
When they reached the cluster of bushes, he carved out a small space with his hands and drew Jillian down. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
She clutched at his arm. “Don’t leave us,” she begged.
“I have a snowmobile nearby. I promise I’ll be quick.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she gave a jerky nod, showing she understood. He drew out his gun and handed it to her.
He hesitated. There was so much he wanted to say, but there wasn’t time. He needed to move, to draw the hostiles away from Jillian and Lizzy.
He’d willingly sacrifice himself to keep them alive and safe.
Dear Reader (#u761bb363-ccd6-5b9f-b8a2-37fd1d710fbe),
I hope you’ve enjoyed Hawk and Jillian’s story, Soldier’s Christmas Secrets. Many of you asked for Hawk to find his own happy ending, and frankly, I wasn’t quite willing to give up the Callahans, either.
I have the utmost respect for all of those who serve our country, and I hope you give this new miniseries, Justice Seekers, a try.
Please take a moment to leave a review; reviews are very important for authors. Also know I love hearing from my readers. I can be found through my website at www.laurascottbooks.com (http://www.laurascottbooks.com), through Facebook at Laura Scott Author and on Twitter @Laurascottbooks (https://twitter.com/laurascottbooks). If you’re interested in when Ryker’s story will be available, join my newsletter through my website. That’s where I announce new releases, and I offer a free novella that is not for sale anywhere else, to all newsletter subscribers.
Until next time,
Laura Scott
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
—Deuteronomy 31:6
This book is dedicated to Michael Christman, a man who has bravely faced cancer only to come out stronger within his faith. This book is for you.
Contents
Cover (#ub00db2dd-fb8f-50e2-b6a7-f0f7be11536c)
Back Cover Text (#u0145ef6c-b79f-566e-91ea-f7e3207dce01)
About the Author (#u7147404e-344f-55a1-8320-6ab6171408aa)
Booklist (#u422d07d3-9d20-5c7b-90fe-cca9f122ac5b)
Title Page (#ue792dc0a-b395-5865-b844-4e4adb0b4b6e)
Copyright (#u680341a3-f841-5901-9bb2-6f5994d67fed)
Note to Readers
Introduction (#u83d91541-005f-5e7f-b38b-6dbba231dd8f)
Dear Reader (#u1d44c6ad-12c0-5670-ac9e-3fb8d6817585)
Bible Verse (#ue6b82bcf-ac86-5f71-b425-472de4af80e4)
Dedication (#uea12c43f-ccd6-57a1-b59e-29299ae3ac17)
ONE (#udee00ea9-ae91-5c53-bde6-24aba31119f3)
TWO (#u36348ee9-a210-51f2-9cdb-9e69206320e3)
THREE (#ua8522c01-28a6-5a10-9793-16dee9973081)
FOUR (#ud07c47aa-4892-5aea-8f1f-c8ad95b99d93)
FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
ONE (#u761bb363-ccd6-5b9f-b8a2-37fd1d710fbe)
Hawk Jacobson parked his SUV and moved silently through the dark, cold December night, automatically raking his gaze over the area searching for a possible threat. As a private investigator, he didn’t have set hours, and tonight he was returning home later than usual.
After entering his house, he didn’t bother turning his lights on as he made his way through the interior. Hawk paused near the side window, the one overlooking Jillian’s home. Dark windows outlined by bright Christmas lights indicated his neighbor, Jillian Wade, and her young daughter, Lizzy, had retired for the night.
Just as he was about to step back from the window, he saw two men, dressed in black from head to toe, ski masks covering their faces and guns held at the ready in their hands, moving silently through the night and heading straight for Jillian’s house. No! Hawk sprang into action. Armed with a knife and a gun, yet hoping not to use either, he silently let himself out of his house. Picking the second man who was still standing on the driveway as his target, he stealthily approached from behind. With surprise on his side, he took him down, hitting him in the back of the head and rendering him unconscious. With one hostile out of commission, he went searching for the other.
The front door of Jillian’s house was ajar, and he hated knowing the guy had breached her personal space. Years of military training enabled Hawk to move silently down the hall. The gunman was hovering between the two bedroom doorways, as if unsure which one to try first. Indecision was his enemy. Hawk grabbed him from behind, covered the guy’s mouth and took him roughly to the ground and held his gun at his temple.
