Shadowed Read online

  Shadowed is feast of intrigue, romance, and plot twists served up on a platter of fresh descriptions! I devoured this book, curled up by the fire, poker in hand—just in case. It feels that real.

  —CINDY SIGLER DAGNAN

  AUTHOR OF HOT CHOCOLATE FOR COUPLES AND

  WHO GOT PEANUT BUTTER ON MY DAILY PLANNER

  WWW.CINDYDAGNAN.COM

  Shadowed is Kariss’s best novel yet. When the smoke clears, two people discover the heartbeat of love is birthed in betrayal, tragedy, and faith.

  —DIANN MILLS

  AUTHOR OF FIREWALL AND

  DOUBLE CROSS

  WWW.DIANNMILLS.COM

  Lynch brings us a follow-up tale that is bolder and bigger than the first as she takes us deeper into the lives of her characters and adds an immensely satisfying tickle of suspense. Another well-rounded story that has something for every reader, and a darn fine job in telling it too.

  —HEATHER JAMES

  AUTHOR OF UNHOLY HUNGER AND

  HANDS OF DARKNESS

  Once again Kariss provides readers with a thrilling book showcasing a love-struck couple with God at the center of the lives and struggles. This one is packed with action and seemingly devastating events that test and build faith. Exposing a warrior’s heart for God, his country, and his woman, Shadowed brings readers into the storm of service, sacrifice, passion, and love.

  —NAVY SEAL

  An action-packed salute to Navy SEALs and their families. Danger, secrets, and bold acts of courage are balanced by playful humor and sweet romance. Kariss Lynch offers it all.

  —CANDACE CALVERT

  BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE GRACE MEDICAL SERIES

  AND BY YOUR SIDE

  WWW.CANDACECALVERT.COM

  Shadowed is a thrill ride of intrigue and romance from beginning to end. Kariss Lynch manages to balance tenderness and courage with the perfect amount of suspense. I fell in love with Nick and Kaylan because they’re real and imperfect, not to mention the fact that Nick had me swooning through to the last sentence. Shadowed is sure to satisfy romance and suspense lovers everywhere!

  —AMY K. SORRELLS

  AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF HOW SWEET THE SOUND

  AND THEN SINGS MY SOUL

  AMYSORRELLS.WORDPRESS.COM

  Most CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

  SHADOWED by Kariss Lynch

  Published by Realms

  Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

  600 Rinehart Road

  Lake Mary, Florida 32746

  www.charismahouse.com

  This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

  Copyright © 2015 by Kariss Lynch

  All rights reserved

  Cover design by Lisa Rae McClure

  Design Director: Justin Evans

  Visit the author’s website at www.karisslynch.com.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

  Lynch, Kariss. Shadowed / Kariss Lynch. -- First edition. pages cm. -- (Heart of a warrior ; book 2) ISBN 978-1-62998-006-5 (paperback) -- ISBN 978-1-62998-007-2 (e-book) I. Title. PS3612.Y37S526 2015 813'.6--dc23 2014034344

  To the Lynch Mob and Brandon Bunch, for teaching me the importance of family

  For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

  —RUDYARD KIPLING,

  “THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE”

  CONTENTS

  PROLOGUE

  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

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  CHAPTER 42

  CHAPTER 43

  CHAPTER 44

  CHAPTER 45

  PROLOGUE

  THE SMELL OF lilacs and sea spray hovered in the room. Janus’s eyes traveled around the bright space, taking in the dance pictures and shots of Kaylan and a blonde girl.

  Kaylan was pretty; she’d give her that. Her auburn hair hung in loose waves, a smattering of light freckles dotted her nose, and her eyes glowed as green as a forest.

  No wonder she’d captivated Nick.

  The room appeared organized in its disorganization. The cream comforter lay thrown over the bed haphazardly dotted with purple throw pillows. Each drawer in the desk seemed scattered, yet categorized—notes in one, office supplies in another—the mark of someone attempting neatness but failing in the rush of life. Janus grimaced. How would Kaylan ever keep up with a home?

  Nick could do better.

  Then she found it. A picture of Nick and Kaylan on the beach, laughing and covered in sand. Janus’s mouth pulled in a tight line. Too bad she had to ruin his happiness.

  From what she could tell, Nick Carmichael pursued a task with tenacity and demonstrated a drive for justice unlike anything she’d ever seen. She flipped the frame over and deftly lifted the photo from the glass, leaving behind the generic piece of paper with smiling faces. Nick would soon know she’d been here.

  He needed to know his world could cave in around him at any moment. The only way he could save it was to stop pursuing her. Or else she would be forced to hurt the one thing precious to him.

  A sigh escaped her lips, and she quickly sucked in. It was his neck or Janus’s. Too much hung in the balance. She couldn’t afford a mistake. With a glance at her watch, she slipped from the house the same way she’d entered. A plane awaited and money stood to be made.

  Climbing in her c
ar parked two blocks away, she glanced at the picture again, ignoring the flutter of her heart as her eyes brushed over Nick’s face. She hadn’t experienced control over a person like this since her Cold War days, and she wouldn’t abdicate that power now for any emotion, even if the part of herself she had buried long ago stirred with his nearness. The engine roared to life, and she gripped the wheel, her knuckles whitening.

  No. Never again.

  Chapter 1

  THE SKY EXPLODED in an array of fiery colors and Kaylan jumped, remembering the distant crash of buildings and buckling earth in the Haiti earthquake only nine months before.

  “It’s okay, babe. It’s just fireworks.” Nick pulled her close on the beach, his arms reminding her of her new life in California, away from the humid, tropical landscape of Haiti, and away from her family in Alabama.

  Vibrant reds, blues, and oranges danced in the sky, leaving smoky silhouettes in their wake. Nick’s team of Navy SEALs and their loved ones surrounded her—her new community. Logan and Colt lit fireworks on the beach and then darted away before they ignited, children squealing in delight as they burst. A campfire crackled in front of them on firewood piled in the sand, and the clear night sky grew hazy under the continual pops and smoke from children’s sparklers. Kaylan couldn’t imagine a better way to begin Labor Day weekend. She wished she could freeze the memory and frame it. Laughter mixed with the lap of waves and boom of fireworks. Children played tag, darting in and out of the waves licking the beach. Titus, Jay, and Micah stood near the fire with other guys from SEAL Team 5 and Support Activity 1, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. The women chatted or chased down kids.

  Kaylan smiled to herself. It was picture perfect. The scene seemed so normal, hiding the fact that these men were conditioned for war. She squeezed Nick’s arm a little tighter, knowing the time would come. He would have to leave.

  His strong fingers ruffled her hair, gently sweeping strands from her forehead. Despite the warm evening, goose bumps danced down her arms, and she closed her eyes.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours, gorgeous?”

  She turned her head to meet Nick’s gaze, loving the fire found in the smoky blue. “Just making a memory.”

  His lips brushed her forehead. In one quick move he stood from their sandy blanket, pulling her with him. “Let’s take a walk.” He settled his arm around her shoulders, and once again she treasured the contact, knowing these moments would carry her through the long days to come.

  A football whizzed through the air and smacked Nick on his back. “Yo, Hawk, get a room, man,” Jay called, whistling at Kaylan.

  Before Nick could react, Kaylan’s brother Micah tackled Jay around the waist, and they both hit the sand. “I think you forgot you are talking about my sister.” With one quick move Micah wrapped his arms around Jay in a headlock, his legs pinning the rest of Jay’s body. Jay fought and kicked but Micah held firm, his arm still allowing Jay to breathe. Barely.

  The rest of the team gathered around, dollar bills exchanging hands as quickly as their cheers and chanting filled the air. Kids joined in the frenzy, excitement glowing in their young eyes.

  “Micah totally has this.”

  “No way. Jay wrestled in high school. Micah is toast.”

  Jay squirmed. His face turned red, whether from embarrassment or lack of air, Kaylan couldn’t tell.

  Nick chuckled. “Looks like Micah has it under control.” He turned Kaylan away from the crowd and moved up the beach as darkness settled around them.

  The moon hung low in the sky, reflecting eerily on the waves capping and lapping the beach. Nick walked them toward the surf, the cool Pacific stretching to kiss their feet. Kaylan could barely see the water line, but the soft roar of each new wave soothed her.

  She closed her eyes, turning her face to the gentle breeze and enjoying Nick’s strong, tough hand in hers. Her feet left the ground and her eyes flew open as Nick swung her in his arms and jogged to the water.

  “Put me down, jerk!” she shrieked, awaiting the plunge in the dark, cold ocean. Her panic built. She saw only blackness. “Nick Carmichael, don’t you dare.”

  His boyish laugh tugged at her heart. “It’s just water, Kayles.” And in they went, Kaylan’s jean shorts getting soaked, her T-shirt hanging on her frame.

  Her breath caught in her chest with the chilly water. She could barely make out Nick’s grin in the darkness as she swiped wet hair from her eyes. “Nick Carmichael!” With one good swing she sent a wave into his face. His eyes registered surprise before his smile quirked. Trouble.

  “Oh, no, you don’t. You already got me wet. Nick, don’t you dare.” Before she could back away, he grabbed her around the waist and they both went under an incoming wave. The salty taste permeated her mouth.

  “All right, all right.” She came up, sputtering and gasping for air in the icy water. She shoved at his chest as he steadied them both. His heart pounded beneath her palm, and his warm laugh melted her heart. She joined his laughter. Just like with her best friend, Sarah Beth, Nick’s moods and reactions became more and more familiar to her. This laugh spelled pure joy. Contentment.

  “Moonlight looks pretty good on you, even though you’re wet.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her close.

  “You aren’t too bad yourself, Mr. SEAL.”

  “I mean it, Kayles. Beautiful, kind, genuine, gentle. I couldn’t be more blessed.”

  She was thankful for the darkness as her face heated. She could barely discern his smoky blue eyes, but she knew that look. The one he reserved only for her. He expressed himself better than she did, and occasionally it left her feeling behind the emotional curve.

  He rested his forehead on hers, the waves lapping gently around their legs. Despite the chill, she felt warm with this Frogman in his natural habitat. Nothing could touch her.

  The breeze ruffled her dripping hair, and on its wings came whispered words, “I love you, Kayles.” The admission sent her heart pounding. She pulled away from him, unsure. She’d longed to hear those words but dreaded the possibilities that came with loving and losing. Sarah Beth’s death in Haiti had taught her all too well the pain of losing someone she loved with everything she had.

  “Nick . . . ”

  “Don’t panic on me.” He pulled her close, and she fought the urge to put space between them, the desire to run before she got hurt, before she lost another person she loved, before she fell so hard that the darkness enveloped her again. She could almost taste the Haitian dust clinging to the air, smothering the light and her ability to breathe.

  “I can’t. Nick . . let’s talk about something else.” Sarah Beth’s cry echoed faintly with the crash of buildings in her mind. Again Kaylan tried to pull away, memories of Haiti causing Coronado, California, to fade from her view.

  His calloused hand cupped her chin. “Kayles, look at me. It doesn’t matter that you can’t say it right now. I just need you to know. I need you to trust me.” His blue eyes reflected the glowing moon and never wavered from their hold on her face, on her heart. “I love you.” He drew each word out, making sure they reached every insecurity. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She al
lowed the words to penetrate her fear, hoping against hope they would take root and blossom. Healing came slowly, but every day she grew stronger. Nick was key to the process. But there were some memories that could not be erased, some nightmares that bled into her daylight hours, stealing her most precious moments.

  One day she would say it. One day she would feel it. But not yet, just not yet.

  “Smile, gorgeous.” He smoothed the lines on her forehead. His mouth tipped at the corner in the moonlight, and her body tensed.

  “Don’t you . . . ” She squealed as his fingers found her rib cage. She twisted and fought, laughing so hard the harsh memories from moments before receded with the tide into the darkness.

  “Nick Carmichael, let go!”

  “You asked for it.” He released her, and she began to tip backward into the waves, his laugh echoing in her ears.

  “I don’t think so.” She snatched his T-shirt and pulled him in the water with her, her head dipping below the cold waves once again.

  Their laughter filled the air as they rose to the surface. “How can you be so nice one second and so mean the next?”

  “Mean? I make you laugh because I love you. Don’t be so gloomy.” His chuckle warmed her to her toes, and she threw her arms around his neck.

  “I like you too.”

  His arms slipped around her waist and his face dipped toward hers. He could see all the way to her soul in the moonlight, and it was enough to stop her heart.

  “I think it’s a little more than that. But I’ll wait to hear the words.” His lips settled on hers, making the lingering fireworks pale in comparison.

  “Ugh, break it up, you two.”

  Her brother’s voice made her jerk, but Nick held her close, turning to face Micah on the beach.

  “Bad timing, Bulldog. What’s up?”

  Kaylan tensed as Micah held up a phone. His silence spoke volumes. Her hands clenched in Nick’s wet shirt.