Protecting Arizona (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) Read online

  “Yes?”

  “Arizona? This is Nora. Mr. DeLoach asked me to call you. The raid was successful, and Luca Vasquez is in custody. He said to tell you that he has someone from Child Services with Ruby tonight, but tomorrow you can pick her up. He’s made the arrangements.”

  “Ohmigod.” Arizona was afraid she’d pass out from relief. “Thank you, Nora. And thank Joaquin for me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I am so grateful.”

  “He said you can come and pick her up at your offices about nine tomorrow morning. Will that work for you?”

  “Absolutely.” She swiped at her tears. “It works just fine.”

  She sat for a moment, just staring at the phone after the conversation ended.

  “Good news, I take it?” Razor grinned at her.

  “The best.” She told him what Nora had said.

  He cupped her chin, tilted her face up, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I am so happy for you.”

  She swallowed, hard, trying to phrase a question.

  “You—You don’t have to leave right away, do you? I mean, now that your job is over?”

  “Did you not hear me earlier today? I’m not going anywhere. I have nothing holding me anyplace, and I want to see where this goes with us.”

  “I—I’ll have Ruby, you know.”

  “We’ll have Ruby, and I’m going to do my best to protect both of you from whatever life throws at you.”

  Relief surged through her. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. I want to do this. First thing early in the morning we’ll have a doctor take a look at you. Then we’ll go pick up Ruby.” He kissed her again. “Life will be good, Arizona. I promise you.”

  Epilogue

  Arizona turned over in bed and nestled against Razor’s warm, naked body. They didn’t have too many opportunities for matinees, but today during Ruby’s nap they stole enough time to pleasure each other in ways becoming more and more familiar.

  “It’s almost time for Ruby to get up,” she murmured.

  “We’ve had our treat,” Razor teased. “Let’s take Ruby to that ice cream place she loves so much.”

  “Did you ever think you’d make such a great dad?”

  “I’m still learning,” he told her, “but enjoying all the lessons.” He cupped one breast in a warm palm. “And having a lot of fun doing it.”

  The past year had presented a lot of changes. The scandal of Vasquez’s drug business had been a news topic for many days. After Arizona and Razor had picked up Ruby, a scared, confused little girl, they’d taken her out of the city to a ranch owned by a friend of Razor’s, where they could deal with her confusion and emotional upset. It had taken months and a very good therapist to deal with Ruby’s emotional upheaval, but they had made great strides.

  Joaquin had recommended a top-notch attorney who had helped them navigate the legal hurdles of guardianship for Ruby. Vasquez was in a maximum security prison, classified as a dangerous prisoner and cut off from the outside world. His attorney had convinced him that if he ever wanted the terms of his confinement changed at all he needed to sign away his rights to Ruby. It had taken months to accomplish this, but he had finally agreed.

  And Ruby seemed to be thriving.

  They had left the ranch but made changes in their lives. Joaquin and suggested they not take Ruby back to Tampa, where she might be susceptible to actions from the cartels in revenge for Vasquez’s screwups. Instead they had settled in Colorado, where Razor had friends, one of whom owned a security agency and had tried several times to hire him.

  Arizona had taken a leave of absence from the DEA while they all settled into a new life and looked toward the future. And she and Razor were in the kind of relationship she’d never thought she’d have.

  “Thinking hard?” Razor’s voice held a touch of humor.

  “Just about how lucky we are to be at this place in life. All of us.”

  He nodded. “I agree. I’ll tell you, I never expected to be so settled and feel so good about it.”

  She laughed. “Me, either.”

  He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I don’t tell you this too often but I feel it every day. I love you, Arizona. More than I ever expected to love anyone.” He paused. “And Ruby, too. That is one sweet little girl.”

  “Yes, she is.” His words gave her a warm feeling.

  “With Vasquez signing away his rights to her, and we have a chance to be a real family. But there’s one thing missing.”

  She frowned. “Like what?”

  “Hold on.”

  He leaped out of bed, naked, and grabbed a small velvet bag from his top dresser drawer. Then he sat down on the bed, opened it, and fished something out.

  “What’s going on, Razor?”

  “I loved you, Arizona. You and Ruby. We have a good life here but one thing’s missing?”

  She frowned. “Like what?”

  “The attorney said you can finally adopt Ruby. I want us to do it together.” He slid a ring on her finger, a small but perfect diamond. “Marry me, Arizona. Let’s adopt Ruby together and be a real family. Forever.”

  Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. “Yes. Absolutely yes.”

  She threw her arms around him, and in a moment they were locked in a kiss that warmed every part of her body.

  “I love you, Clint DaCosta. I am so glad you came into my life.”

  “And I love you, Arizona Hunt, soon to be DaCosta. Let’s wake up Ruby. Tell her the good news and get started on our lives together.”

  “Amen to that.”

  About the Author

  I love to hear from my readers. You can write to me at [email protected] I hope you will do that.

  Where else can you find me?

  First and foremost, I hope you will join my reader group. It’s a fun place to be.

  www.desiremeonly.com

  www.desireeholt.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/authordesireeholt

  Twitter: @desireeholt

  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/desiree02holt

  Also by Desiree Holt

  Special Forces: Operation Alpha

  Protecting Maddie

  Protecting Cassie

  Protecting Amy

  Protecting Arizona

  The Phoenix Agency (7 book series)

  Jungle Inferno (The Phoenix Agency Book 1)

  Extrasensory (The Phoenix Agency Book 2)

  Scent of Danger (The Phoenix Agency Book 3)

  Freeze Frame (The Phoenix Agency Book 4)

  Feel the Heat (The Phoenix Agency Book 5)

  Formula for Danger (The Phoenix Agency Book 6)

  Unexpected Risk (The Phoenix Agency Book 7)

  *

  For a list of all of Desiree’s books, please click here to go to her Amazon page.

  There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com

  You can also visit our Amazon page at:

  http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha

  Special Forces: Operation Alpha World

  Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold

  Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey

  Shauna Allen: Defending Danielle

  Shauna Allen: Rescuing Rebekah

  Shauna Allen: Saving Scarlett

  Shauna Allen: Saving Grace

  Brynne Asher: Blackburn

  Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine

  Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei

  Julia Bright: Rescuing Amy

  Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage

  Victoria Bright: Going Ghost

  Victoria Bright: Jostling Joker

  Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari

  Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast

  Kendra Mei Chailyn: Barbie

  Kendra Mei Chailyn : Pitbull

  Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth

  Melissa Kay Clarke: Safeguarding Miley

  Samantha A. Cole: H
andling Haven

  Samantha A. Cole: Cheating the Devil

  Sue Coletta: Hacked

  Melissa Combs: Gallant

  KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina

  Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah

  Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery

  Jordan Dane: Fiona’s Salvation

  Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia

  Riley Edwards: Redeeming Violet

  Riley Edwards, Recovering Ivy

  Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Erin

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Suzie

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Brielle

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Harlow

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Blair

  Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Savannah

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Stephanie

  Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor

  Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor

  Jesse Jacobson: Defending Honor

  Jesse Jacobson: Summer Breeze

  Silver James: Rescue Moon

  Silver James: SEAL Moon

  Silver James: Assassin’s Moon

  Silver James: Under the Assassin’s Moon

  Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia

  Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava

  Heather Long: Securing Arizona

  Heather Long: Guarding Gertrude

  Heather Long: Protecting Pilar

  Heather Long: Covering Coco

  Gennita Low: No Protection

  Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse

  Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck

  Margaret Madigan: Buck the System

  Margaret Madigan: Jungle Buck

  Margaret Madigan: December Chill

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Bride

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Twin

  KD Michaels: Saving Laura

  KD Michaels: Protecting Shane

  KD Michaels: Avenging Angels

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound 2

  Wren Michaels: Shadow of Doubt

  Wren Michaels: Shift of Fate

  Wren Michaels: Steeling His Heart

  Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi

  Mary B Moore: Force Protection

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Goddess

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Vixen

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Heartbeat

  MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty

  MJ Nightingale: Betting on Benny

  MJ Nightingale: Protecting Secrets

  Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty

  Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa

  Debra Parmley: Split Screen Scream

  Lainey Reese: Protecting New York

  Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily

  Jen Talty: Burning Desire

  Jen Talty: Burning Kiss

  Jen Talty: Burning Skies

  Jen Talty: Burning Lies

  Jen Talty: Burning Heart

  Megan Vernon: Protecting Us

  Megan Vernon: Protecting Earth

  Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World

  Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn

  KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen

  Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma

  Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla

  Deanndra Hall:Justice for Aleta

  Barb Han: Kace

  Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane

  Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright

  As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.

  SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series

  Securing Caite

  Securing Brenae (novella)

  Securing Sidney

  Securing Piper

  Securing Zoey

  Securing Avery (May 2020)

  Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)

  Delta Team Two Series

  Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)

  Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)

  Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)

  Shielding Riley (Jan 2021)

  Shielding Devyn (TBA)

  Shielding Ember (TBA)

  Shielding Sierra (TBA)

  Delta Force Heroes Series

  Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)

  Rescuing Aimee (novella)

  Rescuing Emily

  Rescuing Harley

  Marrying Emily (novella)

  Rescuing Kassie

  Rescuing Bryn

  Rescuing Casey

  Rescuing Sadie (novella)

  Rescuing Wendy

  Rescuing Mary

  Rescuing Macie (Novella)

  Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series

  Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)

  Justice for Mickie

  Justice for Corrie

  Justice for Laine (novella)

  Shelter for Elizabeth

  Justice for Boone

  Shelter for Adeline

  Shelter for Sophie

  Justice for Erin

  Justice for Milena

  Shelter for Blythe

  Justice for Hope

  Shelter for Quinn

  Shelter for Koren

  Shelter for Penelope

  SEAL of Protection Series

  Protecting Caroline (FREE!)

  Protecting Alabama

  Protecting Fiona

  Marrying Caroline (novella)

  Protecting Summer

  Protecting Cheyenne

  Protecting Jessyka

  Protecting Julie (novella)

  Protecting Melody

  Protecting the Future

  Protecting Kiera (novella)

  Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)

  Protecting Dakota

  New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

  www.stokeraces.com

  www.AcesPress.com

  [email protected]