Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Us (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

lips were on his and I blew in the first breath that an overwhelming sensation filled my body. It was similar to my shifting but this time it was a cold burst that started in my toes and caused an almost ethereal moan to escape my throat and into his.
    I pulled back, gasping as his eyes opened wide before he turned to his side, sputtering.
    I wanted to stay and make sure he was okay.
    But as soon as he opened his eyes I knew he recognized me.
    Possibly knew that I had shifted.
    My legs were just turning back to their normal color and I waited impatiently for them to go back to legs instead of my tail.
    I knew I could never see him again if he knew my secret.
    Before he could move any more, I stood up as my legs slowly came back.
    He put his hands out to stop me, but I was quicker and ran down the beach, hopping back up to the pier.
    I grabbed my purse and bolted for my car, thanking god that it was late enough that the beach was deserted. I slid into my car and covered my naked lower half with a discarded hoodie from the passenger seat.
    Starting the car, I peeled out of the parking lot before I grabbed my phone and typed in Jessyka's number. I needed to keep my promise to text my friend.
     
    Hey, I saw someone on the beach. One of the guys I served at Ace’s. I think he was trying to take a drunken swim. I’m going to put in a call to 9-1-1, but do you think you can have Benny check on him as well?
     
    I sent the text then immediately dialed 9-11.
    “Emergency Services operation, this is Cheyenne, what is your emergency?” the woman said in a very calm voice.
    I let out a deep breath. “Hi. I’m outside of Ace’s Bar and Grill near the pier and there’s a man lying in the sand. I think he might have walked out into the ocean, but I’m not sure. I just saw him all wet and laying in the sand half-conscious.”
    “Outside of Ace’s Bar and Grill? Okay. I will get an ambulance dispatched out there as soon as possible. Can you give me any more details? Do you know the man’s name?”
    “Calder,” I whispered, before I hung up the phone.
    I couldn’t get involved anymore than I already had. I’d already made myself vulnerable enough. I just prayed that Calder didn’t simply get up and wade back into the ocean as soon as I was out of sight. I saved him once, but it was up to him to stay that way.

Chapter 4
     
    Calder
     
    Her eyes shone in the darkness.
    It was the one thing I kept seeing as I went in and out of consciousness.
    A mermaid.
    No. That wasn't right.
    I had to be imagining it all.
    When the EMTs found me on the beach, they immediately took me into the nearest hospital where I was hooked up to a bunch of IVs. I guess my BAC was twice the legal limit. I had pneumonia and some lung damage from seawater inhalation, but nothing too serious. Nothing that would explain my hallucinations.
    Or what I thought were hallucinations.
    Why I saw a mermaid rescue me from the water. A mermaid that looked just like the bartender at Ace's.
    I didn’t tell anyone what I saw. I’d seen enough shrinks after I watched the team I was supposed to be taking care of get blown to bits.
    IED’s didn’t discriminate on SEALs, doctors, what have you, but somehow I always felt like I should have been able to save them, instead of crawling away like a coward.
    Now a mermaid had saved me.
    A knock came at the hospital room door and I quickly changed the channel from HGTV to ESPN, though I was pretty sure Benny got a good look at the screen showing a home remodeling show before I switched it to SportsCenter.
    “Hey, Doc, still faking it I see?” Benny asked as he took slow, methodical steps into the room.
    I laughed. “Yeah, you know me. Since I’m not in the navy anymore, I need some excitement.”
    “Yeah, well, I think you’d better lay off the booze for a bit, Doc. You should know that better than any of us. Jessyka was freaking out when one of her friend’s texted her, saying she saw you in the sand. Imagine my