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

surprise when I found out that guy was you.”
    Someone texted Jessyka and said they saw me?
    As if he could read my thoughts, Benny ran a hand through what little hair he had. “Yeah, I guess one of the other girls at Ace’s saw you wash up ashore and called Jess. Freaked them both out pretty good. But at least you’re alive, man, and nothing worse happened.”
    He kept rambling, but all I could focus on was that he said another girl called.
    “Was the other girl’s name Maya?” I interrupted.
    Benny laughed. “I knew there had to be a reason you were at Ace’s. You have a thing for the bartender.”
    I tried to protest but I couldn’t think of a reason to, so I just shrugged. “Yeah. So?”
    Benny put his hand on my shoulder. “Well then, you’ll be happy to know that she was the one who called. Obviously she’s some kind of guardian angel for you, Doc.”
    A guardian angel. One with wings and a tail.
    I licked my lips. “Jess wouldn’t happen to have a number or address for Maya would she?”
    Benny laughed even harder, shaking his head. “Oh, man, you got it bad. I’m sure I can get her number for you, but I’m not sure about the address. You aren’t going to go crazy, stalker guy on her are you?”
    “No. I just, you know, want to thank her properly.”
    Benny smiled. “Okay, I’ll see what I can get from Jess and what I can’t get from her, I’ll get from Tex. That man could find a needle in the deepest haystack.”
    “Yeah, Tex owes me one since I let him take my spot on the amputee baseball team when we were in rehab.” I laughed.
    “All right, Doc, I’ll see what I can do. You get better, okay? No more drinking and late night swims?”
    I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure I could agree to that, especially when I knew my guardian angel was a swimmer.

Chapter 5
     
    Maya
     
    Gran’s house was a Mediterranean Spanish style home a few miles from the beach and closer to Tijuana than San Diego, but still about a thirty-minute drive to actually get to the city. Or across the border.
    I could’ve had my own apartment in the San Diego area, but I couldn’t leave Gran. She had always been my lifeline.
    When I pulled in front of the white picket fence, there weren’t any lights on in the house, so I thought I could sneak in unnoticed, but Gran wasn’t one to be tricked.
    The TV was on with some kind of Olympic recap. Of course, Jay Morningstar, America’s new darling, had to be on the show with his pearly white smile and millions of gold medals.
    That could have been me. If I didn’t have a tail.
    I remembered Jay from my swim club. He had dreadlocks and goofed around in the pool. Guess a lot can change in four years.
    I turned, thinking I could just sneak into my room, but before I could shut the door, Gran turned on the light on the side table, looking at me from her recliner. “It’s almost four AM, Maya. Where on earth have you been?”
    “I was at work. There were some issues with closing and…”
    Gran cut me off. “Don’t give me that crap, Maya. Your mother used to do the same thing when she was out with your father. Just be honest and tell me the boy you were out with and if you’re going to bring him home.”
    I sighed, sliding onto the couch.
    Before I could speak, Gran balked, pointing a crooked finger at me. “Maya why are you wearing a sweatshirt for pants? What happened? Did some boy take advantage of you? I knew I should have bought you a gun for your birthday, dammit!”
    I shook my head slowly, trying to fight back the tears. “Gran, there’s something I have to tell you…”
    Gran blinked, staring at me intently. “Oh dear, you’re not pregnant are you?”
    I shook my head. Getting pregnant would require having sex and it had been a very long time since that happened. “This is going to sound crazy and I don’t know how to say it, so I’m going to have to show you.”
    Gran raised an eyebrow. “Show me what?”
    I stood up. “Follow me.”
    Slowly Gran