Nico
The Mavericks, Book 8
Dale Mayer
Books in This Series:
Kerrick, Book 1
Griffin, Book 2
Jax, Book 3
Beau, Book 4
Asher, Book 5
Ryker, Book 6
Miles, Book 7
Nico, Book 8
Keane, Book 9
Lennox, Book 10
Gavin, Book 11
Shane, Book 12
Table of Contents
Title Page
About This Book
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
Epilogue
About Keane
Author’s Note
Complimentary Download
About the Author
Copyright Page
About This Book
What happens when the very men—trained to make the hard decisions—come up against the rules and regulations that hold them back from doing what needs to be done? They either stay and work within the constraints given to them or they walk away. Only now, for a select few, they have another option:
The Mavericks. A covert black ops team that steps up and break all the rules … but gets the job done.
Welcome to a new military romance series by USA Today best-selling author Dale Mayer. A series where you meet new friends and just might get to meet old ones too in this raw and compelling look at the men who keep us safe every day from the darkness where they operate—and live—in the shadows … until someone special helps them step into the light.
With barely enough time to recover from helping out Miles in London, Nico is off to Australia … and a secret mission involving a US covert operative …
When an American undercover operative’s sister goes missing in Australia, Nico has to find out if this is connected to the operative or to the sister’s own activist background. Apparently she made enemies easily.
Charlotte hadn’t wanted to make this trip in the first place, preferring to communicate her polarizing messages through writing her books now. But, bowing under pressure, she finally arrives in Australia, only to be attacked within minutes of reaching her hotel room for the night. After her rescue, she’s forced to dig deep into her family and public life to find the mastermind kidnapper and to stay safe as the bodies pile up.
Nothing makes sense in this twisted mission, but Nico is determined to keep Charlotte safe, even as things take a more personal turn …
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Chapter 1
Nico Stratus stared at his phone in disbelief. A message from Miles. Nico had been expecting it but, at the same time, hadn’t really been expecting it. Like one of those things that he knew was coming, yet he just didn’t know when. But days ago he’d expected it, and, when it didn’t come, he’d relaxed. The timing was really crappy right now. He had groceries in his shopping cart in front of him, and he was just halfway through the list in his hand. But then he hadn’t been planning on buying very much. Still it was too much. The message from Miles was clear.
Leave now.
Swearing softly, Nico walked away from his shopping cart, knowing that’s the last thing he would normally do. He shrugged, not having much choice. When he got outside to his car, he found a 9x13 envelope in the front seat. He snatched it up, read the cover note atop a folder, informing him that he was flying to Australia to a military air base. Also enclosed was one burner phone. He swore.
The flight would be fifteen-and-a-half-hours long. Then the time zone change would add on another seventeen hours. When he landed, the clock would show thirty-two and a half hours later. For him. But, for their kidnap victim, it would be closer to twenty hours later by the time he landed in Sydney. Never a good thing in a kidnapping matter to not find the victim in the first twenty-four hours. Still she could be long gone. Dead already. Shipped out to another country. Sold into sex slavery. He shook his head. The travel-related delays can’t be helped when we work all over the world.
He drove home quickly, parked his vehicle in the underground parking, then headed to his apartment and snagged his go-bag. He checked to make sure everything had been replenished though, before he turned and walked out. He had no idea when he’d be back. He was currently living in San Diego, close to the Coronado military base. That meant a fast military flight out. He was grateful for that. Like having his own private jet at his disposal.
As he hopped into the cab awaiting him—thanks to Miles and the Mavericks—and was driven to the airport, Nico studied the files in the folder. His itinerary was there, as well as a dossier. He stared at it and shook his head, whispering, “Seriously, an American activist is in trouble? Isn’t that understood in that line of work? Why the hell am I involved in something like this?”
Just then his new burner phone beeped, and a series of texts rolled through. But they were all from Ryker.
Parcel waiting for you at the airport. More burner phones. All communication must be dark.
He quickly texted back. Does anybody know I’ll be there?
Only your partner.
And the Australian government is okay with this?
Not likely but they don’t know. And we’re not telling them at this time. If we can keep this op a secret, we need to.
Seriously?
Yes. There are added layers to this issue that we can’t put down on paper. We need this to be a totally blacked-out version of black ops. You’ll get all the help you need regardless.
And why aren’t the Australian police handling this on their own?
We prefer to keep this in-house.
Can’t we use them without telling them about the layers?
We may. Later. But, for now, we are relying on you.
And what happened? Start from the beginning.
A prominent activist has gone missing.
Great. No lack of suspects then. He shook his head. When and where?
She was over there for a big rally in support of the indigenous people and their problems, plus the injustices to all humanity in the face of the climate issues. She was supposed to give a big speech. Only she never showed.
She just disappeared?
From her hotel room, yes.
And she’s been reported as a missing person?
Yes. The local police are aware of this, but our government
