Worlds Collide

By RJ Scott

It is the day after New Years and Dale is en route back to Albany in a private jet with Emily Bullen. She is coming back home after turning states evidence on her husband Senator Thomas Bullen.

What no one factored in, not Sanctuary or the FBI, was the lengths Griffin Ryland would go to in the effort to protect himself. When Joseph finds out Dale is in trouble and it is only with the help of his team of SEALs that he can make sure Dale is safe and that Griffin Ryland can't cause any more trouble.

A snowy New Years, a deserted airport and a hostage situation with people already dead and suddenly the worlds of Sanctuary and the SEALs collide, with terrifying consequences.

Then, two weeks alone at a resort, falling deeper in love leave the two men with decisions to make and suddenly there is the chance to make forever a possibility.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RJ Scott
• Release date: Jul 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301678785

RJ Scott

RJ Scott is the author of the best selling Male/Male romances The Christmas Throwaway, The Heart Of Texas and the Sanctuary Series of books.She writes romances between two strong men and always gives them the happy ever after they deserve.

Book preview

Worlds Collide

WORLDS COLLIDE

Sanctuary, Book 7

RJ SCOTT

Love Lane Books Limited

Copyright

Worlds Collide, Sanctuary 7

Copyright 2015 by RJ Scott

Cover design by Meredith Russell

All Rights Reserved

This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file-sharing peer-to-peer program, for free or for a fee. Such action is illegal and in violation of Copyright Law.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Dedication

For JSC, whose help was invaluable with Joseph.

Any mistakes are mine.

And, always for my family.

Contents

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Worlds Collide

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

What’s Next in Sanctuary?

Heroes

Shadow Team

Single Dads

Texas & Legacy

Lancaster Falls (Romantic Suspense)

Whisper Ridge, Wyoming (Cowboys)

Montana

Hockey from RJ Scott & VL Locey

The Lake Prophet Mysteries (Romantic Suspense)

Christmas stories

Free Reads

All books from RJ Scott

Meet RJ Scott

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Chapter One

It’s not too late, we can still get out of here, Chief Petty Officer Joseph Kinnon said urgently. He pressed both hands to the glass and stared down at the street below. The city was a white, snowy landscape and at any other time would have been stunningly beautiful. They were ten stories up in a hotel in the heart of the historic district and the place had ledges at each level. As a team they’d dealt with worse. Assessing the situation, he considered the options. Fuentes, talk to me.

Luca Fuentes, young, tall, and built like the side of barn with muscles on muscles, was the team’s resident hacker but was also a tactical genius. He joined Joseph at the window. Chief, he said formally. His green-eyed gaze unerringly focused in on the view that Joseph had. He frowned as he looked out.

Can you find egress here? Joseph asked.

Luca tapped the glass. Reinforced; we’d need some pretty heavy ordnance to get out—I can get Viktor on that—then zip wire. Get it hooked to the top of the plaza building. Luca looked up and down, then turned to Joseph. Forty degrees. We can get down to the roof and get out that way.

Assessment?

Fifty-fifty. I think most of us will be okay, but one of our team is scared of heights, Fuentes said seriously.

Joseph nodded in agreement. You’re talking about Mike Dexter.

He’s a liability, sir, Luca answered. I’m not sure his underwear would remain unstained and survive the fall.

Joseph frowned. So if we could get a change of underwear for after then we can probably get him down.

Yes, sir, Luca answered immediately.

I should kill you both, Dexter deadpanned from behind them. He joined them at the window, looked down at the snowy street below, then shrugged. Anyway, my mother-in-law-to-be will definitely have all exit points covered.

Joseph and Luca snorted and suddenly all three men were leaning against the glass and laughing.

She’d have you strung up by your balls, Joseph choked out between laughing and trying to breathe.

That wouldn’t be painful enough, Dexter. Luca smirked. "She’d chop your dick off then hang you up by your balls for walking out on her daughter."

Joseph clapped his best friend on the shoulder, a quick hug, then he pulled back. Last chance to escape, Dex, I can get another team in as backup.

Dexter thumped his shoulder. Why would I give up the best thing I have? Dexter said seriously. Everyone went silent. Then Joseph snorted another laugh and he had to step away from Dexter before his friend got a lot more physical.

And you call yourself a best man, J. Dexter sighed. He shook his head. I knew I should have asked Viktor. That set all three men off again. Viktor played loose and hard with life and the idea of him being best-anything outside of bombs and grenades was just plain weird.

Speaking of best man and weddings, we’re at T minus twenty and I am out of here. I need to concentrate on my looking-good-in-my-uniform duty. Fuentes walked to the door.

Maybe when you grow up you’ll look good, Joseph called after him.

Face it, boys, you’re the wrong side of twenty-five and your wrinkled asses make your pants baggy.

Joseph threw the nearest thing he could find, an apple from the fruit dish. Fuentes caught the fruit and took a bite out of it.

Later, he said as he left. Abruptly it was just Joseph and Dexter and one huge empty suite. Joseph’s only line of defense between himself and Dexter being all serious had gone. Joseph even considered calling Luca back at seeing the intense look on Dexter’s face. Joseph knew what he wanted to say but the words in his head just stayed there. He could be serious and focused, just, this was a huge occasion. He’d never been a best man before and he had to work hard to make it look like he knew what he was doing. Dexter crossed to the minibar and emptied the contents of a small bottle into a glass.

He handed the glass to Joseph. Here, J, drink this.

Joseph eyed the amber liquid. Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?

Dexter smiled. Why do I need to drink? I’m not the one who’s nervous.

I’m not nervous, Joseph defended immediately.

Dexter shook his head. You remember that time in Iraq when we had to lie in goat shit for three hours and you were sick on yourself? You’re paler than that.

Joseph sighed. Dexter knew more about him than he liked. I don’t like giving speeches, alright? Give me a rifle and I can control a crowd. Make me talk and I fuck it up every time. He perched on the edge of the sofa and downed the whisky in one. The burn was welcome, but he hoped to hell he didn’t throw the whole lot back up.

What’s there to fuck up? Dexter asked gently. He sat on the opposite sofa. In ten minutes we’re going downstairs, then you tell me what is going to happen.

Joseph considered the question and decided this wasn’t the time for teasing or his usual shit, this was serious. This was like the run-through for missions where the focus was decided beforehand. For a second he thought of Dale and remembered some of the more thoughtful conversations they had been having recently. He didn’t have to be next to his lover to know how he felt. Whenever he saw Dale’s name light up on his cell he got butterflies. Yes, they’d only managed to meet up once since that first time, but Dale filled every single one of his waking thoughts that weren’t taken up by SEAL business. Thinking of his lover had a smile twitching his lips.

My best friend is getting married, Joseph began, to a beautiful woman who is way too good for him. Whether it was that simple statement, the effects of the whisky, or even thinking of Dale, he felt himself relaxing. Yes, he was a duck out of water, but the man who had been his best friend since BUD/S was going into marriage with a smile on his face. Joseph could push past any concerns he had about SEALs marrying or about Dexter getting himself killed and leaving a widow.

J, I wanted to talk to you, Dexter said carefully. I’ve been thinking of taking the medical discharge I was offered.

Joseph’s chest tightened. This was what he had been expecting. Marriage and SEALs didn’t always mesh and he’d watched Dexter recently. The man was edgy and wary and being a SEAL didn’t allow for either. But to lose his best friend from the small expert team they were part of was a terrible blow. He didn’t say any of that. Instead he said, I can understand that.

Dexter nodded. I’m twenty-nine. I found Em. My back is fucked, and I’ve been offered the magic bullet of discharge. I’d like to maybe at least stay stateside if I can, maybe go civilian?

The horror. Joseph smirked. He knew about the medical discharge. Dex was in pain more often than not, and while he could push through it, the SEAL missions were hard on him. The bad back was courtesy of a fucked-up high altitude jump that Dexter was lucky to walk away from. He needed an operation to release nerves too close to scar tissue and he kind of needed it now before the damage became irreparable.

Ass.

I’ve been offered a job with Sanctuary when I get out, Joseph admitted. But me leaving the Navy? That’s like ten years or more to retirement. Jake said if I knew anyone else that might be interested… The comments had been serious but Joseph had dismissed them as something he could think about another day.

Sanctuary, eh? Sounds like a cool idea. I was thinking about you and me, some kind of security team when you finally get out, Dexter said thoughtfully.

Me? Joseph shook his head. I’m only nine years in, I have eleven to go. I’m not that old yet.

Dexter smiled. Wait till you get to be nearly thirty like I am, he said.

Four years yet, old man.

"And you have Dale now. He’s important to you, and J, aren’t you just a little bit tempted by working privately one day? If not that, then you