Intrepid: Warrior Series Anthology Book 4.5

By Melanie P. Smith

Intrepid flashes back to the events from the previous book. Learn how Atticus and Tala got together. Want to know more about the murders and the serial killer responsible? Intrepid has the answers. DO NOT read this book unless you have read Shadow. It contains SPOILERS and will not make sense if you have not read the previous books in the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MPSmith Publishing
• Release date: May 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311428455

Melanie P. Smith

Melanie P. Smith went to Dixie State College and the University of Phoenix where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. She also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation from the University of Utah. She worked for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office for over 26 years. Most of that time was in the Special Operations Division where she worked closely with the SWAT Team and The Child Abduction Response Team coordinating communications and logistics. She also worked closely with Search & Rescue, The Mounted Posse, K9 and the Motorcycle Squad. Melanie has been able to utilize both her knowledge of police operations and business practices to make her novels fun and exciting.

Book preview

Intrepid

Warrior Series Anthology

Book 4.5

by:

Melanie P. Smith

Book Description

Intrepid flashes back to the events from the previous book. Learn how Atticus and Tala got together. Want to know more about the murders and the serial killer responsible? Intrepid has the answers. DO NOT read this book unless you have read Shadow. It contains SPOILERS and will not make sense if you have not read the previous books in the series.

1Copyright 2015 Melanie P. Smith

First Edition

No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the Author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. 1All trademarks are the property of their owners and are acknowledged by the proper use of capitalization throughout.

www.melaniepsmith.com

Dedication:

To my husband who continues to be

My biggest fan!

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Author Links

Chapter One

Carlos ducked, pivoted and slammed his fist into his opponent’s torso. The guy’s stamina was off the charts. He’d never fought a man this strong and quick before. Especially not one built the way this guy was. Anyone this stalky should be clumsy, or at the very least slow and deliberate in his movements. Not this guy. He had strength and agility. Carlos hadn’t been beaten this severely since his father was still alive. But that was going to end… now. Nobody bested Carlos Diego Rodriguez. His father had ultimately learned that lesson the hard way. The same way Gigantor here was going to.

Carlos feigned left then lunged right, bending to grab the knife securely fastened inside his boot. He twisted around and waited. It didn’t take long. The guy was angry and determined. He barreled forward so sure in his victory. Carlos didn’t move. He watched patiently until his enemy was safely within reach before he struck. The knife sliced through the bright yellow t-shirt, finding its mark perfectly. Carlos expected the body to drop with a thud. He wondered momentarily what he was going to do with the man’s corpse. Then the bottom fell out of his world.

Rodriguez stood motionless, shocked to find himself alone in an empty field. Dust was flying everywhere and the guy was gone. Vanished into thin air. What the hell? Carlos swung around, sure it was some kind of trick. Bodies didn’t just vanish, they fell to the ground and bled all over. He knew that first hand. He’d watched his sadistic father bleed out on their tattered kitchen floor almost three years ago. That was the last time the guy dared to take his frustrations out on his only kid. Since then, Carlos had only killed one other man; his father’s dealer.

Nikodim Brankovich had been too cocky for his own good, but a complete idiot when it came to security. Niko was cheap, impulsive and greedy. All traits that may have gained him wealth in the drug trade but they had also led to his demise. Carlos hadn’t planned on killing the man, but the guy wouldn’t take no for an answer. The third time Niko showed up at Carlos’ house, thinking he would collect the father’s debt from the son, Carlos had reacted. That was one body that would never be found. Carlos grinned, Niko had simply disappeared. Well, with a little help from a local jaguar that is. Carlos had heard about a big cat causing trouble just outside his village. When Niko threatened Carlos for the third time, the not so friendly predator got an unexpected treat. Carlos had heard the feline was killed months later, after it attacked a village elder. He always wondered if he’d contributed to the cat’s ultimate demise. Well, survival of the fittest was the law of the land and Carlos was well on his way to the top. If a wild cat was collateral damage, so be it.

He glanced around again, still wondering what had happened to the large man. None of this made any sense. He was just about to give up and head home when the sound of approaching men froze him in place. He was in an open field, there was nowhere to hide. Carlos sighed, defeated. He was in trouble. Apparently, his large opponent had friends.

****

Lilith stood, mesmerized as the attractive young human defeated one of Havel’s best fighters. Once Pavol dissipated, the talented man frantically searched the area perplexed by the situation. Lilith smiled, amused. It was always interesting to see how a human would react when discovering vampires. This human surprised her. Sure, he was shocked and mystified but not as panicked as most. Her respect intensified when the rest of Pavol’s unit spotted the man and began to close in on him. Rather than flee, the guy straightened and prepared for battle. He couldn’t win. Humans were no match for her kind, but his nerve was commendable. She only hesitated a moment then decided to intervene.

Miroslov? Lilith called. You and Tibor halt your men.

The two vampires scowled, but obeyed. Miroslov held up a hand and the rest of the vampires stopped in their tracks. Lilith’s reputation was legendary. All the vampires in Havel’s army feared her. Not one of them was willing to risk her anger. The woman had a temper, not to mention a sadistic streak a mile long. But, more importantly, she shared the bed of their leader. Havel would not be happy if any of his men went against Lilith’s wishes.

Lilith grinned, of course the imbeciles would follow her orders. Even as vampires, men were predictable. She knew she had a flare for the dramatic, but her actions were not impulsive. She had learned her lesson years ago. Vampire covens could be violent and dangerous. If she demonstrated her vicious side initially, she avoided problems down the road. She continued to stroll across the large field until she was standing directly in front of the human warrior.

That was quite a scuffle you had, boy. Lilith smiled at the look of annoyance that flitted across the man’s face. He didn’t like her choice of wording, which had also been a calculated move. She wanted to establish dominance with this one right off the bat. Don’t worry, Miroslov and Tibor will hold the rest of them at bay.

I wasn’t worried, Carlos lied. He had no idea who this woman was, but clearly she was powerful. It was