Freedom's Christmas

By Angelica Kate

When they all got out of the military, Liam and five others started executive protection, kidnapping, and ransom freelancing. They are the best in the business and have a track record of second to none. These guys are closer than blood and would die for each other, their country, and their families. The toughest cases are sent their way when either the richest of the rich need a favor done outside of normal law enforcement expertise or sometimes even governments. After six years in business, they have seen everything, been everywhere, and don't believe they can be caught by surprise. However, one rescue mission to recover one of their own is about to test all their fortitude in ways no one could have imagined, and their toughest mission ever might be freeing those who need them most. Will the cost be too high, though, or will they be able to pull off more than one Christmas miracle this year?

Liberty has no special wish for Christmas this year, except that she survives it. After these last three years of pure hell that is not a given in this forsaken country, held captive for reasons she will never understand. She is the last hope for many victims of the kidnapping, violence, and other crimes in the region thrown in the tiny cell with her. Every day, her existence hangs in the balance. No longer believing she will die a free woman, she simply hopes to help as many other victims as possible before the clock runs out for her.

One night the rebels throw a soldier mortally wounded into her path. She is ordered to let him die on the threat of death, but she can't stand by and let that happen – no matter what, it costs her!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angelica Kate
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215734629

Angelica Kate

Angelica Kate writes contemporary romances with strong characters and inspiration to keep the readers coming back for more. She is a lifetime scribbler who has been journaling since an early age and finally parlayed that into more structured storytelling. Angelica loves strong female leads and the men that adore them, despite their scars and baggage. When not writing, she spends time on Florida's sunny shores near her home in Sarasota, FL, with her puppies Tesla and Harley Quinn, her daughters, and a host of kooky amazing friends. TWITTER: @AngelicaKate5 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorangelicakate INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aknaff12/ Email Angelica directly: [e-mail] HAPPY READING AND CHASING HAPPINESS WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE TO FIND IT!!

Book preview

Prologue

October 16, 2017

Liberty was taking the temperature of the baby that had been brought into the camp just a short while before. It was her fifth day in the refugee camp doing a rotation with an international doctor’s organization that her father had asked her to donate time to along with him this year. This trip was their fifth in the last two years to a place most people definitely would not be sure to visit during time off from their already stressful medical jobs at high-end hospitals. Liberty had immediately signed on, though, as the good they could do here was beyond anything she could accomplish back home. The role of keeping so many displaced by war, famine, and strike safe was a balm to her soul and made her feel that all immense blessings in her life she was paying forward in some small way.

She heard a commotion behind her but remained focused on diagnosing the patient. It was a lot harder to remain focused on the needs of her patients when the gunfire, crowded spaces, and smell were enough to make you lose concentration. After a bit of practice, she was winning in letting the patients know they mattered by staying focused no matter what might be in the background.

Liberty, her mother said, grabbing at her arm as she appeared right next to her. We need to evacuate. They are telling us it is critical to get Americans out of here today. There is a new threat level with a high level of credibility. She dropped to the ground in a low crouching position when gunfire broke out. Liberty felt for her mom and knew this wasn’t someplace she should have come. She gave her time to raising funds, networking for good causes, and such—she was out of her element in this place. Not that Liberty or her father weren’t, but they were adjusting much better to the chaos.

Liberty had gotten used to the sound and continued trying to administer liquids now to the infant. At the same time, she was assessing the baby’s mother, who looked to be in rough condition herself. No one here was in prime physical health, of course, living in these conditions, but children, mothers, and pregnant women were at greatest risk. She tried to block the dying faces she had already seen from her memory banks. She would allow herself time to mourn when this was over, but right now, it was a numbers game, and she wanted to tip the scales of good during her time on the ground here.

Mom, she said when everything had settled a bit. Give me just a moment, and I will walk with you to see what is going on. In the meantime, can you get the brother, she inclined her head to a little boy close by, to eat something?

Sure, her mother said. You aren’t scared?

Terrified, Liberty said, leaning in to her sweet mom. This is a lot worse than the last two missions we did in a hurricane disaster area, and that evacuation came for those last refugees. At least that camp was in a safety zone; this seems to be right in the middle of a live firing range, to be honest. But there are so many women and children in the line of fire. We have to stay strong.

I guess, she said. I might be getting too old for this, and if anything happened to you, she said, getting teary-eyed.

Liberty turned to her. I’m always safe, and I promise I take no undue risks.

You are in a refugee camp in a war zone, her mother bit back, glancing at Liberty. Did you allow one of the teenagers to add a new star? she asked, looking at Liberty’s wrist. She had her name tattooed there and had gotten a new star in a specific color on each trip so far, forming a unique border. It was a constant reminder not only of her travels but of the things she had done that most scared her, to be honest, but invigorated her to do more on the other hand.

Yeah, she said, showing her mom. You like? There was this teenager that did tattoos in henna and ink, so I just had him add that one, she said, rolling her finger around the edges of the new ink.

Her mom took out her phone and snapped a picture. It’s very colorful, and I love the little tail like a comet. She shook her head and stood with a slight snort.

I thought you would never be a fan of my little tattoo, Liberty teased her mom as the little one she was administering medical care to fell asleep in its mom’s arms. She handed the lady holding the baby a banana and a small pouch of juice she had on her. Then she turned to her mom fully.

I think it is a good way for you to feel connected to all these places you have served, her mother said furtively, glancing about. I wouldn’t mark my body in such a way, but I try not to judge the younger generation.

Liberty chuckled under her breath. Her mother was a proper lady that had been horrified when she got the tattoo, and that was too strong a word by any means to explain the reaction the first time she saw it. However, she had softened, realizing what the tattoo was for and even the tiny adds that Liberty did for each visit to places such as this one. While she could return to a comfy home, amazing job, and life in the States, those stars around her name reminded her of the people she helped, who were just not able to do that. They lived every day fearful for their lives and that of their children. Each year, her two-week volunteer trip with her family was not too much to ask for, though maybe her mother should’ve stayed behind. Her nerves were always shot for quite some time afterward, and the stressors of watching her daughter and husband in the field where they could truly be injured seemed to change her a little bit with each trip. She would always suck it up, though, and tell her where they went—where she went.

Not that Liberty or her father were less stressed, somehow, but both having been trauma doctors and surgeons had made them handle it differently. She was less tense the second their plane set down on American soil again after these trips abroad. But she knew it was her duty to help those less fortunate. She had been born with great wealth passed through generations, but like her parents before her, that simply meant they were called to do more in the world in which they lived. Going to medical school and giving back in this fashion was what made her tick—and she was grateful despite these pretty emotionally draining trips.

When they got to the camp administration area, her dad rushed out with a few soldiers on either side.

What’s up? Liberty asked as he was obviously rushing to some new emergency.

I was asked to do a special convoy to a few soldiers badly injured in the field, he said. This is my escort.

Are you the other Dr. Warner? the first soldier asked in a clipped tone.

Yes, Liberty said, at first not understanding why they would care about that.

You were also requested as there were a few women and children caught in the bombing, he said. Liberty was a pediatrician in this rank, though her first and longest rotation was emergency medicine.

Okay, she said as he handed her a bulletproof vest.

I love you, her dad, Alec, said, bending to kiss her mom on the lips.

Please come back in one piece, she muttered and then moved to hug Liberty.

Seriously, be careful, she whispered harshly.

I will, Liberty said and climbed in the backseat. Do we have supplies? she directed toward her dad.

I doubled my supplies in the go-bag, he said, turning to her with a tense smile. You good? I haven’t seen you all day! He shouted to be heard over the engines as they started down the road at a fast clip.

You know how it is. So many to see, and I just work until I can’t and then take a small break.

I know, but soon we will go home, and then maybe take some time off to recover from our time off, he said, reaching out to lace her fingers with his. I love you for coming with me again, even though you have a pretty demanding life.

Nowhere I would rather be, she said, squeezing his fingers.

Your mom doing okay, or is she hovering as usual?

You know Mom, she said with a chuckle. She worries, and you brought her only child out to this. She is definitely hovering, but it’s all good.

I know she means well, but it might be easier if she stayed behind next time. He laughed.

Yeah, you tell her —

BANG! BANG! POP! POP!

The world exploded around her, and the soldier to her left landed on top of her with a thud. She didn’t really know if he was alive or dead, but at least she was low as the bullets pinged the vehicle, and her entire body seized up in fear. She tried to glance to where her dad had been in the front seat, but she couldn’t see around the body on top of her.

Suddenly, the door to her back opened, her legs were violently seized, and she was ripped unceremoniously from the vehicle. Her head hit the ground with a thud, and everything went black in an instant.

Chapter 1

Liam finished the inventory in the weapons room and took the tablet back to the main area, where Beckett took the information from him. His boss, of sorts, started inputting the numbers into the computer without anything but a grunt to acknowledge Liam. Beckett was the mastermind and brains