Protecting Melody
Authors: Susan Stoker
Protecting Melody
SEAL of Protection
Book 7
by Susan Stoker
Tex gave everything he had to his country and his SEAL teammates. When an IED took away part of his leg, and his career, he devoted himself to his country and friends from behind his computer. He's always been the man who can find anyone, who uses his computer skills, legal and illegal, to keep people safe and to put the bad guys behind bars.
But behind a computer is a lonely place to be. While he might put on a good front, Tex can't help but feel he's missing out when he sees how happy his friends are. But when the woman he's been talking to online for the last six months suddenly disappears without a word, Tex knows it's time to step up, and use his skills for himself this time.
**Protecting Melody is the 7th book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it's recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Susan Stoker
No part of this work may be used, stored, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher except for brief quotations for review purposes as permitted by law.
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Cover Design by Chris Mackey, AURA Design Group
Edited by Missy Borucki
Manufactured in the United States
Discover other titles by Susan Stoker 146
Six Months Ago
Tex: Hey, I haven’t seen you in here before. Your username struck me as interesting, so I thought I’d shoot you a private note
Tex: Swear I’m harmless
CC_CopyCat: Hey Tex. I mostly lurk
Tex: Don’t blame you, it’s better to be safe than sorry
Tex: You wanna talk?
CC_CopyCat: About what?
Tex: About whatever
CC_CopyCat: That’s kinda vague
Tex: Well, we could talk about the weather, but that would be cliché.
CC_CopyCat: LOL
Tex: Made ya laugh!
CC_CopyCat: Yeah, you did. Thanks
Tex: Thanks?
CC_CopyCat: Yeah. Thanks
Tex: So . . . how’s the weather where you are?
CC_CopyCat: Crappy, you?
Tex: Sunny and beautiful
CC_CopyCat: You’re one of those aren’t you?
Tex: ??
CC_CopyCat: One of those annoying people who see the good side in everything
Tex: Actually, no. not even close
Tex: You still there?
CC_CopyCat: Look, I’m not sure this is gonna work out
Tex: You just met me, I couldn’t have pissed you off already
CC_CopyCat: I’m not here to find a best friend, I already have one of those
Tex: Then why ARE you here?
CC_CopyCat: Just passing the time
Tex: Then why can’t you pass it with me?
CC_CopyCat: Because you’re probably either a 14 year old boy who wants to find someone to sext with or you’re a 50 year old pedophile looking for sex from a 16 year old teenager who doesn’t know any better than to talk to people who spend their time in a chat room on the Internet.
Tex: Same goes for you. You could be anyone. You’re probably an undercover cop looking to catch bad guys who use chat rooms to lure people to their death
CC_CopyCat: ARE you a bad guy Tex? Are you even a guy?
Tex: Are you a woman CC?
CC_CopyCat: I shouldn’t say one way or the other
Tex: No offense, but I don’t want to chat with a dude. I’m not looking for a relationship, I’m not looking for sex. I have male friends I can talk to
CC_CopyCat: What ARE you looking for then?
Tex: Just someone to chat with. My life is stressful. I’d love to talk with someone who doesn’t want anything from me. Who just likes to chat with me because she thinks I’m interesting
CC_CopyCat: You never answered my question. Are you a bad guy?
Tex: I’m a 35 year old retired military man who lives on the east coast. I’m good with computers and spend most of my time with them. I’m not hideous looking, but I’ve found that I’m also not the guy women want to take home to meet their family. Swear CC, I’m harmless.
CC_CopyCat: You know that’s what serial killers say
Tex: LOL. You’re right. But you can trust me
CC_CopyCat: Yup, they say that too
CC_CopyCat: You still there?
Tex: You gonna diss me more or are you going to tell me about you?
CC_CopyCat: Sorry. I was kidding. Yes. I’m a woman
Tex: Thank you. What else?
CC_CopyCat: I don’t really know you, that’s all you get
Tex: I’ll take it . . . for now. You gonna tell me about your handle?
CC_CopyCat: I gotta go
Tex: Okay, I’ll be here if you wanna talk again
CC_CopyCat: How will you know when I’ll want to talk again?
Tex: I don’t, but I told you I work on computers, I’m always here
CC_CopyCat: Okay, maybe
Tex: I’ve enjoyed talking to you CC
CC_CopyCat: We haven’t even talked about anything interesting
Tex: Yeah, but you aren’t afraid to tell me what you’re really thinking. I like that
CC_CopyCat: Most men don’t
Tex: I’m not most men
CC_CopyCat: Whatever. OK, I’m logging off
Tex: Bye CC. Later
Tex sat back and smiled at his computer. He didn’t usually engage people he met online, but he’d been visiting this particular chat room for a while now and noticed “
CC_CopyCat”
lurking. He’d taken a chance and sent the private message, hoping he was messaging a woman. Tex had been honest with her, he wasn’t looking to start up an online friendship with a man.
Call him sexist, but Tex was more comfortable talking with a woman than a man. Maybe it was because he was around men all the time. It was just . . . different, speaking with a woman.
Ever since he’d lost part of his leg to an IED while on a SEAL mission, Tex was more comfortable talking to people behind his computer or phone. Before he was injured, he’d never had a problem attracting the ladies. He was in his mid-thirties now and still worked out every day. Physical fitness was too ingrained in him to give it up after he was injured.
While Tex knew firsthand, on the surface, women still found him attractive and they’d gladly go home with him, after getting weird looks and two less than satisfying sexual encounters, he found it more comfortable for everyone to not bother. He now took care of his needs himself. Tex knew his friends all thought he was still sexually active, but the awkward explanations about his injury and the pity fucks got old fast.
He tried not to care what people thought of his leg, but when he connected with people via his computer, he could be anonymous . . . whole. Talking to CC was refreshing. Tex liked it.
He hadn’t lied to the woman on the other end of the computer. She intrigued him. She wasn’t fawning all over him, as some women Tex had messaged in the past had. She was cautious, but he could sense her humor under her stilted words. Tex hoped she’d log back in and they could talk again, but if she didn’t, he wouldn’t lose any sleep. There would be more women, and he’d keep busy living vicariously through his friends’ lives.
Four months ago
CC_CopyCat: Hey Tex. How are you?
Tex: Hey CC. I’m sorry, but I can’t talk right now
CC_CopyCat: Oh sorry
Tex: It’s not you. I’d rather talk to you than anyone else, but my friend’s woman is in trouble and I’m trying to figure her situation out
CC_CopyCat: That sucks.
Tex: Yeah, her man is overseas and can’t get to her. So I’m trying to get him home and keep her safe
CC_CopyCat: OK, go do your thing. If you want to talk later, I’m here
Tex: Thanks CC. I needed that. Later
Tex hated to put CC off. They’d been talking pretty regularly for the last two months and Tex really enjoyed their conversations, but Fiona was counting on him. She was obviously having a mental breakdown after whatever had happened in the shopping mall. He was calling her every four hours. It was heartbreaking to listen to her try to figure out what was going on—trying to decide what was real and what was imagined in her head. She was so scared. Tex turned back to the computers and typed frantically to try to get Cookie home and to his woman.
The next day, after the entire situation with Fiona was finally over, Tex tried to see if CC was around.
Tex: You around?
Tex: Guess not. If you come back, I’m here
Tex ran a hand over his face. Jesus. Fiona had just about broken his heart. He hadn’t ever met her, had only met Caroline, Wolf’s woman, but Fiona was just as tough, yet vulnerable at the same time, as Caroline was. She’d done exactly what he’d asked of her and every time Tex had
called, she’d answered. Tex had no idea what he would’ve done if Fiona hadn’t picked up the phone. She was in California and he was in Virginia.
Tex knew his friends had a lot of faith in his abilities, but if something had really gone wrong, there would’ve been nothing he could’ve done. Tex cursed his leg, again. Not a day went by that he didn’t wish he’d have done something different on the mission that took his leg. Not a day went by that he didn’t wish he was whole and the man he used to be.
He was good at the computer, but he wished with all his heart he could be on the front lines, with his friends, saving lives and serving his country. Tex looked down at the box blinking at him in the corner of his computer screen. CC.
CC_CopyCat: Hey Tex, I’m here. You there?