Rules of Engagement: An Everyday Heroes World Book (The Everyday Heroes World) Read online

  Rules Of Engagement

  Heroes For Hire Romance, #5

  Jessika Klide

  An Everyday Heroes World Novel

  Contents

  Introduction

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  The Navy Seal Creed

  KBWORLDS

  ALSO BY JESSIKA KLIDE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ALSO WRITTEN BY K. BROMBERG

  Falling For HIs Badass Sneak Peek

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  © 2020 KB WORLDS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

  Published by KB Worlds LLC.

  Editing by: Maria Clark

  Formatting by: Jessika Klide, LLC

  Published in the United States of America

  Introduction

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to the Everyday Heroes World!

  I’m so excited you’ve picked up this book! Rules of Engagement is a book based on the world I created in my USA Today bestselling Everyday Heroes Series. While I may be finished writing this series (for now), various authors have signed on to keep them going. They will be bringing you all-new stories in the world you know while allowing you to revisit the characters you love.

  This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I allowed them to use the world I created and may have assisted in some of the plotting, I took no part in the writing or editing of the story. All praise can be directed their way.

  I truly hope you enjoy Rules of Engagement. If you’re interested in finding more authors who have written in the KB Worlds, you can visit www.kbworlds.com.

  Thank you for supporting the writers in this project and me.

  Happy Reading,

  K. Bromberg

  For the military men and women

  who are heroes to their loved ones every day.

  Prologue

  The Goodbye Kiss

  Jorja

  I slam my locker door, spin the lock, and freeze.

  “Sup, Juicy?” Jocko Malone leans down to laugh in my ear.

  Trying to ignore him but knowing he won’t let me; I roll my eyes as I close them and grit my teeth. “Stop calling me that!”

  “Why? You and I both know it's true.” He croons, making my knees weak.

  I bite my tongue because he's right. The minute I catch a whiff of his musky scent, my panties are wet, and it pisses me off that I can’t control the way my body reacts to him. Jocko is too arrogant and too cocky because he's too gorgeous, but I refuse to fawn over his perfect ass like all the other girls. It's disgusting the way they prostrate themselves, wanting his attention. I have more self-respect than that and self-discipline.

  Defiant, I stand, slinging my backpack over my shoulder in a pitiful attempt to knock him away.

  He laughs harder, then whispers in my ear. “You are going to have to do better than that to make me back off.”

  “Gawd, you are so infuriating! Why do you torture me?”

  “Because I can … and because you are so damn delicious when you get all pissed off.”

  I start to push him away but think better about it. If my pussy soaks itself with his scent, how will it betray me if I touch him? No …. I don't need to make that mistake. “Move, Jerk-off. I'm going to be late for class.”

  He laughs out loud at my feistiness, enjoying my resistance way too much, but he steps back.

  Without another word, I stomp off.

  Margie giggles when I walk up. “Jocko teasing you again?”

  I grit my teeth and nod my head.

  She giggles harder. “Honestly, Jorja, I don’t know what your problem is. If Jocko Malone were flirting with me like that, I would be in heaven!”

  I roll my eyes at her. “You don’t know him like I do.”

  She snorts. “What's there to know? He is 6’4” and glorious!”

  “He's an ass!”

  “So?” She shrugs. “He's a 6’4” glorious ass!”

  I shake my head. “Come on. We don’t want to be late for class.”

  Jocko

  Watching Jorja stomp away is nearly as good as staring down her shirt at her tits when she kneels at her locker. Her body's built like a brick house, and her anger adds a twitch to her stride that jerks her booty from side to side.

  “Hey, Jocko,” Britney says as she slinks in to take Jorja’s place. Her eyes glued to me like I'm her next meal.

  I open my locker but keep an eye on her. She's pinched my ass and grabbed my junk before.

  She steps closer. “So, is it true you throw a 100-mile-an-hour fastball?”

  I shut my locker and give her a look that means ‘I don't have time for your stupid games,’ but she doesn’t take the hint. She knows it's true and had her response already planned.

  “Oh,” she says, so breathy it's more like a moan.

  Mrs. Strickland’s voice comes over the intercom. “Jocko Malone, please come to the office.”

  Britney giggles wickedly. “What did you do this time?”

  I ignore her and walk off, but she's hot on my heels. Following like a puppy, it pisses me off. I do an about-face and crush her hopes face to face. “Barbara, don't follow me.”

  “My name isn't Barbara.”

  “Whatever. You are fucking ugly. Do not follow me.”

  My mother would roll over in her grave if she knew how I talk to these girls but being crude is the only thing that makes them back the fuck off.

  She glances around to see if anyone overheard, then she slinks away.

  The sad part is she'll be back. She'll gang up with her friends, and they'll talk about what a shit I am. They'll give her a makeover, and she'll try again.

  I push open the office door. Mrs. Strickland greets me with a smile, “Jocko, take a seat. Principal Davis wants to have a word with you.”

  Parking my jeep at Sunnyville High, I head inside. It's been a week since graduation, and already I feel out of place. Walking through the hall, the atmosphere is relaxed. Everyone's milling around, waiting for the bell to ring.

  When I round the corner to the lockers, I see Jorja. Her back's to me, and her long hair hangs straight down. She's leaning on my old locker laughing with Margie.

  I'm going to miss teasing Juicy.

  Joseph Pruitt walks up to her. His smile and his posture piss me off.

  He's
hitting on her.

  When she smiles at him, a vise clamps down on my heart.

  When he hands her his phone, an unknown force punches the wind out of my gut.

  When she begins to tap the device, giving him her digits, realization hits me right between the eyes, and I advance on them.

  Margie’s face lights up when she sees me, then her mouth drops open, and her eyes bug out of her face.

  Both Jorja and Joseph turn to see what's frightened her.

  My eyes lock on Joseph’s, and he starts stuttering. “Jocko, I … I thought y … you were gone.”

  I grip his shoulder, and he visibly cringes, then I hand shuck his stupid ass away. “Backoff, Motherfucker.” I growl.

  He stumbles, slips, lands on his ass, then crawls away.

  When I turn to face Jorja, Margie takes a few steps back, clearing the space between us.

  Jorja’s eyes narrow, and she opens her mouth to say something sassy, but her words are lost.

  I'm on her. Pushing her body against the locker, I pin her there with my own.

  She stiffens in resistance, and her eyes flash with anger, then defiance.

  But this time, I don’t taunt or tease her. This time, I cup her face and tilt her lips to take my kiss.

  As I lower my mouth to hers, the defiance in her eyes fades to fear as her willing body melts into mine.

  Damn. I’ve been a fool. I should’ve done this a long time ago. She's been resisting me, not because she doesn’t want me, but because she does.

  My lips crush hers, and a blast of sensations overwhelm me.

  The sweetness of her scent, the softness of her breath, the exquisiteness of her essence fills my emptiness completely. I press her willing body, needing to feel her curves meld into mine. Then her lips part and her mouth opens, wanting my tongue.

  All the years of hunger and longing for her bursts forth, and I devour her like a starving man. Every sensation shoots through me like lightning, and I can’t get enough of her.

  When I finally release her mouth, silence surrounds us as I stare into her eyes, burning this moment into my brain, knowing this may be the only time I hold her in my arms.

  My throat tightens with the raw emotion of saying goodbye, making my words impossible to express. But I want her to know. Holding her face captive, I stare into her eyes, trying to bare my soul to her.

  Jorja Jones, you have always been the only one I have wanted, and when I come home … if I make it home, I want to come home to you.

  The bell rings.

  I set her free, hoping her heart will wait for my return.

  Then I turn and walk away to become the man I am meant to be.

  A SEAL in the US Navy.

  Chapter One

  Jocko

  “Welcome to Sunnyville.” I read the sign at the city limits. “We made it, Luce. The first stop is my parent’s gravesite. I need to pay my respects.”

  Driving down the road, I chat about losing them. “The days after the accident were dark. I was so angry. Most people don’t know this, but I would sneak into the graveyard to sleep with them under the stars. It sounds morbid when I say it out loud, but it helped.”

  I hit the blinker and slow down to make the turn into Sunnyville Crematory and Mortuary. “I know they would be proud of the man I have become. Did I tell you I could have played pro baseball? No? Well, I could have, but I decided my life needed to matter more than making people cheer. I haven’t regretted my decision either. Not for one day.”

  Parking, I pick up the bouquet of flowers for my mom and open the truck door.

  “Come on. I want my parents to meet who is responsible for my safe return home.”

  Turning down Willow Bend Street, I wonder out loud. “We are going to swing by Juicy Jorja’s old house and see what’s up. Is she going to be the one that got away? Or is she waiting for me to return?”

  As I cruise by her family’s old house, she gets out of a car parked in the driveway. I hit the brakes and slow down as I hone in on her in full stalker mode. The first thing I notice is her hair is short, shoulder-length, cut in layers, and bounces as she walks. The second thing I notice is her body is still built like a brick house. All woman. All curves. Instantly, that old feeling only she was ever able to conjure rises out of my groin.

  Watching her bound up the steps two at a time to unlock the front door tells me she still lives there.

  I notice several additional interesting things as well.

  There are no toys in her yard. Therefore, she isn't a mom.

  There are a couple of small signs in the yard. An advertisement for a lawn care service and a warning that her house is protected by a security system. Therefore, she lives alone.

  There is a For Rent sign on the house next door. Therefore, she needs a new neighbor.

  I grin in the rearview mirror. “Looks like we have found a place to live.”

  Rounding the corner off Willow Bend Street, I tell my boy, “Next stop, Aunt Betsy, and Chief’s house. Now, listen, if Moose is still alive, go easy on the old dog.”

  “Waah. Waah.” Two short sirens pop off, and I glance in the rearview mirror to see a cop car tailing us.

  “Well, shit.” I pull over on the side of the road and put my window down. “Stay calm, Luce.”

  I lay my pistol on the dash in clear view and dutifully put my hands on the steering wheel in plain sight.

  The officer walks up and sees the handgun. “You got a permit for that?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Anyone sitting back there?” He leans in to look in the back.

  “My dog.”

  “License, registration, insurance, and carry permit, please.”

  “They're in the glove box.”

  The officer takes a step back, puts his hand on his weapon, and instructs, “Reach slowly and get them out. Keep your hands where I can see them at all times.”

  Just then, another cop car pulls up, and Grant Malone, my first cousin, gets out. “What the fuck, man? Are you kidding me?” He strides over with no regard to the other officer, but tells him as he passes, “Lou, this is my cousin, the Navy SEAL, Jocko Malone.”

  Office Lou takes a step back, so I unlatch my seat belt and exit the truck.

  “Welcome home, Cuz!” Grant wraps me up in a big bro hug, slapping me hard on the back.

  “Thanks, man. It’s good to be back.”

  Nate, Grant’s partner, walks around the front of their cruiser. “Well, I’ll be damned.” His outstretched hand clasps mine. “Welcome home, Jocko.”

  Officer Lou offers his hand. “Nice to meet you. I have heard a lot of things about you.”

  “Likewise. All good, I hope.”

  “You just getting into town?” Grant beams. “You should have told us you were coming.”

  “Naw, I like having the element of surprise on my side.”

  They laugh.

  “I hope you're heading to Mom and Dad’s. She’ll be upset if she isn't your first stop.”

  “Taking my boy to meet them now.”

  Grant’s eyes light up. “You got a boy?” He walks over to the back door and opens it, then takes a step back.

  Sitting on the edge of the seat, ears forward and alert, eyes focused and drilling Officer Lou (who he smelled fear from), totally ignoring Grant (who's a big dog lover) is my solid black Belgian Malinois K9.

  “Oh … he's a good-looking son of bitch. What's his name?”

  “Luce.”

  My boy cuts his eyes at me.

  “Isn’t that a girl’s name?” Grant teases.

  “He's confident in his masculinity.” I chuckle. “It’s short for Lucifer.”

  They all laugh, and Nate says, “That suits him!”

  I snap my fingers, and Lucifer jumps down and heels.

  Officer Lou takes a step back. “Is he safe?”

  “For the most part.” I tease him.

  I reach down and ruffle Lucifer’s hair. “He’s my boy. He’s my good boy.”
>
  Lucifer’s tongue rolls out and dangles. One ear twists to the side, and I swear, he laughs.

  “Pet or K9?” Nate asks.

  “Retired with distinction, so pet now. He's an MPC, multi-purpose canine. He does it all. I’m hoping we can hire his skills out once in a while. Part-time, emergency gigs. He tracks, sniffs bombs, drugs, and he's badass at takedowns.”

  “Good to know.” Grant says, “I'll pass that along to Chief Ramos. I’m sure the community can use his skills on occasion.”

  “Appreciate it. He gets bored when he isn’t working.”

  “I’m sure Emerson would love a part-time jumper if you're down for doing it.”

  “Absolutely!”

  Their radios squawk as a call comes in. Nate responds as Grant sticks his hand out. “I’m sure Mom will put together a welcome home party for you. We'll catch up then.”

  I shake it. “You bet.”

  I offer my hand to Nate. “Nice to see you again.”

  And to Officer Lou. “Nice to meet you. We done here?”

  He grins. “Yeah, you're good to go.”

  I look down at Lucifer. “Let’s go meet your Aunt Betsy, Chief, and cousin, Moose. We don’t want to get on her bad side.”

  Grant must have called Aunt Betsy and given her a heads up that I was on my way over. She and Chief are standing on the porch when we pull up, beaming with pride.