Ethan’s Obsession

ETHAN’S OBSESSION (SPECIAL FORCES: OPERATION ALPHA) TACTICAL OPERATIONS SERIES BOOK TWO ANNA BLAKELY CONTENTS Foreword Author’s Note 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 Epilogue About the Author Want to connect with Anna? Also by Anna Blakely More Special Forces: Operation Alpha World Books Books by Susan Stoker 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. © 2023 ACES PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 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. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Editing by: Tracy Roelle Proofreading by: Angie Springs, Kim Ruiz, and Judy Wagner Dear Readers, Welcome to the Special Forces: Operation Alpha Fan-Fiction world! If you are new to this amazing world, in a nutshell the author wrote a story using one or more of my characters in it. Sometimes that character has a major role in the story, and other times they are only mentioned briefly. This is perfectly legal and allowable because they are going through Aces Press to publish the story. This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I might have assisted with brainstorming and other ideas about which of my characters to use, I didn’t have any part in the process or writing or editing the story. I’m proud and excited that so many authors loved my characters enough that they wanted to write them into their own story. Thank you for supporting them, and me! READ ON! Xoxo Susan Stoker ABOUT THE BOOK A former SEAL who wants what he can’t have. An artist who’s afraid to follow her heart. Danger lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Ethan “Apollo” McAllister’s world is filled with controlled chaos. As a former Navy SEAL and member of Tac-Ops, he’s used to running headfast into danger. He’s also damn good at keeping secrets. The biggest one of all? Being in love with his best friend’s girl. Artist Nicki Castille has made something of herself. The small-town girl from Illinois is now one of the most in-demand civilian contractors for the Department of Defense. But when her work on a top-secret mission inadvertently places her in danger, she must put her trust—and her life—in the hands of the one man who destroyed her belief in true love. Forced together, Ethan and Nicki quickly begin mending the broken fences that has kept them apart for nearly ten years. Soon old wounds are healed, and misunderstandings are rectified, giving these two childhood friends a second chance at love. But just when they’re on the brink of happily-ever-after, a Tac-Ops enemy strikes back in the worst way imaginable. With Nicki’s life hanging in the balance, Ethan is forced to make a choice. Either trade the woman he loves for the one thing that would mean certain financial ruin for the United States…or watch her die. For Ethan, there is no choice. Nicki is his, and he’ll stop at nothing to save her from hell. To everyone who waited patiently (and impatiently) for Ethan’s story. This book went from being the bane of my existence to a story I absolutely love and am proud to share with all of you. Thanks so much for hanging in there with me on this one. I think you’ll find it was worth the wait! XOXO~ Anna AUTHOR’S NOTE Thank you so much for choosing to read Ethan and Nicki’s story. These two star-crossed lovers are destined to be together, but if Ethan and his teammates—along with Ghost and the rest of your favorite Delta Force team—can’t get to Nicki in time, their chance of happiness will be ruined. Along with the world as we know it. I hope you enjoy your time spent with these characters, and that this is a story you will come to love. Thanks so much for all you do to help me have the best job ever! Hugs and Happy Reading! PROLOGUE 10 years ago… “The party’s inside, you know.” Nicki Castille’s heart flipped, but she forced herself not to react. She didn’t have to turn around to know who’d just joined her. She would recognize that low, rumbly voice anywhere. “I know.” She continued staring up at the stars. “So, what are you doing out here?” Trying not to think about the fact that you’re leaving. Again. “Just taking a breather.” Nicki shifted slightly on the patio bench. A casual move. “It was starting to get a little crowded inside.” The familiar scent of woodsy male rolled with the passing breeze as Ethan McAllister—one of her two best friends and the man she was secretly in love with—sat down next to her. Stretching one of his strong arms behind her, Ethan rested it along the bench’s tall wooden back. The air in her lungs stilled, and it was all Nicki could do not to react when his hand inadvertently brushed along the curve of her bare shoulder. “This from the girl who’s always the life of the party?” His deep voice resonated to the depths of her bones. “It’s not my party.” She forced herself to look at him. “It’s yours.” “It is.” Ethan dipped his dimpled chin. “And yet, one of my