The Protector

PRAISE FOR SUSAN STOKER “I will read anything Susan Stoker puts out . . . because I know it’s going to be amazing!” —Riley Edwards, USA Today bestselling author “Susan Stoker never fails to pull me out of a reading slump. With heat, action, and suspense, she weaves an incredible tale that sucks me in and doesn’t let go.” —Jessica Prince, USA Today bestselling author “One thing I love about Susan Stoker’s books is that she knows how to deliver a perfect HEA while still making sure the villain gets what he/she deserves!” —T.M. Frazier, New York Times bestselling author “Susan Stoker’s characters come alive on the page!” —Elle James, New York Times bestselling author “When you pick up a Susan Stoker book, you know exactly what you’re going to get . . . a hot alpha hero and a smart, sassy heroine. I can’t get enough!” —Jessica Hawkins, USA Today bestselling author “Suspenseful storytelling with characters you want as friends!” —Meli Raine, USA Today bestselling author “Susan Stoker knows what women want. A hot hero who needs to save a damsel in distress . . . even if she can save herself.” —CD Reiss, New York Times bestselling author DISCOVER OTHER TITLES BY SUSAN STOKER Game of Chance Series The Protector The Royal (August 2023) The Hero (TBA) The Lumberjack (TBA) Silverstone Series Trusting Skylar Trusting Taylor Trusting Molly Trusting Cassidy Mountain Mercenaries Series Defending Allye Defending Chloe Defending Morgan Defending Harlow Defending Everly Defending Zara Defending Raven Ace Security Series Claiming Grace Claiming Alexis Claiming Bailey Claiming Felicity Claiming Sarah The Refuge Deserving Alaska Deserving Henley Deserving Reese (May 2023) Deserving Cora (November 2023) Deserving Lara (TBA) Deserving Maisy (TBA) Deserving Ryleigh (TBA) SEAL Team Hawaii Series Finding Elodie Finding Lexie Finding Kenna Finding Monica Finding Carly Finding Ashlyn Finding Jodelle (July 2023) Eagle Point Search & Rescue Searching for Lilly Searching for Elsie Searching for Bristol Searching for Caryn (April 2023) Searching for Finley (October 2023) Searching for Heather (TBA) Searching for Khloe (TBA) Delta Force Heroes Rescuing Rayne Rescuing Aimee (novella) Rescuing Emily Rescuing Harley Marrying Emily (novella) Rescuing Kassie Rescuing Bryn Rescuing Casey Rescuing Sadie (novella) Rescuing Wendy Rescuing Mary Rescuing Macie Rescuing Annie Delta Team Two Series Shielding Gillian Shielding Kinley Shielding Aspen Shielding Jayme (novella) Shielding Riley Shielding Devyn Shielding Ember Shielding Sierra Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series Justice for Mackenzie Justice for Mickie Justice for Corrie Justice for Laine (novella) Shelter for Elizabeth Justice for Boone Shelter for Adeline Shelter for Sophie Justice for Erin Justice for Milena Shelter for Blythe Justice for Hope Shelter for Quinn Shelter for Koren Shelter for Penelope SEAL of Protection Series Protecting Caroline Protecting Alabama Protecting Fiona Marrying Caroline (novella) Protecting Summer Protecting Cheyenne Protecting Jessyka Protecting Julie (novella) Protecting Melody Protecting the Future Protecting Kiera (novella) Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella) Protecting Dakota Seal of Protection: Legacy Series Securing Caite Securing Brenae (novella) Securing Sidney Securing Piper Securing Zoey Securing Avery Securing Kalee Securing Jane Beyond Reality Series Outback Hearts Flaming Hearts Frozen Hearts Stand-Alone Novels The Guardian Mist Falling for the Delta Nature’s Rift A Princess for Cale A Moment in Time (a short story collection) Another Moment in Time (a short story collection) A Third Moment in Time (a short story collection) Lambert’s Lady Written as Annie George Stepbrother Virgin (erotic novella) 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. Otherwise, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Text copyright © 2023 by Susan Stoker 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. Published by Montlake, Seattle www.apub.com Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. ISBN-13: 9781662509643 (paperback) ISBN-13: 9781662509650 (digital) Cover design by Hang Le Cover photography by Michelle Lancaster Cover image: ©by-studio / Shutterstock Contents Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Preview: The Royal THE ROYAL GAME OF CHANCE SERIES, BOOK 2 Chapter One About the Author Connect with Susan Online Prologue Jackson “JJ” Justice closed his eyes and breathed shallowly through his nose, praying the pain would lessen. But it was a futile prayer. Their captors delighted in causing as much agony as they could. Opening his eyes, JJ squinted to see his best friends and teammates chained to the walls around him. Riggs “Chappy” Chapman had his head resting against the cinder block wall and his eyes closed. He wasn’t asleep, JJ knew that without a doubt. No one slept in this hellhole. Not really. Kendric “Bob” Evans was next to Chappy, staring over at their fourth teammate with grave concern. Turning his attention to Callum “Cal” Redmon, JJ frowned. He had just been brought back to their cell after a “session” with their captors, and he didn’t look good at all. The assholes holding them hostage were thrilled when they’d realized his identity. Cal was an actual prince. And as Cal had often said, the title itself was actually more exciting than reality, considering a couple dozen of his relatives would have to be killed or die before he came anywhere close to becoming king. But that didn’t matter to the terrorists. They’d focused on Cal almost from the second the team had all been dragged unconscious into this cell. Currently, he was dripping from too many cuts on his body to count. He wore only a pair of boxers, making it easy to see just how horrible his latest torture session had been. Their captors had focused on marring Cal’s formerly pristine flesh, using knives, cigarettes, and who the hell knew what