For my Mom and all of those left behind.
Your love and dedication to hold the fort down, kiss the boo-boo's, check under the bed, rush to practice and back home, wait for 'the call,' blow out the candles, video the missed moments, send all the cards and care packages, cry themselves to sleep, wake up and conquer the world while their loved one provides all of us a free one.
The wives, husbands, mothers and fathers, children, and pets holding their breaths and hearts until their favorite soldier comes home. Often the same, but sometimes different, yet always to arms willing to love and accept them and to be by their side... even to help fight another battle.
Letter To the Reader
Hey, y'all.
Thank you for picking up Absolution, I hope it’s everything you want in a book and more. When the opportunity presented itself to write within The Salvation Society, I knew I had to try.
And then the world went crazy!
I have to laugh because everything was crazy when I stumbled upon Corinne and this series in 2014. Yes! I found her days after she released my husband, Jackson's book, and I've stalked her since.
My children gifted me a Kindle, and I loaded up! When I came across Beloved, the navy stood out to me. My Dad was an officer in the navy, and he was dying. I needed this connection, and once I started reading, the reason becomes clear.
"Enough."
This word has stuck with me for years, offering me something I couldn't see in myself and the one thing my dad wanted me to learn. That I am enough.
In the following years, I would get lost in her words. Learning to love me and being imperfect is perfectly okay. It helped me to decide to begin writing in earnest again, never imagining I'd publish one day.
When my dad passed in mid-October 2015, Corinne was one of the first people to reach out to me, honoring his service by calling him a hero. He was in many ways, but most importantly, he was mine.
Before he left, we had a conversation about what I was doing. I explained I was writing a book to help occupy my mind. He then asked me to promise to publish, no matter the outcome.
In 2016, after many mistakes and lots of bumps in the road, I released my first book. Then I realized I wanted to continue with the tight-knit community I created, writing their stories full of hope.
My books are standalone and can be read in any order or in their order of release. The world is built around a family and their friends in Cherry Grove, SC. They live, love, and make a multitude of mistakes but always find redemption.
Absolution is the best of both worlds. Where my love of Jackson (because once you go, Jackson, you won't want any other action), and the incredible Salvation Society intertwines with my redeeming romance characters to bring you an angsty and heart-filled story with the hope of a great love. In this book, you'll visit your old favorites and maybe make a few new ones.
I chose the word absolution, which encompasses both worlds, salvation, and redemption. Absolution means forgiveness, and in this time of uncertainty, we need more for others and ourselves.
Thank you for being here, and welcome to Cherry Grove!
Lea~
Chapter One
Creed
"Are you with us, Hatchling?" My eyes snap to my buddy, Connor "Cupcake" Phillips, when he bumps my leg.
"I'm good, Cupcake."
"You better be," Dave Riggins, Big Rigg as we call him, growls. "no room for error."
"I got your six." I grind my jaw, hating to bite my tongue again. Riggins struts around like the biggest bad ass, he's more like a pain in the ass. Unlike Connor, who has been my best friend since buds.
"Heads up! Let's get ready to fly." Commander "Pretty Boy" Floyd Driver does as he says, standing and checking his gear. "In and out."
"Damn straight, Pretty Boy." Connor winks at Floyd. No matter how cocky you are when someone is built like a Greek God, you have to admit he is and makes Floyd's call sign perfect for him.
I elbow Floyd to get his attention. "So, Daisy? Like the gunslinger movie, I'm your daisy or because you prefer them on the first date? Asking for a friend."
"Hatch, ya little shit. Get the hell back there and get ready to go." Floyd shakes his head, chuckling. I'll never understand why missions need to be named after flowers.
I enlisted after getting my bachelor's in political science at North Carolina State, but only after my dad insisted, I graduate first. He served first and then went to work, so I understand his point of view.
Although I'm educated, my dad wanted me in law school, but it wasn't for me. He had big dreams of my cousin Boone and I forming a law firm. But I want to follow in my Dad’s footsteps. Well, at least these particular ones.
My dad is now our state senator, and I wouldn't do that job for all the money in the world. He says he's there to help his veteran brothers and sisters. He's always been my hero, more so now than ever before.
We have a killer team for this one. Well, Riggins is on this with us. He's been sour since being turned down for another job, but all the others are badasses. We work well together, just as a team should.
I slap Connor on the back, holding up my hand for a high five from another. "Don't you worry, Baby. Nobody is gonna put you in a corner."
"How's that for returning fire?" Patrick "Baby" Russell shakes his head as he sets my hand ablaze.
I cut my eyes at Riggins. "I can handle all you got."
"The Mighty Oak!" I fist bump Levi "The Mighty Oak" Underwood. "You ready to leave outta here?"
He grimaces. "You gonna keep stinking the place up with your shit jokes?"
"Probably."
"Then, yes. Let's haul ass." He shakes his head, bumping my fist.
I'm pushed forward with a jolt, only to find Dave Riggins behind me. "Let's move, Hatch. Or are you too busy pissing your pants?"
"Naw, old man. I borrowed your diapers." I slap him on the back, smirking. He knows damn well this is my third deployment, but with every mission, his smartass attitude sours. His disregard for the finer points makes me anxious. I purse my lips, banishing every other thought from my head.
"Earmuffs, Cupcake. Screw you, Hatcher." He flips me off before turning to ready for our jump.
Cupcake grins mischievously. "You're doing it wrong, Riggs; muffs don't sit on your ears."
"You can both fuck off!" Riggs grumbles, leaving us all laughing.
Connor holds his fist up for the manly bumps and shakes to ensue. I know, cliché, but we've done this since buds, and now, it's tradition. We bump fists, slap, and slide, hook thumbs, raise our hands before dropping them as they implode.
I know we're cool.
The crackle in our ears signals us before Floyd does. "Head in the game, and ready to roll."
We have just enough time for one last check of our gear before we hit the air. Once on the ground, there is no margin for error. They said in and out, no looking back. Execution isn't only critical, it's everything.
"You little boys watch and learn," Riggs smirks at us as he readies at the hatch.
I'm still the last in the pecking order. The thing is, I'm the youngest here, and no one will ever let me forget. Everyone else has a wife and children waiting on them, well almost, Connor's will soon be here.