If you are in the Prescott, Arizona area for the 4th of July celebration, please visit me at the Barnes and Nobles. Don't miss out! You have the chance to catch me on TWO different days.
July, 2nd AND 3rd 2008 3:00p.m. - 6:00p.m.
Barnes & Nobles
3250 Gateway Blvd.
Prescott, AZ, 86303
928-443-8574
See you there!
Rebecca~
www.rebeccalerwill.com
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Book Signing in Garden City, Kansas
Hi friends,
are you in the greater Garden City, Kansas area?
Come and join me for the signing of my award winning romantic suspense Relocating Mia.
It should be a lot of fun!
June, 7th 2008 3:00p.m. - 6:00p.m.
Hastings Bookstores
2108 E. Kansas Ave.
Garden City, KS
620-275-2289
See you there!
Rebecca~
http://www.rebeccalerwill.com/
are you in the greater Garden City, Kansas area?
Come and join me for the signing of my award winning romantic suspense Relocating Mia.
It should be a lot of fun!
June, 7th 2008 3:00p.m. - 6:00p.m.
Hastings Bookstores
2108 E. Kansas Ave.
Garden City, KS
620-275-2289
See you there!
Rebecca~
http://www.rebeccalerwill.com/
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The Acronym - Chapter 6
The following material is subject to copyright.
This is an un- edited and preliminary version of 'The Acronym'.
Chapter 6
“When did you find out?” Mia asked Douglas after the briefing. They sat on the porch together, watching the sun disappear behind the Rockies.
“The Department of Justice notified us of the possibility before Brian and I left for Mexico. But I didn’t want to tell and worry you until it was confirmed. I received the brief just this morning in Denver. Believe me, I would have told you under different circumstances if I’d had the chance.”
Mia’s back rested against his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. The hammock was swaying them slightly and it would have been one of those rare but perfectly serene evenings if there wasn’t the issue of that damn trial hovering above them like a thunderstorm cloud.
She could feel his heart beat strong and steady. It was a habit of hers to listen to and feel the very core of his essence. Normally it soothed her, knowing he was there for her, especially when times got scary, which she was still learning to adapt to.
Mia got up. She couldn’t be close to this man and think reasonable. She crossed the porch and leaned against the hand railing, facing Douglas who remained seated.
She was distraught since the meeting had ended and she had every reason to be. He had watched her confidence deteriorate in the last hour and now she just stood with her hands buried in the pockets of her slacks, looking quite vulnerable.
For a little while Mia was deep in her thoughts. She was gnawing on her lower lip and stared holes into the air in front of her feet. Finally she said, “I don’t understand. Why would the Russian government change their mind? I thought they had a deal figured out to exchange Lagunov with a Russian looked up in D.C. Doesn’t the Attorney General have enough influence to force a deportation?” Mia did not try to keep the despair out of her voice, “Do you know what this means?”
“Of course I know what this means, love...”
“No you don’t!” She interrupted him fiercely, “You don’t understand what this means to me! I’m going to have to go back there to testify. I prepared myself to re-live the nightmare, but now, I have to do it on their turf. What about the mafia? Won’t they be all over the place? How close will they be able to get?” Abruptly she stopped the flow of unanswered questions. With her eyes closed she turned her head and clamped her arms around her midst as if she could shield herself from the after effects of the horrific encounter she’d survived. Terrorizing pictures of the past quickly flashed through her mind and pure horror waked through her and robbed her of composure.
Douglas didn’t know what to say. He certainly did not want to give her another speech about how safe she was going to be and that they would protect her.
She looked at him. Dark shadows pooled in her eyes and he would have given anything for being able to slay her dragons. But it was not in his power, all he could do was helplessly watch her fight the same desperation she had experienced in the past.
Mia finally got her speech back.
She went on, quieter this time, “I need you to understand something. I am not like you. This is not what I do. Don’t you think I can’t see the hunger in your eyes when you get briefed on a new assignment? And how satisfied you are when you come back here, after you succeeded? You are fearless. I don’t have that in me, Douglas. And I wouldn’t want to. Please, you mustn’t forget that!”
Of course, she was right. She wasn’t a warrior and she’d never intended to be one. All she ever wanted to be was a regular girl in a somewhat normal job. Well, until a series of bad circumstances had gotten her involved.
Members of the Red Mafyia had abducted her and she’d been held hostage by a bunch of unimaginable low - lives. She’d been a victim of a vicious crime and her life had spiraled quickly out of control. After she’d been dragged across Siberia and over the Russian border into Mongolia, she spent agonizing days and nights knowing with utter certainty that she was going to die. Douglas and Bao rescued her in an outrageously, crazy mission. She was shot in the process and nearly killed.
Luckily she’d recovered quickly after he’d brought her here. Soon, she proved to be an extraordinary woman with a lot to offer. But she still felt fear in a way he never had. She simply wasn’t carved out of the same wood, and he was guilty of forgetting this at times.
Douglas just sat there, looking miserable. There was nothing he could say to take away the paralyzing feeling of being afraid.
“I’m sorry, love,” was the only thing he could come up with, “I’m sorry for having to put you through this.”
She studied the tips of her shoes, “It’s not your fault.” She took a deep breath, trying to find courage. Finally she straightened up, “With you there I’m going to be okay. I’m sure the trial has already begun. When do we have to leave?”
Douglas swallowed. His eyes suddenly stung. He wished she wouldn’t have asked him this right now. He wanted to bring the really bad news to her another time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day, after she’d gotten used to the idea of having to travel back into the core of the evil.
He continued to study her, uneasy, not knowing how to explain. Then he rose from the hammock and took a step toward her. He wanted to hold her as if he could physically keep the harm away from her, but she placed one hand on his chest to keep distance.
“Why don’t you answer me? I’d like to know when we have to leave for Russia.” Mia looked up to him, her warm, brown eyes searching his.
He scratched his jaw and drew a deep breath, “Ludvika will be going with you and the new guy as well. In addition the FBI will send someone for your protection. You are scheduled to leave in three days.” He looked down at her, sadly, and thought how wrong this situation really was.
Mia narrowed her eyes. A sudden anger flushed through her body like heat. “What are you saying? You’re not going?” Douglas silently shook his head. He had promised her to be there for the duration of her testimony. But just as life takes its turns, he had to follow a lead he could not withdraw from.
He expected that Mia would unload on him, that her fiery temperament, he so loved, would push her to rip his head off. Instead, she just looked at him, incredulously. She looked at him for a while, and did not say a word, and then she finally turned and walked away.
This is an un- edited and preliminary version of 'The Acronym'.
Chapter 6
“When did you find out?” Mia asked Douglas after the briefing. They sat on the porch together, watching the sun disappear behind the Rockies.
“The Department of Justice notified us of the possibility before Brian and I left for Mexico. But I didn’t want to tell and worry you until it was confirmed. I received the brief just this morning in Denver. Believe me, I would have told you under different circumstances if I’d had the chance.”
Mia’s back rested against his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. The hammock was swaying them slightly and it would have been one of those rare but perfectly serene evenings if there wasn’t the issue of that damn trial hovering above them like a thunderstorm cloud.
She could feel his heart beat strong and steady. It was a habit of hers to listen to and feel the very core of his essence. Normally it soothed her, knowing he was there for her, especially when times got scary, which she was still learning to adapt to.
Mia got up. She couldn’t be close to this man and think reasonable. She crossed the porch and leaned against the hand railing, facing Douglas who remained seated.
She was distraught since the meeting had ended and she had every reason to be. He had watched her confidence deteriorate in the last hour and now she just stood with her hands buried in the pockets of her slacks, looking quite vulnerable.
For a little while Mia was deep in her thoughts. She was gnawing on her lower lip and stared holes into the air in front of her feet. Finally she said, “I don’t understand. Why would the Russian government change their mind? I thought they had a deal figured out to exchange Lagunov with a Russian looked up in D.C. Doesn’t the Attorney General have enough influence to force a deportation?” Mia did not try to keep the despair out of her voice, “Do you know what this means?”
“Of course I know what this means, love...”
“No you don’t!” She interrupted him fiercely, “You don’t understand what this means to me! I’m going to have to go back there to testify. I prepared myself to re-live the nightmare, but now, I have to do it on their turf. What about the mafia? Won’t they be all over the place? How close will they be able to get?” Abruptly she stopped the flow of unanswered questions. With her eyes closed she turned her head and clamped her arms around her midst as if she could shield herself from the after effects of the horrific encounter she’d survived. Terrorizing pictures of the past quickly flashed through her mind and pure horror waked through her and robbed her of composure.
Douglas didn’t know what to say. He certainly did not want to give her another speech about how safe she was going to be and that they would protect her.
She looked at him. Dark shadows pooled in her eyes and he would have given anything for being able to slay her dragons. But it was not in his power, all he could do was helplessly watch her fight the same desperation she had experienced in the past.
Mia finally got her speech back.
She went on, quieter this time, “I need you to understand something. I am not like you. This is not what I do. Don’t you think I can’t see the hunger in your eyes when you get briefed on a new assignment? And how satisfied you are when you come back here, after you succeeded? You are fearless. I don’t have that in me, Douglas. And I wouldn’t want to. Please, you mustn’t forget that!”
Of course, she was right. She wasn’t a warrior and she’d never intended to be one. All she ever wanted to be was a regular girl in a somewhat normal job. Well, until a series of bad circumstances had gotten her involved.
Members of the Red Mafyia had abducted her and she’d been held hostage by a bunch of unimaginable low - lives. She’d been a victim of a vicious crime and her life had spiraled quickly out of control. After she’d been dragged across Siberia and over the Russian border into Mongolia, she spent agonizing days and nights knowing with utter certainty that she was going to die. Douglas and Bao rescued her in an outrageously, crazy mission. She was shot in the process and nearly killed.
Luckily she’d recovered quickly after he’d brought her here. Soon, she proved to be an extraordinary woman with a lot to offer. But she still felt fear in a way he never had. She simply wasn’t carved out of the same wood, and he was guilty of forgetting this at times.
Douglas just sat there, looking miserable. There was nothing he could say to take away the paralyzing feeling of being afraid.
“I’m sorry, love,” was the only thing he could come up with, “I’m sorry for having to put you through this.”
She studied the tips of her shoes, “It’s not your fault.” She took a deep breath, trying to find courage. Finally she straightened up, “With you there I’m going to be okay. I’m sure the trial has already begun. When do we have to leave?”
Douglas swallowed. His eyes suddenly stung. He wished she wouldn’t have asked him this right now. He wanted to bring the really bad news to her another time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day, after she’d gotten used to the idea of having to travel back into the core of the evil.
He continued to study her, uneasy, not knowing how to explain. Then he rose from the hammock and took a step toward her. He wanted to hold her as if he could physically keep the harm away from her, but she placed one hand on his chest to keep distance.
“Why don’t you answer me? I’d like to know when we have to leave for Russia.” Mia looked up to him, her warm, brown eyes searching his.
He scratched his jaw and drew a deep breath, “Ludvika will be going with you and the new guy as well. In addition the FBI will send someone for your protection. You are scheduled to leave in three days.” He looked down at her, sadly, and thought how wrong this situation really was.
Mia narrowed her eyes. A sudden anger flushed through her body like heat. “What are you saying? You’re not going?” Douglas silently shook his head. He had promised her to be there for the duration of her testimony. But just as life takes its turns, he had to follow a lead he could not withdraw from.
He expected that Mia would unload on him, that her fiery temperament, he so loved, would push her to rip his head off. Instead, she just looked at him, incredulously. She looked at him for a while, and did not say a word, and then she finally turned and walked away.
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