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  THE READER

  Copyright © 2016 M.K. Harkins

  All Rights Reserved

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this

  publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incident either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized by, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Dedication

  Books by M.K. Harkins

  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

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Acknowledgements

  You are loved, and not forgotten.

  An angel on earth, but I think heaven needed you.

  All I have to do is remember your smile

  and I feel better.

  Until we meet again . . .

  Intentional:

  Intentional is a real page turner which got me more and more involved. It developed into an intense situation which developed into another and then exploded into a great climax! ~Amazon Reviewer

  This book is a great read. It is very well written and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in intense romance novels with a little bit of suspense in the process ~My eBook Café

  Have you ever read a book and once you are finished you want to seek out the highest mountain to shout to the world “READ THIS BOOK?” ~ Lola Kay

  Unintentional:

  I have to say in all honesty. . . . I LOVED this book!!!!! I actually liked it even more then Intentional. I thought this book flowed very well and I loved how she switched off the POV’s during the chapters. I felt we got the full feeling of the story that way. This book is listed as a standalone and I truly believe it can be read as one. The author does a wonderful job of recapping the end of Intentional from Cade’s POV , that you really don’t miss anything from the first book ~ Jennifer from Book Bitches Blog

  This story is great. I love how the author gave me a love story with some mystery thrown into it. This is one of those books that you don’t want to put down until you’ve finished it, because you have to know what happens next. So in this book you have a great story, awesome characters, excellent writing, and a happy reader at the end. I highly recommend this book ~ Leigh Broxton

  Breaking Braydon:

  I was left in complete awe after finishing this unbelievably heart-felt book. M. K. Harkins has stolen my heart, and I honestly don’t want it back. This story left me wanting so much more and yet feeling completely content and satisfied. Watching these amazing characters love and support each other was beyond description at times at how it made my heart swell with pride and admiration. What a magnificent journey I was given the privilege to watch and take part in, and I will forever remember the story that made me cry tears of joy and rapture ~ Shadowplay (Amazon Reviewer)

  I loved this book! It’s hopeful and uplifting, emotional without being overwrought. And the author has made incredible, jaw-dropping strides in her craft. The writing is clean, the plot swift, the characters engaging, and the dialogue snappy and often quite funny. Even the secondary characters have heart and humor, and it’s my great hope the author will spin-off a story or two for each of them.

  If you enjoy inspiring, witty romance with an upbeat, playful vibe, Breaking Braydon is for you. It’s the perfect way to spend the day, curled up with Braydon and Jain ~ Story Girl

  Taking Tiffany

  This story has a lot of romance, adventure, mystery, intrigue, and surprises, one after the other. Just when you think you have it figured out it goes in a different way. It was a very entertaining read and I definitely recommend it. Of course, it has a HEA. ~ **Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer

  This has quickly bumped up my favorite books list. I really loved it. Loved it so much, as soon as I finished, I went right back to the beginning to read it again!

  I highly recommend. Lovable characters, surprising plot twists and smoldering chemistry all make Taking Tiffany a must read. ~ More Than A Review

  Sweet with just enough mystery. I never would’ve guessed the outcome which was amazing. At the same time it was touching and adorable which made it the perfect romantic book. There’s just enough romance and just enough mystery/suspense. ~ Amazon Reviewer

  I am dead.

  My eyes cracked open for a moment before I squeezed them shut again. The blazing sunlight ratcheted up my headache from dull to code red. Maybe not dead—not quite yet. I lay on my stomach with my cheek pressed against the sand on a dark, gritty shore.

  Waves lapped at my feet, making my one remaining tennis shoe feel tight and cold; I couldn’t feel my other foot. I tried to spit some sand out of my mouth, but failed. The granules remained stuck to my tongue; weakness won.

  No, not dead. I just wished I was.

  “Look, Maddie!” said a young voice, maybe nine or ten years old. “A dead body!”

  That would be me. Except, I wasn’t quite there yet.

  “Cool! I’ve never seen one before. Should we kick it?”

  That would not be helpful. I braced myself, waiting for the inevitable pain that would soon follow. I groaned and tried to turn on my side.

  “It’s a zombie! Run!”

  Sand sprayed in my face as the kids scrambled away. At least, now it was quiet. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water on the shore. My head ached, my body was wet and freezing, and something warm oozed from my right shoulder. Not good.

  What happened?

  I searched, trying to remove the internal block, but came up empty. Almost as if an eraser had wiped all the words from a chalkboard, my mind a blur of colored dust.

  I don’t remember. Not one thing.

  A wrenching pain clamped around my chest with an aching darkness so intense, I could barely breathe. Tears stung, and my heart slowed. Everything stilled. I focused on calming myself, working through the devastating emotional response brought with that one question—what happened?

  “We’ve done our bit; just toss her on the shore.” An old man rasped out the words like crackled paper.

  A recent memory, I was sure.

  “She could die if we leave her. She’s lost a lot of blood,” a younger male voice had said.

  “It doesn’t matter. We were paid to deliver her here. It’s only a couple feet deep. Now give her a shove, and let’s get going,” said the old man.

  “Sorry,” the younger man had whispered in my ear.

  That was the last thing I remembered before hearing the delinquent children contemplating my zombie demise. Blankness stretched before me, a darkness I couldn’t penetrate.

  With another groan, I lifted myself up into a sitting position and scanned th
e beach and surrounding area. I might not know who those men were or why I was dumped here, but I wasn’t going to wait around to find out. A copse of trees and bushes was close, maybe thirty yards away, a suitable place to conceal myself and form a plan.

  I took a quick inventory. Torn shirt, jeans with a hole in the left leg, and a missing shoe. Blood seeped from my upper arm. I moved back a little of the fabric, and a small round hole was the cause. The opening appeared jagged—a bullet hole? It was throbbing, but no pain—yet. Sweat formed above my brow. I leaned over to rest my head onto my bent knees.

  “I think it’s her,” a deep, male voice said from about two feet away.

  Great. I hadn’t moved fast enough. My window to hide—gone.

  “It looks like she might be hurt. Should we call for help?” another male voice asked.

  “No! No calls. Either the Jacks or the police will find her.”

  I rubbed my temples. The police?

  “Let’s get her back to the compound and have Doc take a look at her,” the first male voice commanded, sounding irritated.

  Compound. That didn’t sound good.

  Time to take a look. I raised my head and squinted against the bright sunshine. Two men, around my age, stood looking down at me with hands on hips and furrowed brows.

  “Who are you?” I asked in a whisper.

  “Friends,” the blond one answered. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision. The sun glowed around his sweet and innocent face, the effect halo-like.

  Maybe I died after all.

  He sat next to me and touched my hand. Nope, he was real. Inquisitive green eyes and a warm smile lined his face. I should be freaked out, but a sense of comfort replaced my anxiety.

  “Do I know you?” I asked.

  “Not yet,” answered the angelic one.

  Oh. I waited for the fear to return, but calmness remained.

  “We have to get going,” the other man said, ignoring my question. I glanced in his direction. Every bit as handsome, but he was dark everywhere his friend was light. Dark hair, dark eyes, and a dark expression. He didn’t look friendly—at all. A shiver traveled down my spine.

  Two men. One can be trusted, the other not.

  Was this a memory? Or was I jumping to conclusions?

  The blond man said in a soothing voice, “We’re going to help you. But we need to move you right away.”

  “No. I’m not going with you. I don’t know you. I have to go . . .” Quick, I needed an excuse. Clearing my throat, I added, “I have to go to my Aunt Em’s. She’s expecting me.”

  “Good one. Yeah, the tornado that brings you to Oz is a bitch.” A good-humored grin spread across the blond’s face.

  Apparently, I needed some practice lying. “Still not going.” I put my head back onto my knees.

  The dark-haired man, with his black, accusing eyes, squatted down next to me. “If we wanted to do you harm, don’t you think we would’ve done so by now? This beach is deserted. We could’ve just given you a little push back into the water and waited.”

  If I had the energy to roll my eyes, I would. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  The blond one gave the other a punch in the arm. “You’re going to scare her.” He turned back to me. “That’s Devon, my cousin. You don’t have to worry about him. He’s always a little intense.”

  I nodded. “Okaaay . . .”

  “Oh, and my name is Archer. I’m the nice one.”

  Devon narrowed his eyes and shot Archer a menacing glare. “Can you stop with the chit-chat? This isn’t the time or place. She’s in danger. We need to get her out of here.” He reached down to help me up, but stopped when he noticed my arm. “She’s been shot. Archer, grab my backpack and the blanket from the back seat. We need to keep her warm and start first aid.”

  Archer turned and jogged to the same crop of trees where I had planned to escape. My strategy had been doomed from the start.

  Devon looked back at me. His dark-lashed, smoky eyes pierced mine as if he were waiting for something.

  “What?” I asked.

  “I can’t hear you.”

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  He continued to stare. What was with this guy?

  Archer returned, plunking down Devon’s backpack, and placed the blanket over my legs. The chill lessened a bit. He unzipped the main compartment and pulled a first aid kit and a bottle of water.

  My tongue swiped against my dry lips, and I almost lunged for it.

  Archer squatted next to me. “Do you need help?”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “Here.” He handed it to me. “It’ll help your headache.”

  “How did—”

  “You’ve been wincing and rubbing your temples,” Archer said.

  Explosions rang through the quiet beach. The backpack split, and pieces of fabric scattered in every direction.

  “Gunshots! Go, go go!” Devon yelled.

  No way. “What?” I gasped and covered my ears.

  “No time,” Archer said as he slipped a hand under my legs and back and picked me up. He carried me, making a dash for the tree line. I looked over my shoulder and saw Devon duck as he grabbed the backpack following close behind.

  “Ouch, ouch, ouch.” The numbness left, replaced by a staggering pain in my shoulder. If the bullets didn’t kill me, the rubbing and bouncing against Archer’s chest with my injured arm would.

  “Sorry,” Archer whispered.

  “What’s happening?” I could barely get the words out with Archer jostling me over the uneven terrain.

  “We’ll get you to safety in a minute,” Archer answered. After a chirping sound and a click, he opened the door, dropped me in the back seat, and hopped in next to me.

  “Get in, now!” Archer yelled at Devon.

  Devon jumped behind the wheel. “Hang on.” He started the Jeep and tore out of the trees and onto a main highway. “We’ll drive to the far side of the island, get her fixed up, and catch the next ferry.”

  “What about the Jacks? They’ll be waiting for us at the dock.” Archer’s eyebrows drew together.

  “They won’t try anything in a public place. We’ll lose them in Seattle,” Devon answered, and the Jeep lurched forward.

  “Okay. We’ll do our usual.” Archer turned to look out the back window.

  With my heart about to beat out of my chest, I asked, “Were those gunshots meant for me? Who are these Jacks you keep talking about? Shouldn’t we be calling the police?”

  The men shot each other a glance through the rear view mirror.

  Archer asked, “How much do you remember?”

  Don’t try to remember yet.

  Ugh! Where did that annoying inner voice come from? I must be crazy, because that voice didn’t belong to me.

  “Nothing. I remember nothing.” Tears threatened. I blinked to hold them back.

  He took my hand and held it in his. I started to pull back, but he tightened his grip.

  “Let go of—”

  His eyes widened a bit, and he glanced at Devon. “I don’t hear anything.”

  “I think she’s blocking.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, finally yanking my hand free.

  “Never mind. We don’t have time to explain. We need to get you out of here.” Devon said.

  “Why? Who’s after me? Did I do something wrong?” I asked.

  “Yes and no,” Devon answered with a worried glance at me in the mirror. His eyes carefully swept the surrounding area before he turned off onto a deserted road and pulled over. “We really need to bandage your arm. Come on, let’s make this quick.

  “Who was shooting at us?”

  Devon groaned. “We can talk about this at the compound. Right now, your health and safety are all we care about.”

  Archer hopped out of the Jeep and laid a blanket on the ground. He motioned me to come and sit.

  I sat and Devon stood next to me, on guard.

  Mor
e questions spun through my brain. “Would I be in jail in your compound?”

  “No,” Devon answered.

  Archer sat next to me. “It’ll be okay.”

  Not feeling like it was okay, I rubbed my forehead. “I have more questions.”

  “All right,” Archer said. “Ask me anything.”

  Devon’s eyes turned toward the sky, his lips moving in a silent dialogue. I’d guess he was either counting or swearing.

  “Where is the compound, and why do you call it that?”

  “It’s in North Bend, you know, right before you get to the mountain pass,” Archer said.

  My mind drew a blank. “I don’t know where that is.”

  “These questions could go on all day. I need to cover your wound.” Devon leaned over to rip open the first aid kit, and pulled out the supplies—gauze, scissors, and some anti-bacterial cleanser. “I’ll bandage your arm, then you can drill us with questions later.”

  “But—”

  “Hold still.” Devon placed his hand on my shoulder and began to cut my shirt. Where he touched, felt warm and tingly. My headache faded, and the tingly feeling moved and swirled around my entire body. I felt almost normal, the pain gone.

  “Why does that feel so good?” I asked.

  They both froze. Oh dear God, I said that out loud. Where did my filter go? The warmth started at my neck and worked its way up to the top of my head.

  Archer, wide-eyed, shoved Devon to the side. “Don’t you dare!”

  “I didn’t do anything! She’s just feeling a little better.” He glanced at me and asked, “Right?

  “Yes. Um, yeah. Much better. I’m a little light-headed though.”

  Archer hesitated and studied Devon for a moment. “I’d better clean her up—just in case.”

  Devon raised his hands and said, “She’s all yours.”

  Were these two always so competitive?

  Archer finished applying the bandage with care. He held out his hand to help me up.

  Would I feel the tingles with him, too? I slowly raised my good arm, and he seized my hand. Oh, good. It felt normal.

  Although I’d begun to feel better physically, my emotional state was in question. Was I really considering going with them? My choices were limited. I could stay on the beach and dodge gunfire or go back to their compound. Confused and disorientated, I weighed my options. I shouldn’t go with them. But the answer yes started to creep into my consciousness. Did I trust them because they were so beautiful? Ugh. I hoped I wasn’t that superficial. No, they saved me from whoever was shooting at us.