Laura Scott - Battle Tested

Keeping guard—because a killer lurks

A Military K-9 Unit novel

When Captain Isaac Goddard saves Vanessa Gomez from a vicious attack, he discovers the feisty military nurse is the Red Rose Killer’s next target. With help from Vanessa’s guard Doberman, the former pilot makes it his mission to protect Vanessa and her young brother. But when the danger closes in, can he overcome the post-traumatic stress that haunts him and stop a ruthless killer?

LAURA SCOTTis a nurse by day and an author by night. She has always loved romance and read faith-based books by Grace Livingston Hill in her teenage years. She’s thrilled to have published over twenty books for Love Inspired Suspense. She has two adult children and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband of thirty years. Please visit Laura at laurascottbooks.com, as she loves to hear from her readers.

Also By Laura Scott

Military K-9 Unit

Battle Tested

Callahan Confidential

Shielding His Christmas Witness

The Only Witness

Christmas Amnesia

Shattered Lullaby

Primary Suspect

Classified K-9 Unit

Sheriff

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Battle Tested

Laura Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08624-0

BATTLE TESTED

© 2018 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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Isaac stepped forward to meet the dog who’d saved his life. The loud crack of a gunshot rang out.

The airfield erupted into panicked chaos. The airman holding Beacon’s leash yanked the dog hard, diving for shelter as people began running and screaming, dropping to the ground and desperately seeking cover.

Vanessa pulled Isaac down beside her while both dogs, Eagle and Tango, stood protectively over them. “Are you all right?” she asked breathlessly.

“I think so.” He was numb from shock but checked himself for signs of injury. No blood? Good sign. Thankfully, he didn’t see any injuries on Vanessa, either. The dogs were good, too. “I have to get to Beacon.”

He tried to pull away from Vanessa, but she hung on with steely determination. “No, you might put the dog in danger.”

* * *

MILITARY K-9 UNIT:

These soldiers track down a serial killer with the help of their brave canine partners

Mission to Protect—Terri Reed, April 2018

Bound by Duty—Valerie Hansen, May 2018

Top Secret Target—Dana Mentink, June 2018

Standing Fast—Maggie K. Black, July 2018

Rescue Operation—Lenora Worth, August 2018

Explosive Force—Lynette Eason, September 2018

Battle Tested—Laura Scott, October 2018

Valiant Defender—Shirlee McCoy, November 2018

Military K-9 Unit Christmas—Valerie Hansen and Laura Scott, December 2018

Dear Reader,

I’m truly blessed to have been asked to participate in this latest Military K-9 series with such amazing authors. This was an amazing group effort. We laughed and we cried and I hope you agree that this is our best series yet.

I deeply respect the brave men and women who serve our country, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our freedom. Words cannot express my sympathy for those loved ones who have been left behind.

Researching this book was hard work yet also extremely informative and rewarding. While I have done my best to stay true to military protocol, please know that any transgressions are my own and were done only for the sake of the story.

I hope you enjoy Isaac and Vanessa’s journey as they battle through danger and struggle with their faith in order to find everlasting love.

I love hearing from my readers, so if you have a spare moment, drop me a note or join my newsletter list through my website at www.laurascottbooks.com. I can also be found on Facebook at laurascottbooksand on Twitter @laurascottbooks.

Yours in faith,

Laur a Scott

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

—Psalms 18:2

This book is dedicated to all the men and women who have served our country and have paid the ultimate price in order to protect our freedom.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

Two fatal drug overdoses in the past week.

Exhausted from her thirteen-hour shift in the intensive care unit, First Lieutenant Vanessa Gomez made her way down the hallway of the Canyon Air Force Base hospital, grappling with the impact of this latest drug-related death.

The medication both young men had overdosed on, Tyraxal, had been touted as the best new drug on the market to treat PTSD. Of course, no meds were risk free, but she was troubled by these two recent deaths. Not just because her young brother, Aiden, also suffered from PTSD, although he wasn’t on that particular medication as far as she knew, but because she’d heard Tyraxal was highly addictive and it seemed these recent overdoses proved it.