Lenora Worth - Rescue Operation

Racing to rescue a child

Danger heats up in the Military K-9 Unit series

A little boy is missing, and it’s up to search-and-rescue K-9 handler Ava Esposito and her dog to find him...before the Red Rose Killer does. FBI special agent Oliver Davison is hot on the trail of the escaped convict and joins forces with Ava. But when the killer turns his crosshairs on them, Oliver must protect them all before time runs out.

With over seventy books published and millions in print, LENORA WORTH writes award-winning romance and romantic suspense. Three of her books finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, and her Love Inspired Suspense novel Body of Evidence became a New York Times bestseller. Her novella in Mistletoe Kisses made her a USA TODAY bestselling author. Lenora goes on adventures with her retired husband, Don, and enjoys reading, baking and shopping...especially shoe shopping.

Also By Lenora Worth

Love Inspired Suspense

Military K-9 Unit

Rescue Operation

Classified K-9 Unit

Tracker

Classified K-9 Unit Christmas

“A Killer Christmas”

Rookie K-9 Unit

Truth and Consequences

Rookie K-9 Unit Christmas

“Holiday High Alert”

Capitol K-9 Unit

Proof of Innocence

Capitol K-9 Unit Christmas

“Guarding Abigail”

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Rescue Operation

Lenora Worth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08557-1

RESCUE OPERATION

© 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.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Ava, when the shooting starts, I need you to dive down.”

“Okay. But what about you?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Oliver kept zigzagging, but the car stayed with them, the driver not moving a muscle but keeping the car close.

“We’re going to keep moving and hope they’ll either back off...or play chicken with us.”

But the vehicle advanced and tapped the back bumper.

“Now they’re getting serious,” Oliver said.

* * *

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

When the host goeth forth against thine enemies,

then keep thee from every wicked thing.

—Deuteronomy 23:9

Dear Reader,

Life really does imitate art. When we were writing this series, we heard the news each day. Hurricanes, floods and mass shootings, not to mention other horrible things happening in the world. Sometimes our stories ring true to what can take place in real life. We write to entertain and to enlighten, always offering the promise of the Lord’s grace and forgiveness. We don’t take that lightly, but with careful prayer and consideration.

This was a tough story to write but we all agreed our portrayal of our military characters had to be handled with care and respect. We wanted to get things right.

I hope I did that with Oliver and Ava’s story. Any mistakes are my own. I love and admire our service members and I hope I can bring some honor and glory to what they do every day to keep us safe.

My story has a happy ending and that’s why I write romance and romantic suspense. We can never give up on faith, hope and love. I pray you cling to those things even in a world that sometimes is scary and sad.

Until next time, may the angels watch over you, always.

Lenora Worth

To the men and women of the US military. We respect and love all of you, and we will be forever grateful for your dedication and sacrifice. And especially to Wilberto Garcia, my air force son-in-law. Stay safe!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Bible Verse

Dear Reader

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Ignoring the tilt and rumble of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter about to hoist her down below and the dark thunderstorm approaching from the west, Senior Airman Ava Esposito adjusted the sturdy harness sleeves around the black nylon sling holding the sixty-five-pound yellow Lab that was about to rappel with her. Roscoe’s trusting eyes followed her while he hovered close to her chest, always eager to work.

“That’s right. It’s showtime. We’ve got to find that little boy.”

Roscoe wouldn’t understand, but they were armed and ready for anything or anyone they might confront in the dense woods that belonged to Canyon Air Force Base in the Hill Country of Texas.