Never Surrender
Also by Stacy Claflin
An Alex Mercer Thriller
Girl in Trouble
Turn Back Time
Little Lies
Against All Odds
Don't Forget me
Tainted Love
Take On Me
Danger Zone
Lady in Red
White Wedding
Careless Whisper
Never Surrender (Coming Soon)
Bayside Hunters
Bayside Opposites
Curse of the Moon
Lost Wolf
Chosen Wolf
Hunted Wolf
Broken Wolf
Cursed Wolf
Secret Jaguar
Curse of the Moon Box Set
Dark Sea Academy
Mermaid's Song
Mermaid's Heart
Mermaid's Wish
The Dark Sea Academy: The Complete Trilogy
Fall Into Romance
Lost in Romance
Gone
Gone
Held
Over
The Gone Trilogy
Dean's List
Indigo Bay Second Chance Romances
Sweet Complications
Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series
Sweet Dreams
Sweet Reunion
The Hunters
Seaside Surprises
Seaside Heartbeats
Seaside Dances
Seaside Kisses
Seaside Christmas
Bayside Wishes
Bayside Evenings
Bayside Promises
Bayside Destinies
Bayside Mistletoe
Bayside Dreams
The Hunters: A Collection
A Hunters Bundle
The Transformed
Deception
Betrayal
Forgotten
Ascension
Duplicity
Sacrifice
Destroyed
Transcend
Entangled
Dauntless
Obscured
Partition
Fallen (The Transformed Prequel)
Silent Bite: A Transformed Christmas
Hidden Intentions
Saved by a Vampire
Sweet Desire
Valhalla's Curse
Renegade Valkyrie
Pursued Valkyrie
Silenced Valkyrie
Vengeful Valkyrie
Unleashed Valkyrie
Wildflower Romance
When Tomorrow Starts Without me
The Only Things You Can Take
When You Start to Miss Me
Standalone
The Transformed Series - Four Books
The Transformed Box Set
No Return
Tiny Bites
Haunted
Dex
Lies Never Sleep
Alex Mercer Thrillers Box Set 1-3
Gone Saga Standalones
Watch for more at Stacy Claflin’s site.
Never Surrender
Stacy Claflin
NEVER SURRENDER
AN ALEX MERCER THRILLER #12
by Stacy Claflin
http://www.stacyclaflin.com
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Copyright ©2020 Stacy Claflin. All rights reserved.
©Cover Design: Didi Wahyudi
Edited by Staci Troilo
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This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental or used fictitiously. The author has taken great liberties with locales including the creation of fictional towns.
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Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited. Do not upload or distribute anywhere.
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The e-book is for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to others. If you would like to share this book with others, please either purchase it for them or direct them to StacyClaflin.com for purchase links. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
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Contents
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
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Other Books by Stacy Claflin
Author's Note
About the Author
Chapter 1
The group of seven men in the dim room snapped to attention once Five Fingers entered.
“What are you doing here?” asked Pit Bull. “You weren’t on the schedule.”
“We didn’t know you were heading over here,” said One Eye, who actually had both his eyes.
The others spoke up, talking over each other.
Five Fingers held up his hand. “Silence.” He took a seat at the table and waited for them to shut up. “I’m here because we have a real problem. This is going to have to be quick. And it better be the last time I have to fly in for an in-person meeting.”
“Problem?” Pit Bull wrinkled his nose. “Don’t you mean problems, as in many? Other than the fact our numbers are diminishing?”
“The authorities are getting close to me,” said Chops. “I don’t know how. I’ve covered my bases.”
“I’m aware of that,” said Five Fingers, “but that isn’t why I’m here.”
“Why, then?” Chops furrowed his brows. “Why would you risk being here?”
“Because they’re onto us, too?” asked One Eye.
Five Fingers shook his head. “Again, that’s nothing new. The cops have been tailing us for years. Just ask Nighthawk.”
They each brought a hand to their heart and spoke in unison. “May he rest in peace.”
Chops turned to him. “What is the problem?”
“We need to do something about the police department.”
“Which one?”
Five Fingers just held his gaze. Didn’t bother answering such a stupid question.
Pit Bull pressed his palms on the table. “We could take more kids from that area.”
“No.” Several jumped at the strength of Five Fingers’s word. “Any time something happens there, they turn our way. Even things that have nothing to do with us. And with the feds now involved …”
“They’ve been involved for years. What’s new?”
“Our numbers!” Five Fingers slammed his fist on the table. “We’re down to almost nothing. Most of the original
group are in prison or dead. If we want to survive, we have two choices. I don’t like either option.”
“What are they?” Chops asked.
“We either bring in more of us—and that’s dangerous at this point—or we up the stakes.”
“Up the stakes?” One Eye cracked his knuckles.
“What do you mean?” asked Pit Bull.
Five Fingers drew in a deep breath. For a bunch of criminal masterminds, they sure could be dense. He checked the time—had to leave soon.
Chops spoke up. “He means we abduct as many children as possible. Hit all the locations hard. Make impossible demands. Then the feds will be overwhelmed and will be spread so thin they won’t be able to get anything done.”
Five Fingers nodded. He could always rely on Chops. “That’s right. It’s something we can do. The other option, along the same vein, is more ballsy, but it’ll get their attention.”
The others all snapped their gazes to him.
“What’s the other option?”
“Yeah, what?”
The others stared in anticipation.
Five Fingers waited a beat before answering. “We go after their families.”
“The feds’ families?” Eagle Wings spoke for the first time since Five Fingers arrived.
Everyone looked surprised, even Chops.
“Yes.” Five Fingers nodded slowly. “Feds, police—anyone who’s after us. Plenty of them have kids and families. We go after them, they’ll feel the bite and finally stop.”
Chops frowned. “Or they come after us with even more force than before. And I know I don’t need to remind you about our current numbers.”
“What about that blogger?” asked Pit Bull.
Chops leaned over the table. “He’s a cop now, remember?”
“He still blogs, and he has a bunch of kids. We’ve never touched the young ones.”
Five Fingers checked the time again. “That isn’t a bad idea, except he brings a lot of attention to our cases. One wrong move, and we could be figured out.”
“He’ll be too distracted by his own problem to worry about any of the others, though. It’s the perfect solution.”
“I have other plans for the blogger.” Five Fingers rose and looked around at the group. “Now is the time for research. We need to figure out how to pull this off—which key people to go after. The blogger, maybe. His friend the captain, perhaps. Or we might want to steer clear of the blogger and his buddies altogether. I’m not sure I like the idea of going after him again. It’s risky. He really could bring too much attention to what we’re doing.”
Chops stood, pushing his chair back. “But if he isn’t distracted, he’ll too easily put the pieces together and tell everything about our cases to the world. He needs to be our number one target. If we want anyone distracted, it’s him.”
“I’ll think about it.” Five Fingers narrowed his eyes. “I don’t want anyone acting without talking to me. Got it?”
Everyone mumbled.
“Is that an agreement?” He made eye contact with each one.
They all said yes.
“Good.” He stepped toward the door. “We don’t have any room for errors. Three-quarters of our best men have been arrested and Nighthawk and Muscles are dead. I’ll set up a new online discussion room on the Dark Web within the next two days. You’ll get the login information in the usual ways. Any questions?”
Most everyone shook their heads no.
Except Pit Bull. “So, we don’t take any kids?”
“Not until I give the word.”
“What about any we still have?”
Five Fingers threw his hands in the air. “I don’t care! Just don’t get caught. We have to stick to the plan. It’s more important now than ever.”
With that, he stormed out of the room into the blinding brightness of the day.
Things were about to get real.
Fast.
And the authorities would never see it coming.
Chapter 2
Detective Alex Mercer took a cookie from the captain’s desk and sat across from him. Caramel melted in his mouth. “Mmm. These are good. Did Genevieve make them?”
Nick shook his head. “It’s from a family I helped a few years ago. They bring in treats every so often. I always have to work out double-time afterward.” He laughed and rubbed his belly.
“I believe it.” Alex grabbed another cookie. “Have time to take lunch now? I have a real hankering for that loud pizza place again.”
“What are you trying to do to me?” Nick rose. “Yeah, let’s go. It’s been a quiet day.”
Alex snagged another cookie. “It’s always quiet when Crawford isn’t around.”
His best friend pulled on his jacket. “When the feds aren’t in town, he doesn’t have to worry about trying to impress anyone other than the mayor.”
“We should send her some of these cookies as a thanks for putting up with Crawford so we don’t have to.”
Nick chuckled.
As easygoing and friendly as Nick was, he couldn’t stand the police chief, either. Wherever Crawford could try to impress his superiors was where he could usually be found. It had been a relief for everyone when he’d been promoted because he started spending the majority of his time at City Hall.
And with the worst crimes lately being just mail theft, things were peaceful in the precinct again.
Alex and Nick greeted other officers as they made their way to the back parking lot, where they climbed into Nick’s beloved Mustang. Before long, they were ordering their personal pizzas over the loud rock music.
They settled at a table where it wasn’t too deafening and dug in.
“How are things with Zoey?” Nick asked as he picked up the first slice.
Alex’s stomach knotted at the thought. “I thought she’d change her mind about moving after the latest round of kidnappings were solved. They had nothing to do with the ring, but she doesn’t care.”
Nick frowned. “She’s still looking to move out of the area?”
“The area? Out of the state. She thinks Boise is the ideal place to raise a family. It’s too bad she won’t include me in the decision.”
“Maybe she just needs more time.”
Alex shook his head. “She’s been looking at real estate websites nonstop and is talking to her realtor friend every day. I really don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Do you want me to bring the family over tonight instead of tomorrow morning?” Nick pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. “Our schedule is free, although all of the older kids will be out. Adults and babies night?”
Alex shrugged. “I don’t think it’s going to make much of a difference. She isn’t going to make a decision between now and tomorrow morning.”
“Let me know. We’d be happy to change our plans.”
“I appreciate it.” Alex finished his pizza and took a deep breath. A few weeks earlier a rash of kidnappings in the area—another rash—had been the last straw for his wife. Now she was serious about moving. With or without him.
The thought made his muscles tense, his stomach lurch. He and Zoey had been together forever—or at least it felt that way. They’d known each other his entire life and had dated since he was only thirteen, aside from a brief breakup when Alex’s life fell apart. When he managed to pull it back together, they reconciled, too.
And now it was looking like everything could go bust again.
She was putting him in an impossible situation. Their entire life was in this town—friends, family, his job. He’d never been to Boise, or even any part of Idaho. Nor had any of the kids. Zoey, however, was convinced it was the safe capital of the world for raising a family.
What she failed to realize was Alex had a target on his back regardless of where they lived. It was his life’s mission to bring home abducted children and take down their kidnappers. He’d done that numerous times before becoming an officer because his blog was both popular and successful.
Criminals hated him for it. A ring of them had been after Alex and his family for years now, and they’d even convinced him to take down his site for a time in exchange for leaving the Mercers alone.
They hadn’t.
He put the blog back up. And he’d helped return close to a dozen kids since then.
Alex realized Nick was talking to him. He shook his head to clear it. “Can you repeat that?”
Nick held up his phone. “Genevieve wants to know what we can bring tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” It took him a moment to figure out what was going on the next day. The Fleshmans were coming over for brunch with the hidden agenda of convincing Zoey to stay in town. “Have her ask Zoey. I’m not sure.”
Nick nodded then tapped a text to his wife before looking at Alex again. “G can’t get a hold of her.”
Alex groaned. “Zo must be onto us. Just bring whatever you feel like. If we end up with a whole bunch of eggs, then so be it.”
“Sure thing.” Nick tapped out another text. “You ready to head back?”
Alex yawned. “Yeah. I’m going to refill my soda.”
“I thought you were cutting out unhealthy drinks?” Nick lifted a brow.
“That was the plan, but with all the stress of Zoey trying to move, I don’t care.” Alex picked up his plastic cup and refilled it, sadness overtaking his anger.
Things had been going great when he and Zoey were on the health kick. It had been more her than him, but he’d always been willing to go along with her ideas—whether it be lemon water replacing his afternoon mocha or feeding their toddler twins only organic food—but moving without them both being on board was where he drew the line.