Page 1 of Kage

PROLOGUE

Hunt. Capture. Kill.

That’s what we’d been trained to do.

To shoot without remorse—to lead when required.

A warrior in the heat of battle—swift and violent.

To follow orders without question.

Our motto? The only easy day was yesterday.

Honor and commitment.

Bravery and conviction.

Our word was our bond.

We were Navy SEALs and would not fail.

Even in the worst of conditions, we would not break.

Until…

CHAPTER 1

Juliette

“Men,” I whispered and lowered my phone. Couldn’t live with them. Couldn’t kill them.

My evil mind envisioned gory and extremely bloody methods of offing more than one male figure in my life. A knife was too passé. A gun was boring. Maybe a weed eater with the steel edging blade attached.

Not a bad idea.

Maybe my given profession should be an author instead of a blogger. Oops. That wasn’t the correct term any longer.Influencer.I wasn’t certain at this point who I was influencing since everyone appeared to be in a coma or taken as hostages in alien ships bound for galaxy number sixty-nine.

That’s how low the engagement numbers had been lately on both my professional and personal social media accounts. The reason cited for my abrupt layoff. The fact I’d brought in forty percent of the new clients hadn’t mattered.

I’d been forced to work with the textbook definition of an asshole. Sadly, the company had been bought out six months before. I didn’t want to add to the mix the prick I’d dated for almost two years or I’d become depressed.

All assholes.

That’s exactly the way I felt every day and had for months.

“Trouble in paradise again?” Cami asked as she flitted into the living room, tossing her Hermès pocketbook onto the couch.

“Let me guess, that horrible ex of yours is begging you to take him back,” Ashley chortled.

“My ex knows I’d just as soon castrate him and no, he hasn’t so much as sent a single text. This afternoon it’s all about the usual argument with dear old Dad. He continues to remind me that my travel blog is ridiculous and not a way to make a decent living,” I responded and shoved my phone into my jean shorts pocket. I tried to remind myself that without my father’s money and influence, I wouldn’t be standing in a luxurious condo staring out at the beautiful pearlescent beach and turquoise waters of Bermuda.

However, I constantly reminded myself with good fortune and luxury there was always a price. Dealing with my nagging father was one of them.

“Mmm… Your dad just needs company. A hot woman lavishing him with attention will soothe the savage beast.” Cami had a dreamy look on her face.

My glare was harsh. “Ew. He’s my dad.”

“But he’s single. And rich.”

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