Table Of ContentDANGEROUS RESCUE
RILEY EDWARDS
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
Also by Riley Edwards
Be A Rebel
Acknowledgments
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the
products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Riley Edwards
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief
quotations in a book review.
Cover design: Lori Jackson Designs
Written by: Riley Edwards
Published by: Riley Edwards/Rebels Romance
Edited by: Rebecca Hodgkins
Proofreader: Julie Deaton, Rebecca Kendall
Dangerous Rescue
ISBN: 978-1-951567-17-0
First edition: October 26, 2021
Copyright © 2021 Riley Edwards
All rights reserved
To my family - my team – my tribe.
This is for you.
CHAPTER 1
14 years ago
What an asshole.
I mean, what a seriously whacked asshole.
I felt my sinuses start to sting, and that just pissed me off.
The bastard was lucky I was frozen in my seat, or I would’ve punched
him in his face.
Troy Blizzard, my unofficial boyfriend who’d been working hard over
the last three months to take the un out of unofficial. Just last night—last
night—he pushed me again, told me he was falling in love with me, and
wanted to be exclusive. He told me there was no one more beautiful than
me—which was a lie, but it still felt good to hear. He told me there was no
one else for him, and he wanted a future with me. Obviously, that was
another big, fat, whopping lie seeing as he was right then sitting on the
patio of my favorite Mexican restaurant sharing a meal with a beautiful
leggy blonde.
When I pulled into the parking lot I’d immediately spotted Troy. He was
hard to miss; he played football in high school and now played for the
Arizona State Sun Devils. He was big, huge really. Another dead giveaway
was the maroon Sun Devils t-shirt, which I often wondered if he bought a
size too small just so it would stretch tight across his chest.
I saw him walking out onto the patio and stupid, stupid me got excited. I
thought he was there to surprise me. He knew Las Machados was my
favorite. He also knew that since I’d moved to Tempe, every year on my
birthday I treated myself to Molcajete Mixto. And since I was a stupid girl
living in some silly romantic movie thinking the guy who’d been pursuing
me was making a grand gesture to win me over by surprising me on my
twenty-first birthday at my favorite restaurant, I’d started to wonder why
I’d been keeping Troy at bay.
Then I saw him pull out the blonde’s chair, something he’d never done
for me. I watched as he kissed her on the lips—another punch to my
stomach. Then I sat in my car in the hot Arizona sun and watched my
unofficial boyfriend touch, kiss, and smile at the beautiful blonde.
Troy had excused himself and gotten up to go inside, and like any crazy
woman scorned I didn’t pull away and go home. I didn’t call my best friend,
Brooklyn, to rant about what dicks men were. I sat in the hot Arizona sun
and compared myself to the blonde. She was everything I wasn’t. She was
wearing a cute strappy sundress and I was in shorts and a t-shirt. She had on
cute wedge sandals and I had on Chucks. Her hair was long and blonde and
mine was short and black. Just-black, to match my just-hazel eyes. Nothing
special about my appearance. She, on the other hand, was something
special.
I didn’t drive away when Troy rejoined his date. I forced myself to
watch them. I memorized every touch, every look, and every kiss. I tattooed
them on my heart so I’d never forget.
This was why I kept to myself. This was why I lived in my books. This
was why I had exactly one friend. People sucked.
Once I’d tortured myself to the nth degree I started my car, but then
stopped. This was part of my problem, I was a pushover. I didn’t like
confrontation. I wasn’t good at it so people walked all over me.
That was ending. Now. Brooklyn would be proud. She’d been forever
telling me I needed to stand up for myself. So, that day, seeing as it was my
twenty-first birthday I was giving myself a better gift than Las Machados.
I yanked my phone out of my purse, found my text messages, slid the
screen open to expose the little keyboard, and furiously thumbed a message.
You’re a supreme asshole. I hit send but then because I was so mad I
decided that wasn’t enough.
You said you wanted to be exclusive. I see you with her. I saw you kiss
her. You’re a total douchebag. I hope she gives you crotch rot. I hit send
again but I was still so angry I couldn’t stop myself from saying more.
I’m glad I found out what a lying dick you really are before I slept with
you. Happy Birthday to me. I sent that and sat in my car waiting for Troy to
check his messages but he didn’t even glance at his phone.
That was it. That pissed me off.
Nice. You’re out with me and you’ve got your phone glued in your
hands. You’re with her and don’t check it. Total douche.
Since I was sending rapid-fire texts I decided I had one last thing to say.
In case I wasn’t clear we’re done, Troy. Do not ever call me again. And
if you see me don’t talk to me.
I was about to drive away when my phone beeped.
I’m guessing this is Troy’s phone. I found it on the counter in the
bathroom. I was feeling bad someone lost it, now not so much. Tell me what
he looks like so I can give it to him.
Oh my God.
A stranger read my texts.
And what kind of moron doesn’t have a password on his phone? The
stranger messaged again.
Troy. He’s too stupid to figure it out. I returned.
Well, Letty. I like your style. The crotch rot was a nice touch. Now tell
me what the twat looks like so I can deliver the phone.
I glanced up from my phone and saw Troy walking back into the
restaurant.
Maroon shirt. Sun Devils logo on the front. He’s coming back in maybe
to look for it. I quickly sent.
I see him. He’s going back into the bathroom. Want me to kick his ass
for you?
A hysterical bubble of laughter escaped. I had no idea what this stranger
looked like but Troy was two-hundred-pounds of muscle and six-foot-one.
If you think you can take him sure.
Whoa. Did I really type that? I smiled at my phone, rereading my
message. I totally did. This standing up for myself felt kinda good.
You got it. My birthday present to you.
Another message came in and it said, BTW any man who takes you on a
date so much as looks anywhere but at you is a loser. Dump his ass and
move on.
Wow. That was nice.
Wise advice. And I was kidding about beating up Troy. He’s not worth
your time.
Any man who lies and cheats is worth me taking the time to deliver a
message. He’s coming back out. Hope your birthday gets better.
I didn’t wait in the parking lot to see if the stranger kicked Troy’s ass
when he gave the phone back. I picked up In N Out and drove back to the
apartment I shared with Brooklyn. Then I sat on the sofa and ate a lonely
birthday lunch waiting for Brooklyn to get back from class.
Three days later I was studying for finals daydreaming about what I was
going to do with my life when I graduated in a few weeks, when my phone
chirped with a text.
I nabbed it thinking it was Brooklyn, which was weird because she was
in class.
A number I didn’t know was on the screen and I didn’t understand the
message.
He’s not bothering you, is he?
I’m sorry, who is this?
No need to be sorry. This is River from Las Machados. I’m the one that
found Troy’s phone.
My shoulders went stiff. It was nice this River guy was checking on me
but he was still a stranger. And it was kinda weird. My fingers were a little
shaky when I replied.
I haven’t heard from him.
Excellent.
Excellent? I wondered what that meant.
You didn’t really kick his ass, did you? I sent that and then a follow-up.
Not that I’m worried about him but I’d feel bad if you got in trouble.
Didn’t lay a hand on him but I made myself clear you were off-limits.
Glad to know the idiot listened.
I stared at my phone and smiled.
I couldn’t name the emotion that had taken over. I just knew it felt good.
You must be ten feet tall and wear a spandex leotard complete with a
cape if you got through to Troy. He’s a little dense and a whole lot full of
himself.
River’s reply came quick.
