The Deadly Shallows (Coastal Guardians Book #3)

Dani Pettrey

• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Year: 2022
• eBook ISBN:
  9781493431595
• Print ISBN:
  9780764230868

A deadly attack.
A stolen weapon capable of immense destruction.
A painful secret that threatens to tear two hearts apart.

CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is rocked to the core when several of his valued team members come under fire on his Coast Guard base. He and his remaining team race to the scene and end the attack, but not before innocent lives are lost. Furious and grief-stricken, he vows to do whatever is needed to bring the mastermind behind the attack to justice.

Stunned by the ambush, Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler evacuates in a helicopter carrying the only surviving gunman. The gravely wounded man whispers mysterious information to Brooke that immediately paints a target on her back.

As Brooke and Noah race to uncover answers, emotions between them ignite. Noah struggles to protect Brooke at all costs and to conceal the secret that prevents him from becoming what he longs to be--the right man for her.

Everything is at stake as a horrifying truth emerges. . . .

The attack wasn't the end game. It was only the beginning.

"This action-packed thriller is sure to please."--IRENE HANNON, bestselling and award-winning author

"I love Dani's writing, and The Deadly Shallows is one of her best! Tightly written and dripping with tension. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."--CARRIE STUART PARKS, bestselling and award-winning author of Relative Silence

ONE

EARLY DECEMBER
HOLLY RIDGE, NORTH CAROLINA

Crisp night air slapped his cheeks, but he’d long since learned to endure the elements. Tonight’s op was nothing compared to some of the filth he’d crawled through. Their objective simple, his targets unaware.

The four-person catering crew loaded trays into the back of their van, along with their tools of the trade.

Standing at the edge of the woods, the ground tight beneath his boots, he shifted his gaze to the house. Quiet. Still. His team held position, awaiting his signal.

Lights clicked off, shrouding the house and van in darkness.

The last member of the catering crew climbed into the rear of the vehicle.

Shifting his grizzled jaw, Dwayne signaled his team forward with a flick of two fingers.

They swept from the woods, moving across the driveway at a fast, silent clip before the van’s ignition turned.

They hit the back of the van, doors still open and silent shots finding their mark.

Climbing into the van, Max pushed the slumped body out of the driver’s seat and took position behind the wheel.

The rear doors shut, and Dwayne, now situated in the passenger seat, tapped the dash.

Max turned the key, and the taillights spilled red across the circular drive behind them.

In the blink of an eye, they were rolling for the road and on to Fairpark Cemetery.

TWO

The mission’s execution was flawless. The van taken. The cemetery gate lock picked. The bodies discarded in the mausoleum, where no one would find them—at least not in time to stop their primary objective.

Back at headquarters, Dwayne stood, inspecting his team as they loaded the arsenal into the van.

Nearly time. A commencement unlike any other was about to begin.

“The van is outfitted, sir,” Adam said.

Copenhagen nestled deep within his lower lip, Dwayne spit into his cup. “Well done,” he said, the chewing tobacco tingling behind his lip.

His gaze swept over his team, zeroing in on Dylan’s eyes. Few men could douse the shadow of fear from their gaze, and Dylan certainly wasn’t one of them.

He lifted his chin in Dylan’s direction. “Something wrong?”

“No.” Dylan’s voice hiccupped.

His jaw shifted on instinct. The kid was lying. “You got a problem with the mission?”

Dylan swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing down his thin, pasty neck. He shook his head too vehemently. “No, sir.”

Dwayne eyed the sweat sizzling down Dylan’s pulsing temple.

“I demand honesty. Honesty is essential. This is all in or all out. Understood?” He stepped forward, the wooden boards creaking beneath his boots. “Which is it?” He set his cup on the wooden railing beside him, fingering his gun grip.

Dylan hesitated, and Dwayne fired.

The kid’s body crumpled to the floor, blood pooling at the base of his skull.

“Anybody else unsure?” The words slithered through his coffee-stained teeth.

His question was met with stony silence.

THREE

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Brooke zipped her walking jacket, the temp hovering at fifty-one. Her family would crack up if they saw her wearing a jacket on what they’d view as a warm day back home in northern Colorado. But she’d adapted to Wilmington’s weather and swore her blood had thinned.

She spotted Gabby across the street and waved. The red light shifted to green, the walk symbol flashed, and Gabby crossed over. “Good morning.”

“Good’s two coffee cups away.” Brooke worked a kink out of her neck. It’d been a long night, but they’d made three saves—well worth the aches and pains.

Gabby jogged in place, her knees nearly hitting a ninety-degree angle. “Down to the Riverwalk?” she said.

Brooke rubbed her mittened hands together. “You’re entirely too peppy. The sun isn’t even up.”

“You’re the one who suggested the earlier run,” Gabby said as they jogged down the sloping sidewalk leading to Wilmington’s gorgeous walkway along the Cape Fear River. Birds chirped among a cascade of insect hums in the marsh grass lining the path.

“I’m meeting someone for breakfast before the graduation ceremony.”

“You aren’t surfing with us?”

By us Gabby meant herself; her fiancé, Finn; and her brother, Noah.

Brooke took a steadying inhale. Noah Rowley. He was even more addictive than riding the winter swells.

But any hope she’d had for that relationship flatlined weeks ago. She’d fallen hard for the kind, handsome man, but he clearly hadn’t fallen for her. And she couldn’t keep going with the status quo. As much as it would break her heart, it was time to move on. She sniffed back the pinch of tears pricking her eyes.

Thankfully, Gabby was too busy ruminating to notice—her brows deeply furrowed.

“No.” Brooke finally answered her friend’s question. She cleared her throat, knowing Gabby would be beyond bummed, but it was time.

“Can I ask who you’re having breakfast with?”

“Always the investigative journalist.” Brooke chuckled. The lady couldn’t help it. It was woven into her being.

“Sorry.” Gabby offered an impish grin. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“I know.” Brooke smiled back. “But that would be cruel. I can see the curiosity is killing you.” She took a steadying inhale and released it slowly. “I’m having breakfast with Dave Keller.”

“Hmm . . . Dave Keller?” Gabby eased her pace. “The name is familiar . . . but I can’t place it.”

“He’s a friend of Brad and Jason.” Her Coast Guard “brothers.” She’d been paired with the two rescue swimmers since her first flight-medic duty. They wouldn’t steer her wrong.

Gabby pursed her lips as she did when mulling something over.

Brooke shook her head, unable to smother a smile. Gabby was a mess, but she’d figure out where she’d heard Dave’s name soon enough.

Casting her gaze across the Golden River—as folks in Wilmington called it—Brooke scanned its dark-hued surface, searching for eyes. Nearly every morning she saw at least one alligator, often more. It was something she still hadn’t gotten used to, and she’d been stationed in Wilmington for years.

“Church.” Gabby snapped, making Brooke jump as they rounded to run the Riverwalk’s nearly two miles again.

Gabby tightened her ponytail. “Was he the guy Jason was introducing you to after service on Sunday?”

“Yes.” Maybe if she left it there Gabby would too, but she knew better.

Gabby’s breathing increased along with their stride. “What about Noah?”

Brooke knew how much Gabby wanted them to be together. How much she wanted them to be together. But that dream was hopeless. “What about Noah?”

“I know you like him,” Gabby said, never one to mince words.

“Of course I like him.” And like was putting it mildly.

“So?” Gabby nudged.

“So we’ve been spending tons of time together for the last two months and . . .”

“And?” Gabby nudged.

“And nada.” Nothing that said he wanted to move beyond friendship, and it stung.

“He spends an awful lot of time with you to call it nada,” Gabby said, adjusting her fleece headband to better cover her ears.

“Yes,” Brooke admitted, “he’s over most Saturdays to help restore the bus.” But helping her fix her grandparents’ VW bus was far from a romantic overture.

“He spends time with you at Finn’s for surfing and breakfast most mornings and at Nana Jo’s weekly dinners.”

“Yes, he spends time with me but not like that. You guys treat me like family, and I love it, but it’s not like Noah’s asking me out on a date or to go with him to those events.” She searched for the right words. “I’m just one of the gang.” It took Brooke a minute to realize she’d left Gabby standing at the top of the hill.

“What do you mean ‘just one of the gang’?” Gabby said, catching back up to her. “You know that’s not true.”

Brooke sighed rather than arguing. Gabby meant well and wanted them to be together nearly as bad as she did, but it was beyond frustrating. There’d been moments—a lingering gaze in her direction, a charming smile on his lips, a level of deep comfort in his presence—when she’d thought . . . maybe he cared the same way about her, but clearly, she’d been misreading the situation.

Even after so much quality time together, he’d never made a move beyond friendship. It sucked, but she could only linger in the muck for so long. Today she was hauling herself out. Dave seemed like a nice guy. If her Coast Guard brothers said he was solid, he was solid. And it was time for some solid in her life.

Dwayne tapped the Copenhagen tin against his palm, then opened it and pulled a fresh pinch out. He rolled his lip forward and had barely settled it in place when his cell rang.

Fishing the phone from his shirt pocket, he answered the call but remained silent.

“Are we a go?” she asked.

He rolled his tongue against the inside of his cheek. Well, if it wasn’t Miss-High-and-Mighty herself. “Affirmative. And you?”

She snorted. “What do you think?”

He curled his fists, a silent curse wagging in his mind.

“Don’t be late, and don’t mess this up,” she snapped.

The line went dead.

Adrenaline surged through his limbs.

He glanced at his watch. Not long now.

He smothered any hint of pleasure from his face. It’d been years since he’d attended a graduation.

Gabby’s face softened as they hit the final stretch ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• 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
• Chapter 43
• Chapter 44
• Chapter 45
• Chapter 46
• Chapter 47
• Chapter 48
• Chapter 49
• Chapter 50
• Chapter 51
• Chapter 52
• Chapter 53
• Chapter 54
• Chapter 55
• Chapter 56
• Chapter 57
• Chapter 58
• Chapter 59
• Chapter 60
• Chapter 61
• Chapter 62
• Chapter 63
• Chapter 64
• Chapter 65
• Chapter 66
• Chapter 67
• Chapter 68
• Chapter 69
• Chapter 70
• Chapter 71
• Chapter 72
• Chapter 73
• Epilogue
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Back Ads
• Cover Flaps
• Back Cover