Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5)(2)

But the surgery was more debilitating than I imagine. While I expected physical issues, when I sat to work on Luke’s book five weeks after the operation, I quickly realized I was not going to be physically or mentally able to accomplish that feat this fall. After spending a day crying about disappointing you and not giving you a fall release I promised (although I know most understood), the next day, I started writing Nobody’s Lost.

This story poured out of me in a matter of five weeks. I had no idea Ryder was hurting so badly, but am happy to bring him and Megan together—and give you an unexpected installment in the Rescue Me Saga. Even if it’s not the one you were expecting, those who read it pre-publication say it’s one of my best.

Please enjoy reading this newest novel in the Rescue Me Saga. It very much is part of the series for those who are reading in order. However, because so little is known of these two, I wrote it in such a way that it also can be a new entry point for someone who hasn’t read the other books yet. It is my hope they will then want to go back and read the earlier books—but at the very least I hope they will continue forward with Megan and Ryder as they will appear in later books in the series including Nobody’s Dream.

Thanks to all of my readers who have always rallied around me to support my writing wherever the muse and characters took me. We writers aren’t easy to understand, and I’m sure some of you are wondering how I could write an entirely new novel instead of just finishing one that’s already so far along. I can’t really explain it other than with fewer subplots and timeline issues to wrangle into place, this one was much more manageable.

Enjoy Nobody’s Lost and the journey with Megan and Ryder. I’ve already begun working on Nobody’s Dream again. Now that I’m feeling stronger and healthier than ever, I hope to bring you Dream within the next few months.

IMPORTANT: If you believe that reading about PTSD flashbacks of incest or combat, catharsis by whipping, mindf*cks, and related topics might be triggering for you, please make sure you only read this book in a safe environment with supportive people available to you. Put the book down as often as you need to regroup or talk with someone. Be gentle with yourself, survivors.

Here are some web sites that can help if you need to talk with someone.

Crisis and Suicide Prevention Services (United States):

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

For military-service related PTSD, the Veterans Administration or any veterans group.

I’m also very impressed with and appreciative of the work done by these organizations for veterans and their families:

Hope for the Warriors:

http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/

Save a Warrior:

http://www.saveawarrior.org/

Snowball Express (for the children of the fallen):

https://snowballexpress.org/





Cast of Characters for

Nobody’s Lost




Gino D’Alessio—served with Ryder Wilson while training at Camp Pendleton in the reconnaissance Marines unit. His brother, Marc D’Alessio, later served as Ryder’s Navy Corpsman in the same unit.

Marc D’Alessio—Navy corpsman (“Doc”) in Ryder Wilson’s recon Marine unit in Fallujah.

Carlos Chosa—friends with Ryder since high school and introduced Ryder to the ways of his tribe on the Jemez Pueblo. Gave Ryder a hand up after Fallujah.

Mrs. Chosa—Carlos’s late grandmother whose house Ryder stayed at when learning the Native American ways. Ryder now lives in her house.

Patrick Gallagher—Megan Gallagher’s brother and Adam Montague’s half-brother

V. Grant—a Lance Corporal communications specialist who was briefly attached to Ryder’s recon Marine unit in Fallujah Adam Montague (pronounced MON-tag)—Ryder’s master sergeant (referred to him as “Top”); Megan’s half-brother; married to Karla Karla Paxton Montague—wife to Adam Montague; singer in the Masters at Arms Club

Damián Orlando—served with Ryder in Fallujah; rides a Harley and is a Patriot Guard Rider Jerry Patterson—a Vietnam veteran who runs a BDSM club in Los Angeles frequented by several characters in the Rescue Me Saga Marcia Wilson—Ryder’s older sister who lives in Santa Fe

Ryder Wilson—served in the recon Marines with Adam Montague in Kosovo, Kandahar (Afghanistan), and Fallujah (Iraq). Appeared briefly in Masters at Arms where he was known as Wilson.

Sherry Wilson—Ryder’s ex-wife





Prologue





Fallujah, Iraq, 15 November 2004

Ryder Wilson enjoyed talking with Lance Corporal Grant. She was young, but sure as hell knew her shit when it came to advanced satellite communications.

His recon Marine unit had been on this rooftop in Fallujah for hours, waiting for something to break and to go after the insurgents who had terrorized this part of the city for the last few days.

Too damned quiet. Sergeant Miller suggested they eat in shifts while they could. He was informing Damián Orlando of the SITREP while Ryder spent time getting to know the Marine newly attached to their unit.

Didn’t usually find women Marines assigned to combat units, although the cease-fire they were under meant they probably wouldn’t have any direct engagement. He hoped not anyway.

“So where are you from?” Grant asked.

“Born and raised in New Mexico. Albuquerque. How about you?”