No Surrender : My Thirty-year War Novels & Stories

“No emotions. No public contact. We meet only when it is safe. Safe word is red card if it gets too much. This stays physical only. Understand?” Tatum stepped closer, her green eyes locked on Sloane. “Fine. No emotions. No public contact. Red card. But we both know rules like these never last between us.” Her voice carried a challenge. The air felt electric. They shook hands to seal the deal, but the touch lingered. Within seconds, the negotiation broke. Tatum pulled Sloane into a hard kiss. Hands roamed. Clothes came off fast. The rules were already shattered.

Julian opened it with shaking hands, and his world collapsed. Dear Mr. Marchetti, I have found the soldier who was with you and Mr. Carter in Normandy. He has given a sworn statement. Mr. Carter did not save your life out of heroism. He knew he was dying of his wounds. He bribed the soldier to shoot at you, then stepped in front of the bullet. He did this so you would owe him a debt, so you would take care of Lydia for the rest of your life. You were a fool to believe them.

A message from Heros appeared on the screen: “Warehouse hit. Liora is safe with us. Come back when you can.” I pocketed the phone and took a deep breath. The Black Velvet was just another front. The real war was only beginning. And Liora was at the center of it. I looked at the chaos around me — the blood, the broken glass, the smell of destruction. And I smiled. They wanted war? They’d get one. The last enemy was still on his feet, staggering, defeat written across his face. The amber lights of the bar cast distorted shadows over him, turning his expression into a grotesque mix of frustration and pure terror.

All the love and hatred, the blood and betrayal were left behind with that flight. My life didn’t belong in the ruins of resentment.

“[You do know…that winning without a fight…is a good thing right?…]”.(Major Nelly) “Well…it is…but…for an Eloesan…like me…Surrendering without a fight is just a shameful actions….a cowards!….these people have been harassing us…boasting left and right about how they can kill us if they had the chances…now that we are face to face…they just surrendered like cowards!…. and what made it even worse!…all thanks to or military code…I can’t even force them to duel at all!….”.(Colonel Aida Oneal)

"Thirty-nine hours. Let us make them count." I stood, holding Grace—mine or not mine, it did not matter anymore. Because X had made one critical mistake. He showed me I had nothing left to lose. And people with nothing left to lose are the most dangerous enemies of all. The war was coming. But this time, I was not fighting to survive. I was fighting to utterly annihilate.

There is no stopping that war. ******************************************

Where the ghost has been waiting for thirty-five years. The final confrontation. The end of the 1988 war. And I'm walking into it as the Sovereign. The Absolute. The woman who finally came home.

I put the book in my hand back on the bookshelf and turned around to leave. "Jamie! Are you that heartless?" Matthew's voice suddenly rose. The people around us all looked at us. I stopped and met his slightly displeased gaze with utter calmness. "Mr. Zackman, please watch your words. We have nothing to do with each other except for a failed blind date. You're making so much noise in public that you're bothering me." His chest rose and fell violently. He was clearly furious. "Okay, okay, okay," he repeated himself with a gloomy look in his eyes.