Cutter Read online

  Cutter

  Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team #4

  Laramie Briscoe

  Contents

  Also By Laramie Briscoe

  New Release Alerts

  Moonshine Task Force Members

  Blurb

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Report Errors/Reviews

  Connect With Laramie

  Also By Laramie Briscoe

  Copyright © 2020Laramie Briscoe

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and storylines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  * * *

  Editor: Elfwerks Editing

  Beta Readers: Danielle Wentworth

  Proofreader: Danielle Wentworth

  Cover: Laramie Briscoe

  Cover Photography: Wander Aguiar

  Formatting: Laramie Briscoe

  Created with Vellum

  Also By Laramie Briscoe

  The Haldonia Monarchy

  Royal Rebel

  Royal Chaos

  Royal Love

  * * *

  Heaven Hill Series

  Meant To Be

  Out of Darkness

  Losing Control

  Worth The Battle

  Dirty Little Secret

  Second Chance Love

  Rough Patch

  Beginning of Forever

  Home Free

  Shield My Heart

  A Heaven Hill Christmas

  * * *

  Heaven Hill Next Generation

  Hurricane

  Wild

  Fury

  Hollow

  * * *

  Heaven Hill Shorts

  Caelin

  Christine

  Justice

  Harley

  Jagger

  Charity

  Liam

  Drew

  Dalton

  Mandy

  * * *

  Rockin’ Country Series

  Only The Beginning

  One Day at A Time

  The Price of Love

  Full Circle

  Hard To Love

  Reaper’s Girl

  * * *

  The Nashvegas Trilogy

  Power Couple

  * * *

  The Moonshine Task Force Series

  Renegade

  Tank

  Havoc

  Ace

  Menace

  Cruise

  * * *

  Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team

  Ransom

  Suppression

  Enigma

  Cutter

  Sullivan

  * * *

  The MVP Duet

  On the DL

  MVP

  * * *

  The Midnight Cove Series

  Inflame

  * * *

  Stand Alones

  Sketch

  Sass

  Trick

  Room 143

  2018 Laramie Briscoe Compilation

  2019 Laramie Briscoe Compilation

  New Release Alerts

  JOIN MY MAILING LIST

  http://sitel.ink/LBList

  * * *

  JOIN MY READERS GROUP

  fbl.ink/LaramiesLounge

  Moonshine Task Force Members

  Ryan “Renegade” Kepler – Married to Whitney and father to Stella and Nick. Best friend to Trevor.

  * * *

  Trevor “Tank” Trumboldt – Married to Blaze, brother to Whitney, uncle to Stella and Nick. Best friend to Ryan.

  * * *

  Holden “Havoc” Thompson – Married to Leighton, father to Ransom and Cutter. Best friend to Mason.

  * * *

  Anthony “Ace” Bailey – Married to Violet.

  * * *

  Mason “Menace” Harrison – Married to Karina, father to Caleb and Kelsea, grandfather to Molly and Levi. Best friend to Holden.

  * * *

  Caleb “Cruise” Harrison – Married to Ruby, father to Molly and Levi, son of Mason, brother to Kelsea.

  Blurb

  Cutter Thompson

  Hurricane Tatum, a category five storm hell-bent on making landfall along the Alabama coast, is my opportunity to show my friends and family the kind of man I've become.

  * * *

  The kid who lost his scholarship and the love is life is ready for a change. A change I'm equal parts scared will and won't come.

  * * *

  An EMT wasn't my first choice of careers, but it's become my calling. When the winds die down, the skies clear, and the rain stops, we're left with devastation the likes of I've never seen.

  * * *

  What I come to realize is ugly destruction can be beautiful, if we can only figure out what perspective to see it.

  * * *

  Rowan Baker

  The LSERT is a Godsend, especially as us local first responders emerge from our shelters to see our town and homes destroyed. It's going to take time to rebuild.

  * * *

  Rebuilding is what I'm used to. After I watched my four-year-old daughter die in my arms I've done nothing but try to find a reason to live.

  * * *

  But I've got baggage. Memories, an ex-husband, and a fear I won't be able to save everyone.

  * * *

  When I meet Cutter Thompson, he reminds me rebuilding can mean letting go of fear and allowing myself to live the life I’ve wanted all along.

  Prologue

  Cutter

  “Didn’t even shave?”

  I roll my eyes as Tucker and Major walk toward me. Karsyn follows closely behind, not because she’s coming with us, but because she wants to see her boys off. At least that’s what Tucker told me when I texted him, asking if he wanted a ride this morning.

  “Something tells me a beard and my tattoos are going to be the least of anyone’s worries over the next few weeks.”

  Reaching down, I give Major a few scratches, watching as the rest of the crew heading down to the Gulf coast show up.

  “You’ve definitely got a point th
ere.” Karsyn hugs her arms tightly to her body.

  It’s not necessarily cold, but it is three in the morning. “Are you going to meet us down there? If we have to stay longer than a few weeks?”

  She nods. “Depends on what’s happening here. There are a lot of you going down. We can’t have a shortage in Laurel Springs and still expect to help people who need it.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Tucker reaches back, grabbing hold of her hand. This is my cue to leave them alone. Looking out over everyone who has gathered here, I spot a few members of my family.

  “Hey, Dad.” I walk up to him, enveloping the larger-than-life man I’ve idolized since childhood, in a huge hug.

  He pats me on the back.

  “You doin’ good?”

  We separate. I nod, sticking my hands in my jeans pockets. “Could be worse. Slightly nervous.”

  “This is your first time being sent somewhere else to help, it’s normal to be nervous. I’m nervous for you. Be sure and do what they ask of you, and please be smart.”

  The words he uses make my skin crawl. I know he doesn’t mean them the way I’m taking them. It’s hard though, to not take them in a negative connotation, after the shit I’ve pulled in my life.

  “I promise, I’ll make you proud.”

  His green eyes flash with a spark of hurt. “You already made me proud, Cutter. Don’t think you haven’t. I just know you haven’t been in a situation like this before, and I want you to be safe.”

  “Yeah, fucker.” I hear Ransom, and I have to smirk. “Be safe out there.”

  I turn to where Ransom has come up behind me, Rambo with him, and Keegan holding his hand. “Why the hell is he awake at three a.m.?” I point down to my nephew.

  “I’ve learned not to question it, and he asked to see you before you left. Since Momma’s at work, we’re bending the rules, right?” He looks down at Keegan.

  He zips his mouth and throws away the key.

  “Nice,” I chuckle, bending down to pick him up. “I’m gonna miss you, my man.”

  He hugs me tightly around the neck. “You gonna miss me?”

  “Mmm hmmm.” He nods, grabbing hold of my neck. He leans in, kissing me on the nose. It’s one of the cutest things he’s ever done. “When I get back, we’ll go for ice cream. Cool?”

  “Yes!”

  He can’t speak many words yet, but he sure can understand what others are saying to him. He’s smart as hell, so much smarter than me. “Love you.” I hug him tightly.

  “Love you, too.”

  Putting him down on the ground, I glance at Dad. “Mom too worried to come?”

  He nods. “You know how she is.”

  “She does realize I’m an EMT, right? It’s not like I’m a cop.” I hit Ransom in the stomach.

  He doubles over, coughing.

  Dad shakes his head. “She knows. She sends her love and says to be careful. Text and call her every day. Text and call, Cutter.”

  “I got it, you all act like I’m a teenager going away for college. I am in my mid-twenties. I can handle myself.”

  “But you’ll always be my kid brother.” Ransom grabs me around the neck. “For real, be safe.” His voice takes on a serious tone.

  “I will,” I say, my tone serious too.

  “Leaving in five minutes!” Someone yells.

  “I’m gonna get going. Tucker and me are driving down together.”

  Dad holds his arms open. “You do what Tucker tells you to do. If they tell you to put a vest on, you put it on. When things like this happen, there can and will be tremendous violence if people get desperate.”

  “I know.” I hug him tightly. “I’ll be fine. Text and call,” I chuckle.

  “You better include me on that text,” he gruffly answers.

  “Me too, go ahead and add Stelle. She won’t forgive me if you don’t keep in touch while you’re gone.”

  “Maybe I want your ass to be in the doghouse.”

  “Love you too, bro.” He grins.

  I throw him a wave, before bending down to give Keegan another hug. With that, I grab my bag, holding it over my shoulder. Tucker is waiting for me with Major.

  “You ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I sigh as I look around at all the people saying goodbye to family and friends. Even though I’m worried and slightly scared, I’m proud to be part of this first wave going down to help in the wake of what everyone thinks will be a historic hurricane.

  Tucker and I secure the provisions we’re taking with us and get Major situated in the back cab of the truck before the two of us get inside. We’re toward the back of the caravan, and when we finally get going, my heart is pounding.

  Not because I’m terrified this is going to change my life.

  Because I’m terrified it won’t.

  Chapter One

  Cutter

  “Have you ever been in a hurricane?”

  Tucker looks over at me. We’re in a hotel, about ten miles inland. Close enough to help, but far enough away to be safe from the storm surge. The Weather Channel has been on non-stop, and I’m starting to recognize the names on the screen. One thing I am sure of? If Jim Cantore is where you are, shit’s about to get real. Jim Cantore is ten miles from where we are.

  To say I’m nervous would be an understatement, but those of us in roles like myself and Tucker’s are in aren’t supposed to show it. Instead we’re expected to sit in this small hotel room, with our two queen beds, and pretend it doesn’t feel like the world’s about to end. Already, I’m beginning to think about what it’s going to look like once the storm passes, how many people are we going to help. What will the situation be like as far as what access we’ll have to materials?

  “I was in Katrina.” He rubs at Major’s head slowly. He drops this bomb like it’s nothing.

  “No shit?” The admission surprises me. I’ve never heard this before.

  “Yup, I was in New Orleans at the time. Fifteen years old and the most disobedient fuck you’ve ever seen in your life. I had older friends and they all wanted to hit up a party place before school started that year. Back then school didn’t start until after Labor Day, so we were like we’ll go for the weekend, come back, and our parents won’t know.”

  “Did you not realize a hurricane was coming?”

  He chuckles. “I’m sure we knew one was coming, because it was all over the news, but I don’t think we realized the possible impact of a storm that size. We found out real quick.”

  “Were you in New Orleans when it hit?”

  “Yeah, smack dab in the middle. We didn’t have enough money for a hotel, so we were sleeping in my buddy’s Tahoe. When we realized what was happening, we went to the lobby of a hotel. There were police there and we explained the situation to them. Luckily for us, the hotel allowed us to stay in the lobby. If it hadn’t been for them, we would have died. As it was, we had to take higher ground and get rescued by the Coast Guard. I got my ass beat when I got home. I mean beat, but I didn’t even care because I was so happy to be alive, it just didn’t matter.”

  “Nothing is ever easy with you, is it?”

  He grins. “Never.”

  “Well now I feel a little better, knowing you’ve been through hell and survived,” I tease.

  “It was worse than what I imagine hell would be like. We were stuck there for days without water. It was awful, and I don’t wish it on my worst enemy. The sound is something I’ll never forget, then the rising water. It literally would not stop. We’re lucky, luckier than we had a right to be.” He takes a drink of the water beside him. “I was grounded for a year when I got home, but I learned a great respect for Mother Nature and God himself. I don’t think I ever prayed that much in my life before. I didn’t think I was going to make it. If there’s anything that’ll get you closer to God, it’s a natural disaster.”

  “Do you think this will be as bad?”

  I’m watching the weatherman on TV, and he’s warning anyon
e who will listen about storm surge, winds, rain, tornados, and the possibility of flooding well inland. There’s also the threat of power outages and no clean water. It’s all very ominous and I realize quickly how lucky I am to have a home that will still be there when I head back up north. I don’t have to worry about electricity and water. Nor do I have to worry about any of my family being lost in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

  “I don’t know." Tucker rubs a hand over his face. “This one is plenty big, and the water temp is high. It looks like it’s going to be bad.” He shrugs. “But I’m not God or a psychic and I can’t tell the future. We’ll do what we can to brace for impact and then we’ll work on getting these people the help they need. That’s all we can do.”