2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

An exclusive short story featuring characters from the Troubleshooters series

Tony Vlachic, a ruggedly handsome Navy SEAL, has kept his sexuality a secret for years under the threat of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” That is, until he meets Adam Wyndham, a charismatic yet troubled film star. Tony knows that by approaching Adam in front of his teammates he’s jeopardizing his military career. And Adam, nursing a broken heart, has no interest in a relationship. Still, neither man can deny their instant attraction.

Tony didn’t become a SEAL by accepting rejection, and his pursuit of Adam leads to one unforgettable night. But the next morning, Tony is ordered to ship out to Afghanistan, and he’s forced to leave Adam with too much left unsaid. As Tony enters a dangerous war zone, Adam, back in Los Angeles, struggles with the demons of his past, while dealing with the very real possibility that Tony could be killed in action. Half a world apart, both men must face their feelings for each other—and decide if what they’ve found is worth risking everything in the name of love.

Settings
Boston, Massachusetts
Los Angeles, California

1 Chapter

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Recurring Characters
Adam Wyndham: Actor, ex-lover of Jules Cassidy and Robin Chadwick. He’s licking his wounds now that Robin and Jules are married.
Tony Vlachic: Gay Navy SEAL new to Team Sixteen who is trying to keep his sexual orientation secret to comply with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell but is actively pursuing Adam.
Jules Cassidy: FBI agent in the Counterterrorism Unit. Alyssa Locke's former partner. He’s married to Robin Chadwick.
Robin Chadwick Cassidy: Famed Hollywood actor, Jane’s brother. He’s married to Jules. He’s now cast in a new series called Shadowland.
Linda Cassidy: Jules’ mother.
Dolphina Patel: Robin’s press handler who worked for HeartBeat Studios but now works for Robin directly as his personal assistant.
Will Schroeder: Reporter now working for Boston Globe. He’s divorced from ex-wife Jackie, a photographer, and is taking care of his niece Maggie while her mother and his sister Arlene is deployed in Iraq.
Maggie: Will’s 12-year old niece. Her mother, his sister, is stationed in Iraq.
Arlene: Will’s sister and Maggie’s mother.
Alyssa Locke: Executive Officer, Troubleshooters, Inc. Former Navy sniper and FBI agent in the Counterterrorism Unit. She and Sam are married and she’s pregnant with their first child.
Roger (Sam) Starrett: Team Leader, Troubleshooters, Inc. Former Lieutenant(jg), SEAL Team 16 leader. He’s now married to Alyssa. Divorced from Mary Lou and father of their daughter, Haley.
Mary Lou Starrett: Sam's ex-wife and mother of their daughter, Haley.
Haley Starrett: Sam's two-year old daughter.
Tracy Shapiro: Troubleshooters’ new receptionist.
Cosmo Richter: Chief and Navy SEAL, Team Sixteen. Hes married to Jane and father of their son, Billy. He’s 6’4” with pale blue eyes.
Jane (Janey) Mercedes Chadwick Richter: Hollywood screenwriter and producer and Robin's sister. She’s married to Cosmo and mother of their son, Billy.
Lois Richter: Cosmo’s mother.
Max Bhagat: Head of the FBI Counterterrorism Unit. He’s married to Gina and father of their daughter Emma.
Gina Vitagliano Bhagat: Former college student/drummer on a European trip with her school band mates who was assaulted during the hijacking of her plane home from Greece. Max was the negotiator who created a strong bond with her. They’re now married and she’s their daughter Emma’s mother. She’s pregnant again.
Laronda: Max's assistant.
Ric Alvarado: Former Tampa police detective now a private investigator. He’s known Annie since he was 15-years old.
Annie Dugan: Ric's assistant. She’s known Ric since she was 11-years old.
Martell Griffin: Lawyer and Ric’s best friend.
George Faulkner: FBI Agent and the son of Rose’s friend.
Thomas (Tom) Paoletti: Head of Troubleshooters, Inc., a security consulting company. Former Lieutenant Commander, SEAL Team 16. Married to Kelly and father of their 6-month old son, Charlie.
Kelly Ashton: Tom's wife, a pediatrician. She’s the mother of their 6-month old son Charlie.
James (Jimmy) Nash: aka Diego. Troubleshooters operative. Former agent with the Agency.
Tess Bailey: Troubleshooters operative.
Lawrence Decker: Team Leader, Troubleshooters, Inc. Former Navy SEAL, Team One.
Sophia Ghaffari: Woman captured by Decker in Kazbekistan.
Vinh Murphy: Troubleshooters operative, former Marine. He’s part African American, part Vietnamese.
Angelina Murphy: Murphy's wife.
Dave Malkoff: Troubleshooters operative, former CIA agent.
PJ Prescott: Troubleshooters, Inc. team member. Former Air Force Para-Rescue Jumper (helo pilot).
Kenny (WildCard) Karmody: Petty Officer Third Class, SEAL Team 16. He’s a computer specialist.
Savannah (Van) von Hopf: Lawyer from New York whose uncle has been abducted in Indonesia. She has blond hair and blue eyes. Her grandmother Rose is a WWII hero.
Irving (Izzy) Zanella: SEAL Team 16.
Casper (Jazz) Jacquette: Executive Officer, SEAL Team 16.
Danny Gillman: aka Gilligan. Petty Officer, SEAL Team 16.
Jay Lopez: Medic SEAL Team 16.
Mark (Jenk) Jenkins: Petty Officer, 2nd Class, SEAL Team 16. He’s got a baby face and is 28-years old with hazel eyes.
Lindsey Fontaine: Troubleshooters, Inc. team member. She’s 30-years old, 5’3” with short black hair and brown eyes.
Mike Muldoon: Ensign, SEAL Team 16. He’s married to Joan.
Joan DaCosta: White House public relations assistant. She’s married to Mike and is pregnant.
John (Nils) Nilsson: Lieutenant, SEAL Team 16. Language expert. Married to Meg.
Frank O'Leary: Chief, SEAL Team 16 sniper.
Wayne Jefferson: SEAL Team 16 sniper.
Stanley Wolchonok: Senior Chief, SEAL Team 16. He’s married to Teri.
Teri Howe: Navy reserves, Lieutenant (jg),helicopter pilot. She’s married to Stan.
Lew Koehl: SEAL Team 16 Commander.
Molly Anderson: Worked in a religious mission in Indonesia but now married to Grady and mother of their two-year old daughter, Hope. They now live in Iowa
Dave Jones/Grady Morant: American expatriate who lived alone under an assumed name in Indonesia near Molly's mission. He was a former Special Forces member and prisoner of war, later on the FBI most wanted list. He was made a deal and allowed to come back to the US and live as an insurance adjuster in Iowa. He and Molly are married with a two-year old daughter, Hope.
Kate Takamoto: Navy Lieutenant.
Larry Tucker: Rear admiral and base commander.
Laurel Tucker: Tucker’s wife.
Morton (Chip) Crowley: Admiral and commander of Navy Special Warfare Command.
Ihbraham Rahman: Gardener and Mary Lou's friend.
Manuel Conseco: FBI special agent in charge of the Sarasota office.
Deb Erlanger: FBI agent and Jules' teammate.
Joe (Yashi) Hirabayashi: FBI agent and Deb's partner.
Greg Hirabayashi: Yashi’s father.
Peggy Ryan: Former FBI agent and team leader who was murdered while undercover in Sarasota. She disliked Jules because he is gay.
Pierre: Annie’s dog that she inherited after Pam died.

Non Recurring Characters (hide spoiler)]