Jonas – Susan Horsnell (1)

No access. No data. No tools. No way to verify anything for myself. I have to trust that Jonas and Lucas are doing what Jonas said they’re doing. I have to trust that Barbara knows how to push the system without going too far. I have to trust that the system will respond to pressure instead of closing ranks and shutting down. Trust has never been my strength. I learnt a long time ago, the only person I can truly trust is myself.

After breakfast, the door to my cell opens and I’m told to move. I join the line without comment and follow instructions the same way everyone else does. Walk where you’re told. Stop where you’re told. Don’t ask questions. The common area never changes, not that I expect it would. People are clustered in familiar groupings that have nothing to do with friendship and everything to do with survival.

I take the same seat I’ve taken every day, my back to the wall, hands folded loosely in my lap. I don’t read. I don’t watch television. I watch people. The hierarchy is clearer now than it was on my first day. I watch who talks. Who stays quiet. Who the guards intervene with immediately and who they allow to push boundaries a little further before stepping in. The patterns repeat if you pay attention. I pay attention. My thoughts drift, despite my efforts to keep them anchored.

Jonas’s visit keeps replaying, not because of the kiss—I refuse to let my mind linger there—but because of the moment before it, when I finally admitted out loud that I’m struggling. I don’t like that he witnessed my weakness. I needed it. I know that logically. But emotionally, it feels like exposure, and exposure is dangerous. Even when it’s with someone you’re learning to trust.

Especially when you’re not sure what trusting someone might actually cost. By mid-morning, I’m assigned work… Laundry…Again! The heat hits as soon as I step into the room. Damp air. Detergent.

Author of Amazon No 1 Best Sellers in 2018: Matt—Book 1 in The Carter Brothers Series Clay—Book 3 in The Carter Brothers Series Amazon No 1 Best Seller in February 2019 Andrew’s Outback Love—Book 1 in The Outback Australia Series Amazon No 1 Best Seller in July 2019 Ruby’s Outback Love—Book 2 in The Outback Australia Series Amazon No 1 Best Seller in May 2019 Eight Letters Will—Book 2 in The Carter Brothers Series Amazon Best Seller in April 2020 Cora: Bride of South Dakota OceanofPDF.com JONAS Book 4-King Protective Services Copyright © 2026 by Susan Horsnell The right of Susan Horsnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000 All rights reserved.

This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed, or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon, or similar organizations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning, AI training, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental. OceanofPDF.com Edited: Redline Editing Proofread: Leanne Rogers Published by: Lipstick Publishing Cover Design: Angeline Cantila Design OceanofPDF.com Disclaimer This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental or historical.

Set around Sydney, Australia and written in Australian English. Note: This book contains dark themes. OceanofPDF.com Prologue JONAS I settle back in my chair at King Protective Services, the agency owned and managed by Hunter King. I joined straight from school with my closest friends—twin brothers Ryker and Dawson King, and Lucas Maxwell. The office is quiet as both teams work at their stations. Team 1—Ryker, Dawson, and me—are at our usual bank of desks, while Team 2—Molly, Rachel, Oscar, and Tyrone—work across the room.

Lucas, the other member of team one, isn’t due back from his honeymoon for another four days. His wedding to Elise, a woman from our past, was at Taronga Zoo a few days earlier. I’ve never known two people more suited, who were meant to be together. Unfortunately fate intervened when they were young and they went in different directions but now all is right in their world.

I stare at the screen in front of me, jaw tight, brow furrowed deeper than usual.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 2a4d2fc8ac89882e
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 2,694,239 bytes (2.569 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 251
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 262.19 minutes
• Total Words: 52,439
• Total Characters: 303,535
• Average Words per Page: 208.92
• Average Characters per Page: 1209.3

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