The third book of The Trident Trilogy.
What happens if you find out the only thing you’re sure about is a lie?
Through the crazy twists and turns of her young life, Millie’s only been sure of one thing: her dad’s undying love for her. So what happens when she finds out he might not really be her dad?
There’s another man who’s been controlling Millie’s destiny since before she was born—a man her mom married two days before she gave birth to Millie. Could this man be her biological father?
Once again, Millie must dive back into the fray to solve the last mystery of her complicated history. With Mason glued to her side, she’ll discover things she never wanted to know and walk headfirst into the most dangerous situation she’s faced yet.
Millie’s known from the beginning that finding out the truth could get her killed. This time she might be right.
The third book of The Trident Trilogy.
What happens if you find out the only thing you’re sure about is a lie?
Through the crazy twists and turns of her young life, Millie’s only been sure of one thing: her dad’s undying love for her. So what happens when she finds out he might not really be her dad?
There’s another man who’s been controlling Millie’s destiny since before she was born—a man her mom married two days before she gave birth to Millie. Could this man be her biological father?
Once again, Millie must dive back into the fray to solve the last mystery of her complicated history. With Mason glued to her side, she’ll discover things she never wanted to know and walk headfirst into the most dangerous situation she’s faced yet.
Millie’s known from the beginning that finding out the truth could get her killed. This time she might be right.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
2020
“Millie, will you cut up the veggies for the salad?” Mariel says as she pours herself a glass of wine.
We’re at the rental house she and Chase are sharing with Dad. The guys are out buying beer for a party today for Mason’s team. Mariel and I have started getting the meal together. Well, she’s started because I’m a horrible cook. Mariel’s seen me attempt cooking several times. I’m surprised she’s allowing me to help at all.Â
“Yep,” I say, quickly taking a knife out of the block on the counter before she can change her mind.
She grabs it back and hands me a smaller knife. “You’re chopping vegetables, not trying to take out an attacker.”
We’ve been back from Pakistan for a few weeks. Since Mason’s going to be in Virginia Beach for another month, I talked Dad into renting a house here. We’re all going to end up back in San Diego but for now, I don’t want to be separated from either one of them. Dad and I will use the time to go back to the Outer Banks and clean out the storage locker where I stashed my grandma’s stuff after she died. Mariel flew in to help us. After everything that’s happened to me this past year, it’s nice having all of my family in one place.
“Chase told me you finally signed the official papers to resign from the agency. I didn’t think your boss would ever accept you leaving. What’s his name? George?”
“George retired. I’ve been dealing with the director, Paul Ward, since Pakistan.” I pause for a second, looking around and lowering my voice. I always assume every room’s bugged. I wonder if that will ever go away. “Paul’s still trying to get me to give him the other copy of the video of Alex’s death.”
“Well, he’s going to get it over my dead body,” Mariel says loudly. She never thinks about bugs. Or maybe she does and she just doesn’t care.
“I feel like I’m putting you in danger by having you keep it in your safe deposit box,” I say quietly. “Maybe you should give it back to me.”
“No way. If you or Mack go missing, I’m playing that thing for every media outlet in the world. Everyone’s going to know that the head of the agency’s Middle East division gave up their most valuable asset. The agency can kiss my ass if they think they can intimidate me. I’ll shut the whole place down.” She pauses for a second. “Wait, why did George retire? He’s not that old, is he?”
“He’s only forty-seven, a year younger than Dad.”
“So why did he retire so early?”
“Uh, I think with everything that went down with Dad—you know, George hiding everything from me for all that time. I don’t know, maybe he started second-guessing what he was doing with his life. He and his wife are moving to a little beach town in Northern California after his retirement party. He wants to be as far away from D.C. as possible.”
“I can’t believe you’re even talking to him after what he did to you. Mack’s pissed that you’re going to his retirement party.”
“Yeah, Mason is, too. It’s the only thing they’ve agreed on since we got back.”
“So why are you going?”
“I don’t know. I’m still mad at George, but I’ve never been much into holding grudges. He and his wife were like family to me when I lived in D.C.”
“Well, Chase and Mack are holding enough of a grudge against him to cover all of our bases,” Mariel says, laughing.
Ironically, Dad was the one who taught me not to hold grudges. When I was growing up, he told me grudges were like storm clouds moving in on a beautiful sunny day. They could stay for a bit, but then they needed to make way for the sun again.Â
Dad still feels guilty for disappearing. I think he’d feel better if I was holding a grudge against him, but I forgave him the second I realized he was alive. I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand why he didn’t take me with him, but I’m not mad at him. I’m just so relieved he’s back.
“What time’s the team coming over again?” Mariel asks as she multi-tasks effortlessly over several steaming pots on the stove.
“Mason said around one, so that means they’ll be here about noon,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You know that on-time is late for these guys.”
“Yeah, they’re a punctual breed. Any more news on when Mason can go back to San Diego? Is that JJ guy working out?”
“I think it’s still about a month. And I’m not sure about JJ. Mason won’t talk to me about it which is weird because he shares everything with me.”
When Mason agreed to take the team lead back so he could go to Pakistan with me, Culver told him he would be in for at least three months while the guy he was covering for recuperated from an injury. Mason talked him out of that when JJ, Mason’s second-in-command, stepped forward to say he would lead the team. Apparently, Culver hesitated a little bit at handing the reigns over to JJ. Mason won’t tell me why. Culver finally agreed to it only if Mason would stay at least a month to help in the transition.
“Mariel, those onions smell horrible,” I say as she drops another handful into a skillet. “They’re making me nauseated.”
“You said you felt sick the other day, honey.” She clicks the fan on the stove hood vent to its highest level. “Do you have a bug?”
“I’ve been feeling yucky lately. I don’t know what it is.”
“Are you pregnant?” She turns around to look at me. Her eyes are dead serious.
“I’m not pregnant, Mar,” I say, shaking my head. “You know I’m on the pill.”
“There’s still that one percent chance—”
“I’m not pregnant. Stop.” I grab the tomatoes and head over to the sink to wash them. “I’m stressed out about Dad. I’m not sleeping very well. I still can’t trust that he’s going to be here when I wake up. It doesn’t help that I’m not in the same house with him.”
“Sweetie, we have an extra room if you want to stay here for a while. You know Mack would like that better anyway.”
When Dad left, I was sixteen. He’s having a hard time adjusting to me as an adult woman. He especially hates that I’m staying with Mason. And he’s not subtle about it. Frankly, he’s being an asshole. And that’s making Mason act like an asshole, too. They’re both so competitive. They’ve been swarming around me since we got back—attempting to mark their territory. I’m trying to stay out of it, but they’re both getting on my nerves.
“No, I want to stay with Mason, but I can’t get over here soon enough in the morning to see if Dad’s still alive.”
Mariel reaches over to take my hand. “You’ve known he was alive for less than a month. Be patient with yourself. You’ll get there.”
I squeeze her hand before she heads back over to the stove. “You know, Mar, it doesn’t help that you’re being an asshole to Dad.”
“I will be what I want to be, Millie,” she says, raising her eyebrows. “I’m pissed at him. His disappearing act affected Chase and me, too. You’re way more forgiving than I am. I want to punish him a little bit.”
“Mar—”
“Honey, that’s between Mack and me. We both love you. And down deep, we both love each other. Just stay out of it. We’re stubborn people—”
“Huge understatement.”
“We’ll work it out—eventually.” Mariel turns around and looks at me. “You know you have to move the knife to chop the vegetables, right? Get to work, princess.”
Wild Card is the third and final book from the Trident Trilogy & my oh my does it complete the story of Millie Marsh. Filled to the brim once more with romance, action and drama, this final piece of the trilogy is beautifully written with a story so bittersweet; it is sure to lure you back into that world one last time.
The story picks up right where it left off, with Mille Marsh, ex CIA agent and daughter of navy SEAL Mack Marsh and Mason surrounded with family and friends before dumping her right back into the agonising story of her family. This time she must learn the whole truth surrounding her mother's death. No matter how painful it gets, without the truth, her life cannot move forward.
Yet again, I feel slightly biased as my review for this book, the same as its predecessor, can only be a love note. Once more, Donna Schwartze has managed to whisk me away with her pure talent for writing. For a final time, the characters we have grown to love, return and their voice never falters. The only real difference that I can find, is the story feels so much more centred around Millie and Mason's purest love than the supporting characters. A decision that I support wholeheartedly. With this trilogy complete, I feel at a loss. Donna Schwartze, please continue to write. Even should you not expand this universe, I cannot wait to read whatever story you produce next.
I would love to delve into the story beyond its bare-bones, however, to do so would leave any potential reader at a disadvantage. Should I divulge any of the storylines beyond the glimpses from the synopsis, I fear the reader would never forgive me for ruining such beauty so I will simply say this. Dear any potential readers, should you be looking for a series with action, drama and romance, or for characters that feel so real that you could have known them for years, or for a story that will captivate you then this series is just what you are looking for. Give in to the temptation and read all three books in one sitting if you have to because trust me, it will not only take your breath away but will forever leave you wanting more.