Page 19

K age

“Get out. Get the fuck out!” I roared and bolted in the opposite direction.

It had been a fucking setup.

Boom!

Echoes rang in my ears, the blast driving me back by several feet. I tumbled into a wall, managing to pitch and roll to the side just before the ceiling came crashing down.

Screams could be heard. Calls from men. Everything was in a vacuum.

Fire was everywhere, smoke acrid and thick. I crawled for a few feet, trying to get my bearings, scrambling to get to my feet.

Another scream drew my attention and I swung to the right. A fireball rushed toward me. Oh, fuck me. A SEAL was on fire.

I tackled him to the ground, rolling him over as the screams continued. Everything was black. “Hold on… soldier,” I coughed, realizing immediately if we remained inside the building we’d die. “I’m taking you… out.” Where the fuck was Maddox?

“No,” he moaned. “Leave me.” He managed to grip my hand. I could feel bone poking through his skin. Oh, fuck, no.

Beams crashed.

Flames sizzled in shades of blue.

The fire was out of control, consuming everything.

“No, I’m not leaving you.”

Lights. There were suddenly lights. A beam flashed across us and I winced, shielding my eyes.

“We gotta get you out of here!” Commander Jenkins and a group of men rushed in.

“Where is… Maddox? Where is he?”

“I don’t know,” another man called.

“Ah, fuck,” Commander Jenkins hissed. “Come on, son. The place is going up in flames.”

“Save him,” I shouted. Where the hell was Maddox?

Boom!

Another explosion vibrated the ground.

More screams.

Smoke. So thick. I stumbled, searching for Maddox. I couldn’t leave him.

“Out. Now! Move. Move. Move!”

“No. Not without Grant.”

“Son, we can’t help him. He’s gone. There are others.”

The commander’s voice was cut off by a series of explosions, the blasts keeping the earth beneath our feet tumbling.

I glanced down just as I was pulled to my feet.

Fuck. No. No. No!

Fuck.

I jerked from the nightmare, taking gasping breaths. Sweat was running down both sides of my face and the back of my neck. Panting, I immediately reached for my weapon, caught off guard from disorientation.

A few seconds later, I was able to focus, the moonlight streaming in through the crack in the blinds highlighting Juliette nestled under the sheets in the second bed.

I pulled my hand away from my pistol, taking several deep breaths.

I’d climbed into the other bed not long after we’d…

Fuck me.

One. Single. Mistake.

I’d made few in my life. But those I’d made had cost me dearly. In the world of battle, any mistake could erase an entire unit. I’d experienced that twice, the last time the worst. And had been reason one I’d wanted out.

The reason I had fucking nightmares. A part of me wanted to reach for the whiskey, but I resisted. Alcohol would only dull my senses and I needed to remain sharp.

I took a deep breath, scrubbing my hand across my face. The air in the room was stale as if the air conditioning unit was no longer working. At least both Tank and Juliette were still sleeping.

After throwing back the covers, I remained sitting on the side, dropping my head into both hands.

I still couldn’t understand why I’d allowed my guard to fall.

I’d prided myself in having much better control.

It had been easy in the beginning. I’d felt nothing but agony for months, both physically and mentally.

Then the emptiness had settled in, years of feeling nothing. That had remained exactly the same until two fucking days ago.

Until she’d crashed into my life.

Chaos.

Destruction of everything that I held tightly wrapped around myself. Getting involved was the last fucking thing I needed.

I lifted my head, half expecting to find her staring at me.

She wasn’t.

Something drew me to her more than I’d felt with any other woman. With a single exception. That had been a lifetime ago. I was now an entirely different man, the kind of man who’d shut down everyone in his life out of necessity.

And she’d brought the past back to me all over again. The dream had continued, something that had stopped happening at least four years before.

My phone buzzed. At least I wouldn’t be locked into some shitty pity party. That also wasn’t me.

I grabbed it, immediately heading for the door. With a single look back into the room, I realized Tank was now awake, thumping his tail as he always did. All I needed to do was to lay my finger across my lips and he laid his head back down.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“Oh, you’re in a good mood,” Stone said by way of announcing himself.

“Not a good time.”

“Did I catch you in the throes of fucking some honey?”

I gritted my teeth while he laughed.

“Jesus, buddy. Just making a joke. I know it’s tense as shit down there. Been awhile.”

“Just tell me you have the goddamn plane.”

“I do. Arriving tomorrow with yours truly as the captain and flight attendant. Are you ready to order your onboard meals?”

“Cut the crap. The fucking place is surrounded. I swear to God, they’re fucking military.”

“Not necessarily surprising given the longitude and latitude of the island.”

“Then how in the hell do you think you’re going to get us out of here, brilliant guy?” I threw at him. Stone could be a court jester, but he was also a dangerous fuck of a man. Someone I trusted at all costs.

“Well, let’s just say I’m dropping off some supplies. Mutual favor with a buddy of mine.”

“A cargo plane?”

“You got it. Since pretty much almost every piece of food, hardware, appliances, and clothing is shipped in, it’s the best cover I could think of.”

It was a brilliant plan. “Nobody knows about this?”

“No. Nobody. Who is this chick again?”

“Randolph Carver’s daughter.”

“Wow. You’ve come up in the world,” he chortled. “I heard he’s in deep with the defense department.”

“You know more than I do.”

“That’s not like you, Kage. What gives?”

“Just doing a favor for the commander. Time sensitive.”

Stone exhaled. “You’re working with Commander Jenkins? I didn’t know the old bird was still alive.”

“He’s alive and was determined to hunt me down.”

“Interesting. You want me to sniff around?”

“If you do, do so quietly. There might be ears.” I continued to think about what Juliette had mentioned regarding the kidnappers. A lot of things didn’t add up at this point.

“International espionage?”

“Who knows. What time are we catching a flight?”

“Plane rolls in at eleven. I’ll be fueled and ready for a takeoff at noon.”

I stared at the area just outside the balcony. “Middle of the fucking day.”

“The only window I could grab. Kind of take it or leave it.”

“Understood. We’ll be there. I assume you brought your own party favors.” That had always been a standing joke within our unit. Party favors for most were illegal drugs often brought out at swanky parties. For us, it meant weapons and explosives.

“Enough to light up the city of Hamilton.”

Snorting, I rolled my eyes. “You always did know how to throw a party. See you tomorrow.”

“Just don’t get yourself killed on the way over for a visit. I’m not keen on filling a plane with dead bodies.”

“Very funny.” I was still chuckling as we ended the call. At least I could count on Stone to be there. My thoughts returned to the dream. Yeah, at least I’d always been able to count on Stone.

Maddox was a different story.

The fucking traitor.