Page 31 of Mariposa (Queens Command #1)

KADE

S ixty days ago, I went on a top-secret mission—sixty mornings and nights where I was halfway across the world.

Work is an obsession. Years and years of this lifestyle, constantly focused and determined on my job, it’s my way of life, but for the first time, there was something different that came with me and hasn’t left.

Or someone .

It’s my first week back, and I’m welcomed with more work. I’m on orders to take the lead on a mission in the Middle East and meet with the group I’ve been ‘voluntold’ to take charge of.

Walking into the doors of the small building on base, I can feel all eyes on me once I take the first step inside.

Booker stands tall in the center of the room, and every other soldier sits at a desk while he talks.

I haven’t seen him since the last day of the course.

Taking my green beret off my head, I clench my jaw when reality sinks in.

This may be my last year of attending these meetings.

I’m still trying to make up my fucking mind.

The decision to retire or give more years to the Army is weighing heavily on my shoulders.

I could retire this year, but something changed my mind. It didn’t feel right.

Everyone turns my way, and my heart skips when I see familiar black hair and a mesmerizing face.

Violet Isla, Mariposa .

She’s sitting on the right side of the room next to Anna Castle, call sign: Raven .

I want to rip my gaze from her, but something makes me double-take.

It’s not the tight face she’s making—clearly shocked by my presence.

It’s not the way her natural beauty grabs me by the throat every time I look at her.

No…no, it’s not that. It’s the fucking diamond ring on her engagement finger that sends me into a confused rage.

I swear to fuck if it means what I think it means…

What else would it mean? A diamond ring is on her finger . She’s engaged? She’s going to get married?

Everything happens fast. It only took me one second to analyze her. Seeing that she’s engaged, rubbing her thighs together, and that cute thing her cheeks do whenever she sees me. She blushes—her body going still as a statue.

Castle chews her gum faster and drums her fingers against her chin with a beaming smile.

“Everyone, welcome back Master Sergeant O’Connell. He’s taking the lead on this operation.” Booker moves to the side, placing his hands behind his back.

And just like that, my soul has been sucked out of my body.

I knew I’d assigned her to this group, but I didn’t think our proximity would be this close together again.

She’s on the team I’m being assigned to take charge of.

She just keeps popping up and has the audacity to wear a fucking ring when she only broke up with my son a few months ago.

Still, I push my conflicting feelings aside and tuck them back into the space where she haunts me. Is it awkward? Sure. But right now is not the time to spiral into my thoughts.

“I’ll make this as quick as possible because I need everyone to get back to their rooms, pack and relax, and call your loved ones because we’ll be gone for quite some time.

This isn’t like any other operation you guys have seen, so Booker and I will lead.

Many of you guys are newer and still have much to learn.

” I stare directly at Violet, and her tense lids flutter when I do.

“We need to find this man,” I point to the projector behind me, where a photo of the high-value target is displayed.

“He is responsible for murdering and torturing innocent people. That includes U.S. Marines and military men and women from the British Armed Forces. He is also the one responsible for the terrorist attack on the US embassy that was on the news a few nights ago. Intel has confirmed this.”

I inform them of the mission’s expectations, looking at everyone in the room and remembering their faces.

Next, I lay out the rules. I will never get used to seeing the evil in this world.

Every deployment is something new. As much as I want to protect Violet from it, I have no right to intervene.

She knows what she signed up for. She knows it’s life or death whenever we step into a warzone.

I warned her time and time again when she was my student.

I inform everyone of the plan of execution, taking it step by step and avoiding looking at the one woman who makes me overthink.

Why did I keep her in North Carolina? She could have gone to the West Coast, but I knew deep down the real reason why I did it. It’s not because of what happened in the shower, or what transpired underneath the bridge on that fucking beach.

If that were the case, she would have been halfway across the country where her presence couldn’t fuck with my head because the truth is. I can’t stop wanting to look after her, and that’s a fucking problem.

Booker intervenes and finishes the meeting for me. Stepping aside, he walks before me and says, “We’re close to finding the threat. So we’re on standby for now…waiting for that call.”

“Chaos and Beast are on another mission together. The boys are back!” Booker exclaims with a chirpy tone as he pushes through my office door.

“Knock next time when you walk into my office, asshole,” I murmur as I tuck my project away quickly. Sliding my drawer open, I throw my mini carving kit inside before he can see what I’m working on. Using the back of my hand, I brush the wood shavings off my pants.

“God, you’re extra grumpy today. Why the sad face, old man?”

Grimacing, I flip him off.

“I’m only two years older than you, fucker.”

“Love it when you talk dirty to me,” Booker teases. Annoyance crosses my face as I fold my arms across my chest. He pulls out his lunch—a sandwich with an apple paired with a Red Bull.

“These things are bad for you.” Stealing his Red Bull away, I open it and take a sip.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Shrugging nonchalantly, he pulls another Red Bull from his lunch box and places it on the floor by his feet so I can’t reach it.

“Jesus, Booker, how many fucking energy drinks do you have in there?” I lift a curious brow.

“Do we really want to talk about how many Red Bulls I carry in here, or can we talk about how Violet blushed when I stood up to introduce you? Do you think she has a thing for me?”

Something inside of me chips. The pencil I was banging against my desk cracks in half as my hands curl. The control I had inside me broke the night I tasted her. My mouth opens before I can stop the rage that rolls out.

“That’s my son’s ex-girlfriend. She is off-limits to you. Do you understand me?” A slow, clear warning intercepts every syllable of my words. I point my finger at his chest, then drop it to my side.

Fuck .

Booker goes rigid before he can take the first bite of his sandwich. He pales and cranes his neck toward me with widened hazel eyes.

“What the fuck. Kade…what the fuck?” He studies me for an answer. I inhale as I force myself to relax.

“Why are you just telling me? She was with Adam? How long have you known?!” he finally takes a bite and chews slowly. He starts to chuckle through each bite. “Holy shit. Small world.”

Standing up from my desk, I run my palm over my beard. Even my closest friend can’t stop talking about her. Still, who the fuck is she engaged to?

“Does Adam know she’s about to deploy? Does he know that she’s getting married?”

I grip the windowsill tightly until my knuckles turn white. My head falls between my collarbones as my lids fall shut. I really don’t want to talk about Violet. I don’t want to think of her.

I. Don’t. Want. Violet.

“I’d rather not talk about her. We’re about to head out on this mission, and I’d rather talk about anything else.”

“Say no more. Yet it makes sense why you’re so protective of her.”

“Booker…” My tone darkens.

I haven’t told anyone about that night at the beach. I’m not someone who opens up easily, especially regarding women. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to come to terms with what that night was. It’s easier and better for her if she stays away from me.

“Fine. Fine. A quick and short update on my shitty love life. I found a girl that I’m interested in. She’s sweet, independent, and funny as hell. Her dark humor matches mine.” His teeth sink into his red apple.

“Who’s the poor woman?” I sneer.

“Her name is Katia. You don’t know her”—he stops chewing—“unless your son dated her too?” he antagonizes, looking dead at me. I grab the closest thing I can find and launch it at him. He dodges the tissue box before it connects with his head, and it glides across the floor.

He roars with laughter, making me smirk.

Asshole .

“Anyways, it feels good to have someone to come back home to now. Although it sucked when I had to tell her I’d be gone for a while and can’t tell her where or when I’d be back.”

“That’s how it is,” I say, crossing one leg over the other.

“Have you found anyone yet? What about Karen? That girl would do anything for you to wife her up.”

“Nope, no one. Karen and I were never a thing. She deserves someone who’s more available.” I look out my window, and the sight before me has my jaw tensing and my muscles pulling in my uniform.

Turn around, Kade .

Tempted to pull out my knife, I turn around and watch my best friend finish his lunch. I need to distract myself before I leave the building and do something I regret.

“No one, huh?” He claps his hands before he grabs a tissue from the box I threw at him. He pats his lips and throws everything in his lunchbox. Standing up from the chair at my desk, he grins with hazel eyes, seeing through me.

“No one,” I repeat.

“Then why did it feel like you were going to snap my neck and beat me to a pulp for saying her name?”

“Whose name?” I shoot back. The question sharpened to a pointed edge.

“You know exactly who I’m talking about. You can fool everyone here, Kade, but not me.”

His once playful expression shifts into a serious one.

Grabbing a stack of papers, I flip through the paperwork, doing anything to distract myself from talking about my personal life.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Kade, you’re my brother. I’ve seen you through a lot of shit, and you deserve to be happy. Remember that. Even if it’s Violet.”

Before I can get a word out to deny and spew some bullshit, he closes the door.