Page 9

7

He had no idea why Walker had looked at him like that but fuck him if he didn’t love it. He rarely saw that soft light in her eyes. He couldn’t fathom what he had done that had gotten to her, but he wanted to find out.

That wasn’t going to be possible. Anna had a target package for them, and it was time to make headway and get closer to finding out where they were keeping Hazard and Leigh. When he got to the room, he expected Walker would be there, but she was nowhere to be found. Her wet clothes were on towels in her room. He frowned. Where was she showering, and why wasn’t she here?

Another mystery to solve. He didn’t have time to speculate about it and headed for the shower with Bones trailing behind. He and the dog often shared the shower for expediency. After taking care of his hair and body, he lathered up the dog and made sure he was thoroughly rinsed off. Chlorine could dry out his skin. They finished in record time. It went much faster when he didn’t have any sensual, tactile distractions. Before he dressed, he wiped down Bones, enduring several full-body doggie shakes, and then dried him off with a towel.

They went directly to the mess hall, and he grabbed a bunch of power bars to refuel, filling Bones’s Kong with peanut butter. He walked to the conference room munching on one and when he got inside, he tossed two apiece to his teammates, then put Bones through a few drills. It wasn’t good to reward the dog with the Kong without some work involved, although he did a great job in helping them win the chaotic water polo match. Yet there was a calm that stayed with Skull especially within the mayhem.

When Walker and Eva entered, he tossed them each a couple bars. “Thanks, Severus,” Eva said. Walker just glanced at him and nodded.

Hmm, no sassy comment, no sultry smile, no sensuous gleam in her eyes. He didn’t need to be a genius to know something had changed, and it had everything to do with that look she had given him after the game. Well, he was the one who was holding back her forward momentum, but now he couldn’t help but feel a bit…disjointed.

Knowing how tough and obstinate she was, it was hard to believe that he had spooked her…scared her off. How?

She had been so hell-bent on making sure he knew what she wanted from him, what he’d been hard pressed to refuse, but wanted with every cell of his body. She wanted him. That hadn’t changed. But for the first time he realized that he had controlled that situation with an iron hand without taking into consideration her and her feelings about the whole thing. Part of it was the ambush, and he had buckled under her assault. But the other part, the part that was beginning to surface right now, was that he always felt the need to express his strength and power in the things he did and avoid appearing weak in any way.

In his defense, she’d jumped the gun on how a relationship started, and what fear was she trying to avoid? He knew anger, he loved anger. It was a controlled anger and useful in what he did for a living, propelled him into action. He found it also useful in pushing back against the emotions he considered would undermine his ability to operate. Emotions like fear, sadness, and insecurity. He always wanted to project power and be action-oriented. It’s what his dad drilled into him, especially when he’d been shot.

A rush of all those emotions swamped him, remembering that his dad was in the hospital undergoing surgery, and Skull had been so preoccupied with Hazard, Leigh, and Walker, it had gotten pushed to the back of his mind…well, not exactly the back. He had to wonder if that was his way of remaining tough. Yet here he was thinking about this woman who had come after him with no hold barred, and he’d been…controlling.

His teammates understood him because they were exactly like him. The trust he had with them was born out of operating and facing danger with them. Some of that trust was about standing up to them, going head-to-head, almost as if conflict between them only made them stronger. That was what happened with Type A personalities.

The same with having a built-in radar for spotting unjust and unfair situations. His dad was his hero, and he righted wrongs on a daily basis. He had to consider if this reaction was also part of his need to express his own power in the world, mostly because he couldn’t help being strong, and because real injustices pissed him off.

Damn, maybe he needed to chill the hell out. Consider adopting a more relaxed mindset and understanding that Walker was forceful because she went after what she wanted, and somehow, he had put her off, and that bothered him because he couldn’t help if he’d been the architect of his own injustice with her.

He should have been gratified that he’d finally managed to crack that resolve of hers, but instead his gut twisted with uncertainty, something that he wouldn’t have allowed himself before his encounter with her. She made him think about who he was, and how he reacted to her. So, what had sent this brave, seemingly unbreakable woman to flee from him? There was a small amount of relief there, but not enough to douse his interest in finding out what was going on with her.

The memory of the way she had devoured him made fire pool in his belly and lower, his confusion mixing with an undeniable need to possess her in every way a man could take a woman. The craving for her grew stronger, a ravenous heat and hunger he was hard-pressed to keep at bay.

Despite how she aggravated him, he wanted to get his hands on her, taste her everywhere with his tongue until she begged him for release. Then he wanted to fuck her until she screamed with the pleasure of it, and he finally gave himself over to the hot, pulsing release he’d denied himself.

Yeah, he ought to be overjoyed at this accomplishment. Unfortunately, the victory left a bitter taste in his mouth and generated another unwanted emotion…frustration.

Anna entered the room with Iceman. Both of them looked haggard, and Skull got a shot of guilt realizing they were working around the clock to get them any kind of advantage, and they were whiling away the time playing water polo as he lusted after Walker.

“Thanks to the efforts of our Shadowguard, we know what gang is supporting the cartel, Las Espadas Fantasma, the Phantom Blades ,” Anna said, putting up a picture of a forearm showing an evil-looking dagger. “This is their gang tat, and their leader, Baltasar “Blade” Vega, courtesy of the National Colombian Police.” She put up another picture of a middle-aged man with some graying in his dark hair, a scar running down his left cheek. “He’s our target.” She put up another photo next to Blade’s and the dagger winked out to be replaced with a building. “This is one of their processing plants in the heart of Lealtad, a cartel-controlled slum. They even have their own local police force. Everyone is on the payroll. Even the NCP don’t want to brave it again. They attempted to raid it several months ago without success, losing several officers. They aren’t eager to return.”

“Just our asses on the line, odds stacked against us, a dangerous situation. That’s all right up our alley,” Preacher said.

“I’ll go into a hundred slums for Hazard,” Boomer said. “Hoo-yah.”

“Hoo-yah,” sounded throughout the room with Skull joining in.

“Before you go, Hummingbird brought to my attention a photo that was seized in the raid on Astrid Cristo’s home.” The photos of Vega and the building disappeared, replaced with a photo of what looked like a graduation party. Astrid was there along with Nacho. In the background was Jose Molina. Along with the team, he couldn’t help both cringing and getting angry at the fact that Molina knew Nacho and apparently his daughter as well and had kept that information to himself. Could the young woman be Pincho?

“I had the photo aged ten years, and this is the woman we believe is Nacho’s daughter, Lucia Siachoque Alzate.” The other blank screen was now filled with a face that was easily recognizable. There was no mistaking the family resemblance as Lucia favored her father. She was their target. “Now you have a visual.”

“She’s in our crosshairs,” Iceman said, then sighed. “We have one other thing to tell you. We’re getting pushback from the Justice Department regarding the release of Alzate.”

“What the fuck? The cartel has one of the Justice Department’s attorneys. Leigh risked everything to get Alzate. What is the holdup?” GQ bit out. “When Celeste, Luna, and Rose were missing, we pulled out all the stops. How is this any different? They have our teammate, our brother.” GQ’s eyes flashed and he rose half out of his seat. Kodiak set his hand against his shoulder, and he sat back down, his jaw clenching.

Iceman’s face transformed into one of grim determination, the memory of the loss of his wife keen. “They are torn, but they are reluctant to release Alzate, saying it sets a precedent. JSOC is on the warpath, but Justice is still resisting.” Iceman set his hands on his hips. “We need to find them and the war between the government agencies will be moot. We have less than five days left.”

“Then we’ll find them. We won’t stop until we do, and we’ll recover them alive by any means.” All heads swiveled toward Walker, and his attraction to her, as well as his respect, deepened. From her words, she proved that even though she wasn’t a SEAL, she understood the bonds that were forged between them. Her innate warrior spirit, in that moment, aligned with theirs on a level that they could all understand and embrace. For all intents and purposes, the two Shadowguard became part of their team in the truest sense of the word. There was no doubt that Eva agreed with Walker. Her reaction and conviction made his desire for her deepen as well, made him want to be a better man for her, to understand her tendencies, her fears, and the armor she built up to fight it all. The only thing he’d ever cared enough to give all of himself to was the Teams, now he considered what it would be like to give himself over to this…thing between them. A shiver went down his spine, and his heart skipped a beat.

Love. He’d seen his parents, and his teammates succumb to it, but had never really given it much thought.

It would be stupid to think that he could live his life and fulfill his destiny without the cooperation of others. That had been driven home to him during BUD/S. He was beginning to think that his destiny wasn’t just in his hands alone. In fact, he was interdependent with his brothers, with the CIA, and the Shadowguard. He might have thought he was independent, but that was just one example of the illusions that may have been preventing him from giving his all, and trying to control how she reacted to what was between them was part of that stupid illusion.

He wanted to explore all of this with her, but now she was the one on the run. Digging deep for something he didn’t often employ—patience—would alleviate some of the tension she was feeling. But that was for another time.

Now, they were going after these people with guns blazing. Come hell or high water, Hazard and Leigh were coming home with them.

His boss nodded toward the Shadowguard, their acceptance into the Team’s fold complete. “Get jocked up. We’re going to hit it in thirty,” Iceman ordered.

And Walker, in her inimitable way, said, “Well, I don’t have anything on me that will fill a jock, but we’ll be ready in thirty.”

Several of the guys laughed, but Ice, cool as he was, never cracked a smile. He just lifted a brow. “Well, jock up what you have, lady, and get a move on.”

Eva leaned over and said, “Did he just tell you to grow a pair?”

That made Walker smile and her eyes gleam. “Hmm, you’re one of those.” She straightened and saluted.

Iceman just shook his head and Anna laughed.

“You don’t salute a—” Breakneck said.

“She knows that, junior,” Skull said.

“Oh, it’s a joke. I didn’t think Ice liked jokes.”

Everyone laughed as they filed out, and Skull moved closer to Walker. “You heading up to the room.”

“No,” she said. “Armory. With the target package imminent, we’re ready to go.”

“Walker—”

“I’ll see you at the vehicles,” she said, her voice distant as she sidled away and disappeared down the hall toward their weapons room. Nonplussed, he stared at her retreating back, now fully aware that she was spooked. He was more determined to find out what made this woman tick. She was more complex than she was complicated.

Inside the vehicles, they headed toward that compromised and dangerous town a few miles west of Bogotá. Every single man and woman keep their eyes peeled for combatants ready to engage. When they reached the insertion point, everyone exited the vehicles and quickly stacked in the shadows of the dimly lit streets. He could feel the tension in everyone, and that was that they all were jacked up on a combat mindset.

They wouldn’t be able to clear the town, that wasn’t possible since all the natives were part of Pincho’s army, so stealth was imperative.

“Moving,” Kodiak said from the head of the line, his voice clear and concise through the comms.

They started patrolling with Kodiak as point man to the target building, and the faint sound of their footsteps barely pierced the sleeping stillness of the neighborhood. They moved down a narrow street, ramshackle homes both to the left and the right. No lights were visible, not even streetlights in this poor neighborhood. With their night vision goggles, everything was green.

Skull kept his attention on the man moving in front of him, and the one behind him, but he was just as aware of his surroundings, scanning everywhere and looking for threats. It almost seemed too quiet.

The target building was a block away, nestled among some four-floor apartment buildings, more toward the back of the town, and once they reached it, they took stock of the immediate area looking for guards. There were none. A warning traveled down his spine, his instincts broadcasting loud and strong that something was off. He scanned the corrugated metal structure again. If this was their processing plant, it should be heavily guarded.

“Seems light on the security,” Skull said. There were murmurs around him in agreement.

“Stay sharp,” Iceman said through comms.

“Breakneck, overwatch. Let me know when you’re set.”

“That kid is edging me out,” Preacher grumbled, and Breakneck shot him a grin as he zipped off into the night, acknowledging that he was encroaching on Preacher’s lauded lead sniper position on the team. He looked at Iceman, who nodded. “Maybe time for him to go for more sniper training.”

“He’ll blow them away,” GQ, their other sniper, said with pride. “No pun intended.” He and several of the guys chuckled. “That kid is natural born.”

“He…and Hazard saved our asses the last time we were here,” Boomer said, his voice filled with the determination and concern they all felt.

“Yeah, I still have the gray hairs,” Iceman quipped. He grabbed Boomer’s vest and dragged him close. “Don’t get any ideas. All of us are feeling frustration and anger over Hazard and Leigh. We will not let it affect us. Got that?”

Boomer nodded.

As those pale blue eyes scanned them all, Skull even felt Bones shift. Ice’s aura was that strong.“Focus up.” Every man turned toward their leader. “Skull’s right. There should be guards hip deep here if this is a major processing plant. So, they either bugged out after some of their crew went missing, or they’re waiting for us. Heads on a swivel and pay close attention to comms. No one does a fucking thing unless I clear it.” He waited for their capitulation. “Our mission is to bag HVT Baltasar “Blade” Vega. Anything less is mission failure, and Hazard and Leigh slip further away from us. Are we clear?”

There was a low murmur of assent. They were about to do CQC or close-quarter combat. Building clear, room by room in a complex sequence of movements, the exact order and timing of which had to be improvised in a fluid, high-stress environment where mistakes could be fatal. Ice had drilled them tirelessly, ruthlessly and meticulously for these maneuvers. He was often unhappy with their performance and drilling them into this well-oiled machine was definitely due to his influence.

For a moment, everything felt off, and not only the possibility that they were walking into an ambush, but they were down a man, no disrespect to the Shadowguard. Hazard was a missing piece in their composition, in their brotherhood, in their team and in their hearts. This was the first step in gaining the upper hand, and when they had that upper hand, they weren’t going to relinquish it one degree. Pincho was going down. She was done. It was a soon-to-be fact. None of them would rest until that was a reality. She had taken the wrong people and attacked the very worst pack. The wolves in them were howling, fangs bared, loping toward rescue, and the seven of them were out for blood. Not only for Hazard and Leigh, but for many of their fallen, including Lieutenant Commander Terry “Patch” Patchett, and Petty Officer Jack Morefield, their logistics and gear man. They had been killed on their previous mission to hunt down Alzate when their TOC had been compromised, and Leigh Waterford had been kidnapped and taken into the Darién Gap.

“In position, boss,” Breakneck’s deep voice came over the comms.

“Okay, boys, let’s do what we do best. Assault. This needs to be lightning quick or we’re going to have the whole town on our backs.”Kodiak, take us in.”

The eerie quiet continued as they stacked up on the door four on one side, five on the other. The two Shadowguard were at the tail end, flanked by one man each.

“Stay here, ladies, while we clear.”

Strekoza looked at Walker. “Who is he calling a lady?” she said with a wry smirk.

Walker grinned and shrugged her shoulders. “Apparently, he has us mistaken for someone else.”

Strekoza snickered, and Ice shook his head. “Boomer,” he said, and Boomer reached back for his shotgun, and the distinct sound of him racking the slide was loud in that still silence as he angled the barrel down toward the door locks.

“Execute.”

Two shotgun blasts later, the double locks were obliterated, and Boomer kicked the door in, dropping the Mossberg and taking up his automatic rifle. Kodiak, who had been focused on the door the whole time, entered first, Boomer behind him. To their left, was a narrow concrete platform that sent them down a long corridor. Kodiak’s sightline never wavered as he led the team toward an entrance inside. Chemicals were thick in the air as they entered an open room filled with racks, wooden, slatted boxes. No one was inside, but the sheer force of their assault carried them into the next section of the facility, but as they climbed the stairs up to the second story, Kodiak still on point, his weapon raised, Boomer turned around to cover the platform behind them at the top.

As they reached the top, gunfire exploded around them, behind them was the clean area partitioned off with plastic. The only cover was a narrow frame in the doorway. Kodiak returned fire, as they backed toward it and piled behind it.

That’s when shots started flying from their guardian angel outside. The sound of breaking glass and the cries of their enemies sent chaos into the ranks. With that, Iceman said, “Let’s move.”

“Boss,” Breakneck said, “you’ve got squirters. West side of the facility, moving fast.” There was silence. “It’s Vega, and two of his guys.”

“Copy that,” Iceman said.

“Clean up those fuckers.”

“Boss! One of our Shadowguard is in pursuit. It’s—it’s Hummingbird. God, she’s fucking fast. I didn’t hear an order,” Breakneck reported.

That’s because there wasn’t an order. Dammit, Ice was going to chew up that lovely ass. “Move! We can’t leave her unprotected,” Iceman said, and with that they had to break cover before they were sure it was safe. It didn’t matter, Walker was chasing their guy in a hostile town, and he bet that fucker was headed for numbers and safety. They couldn’t waste a moment. The team surged forward. A round flew past his cheek, he could feel the heat and the displacement of air as it rushed by him. The guy who had sent that lead flew back from Skull’s attack, two bullet holes in his chest. They entered the ambush room and took out the remaining guys.

“Boss. We’ve got a fucking truckload of tangos converging with the HVT and the Shadowguard,” Breakneck said. “Coming to you.”

For one agonizing second, fear—akin to the news that his dad had been shot, and again when he’d been admitted to the hospital—unlike anything Skull had ever known gripped his brain and damn near paralyzed him. In the next second, he pulled himself together. He turned and sprinted down the stairs and out of the warehouse. “Bones,” he ordered, the command exploding out of him, sounding desperate, and Bones picked up on his tone immediately. He directed him after Walker, agonizing that the dog would reach her long before he could cover his furry partner’s back. The MWD took off, the urgency driving his four paws, his body a dark green blur in the night.

He couldn’t hope to keep up with a full-out Belgian Malinois in his prime, whose top speed was thirty miles per hour, with the kind of focus that was laser-beam strong, launching himself forward like a heat-seeking fur missile. Something came over Skull as he ran in Bones’s dust. Something that he had mastered in combat—fear—was driving adrenaline up his spine. Okay, so maybe he was irrational. She was a spook, an assassin, an excellent fighter—all in all a formidable opponent, and not for the first time he was thankful she was on their side. But none of that seemed to matter when he thought about her getting overrun by thugs who had no care for human life, and even less for women. He couldn’t bear it if she?—

He put his faith in Bones, his partner fueled by an endless reserve of determination to catch whatever Skull pointed him toward, and his command was to guard Walker. She was now under the dog’s protection. Only he could get to her fast enough.

That uncomfortable fear rose up again, tightening his skin, pushing his heartbeat up several notches when even gunfire didn’t affect the steady beat.

That fucking woman loved trouble, beyond a doubt, the kind of trouble she could dish out, which Skull had a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for. But this kind of trouble made that fear morph into anger, a kind of protective anger that also was starkly new to him.

He was going to throttle her, then lay down the law, and then, he was going to lose it and probably ravish her within an inch of her fucking life, fuck her over and over again until he could breathe without the anguish of losing her before he’d had a chance to have her filling him up. Then he was going to get really serious.