Renegade: The Alliance Chronicles, Book Six

Chapter 11

Mark

"We share a special bond that goes beyond mere friendship."

—from "It Happens: When Friendship Turns to Love," by Dr. E. Rich

Fletch and Niang are already in the barrack's conference room when I arrive. The last time I saw them was in New Detroit on Belle Isle. Liam, sitting near them, exchanges a conspiratorial look with Steve before glancing at me.

What's behind their silent communication? An unpleasant shiver slithers down my spine lets me know I'm the subject.

Asher is here too, leaning against the rear wall. Even in his anger, he's appealing. I want to say something—anything—to him. He shouldn't be included. I ignore the temptation and turn my attention to the ass staring me down.

"Mark, can you take a seat, so we can get started?" Steve barks.

I take one more glance at Asher before walking toward the front of the room. A blonde female, wearing a dark sleeveless top, sits with her back to me. I'm immediately drawn to her sculpted bare arms. On one of her muscular shoulders is a rose tattoo with an iron cross in the center. A familiar combo—a tribute to her German heritage.

Smiling to myself, I realize who the woman is. None other than the Purebred medic Leslie Kapernecki. I sit directly behind her.

Steve begins the briefing. "The last intel we received said revolutionists in Rondônia attacked a village. A team of Americans was there on a peacekeeping mission."

"In Rondônia? Brazil?" Fletch asks. "Sounds suspicious."

"Exactly," Steve affirms. "The government disavows any knowledge of the assignment."

I ask, "How is that possible? If it's a peacekeeping mission, someone authorized it."

"As I said, no one's taking responsibility. I've spoken to all of my contacts. No one has a clue." Asher's step-grandfather places his palms on the conference table and leans over it. "Doesn't matter. We have a job to do."

Leslie asks in her too familiar sultry voice, "Any idea of what type of injuries I can expect?"

"I'm assuming the worse, so be prepared," Steve tells her.

"How many, Sir?" Niang asks.

"Intel indicates at least six Americans. Since no one's been seen in days, we have no idea who's alive or dead."

"What the fuck?" The words rush out of my mouth before I can stop them. Steve Winters might be my superior, but at that moment I don't care. Jumping to my feet, the chair squeals as it scrapes the floor. "They've been missing for days, and you're just now doing something about this?"

Steve's head rocks back, and he looks over at me. "I'll let that one pass." He clears his throat and says, "We just received the request for help from Miss Castaneda's family. Unless they ask us to assist, we don't act. Do you have a problem with that?"

Whatever I say could get my ass knocked to the ground or simply kicked out of the program, so I grit my teeth and nod.

"Good. Understand what this mission is. Go in. Find the missing members. Fly them home." Steve's eyes survey the entire room. "Remember the revolutionists have no love for us. Ever since the fall of the New Order, other countries have been hostile toward the AR."

Liam speaks up. "How bad has it gotten?"

Steve drops his head for a moment before speaking. "According to the latest Ubernet chatter, people want blood for the death of Raman Bashur and his men. President Mezvinsky has issued warnings to all Americans traveling abroad. There have been reports of citizens being shot and butchered. They have tortured others."

The man sits down before continuing. "There's a highly probable chance some, or all, of you won't return. I realize it's a suicide mission. Frankly, all of our missions from here on out will be. The world is more dangerous than ever before. If you no longer want to associate yourself with this endeavor, this is your last chance to back out."

The men talk amongst themselves. Kapernecki sits quietly studying me. I look away and notice Asher standing at the back of the room. As his head moves side to side, his over-bright eyes stay fixed on me. I'm well aware of what the expression means. He doesn't want me to go. If the choice was mine alone, I wouldn't leave. But Ko helped me when I had no place to go. I owe her. Plus, I have to put some distance between Asher and me.

I mouth, "I'm sorry."

Asher slides out of the room, letting the door close silently behind him.

My heart stutters. I hope it's not the last time I see him.

Chairs scrape the concrete floor as the men file out. Liam catches my eye, winks, and then follows the crowd. I'm left in the room with Kapernecki. She turns around and purses her full, sensual lips.

"Carter."

The best word to describe the relationship I have with the medic? Animal magnetism. We've always been into each other. When things are good, they're great. But when they turn bad, it's all about destruction. We're friends and foes.

"Kapernecki." My eyes appraise her curves in the revealing top and too-tight jeans. "It's been a long time."

"It has." She licks her lips. "Figured you might be dead."

"Now, why would you think that?"

She folds her arms beneath her ample tits. The last time I saw Kapernecki was right before my assignment to patrol the border. She cleared me for duty.

"Eyes up here, Carter," she directs and points to her face. "You haven't changed at all."

I wink. "You wouldn't have me any other way."

Kapernecki rolls her baby blues and makes a face. "I'm here for a job, Carter. We won't be repeating history."

We were drawn to each other as soon as we met. Anyone could see the sexual tension between us. Eventually, we gave in to it. Ever since that day, whenever our paths crossed, we scratched a mutual itch.

I put my hand on my chest and lean forward. "You sure you don't want to create more history? I might teach you some new tricks."

Before I know it, I'm against the wall and her sculpted forearm guillotines my neck. Not a threat in my book. Her well-formed body only made my dick hard.

When I moan, she says, "Let's get this straight, Carter. Nothing's happening between us. We can't afford any distractions on this assignment. Got it?"

"What I got is..." I grab her ass. "Aw, baby. I see we've slacked on our training." We first met in a gym during a Riza training session. She's been the only woman I've known who enjoyed lifting heavy and still look like a female.

Kapernecki glares at me as if she wants to kill me. She promptly drops her arm and adjusts her top. "Keep your hands off my ass."

Her statement lacks heat. It sounds more like a dare than a warning.

"Whatever you say, Kapernecki. Bet I'll have you screaming my name before this job is over, though."

"Don't hold your breath." Her eyes rake over me once more, and then she sashays from the room.

Damn! She knows that aggressive shit turns me on.

This promises to be an interesting mission. With my growing unease around Liam and my always present attraction to Kapernecki, I might just forget about Asher for a while.