Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Head Over SEAL (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Uncharted SEALs Book 11) Read online

  He glanced back at their office building. “Thanks for finding this place.”

  Brian had rooms in the back of the single-story house that had previously been a realtor’s office. He’d sold his house and moved everything he owned. For this job. Really, for her, she knew. “Leaving you would have been my one regret. This works,” she said softly.

  “Have to cut the apron strings someday,” he said with a crooked smile.

  She hated that he felt as though she was doing him a favor. “Why? We’re besties. Always will be.”

  His head dropped.

  Brian didn’t like it when she went too maudlin, so she leaned downward to give him a quick hug. “See you when I get back.”

  She loaded Tessa in her crate in the back of her truck then slid behind the wheel. When she turned on her headlights, the sight of Brian’s figure, alone in the driveway, hurt her heart.

  She lightly tapped her horn then drove out of the small parking lot. When she got back, she’d make time to take Brian to a Soldier’s Sanctuary meeting. He needed more friends. Friends with his issues. He’d lost his legs to an IED, and he’d suffered a brain injury that affected his moods and left him with the occasional excruciating headaches. But there had to be someone out there for him. Some woman with a big heart who could look past his disabilities to see the lonely, strong man he was.

  In the meantime, she began a mental list of all the tasks she had to accomplish before Reaper arrived at her door in the morning. She had a closet to ransack. Summer clothes. A swimsuit. Damn, she had laundry to do. And a passport to find. So, she’d be traveling out of the country—which meant she’d have to leave behind her weapons.

  Fuck, tonight was going to be a long one.

  Chapter 2

  Sky Reynolds realized he’d nodded off the second his body shifted forward in his metal chair, which creaked under his weight. Going on thirty-hours without horizontal shut-eye, he wondered for the dozenth time what the hell he was doing here. Charter didn’t usually schedule their operators on back-to-back assignments. However, no sooner had the private jet returning him from West Africa set down on the tarmac in Dallas than he’d been met by his team commander, Deke Warrick. Deke had driven him straight to Charter’s helipad where Sky had joined several other members of his team for the trip to Fort Hood.

  At this very moment, Deke was in a special briefing with Homeland, ATF, the FBI, and Army CID. Something was going down, but so far, none of the team had been read-in concerning the new mission. Given the fact they’d been ordered to keep off their cellphones, he hadn’t had a chance to call Jamie to let her know he was stateside and safe. Three weeks without hearing her voice was nearly killing him, and he could only imagine what Jamie was going through.

  Sure, she’d known what his job was like before she’d moved into his house. Knew there’d be times he couldn’t call and tell her he was alive. When he’d left the last time, she’d driven him to the Kalispell airport and kissed him goodbye beside the departure doors. She’d smiled, but he could tell by the shimmer of tears she’d blinked away that she’d been nervous.

  This separation was already going on three weeks, and now, he might be gone longer. While he knew she was loyal to her core, he worried the separation would drive a wedge between them. That maybe they’d feel awkward when they were together again, or she’d grow resentful of his long absence.

  Of course, both of them were ex-military, so they knew about absences, but their relationship was new. They’d only been together a few months.

  They’d known each other in Afghanistan over two years ago, but they’d reconnected when Charter Group hired her and her dog Tessa to help search for an escaped terrorist in the Montana mountains. Things had gotten hot and heavy fast, both admitting to long-held attractions.

  He bent forward and rested his elbows on his knees, noting the dirt encrusted in his suede boots and the pristine shine of the beige tiles they rested on.

  The smells in the conference room were familiar. The wax used on the highly buffed floor, and burned coffee from the urn sitting on the table in the rear of the windowless room. Sweat from his teammates who’d spent an hour in a hangar, waiting for a vehicle to arrive to deliver them to this meeting. Hurry up and wait. That motto was as apropos for him as a Charter operator as it had ever been while he’d been a SEAL. Didn’t mean he wasn’t irritated.

  He glanced around at the rest of the team the powers that be had pulled together for this mission, trying to figure out what flavor of op this one would be based on their skills, but coming up blank.

  The team was a very small one.

  Calvin Hobbs, he snorted at the last name. Calvin had arched a brow when they’d been introduced, no doubt daring him to say anything about the comic strip. Sky had managed to keep a straight face, although he still didn’t quite know how Calvin fit.

  The older, portly black man sat with his arms crossed and resting on his belly beside Wolf Kinkaid and his wife, Piper.

  Wolf, he knew. Several times back in the sandbox, Sky had crossed paths with the former SEAL sniper. Piper, now... He’d heard she was one of two female operators recently added to the team. He couldn’t help being curious. The redhead was a beauty, tall and curvy. He wondered what branch of service she’d been in and how she and Wolf had met. Gazing at Piper made him think again about Jamie. He’d never be okay with her joining Charter as Wolf’s wife had. Not that her job as a bounty hunter wasn’t sometimes just as dangerous.

  No, looking at the other three, he couldn’t imagine what sort of mission awaited them.

  The door opened, and all of the team straightened in their chairs.

  Captain Bryson strode in, followed by Deke.

  Although in uniform, the captain’s hair was a tad long, which had clued in Sky that he was likely Delta Force, and also explained how Deke knew him. Delta Force and SEAL teams often ran joint ops in war-torn regions.

  Bryson glanced at the group, and his dark eyebrows lowered before he turned back to Deke.

  Was that a diss? Sure, they didn’t look like any spec ops team he’d ever been assigned to, but if Charter had hired them and wanted them here, then a good reason existed for the current makeup of their team.

  One side of Deke’s mouth curved upward. “You all met Captain Bryson at the hangar. He’s been assigned to augment the CID team investigating weapons stolen from an armory here at Fort Hood. Arrests have already been made. The soldiers who facilitated the removal of crates of M4A1 Carbine rifles are awaiting trial. As are some of the low-lying fruit among the Mexican cartel who were scooped up this side of the border.”

  Bryson drew a deep breath and frowned. “The FBI is handling talks with the Mexican government for their help rounding up cartel members who may have the weapons. We’re not holding our breath they’ll be cooperative. Homeland’s worried the weapons will be sold. Given the cartel’s past collusion with an ISIS splinter group that operated in northern Chihuahua until last year, they fear those weapons will be used against Americans. Which brings us to why you’re here.

  Bryson’s frown deepened “We’ve got eyes on the cartel’s arms dealer. With our current strained relationship with the Mexican government, all we can do, officially, is watch.”

  Sky narrowed his gaze, now knowing why Charter was involved.

  Deke nodded. “This mission is on a strictly volunteer basis. If you head across the border, you’re on your own. You’ll have help with surveillance, help with comms, but otherwise—”

  “We’re on our own,” Sky repeated.

  Wolf frowned then shot a glance at Piper. “Meaning, if our team gets picked up by the Federales...”

  “We can’t help you.”

  Wolf shook his head.

  Piper’s hand settled on his thigh, and her nails curved, digging in.

  “No way, babe,” Wolf said, not looking at her.

  “Calvin and I know our way around. We speak Spanish.” She turned to Captain Bryson. “Where exactly would we be
heading?”

  “Cancun.”

  A smile stretched as she turned to Wolf. “It’ll be like a second honeymoon, baby. Imagine how romantic? Back to where we first met.”

  Wolf pinched the bridge of his nose. “And that ended so well...”

  “We all made it out. Cal and I got our bounty. You got your bad boy.” Piper returned her gaze to Deke and the Captain. “We’re in.”

  Wolf cussed softly. “You don’t even know what they want us to do.”

  “Arms dealer. Cancun. They want me and Calvin—and you. Must mean we’re setting up house. I just don’t know why they added Sky...” she said, her glance landing on him.

  Deke cleared his throat. “You’ll be going undercover. Two couples on vacation. That way you can set up a surveillance rotation. You won’t be expected to interfere with the arms deal. Once he moves the weapons, you’ll let us know, and we’ll send in a team.”

  “Two couples...?” Sky frowned, dread tightening his belly.

  “Yeah.” Deke flashed him a tight smile. “About that...”

  Sky drew in a deep, sharp breath. “Hell, no.”

  Deke shrugged. “She’s already on her way. If you three leave in the next half hour, you’ll be on schedule to meet her plane.”

  Through a clenched jaw, Sky barely bit back a string of curse words. Jamie’s assignment would be short-lived. The second he had his hands on her, he’d march her straight to the ticket counter to send her back home. After what had gone down in the Crazy Mountains, when he’d nearly lost her to a terrorist’s bullet, he wasn’t fucking around. No way in hell was she having any part in this op.

  “And me?” Calvin asked, raising a finger. “I’m not a couple.”

  Deke grinned. “You’re in charge of comms. Watching the monitors.”

  “You mean I gotta hide out the whole dang time I’m in Mexico?” He glared at Piper, who’d started to chuckle.

  “No, Calvin.” Deke patted his shoulder. “You’re their live-in help.”

  Eyes wide, Calvin slapped his thighs. “I’m a fuckin’ maid?”

  “You’re the houseman.”

  Piper pressed her lips together, her cheeks turning red. No doubt from suppressed laughter. “Good thing you already know how I like my eggs cooked. Won’t be a huge leap.”

  Calvin grunted and aimed another mean glare at Piper.

  Deke cleared his throat. “A team is already assembled at our base camp in the Yucatan. Once you call in coordinates, they can be on the ground in thirty—should shit go sideways.”

  Sky nodded. He’d never been to Charter’s jungle camp, but he was aware of the organization’s capabilities. Charter ran teams of elite operatives, mostly former military and heavily armed. They contracted with the US government for ops deemed strictly off the books.

  Deke’s cell dinged, and he checked his screen. “Transport’s outside. They’ll get you to the plane.”

  Sky stood and swung his bag over his shoulder. As the others filed out, he moved toward Deke.

  Deke held up his hands. “I know what you’re going to say.”

  “Then you know I’m not okay with this,” he said, his gut churning.

  “Your girlfriend’s no lightweight, Sky. And your part in the operation is strictly surveillance. Enjoy your time on the beach. Think of it as a vacation.”

  Sky shook his head. “Has she been briefed?”

  “Since we’re keeping all communications restricted to secure lines...no.” Deke arched a brow. “You really think she’ll let you ship her back?”

  Ready to punch something, Sky raked a hand through his hair. “Goddammit.”

  “Yeah. I’d feel the same way if it was Nicky. But the powers that be were impressed with her and her dog.”

  He blinked. “Tessa’s coming, too? Why?”

  “No clue. It’s not like the job calls for a bomb dog. And you shouldn’t need her nose for tracking.” Deke shrugged. “Maybe they see the two of them as a unit. Or maybe they want you to see this as a paid vacation...”

  “And maybe they’re thinking of making Jamie another offer. Won’t work, you know. She likes what she’s doing. And she likes her crew,” he said, thinking of Brian and Reaper.

  Deke raised his eyebrows. “Like I said before. This op is on a strictly volunteer basis. If you both decide to bail...”

  Sky’s shoulders fell. No way in hell would Jamie agree to return home. She was as much of an adrenaline junkie as he was. He lifted his chin toward Captain Bryson, who had watched the exchange with humor gleaming in his eyes.

  “Better put a ring on it, Reynolds,” the captain said. “She sounds like a keeper.”

  Sky grimaced. Not a topic they’d broached, despite the fact she’d moved her base of operations from Kalispell to the foot of the Crazy Mountains to be with him.

  “That transport’s waiting,” Deke reminded him. He held out his hand.

  They shook. Sky touched his brow in a casual salute to the captain, and then headed to the door. As he moved away, his steps lightened. He’d see Jamie in just a few hours. Maybe he’d only have enough time to haul her close for a long, hard kiss before he sent her back. But a kiss, a chance to look her over and make sure she was okay—that was something.

  Ah hell, who was he kidding? Jamie was stubborn. The moment he tried to goosestep her toward a ticket counter, she’d dig in her heels. He’d be seeing her. Share a bed with her. That’s why his heart was skipping faster.

  He’d missed her. Thought about her every time he’d bunked down in his tent. Got hard just remembering every time they’d made love, and dreamed of all the ways he’d take her the second he got her alone again.

  Better put a ring on it, Reynolds.

  Why hadn’t he already asked her? She had to know that’s where this thing between them was heading. Yet, she’d never dropped hints she was waiting. Did she want to marry him?

  He supposed their courtship hadn’t followed any conventional map. They’d met each other in Afghanistan. He’d been attracted from the start, and she’d admitted she’d felt the same way—although neither had acted on that attraction. They’d both been soldiers, doing their jobs.

  Not until they’d met again, working as a team to track an escaped terrorist, but in their free hours they’d given in to their desires. After that first time, there was no going back. And yet, he’d never thought about next steps. Never taken her to the family farm near Great Falls to introduce her to his dad and brother.

  The chance for her to open a new agency office in his area had been more than fortuitous. He suspected her boss, Fetch, knew she’d be torn between her job and him. Fetch had made it all too easy for her to have both. Plus, he’d hinted a place waited for Sky should he ever want to leave Charter.

  Jamie didn’t know it, but he’d thought long and hard about doing just that. This separation had about killed him. He’d be interested to find out if Jamie felt the same.

  He exited the building and headed toward the dark SUV parked at the curb. Moments later, their driver deposited them next to a small jet on a private airstrip.

  Calvin whistled as he eyed the plane. “Piper, girl, we’re moving up.”

  Piper laughed and followed him up the stairs.

  Wolf hung back for a moment and gave Sky a look.

  The same one Sky knew he gave right back. Steady. Stony.

  “We’re not being heroes,” he said.

  Sky nodded. “Their safety first.”

  Wolf’s expression cleared. He gave Sky an assessing glance. “Do you like to fish?”

  “Think this house’ll be near a beach?”

  Wolf shook his head. “It’s an arms dealer. He’s got to be rolling in cash. Of course, he’ll have a house on the beach.”

  Sky’s mouth twitched. “I fish. I like to snorkel, too.”

  They both headed up the stairs to the open door.

  “Were you with that team in the Congo?” Wolf said over his shoulder.

  “Yeah.”

&nbs
p; “Then you didn’t get a heads-up to pack.”

  “Nope.”

  “I’ve got clothes. You might want to borrow something,” he said, raising his bag.

  Wolf was on the lean side. Sky didn’t hold out much hope he’d have anything that fit well.

  Once inside, they were greeted by a blonde stewardess who pointed toward plush leather seats arranged in groups around coffee tables. “I’ll take your drink orders once we’re in the air.”

  Wolf waggled his eyebrows, and a slow smile stretched. “I’m thinking this will be a boondoggle.” He clapped Sky’s shoulder. “Let’s just settle back and enjoy the ride.”

  Chapter 3

  Standing in baggage claim, Jamie felt foolish and conspicuous, her olive-drab duffle and a black rolling case, filled with Tessa’s things, sitting by her feet. Tessa didn’t seem to notice Jamie’s attire wasn’t color-coordinated with her luggage. Jamie wished she wore her usual “uniform” of dark tee, jeans, and leather boots.

  When Reaper had picked her up at O-dark-thirty, he’d given her aqua sundress, with its spaghetti straps and mid-thigh skirt, and her skinny, silver sandals one glance before chuckling.

  She flashed a glare that dared him to say a word.

  He held up his hands. “Answers a question though...”

  Not until Tessa and their luggage were stowed in his SUV, and they were headed down the highway to the airport, did she turn in her seat. “What question?”

  Reaper squinched up his nose, checked his mirrors, then darted a glance her way. “Whether that candy cane outfit was a one-off thing. You like girly clothes.”

  She’d shaken her head. “I bought them for a cruise I never took.”

  Already, she missed his company. Built like a Viking of old, with ice-blue eyes, blond hair, and a short scruffy beard, he wasn’t hard to look at. And although not a chatty guy, when he did talk, he always said something misogynistic or inappropriate—things that drove her nuts. But she was beginning to believe he did it on purpose, because he liked seeing her riled up.