The Lost Soldier

by Jen Talty

  “I’ll start my view. Once I have the objects in place, I’ll signal you.”

  “How will you do that, sir?” one of the men asked.

  “Telepathically to me,” Chad said.

  “In a view? That’s not possible,” the same man said.

  “It is for us,” Chad said, staring at Brett. “One of the perks of being brothers.” By the time Chad had turned eight, he figured he’d never see a blood relative ever, much less a brother. Three brothers, actually.

  One of which he knew without a doubt was Hunter.

  We need to get Hunter and Savanah out of there, Chad projected to Brett. I know he’s one of our other brothers.

  Brett nodded. Maybe he knows who the fourth is.

  Chad opted to keep his vision to himself about who the fourth brother could be. He’d have that conversation after they saved the one brother who needed them right now.

  And the woman he loved.

  Chapter 10

  THERE HAD TO BE a way out of this. Chad had to have seen her in his view, and she had to believe he was doing everything possible to save her ass. She stood in front of one of the windows, rubbing her right temple. The sky had darkened as the sun set behind the mountains. If she weren’t being held captive by a crazy man, she’d want to go for a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the countryside.

  A large bug slammed into the window.

  Okay, she’d enjoy it from inside.

  “I brought you some tea,” Jung said as he entered the room with a tray as if she’d stopped by for a chat.

  “I don’t like tea but thank you.” She swallowed the mouthwatering green citrus aroma. She loved tea, but for all she knew it was spiked with some weird truth serum, or some crazy concoction to read and extract her aura.

  “Suit yourself.” Jung set the tray down in front of the brown wingback chair. He picked up his pipe, dipping the flame from a lighter into the tobacco. “This is a beautiful country.”

  “Indeed, it is.” She turned and faced him. “You’re killing that man upstairs.”

  “If he’d cooperate, I wouldn’t have to do this, but he’s refusing.”

  “What is it that you want from him?”

  Jung laughed as he sat in the chair, resting an ankle over the opposite knee, his pipe in hand as he sucked on the end. “I’ll tell you that if you tell me about this.” He dug into his sport coat pocket, pulling out a coin.

  Trying to control her trembling hand, she took it, rolling it through her fingers. Etched on one side of the coin was the symbol of the Phoenix Agency. On the other side, a Latin saying she couldn’t decipher.

  “I don’t know anything about this.”

  “Tsk tsk. You work for this Phoenix Agency. And don’t lie to me.” He took a sharp knife from the tray the tea had been on. “I’ll cut that pretty face and enjoy it.”

  “I’m an independent contractor. I don’t work directly for the Agency.”

  “A technicality,” he mused, waving the knife in the air. “Sit down.”

  She did as commanded.

  “How large is this Phoenix Agency?”

  “I really don’t know.” That was an honest answer, and she’d keep answering his questions with as much truth as she could, keeping the conversation going as long as she could.

  “Does the American government sanction this Agency?”

  “I doubt that, but they are all ex-military, and we both know every government is developing, in secret, teams of psychics.” She cleared her throat, setting the coin on the table. “Isn’t that what you are doing here?”

  “We’re taking it to the next level.”

  “And what level is that?”

  He leaned forward, making an O with his lips and pushing out smoke rings. “We’re creating a perfect psychic soldier. An unstoppable soldier that will be able to penetrate our enemy lines in ways no one would think of. Gather intel and top-secret information, giving us the upper hand and putting us as ruler of the world.”

  “And how does the man upstairs fit into this program of yours.”

  A long, slow smile drew across his lips. “The same way you are.”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. “How is that?”

  “One of my talents is sensing psychics who have talents far greater than even they know and understand. That man upstairs can see things no one else can. He can reach back into the past and find answers to age-old questions. And you my lovely girl have something so powerful, I can feel it pumping through your veins.”

  “I told you what I can do and my limitations.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “Whoever is protecting your psychic energy, can’t protect you from the physical pain, and I doubt they will want to see you tortured.”

  “You’re going to do to me what you’re doing to that man upstairs?” She clenched her hands together in her lap. Nausea rose from the pit of her stomach to her brain.

  Jung nodded, resting his hand and the knife in his lap, showing his partial erection.

  Wonderful. A man who got off on hurting women.

  Okay, asshole pretending to protect me. Did you hear that?

  Nothing but silence.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw faint movement. But no one was there. Only dust dancing in the light.

  Brett? Chad?

  Someone was there, but she couldn’t see them. Or project to them.

  Her hand burned as if someone poured scalding water over it. She clenched her hands tighter together, remember the sensation she’d felt when she’d touched a person in a view. Only she wasn’t viewing, and she didn’t think the person she’d cross with had any idea she’d been there.

  When she looked down, she saw an extra finger gliding under her palm, leaving behind a small piece of paper.

  “Again, I don’t think torture is working with him,” she said.

  “He won’t be able to keep his psychic abilities locked up much longer. My men tell me every once in a while, they can see his aura punch through. It’s only a matter of time.”

  Fluid movement breezed by her in a flash of heat. A faint image of a man—of Brett—came into view as he passed into the foyer. He turned, his image a little sharper, and slammed the door shut.

  “What the hell?” Jung bolted from his chair, turning his back.

  One of his guards stepped into the room. “It just shut.”

  “No door shuts by itself. Someone is here.” Jung stomped across the room, yanking her up by the hair. “Who is here?”

  She continued to clench the paper in her hand. “I don’t know. I can’t tell or see anything without use of my talents.”

  He released her hair, shoving her down to the sofa. “Don’t you dare move. I’ve got guards by the window and at the door. They might not kill you, but they will certainly maim you.”

  Holding her breath, she waited until he stepped from the room before looking at the piece of paper.

  We are taking out the guards one at a time. Stay put until we come and get you.

  Really? That’s all they wrote? That was the stupid fucking plan. She stuffed the note in her back pocket, shaking out her hands as she moved toward the window. One guard stood tall at the window, while two others flanked out across the yard. How the hell were they going to take them out one at a time in broad daylight?

  And they really expected her to sit in this room and just wait?

  She moved to the other side of the room, peeking into the hallway. Two guards, one at the family room door and one at the bottom of the stairs.

  The one at the bottom of the stairs jerked.

  A coin rolled across the floor.

  The guard by the family said something in Korean as he bent down to pick up the coin.

  Another guard rounded the corner and slammed the butt of his gun down on the backside of the guard by the stairs.

  She took a few steps as the new guard lunged forward, rendering the guard by the door unconscious. The man then raised his finger to his lips. He tapp
ed the two men’s mouth and dragged one into the family room, then the other.

  Her heart hammered against her ribcage, and her body froze in place like a statue, only her eyes blinked wildly. A couple other men, all dressed like Korean guards, entered the space, and raced up the stairs.

  More thuds. Then a couple of gunshots.

  She took a tentative step toward the foyer when the thick smell of tobacco stung her nose. She spun on her heels, trying to make a run for the window, but Jung grabbed her, hurling her back into his chest. His hand covered her mouth.

  “You people have fucked with the wrong man,” Jung said.

  ***

  “Do we have them all?” Chad whispered into his mic.

  “All but three, including Jung,” one of his men said.

  “Fuck.” Chad held his rifle in a death grip, his back against the kitchen wall, Scottie on the far side. “We have thirty minutes to get to the evacuation point.”

  Scottie raised his hand, signaling he’d go around the back side of the house.

  Chad nodded.

  “Can we move Hunter and Kyle?” Chad asked.

  “There is only one man in the room,” one of the men said.

  “What do you mean only one man?” Chad asked.

  “The other American is gone. Doesn’t look like he was ever here as there is only one bed.”

  “Fuck.” Chad wiped the band of sweat beading across his hairline. “Get the one man out safely, got it?”

  “On it, sir.”

  “I’ve got eyes on Jung,” another man said. “Unfortunately, he’s got the girl.”

  “God damn it.” Chad took in a deep calming breath. Can you hear me, Savanah?

  Yes! Chad. Where are you?

  “I’ve got your back,” Brett’s voice came over the headset. “I’m right out the family room window, and I can see them. Oh, and before I forget, I took out the other two on my way here.”

  I’m coming for you. Hang tight, okay?

  Hang tight? This asshole has a knife to my face, and you want me to just hang.

  Not what I meant, sweetheart.

  Don’t sweetheart me. Just get your ass over here and get this guy’s filthy, dirty paws off me.

  Yes, dear.

  “Brett. Can you get through the window?”

  “Not undetected, oh fuck.”

  “What now?”

  “Two of his guards were left in the family room, unconscious. One is now awake, and Jung just untied him.”

  “Scottie, where are you?”

  “Front door. Looks like he’s sending one to come find us.”

  Chad dropped his head back against the wall. “I’m going to let them capture me.”

  “That’s a solid plan,” Brett said.

  Chad chuckled. “You’ve got my back, right?”

  “Damn straight, bro.”

  Chad pushed off the wall and waltzed into the foyer. “I think you’re looking for me,” he said, dropping his weapon to the ground, holding his hands up in the air. “Let her go.”

  “Hell, no.”

  “She’s nobody.”

  What the hell are you doing? her voice, laced with anger, vibrated in his mind.

  Just follow along.

  Jung pressed the blade into Savanah’s cheek. A tinge of blood trickled down her face. “Oh, she’s somebody all right, and so are you.”

  Chad laughed. “Her psychic abilities are small potatoes compared to mine.”

  Jung frowned, his gaze running up and down Chad’s body like a slug sliding down a moss-covered pole. “I do sense you have strong talents.”

  “You have no idea what I can do. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

  “Take off your earpiece,” Jung order.

  Chad slipped it off, dropping it to the ground.

  Hey Chad, want to have a little brotherly psychic bonding? Brett projected.

  Dare I ask what that means?

  You can view and remove the knife from his hands, and I can view and remove the gun from the guard. We snap back, and they won’t know what hit them.

  That’s so crazy it just might work.

  Um, hello, the girl with the cold blade against her skin doesn’t think that’s such a good idea, Savanah said. You’d be too close to your bodies to do it and crossing organic—

  Chad interrupted her, how many things have we done in the last twenty-four hours that we’re not supposed to be able to do.

  Fine, she projected. But if something bad happens, it won’t be my fault.

  Just be still. Chad drew upon his ice cave. It looked almost too small, as if he wouldn’t be able to fit, but as he ran, the room elongated, stretching everything out of proportion like silly putty and the imprint of a newspaper cartoon.

  Just as his mind popped into the psychic plane, he felt a sting of cold air as something hit his shoulder.

  “What the hell was that?” he asked, hoping Brett had an answer.

  “Me. I think I hit you on the way in.”

  “Wonderful. We better do this fast. I’m not feeling too good.”

  “Me neither,” Brett said.

  Chad focused on the metal object and not the question Jung asked on the reality plane. Thankfully, Savanah answered it for him. While his talents were multiplying, actually speaking during a view was something he knew he wasn’t capable of.

  The metal was cold to his touch, but Savanah’s skin burned like a cattle iron seconds after being pulled out of the fire.

  “Ready?” he asked Brett.

  “On three. One. Two. Three.”

  Chad yanked the knife from Jung’s fat little fingers, praying he didn’t do any more damage to her face as he took off toward his ice cave. It seemed like it took forever to get back into the reality plane, not to mention he bounced off his brother not once. But twice.

  “What the fuck?” Jung released Savanah as he started down at his empty hands.

  The guard stumbled backward.

  “Asshole,” Savanah said, before nailing her right knee between Jung’s legs.

  Chad couldn’t help but cringe at the memory of the candle she’d tossed at him a year ago.

  “I hope someone tortures your gifts right the fuck out of you.” She raised her fist.

  Chad gently curled his fingers around her wrist. “He’s not worth it.”

  “Oh, but it will feel so good to make him bleed.” She wiped her cheek.

  “Don’t worry. Someone will make him bleed.”

  Brett had climbed through the window, and Scottie appeared at the front door. They tied the remaining men up while Chad took Savanah in his arms.

  He kissed her swollen cheek. “We’ve got a helicopter to catch.”

  “That’s it. We leave the twisted fuck here like this?”

  He nodded. “His government will take care of him. He won’t be hurting anyone again.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure.” He kissed her forehead.

  “And what about the two men he’d been torturing.”

  “We found only one man, and he’ll be taken to a military hospital in Germany.” He threaded his fingers through her hair. “On the way there, we’re picking up Alexis to help heal Hunter.”

  “I think Hunter was somehow protecting all of us,” she said, resting her head against his chest.

  “Let’s get out of here.” He tugged her through the front door, down the steps, and toward a Jeep Scottie had managed to wrangle up.

  “What next?” she asked.

  He helped her up into the back seat, then settled down next to her, Brett climbing into the front seat.

  “We go to Germany with your sister and then we take some time to really get to know each other again, because I’m never going to let you go and if you try to push me away, I’ll just remote view my way into your life, or invade your mind.”

  “Promises, promises.”

  I love you, Savanah.

  I love you more, Chad.

  The End.
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br />   Alexis and Hunter’s story, THE LOST SOUL, will be coming out this summer. Their journey is one of healing and searching for some truths from an unlikely person.

  Books by Jen Talty

  NY State Trooper Series

  IN TWO WEEKS

  DARK WATER

  DEADLY SECRETS

  MURDER IN PARADISE BAY

  TO PROTECT HIS OWN

  DEADLY SEDUCTION

  WHEN A STRANGER CALLS

  Other novels

  REKINDLED

  JANE DOE’S RETURN

  Dare to Love Kindle World by Carli Philips

  DON’T DARE ME

  The Omega Team Kindle World

  THE LIGHTHOUSE

  HER LAST HOME

  THE LAST FLIGHT

  THE RETURN HOM

  The Phoenix Agency Kindle World

  THE LOST SISTER

  THE LOST SOLDIER

  THE LOST SOUL

  THE LOST CONNECTION

  Dallas Fire and Rescue Kindle World

  STEALING HIS FIRE

  IGNITING HIS FLAME

  Special Forces Operation Alpha

  BURNING DESIRE

  BURNING KISS

  BURNING SKIES

  BURNING LIES

  BURNING HEART

  About the Author

  Jen Talty is an award-winning author of Romantic Suspense. Dark Water hit #10 in Barnes and Noble and her books have been in the top 50 on Amazon. Jen grew up in Rochester, New York. She recently retired from being a full-time hockey mom as her children hung up their skates. She and her husband still live in Rochester while her children travel globe. Jen is the co-founder of Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer. To learn more about Jen Talty please visit her website: jentalty.com

  Sign up for Jen’s Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/crLz6r) where she often gives away free books before publication.

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