by Mary Alford
Strike Force
Book One of Courage Under Fire Series
By
Mary Alford
Copyright © 2019 by Mary Alford
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Scripture
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12
Table of Contents
Scripture
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter One
Four months after the attack at Anana Harbor, Alaska. Strike Force Headquarters in Northern Wyoming. . .
The SUV came into view. Just a few more feet. Almost there.
Her frantic breathing drowned out all other sounds. She kept her eyes on Reed. Something behind them had his attention. She turned. He hit the ground. The world around them exploded with gunfire. Rounds and rounds of it. Too late…
The hot metal of the bullet scorched through her chest propelling her body forward. She tried to save herself. Couldn’t.
She slammed against the ground. The wind left her body. Pain excruciating. She clutched her chest. Warm blood covered her fingers. Her body grow weak. The world around her faded. She was fading. Not like this. They’d fought too hard. It couldn’t end like this.
Someone screamed.
Reed entered her line of sight and she latched onto his worried gaze. As long as she could see him, it would be okay.
“It’s not so bad. I need to get you to the SUV, okay?”
As hard as she tried, she couldn’t make her muscles move. Couldn’t feel her body.
A tear slipped from her eye. Was this what it felt like to die?
“No. Please. No.” Every single one of the words tore free from deep down. Her eyes snapped open. Pulse beat a frenzied rhythm against her chest. Sweat covered her body despite the chill in the room.
The rainy landscape of Alaska disappeared before her eyes and she stared up at the ceiling of her room, trying to convince herself she wasn’t back there in Anana Harbor, fighting for her life.
Something wet nudged her hand. Samson. The dog rested his front paws on the bed and was doing his best to wake her. She’d had this nightmare many times, and Samson worried through them all. The St. Bernard had been at her side since she’d first come to Alaska. They’d rescued each other. He’d die for her. Almost had.
“Hey, boy. I’m okay.” She patted the dog’s head. Tried to convince the both of them what she said was true.
Samson jumped down while she slowly sat up and inched her legs over the side.
Dressing was slow, like everything else she did these days. She tugged on a warm sweater and glanced out the window at the dreary winter morning. Fat snowflakes continued to come down heavy. The bleak weather had moved in days ago. A reminder that it was, after all, soon to be Christmas and winter was settling into the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming for a long spell.
And she was more than ready to join the world of the living once more. There was work to be done. A war to fight. Freedom to protect.
Doctor Oviok had cleared her to return to light duty, though her body still ached and her energy level was not where she wanted it to be. More than anything, the demons from that day in Alaska and the years she’d spent on the run still haunted her.
Many things had changed since Alaska. Her residence. Her name. The future.
Four months earlier, Piper had settled down in Anana Harbor with the objective of figuring out who was really responsible for the attack two years earlier that had taken out her entire CIA team while they were on a mission in Afghanistan. The theory that one man going by the name of the Serpent was behind the attacks had quickly unraveled when CIA Agent Reed Decklin, the man she’d loved with all her heart, found her in Alaska. With Reed’s help, they soon realized the Serpent was just an illusion created by a far more deadly group.
Before they could escape, the terrorist organization known as Legion targeted Reed and herself for death and had almost succeeded.
The name Legion brought a wave of terror down her spine every time she heard it. Of all people, she understood what they were capable of doing.
Made up a group of powerful men bent on creating chaos to gain control, the newly formed Strike Force was still trying to understand the depth of Legion’s power.
The one good thing that came from so much death and destruction was the formation of Strike Force. Its sole purpose—take down Legion.
Reed, along with her good friend, Teddy Harper, a former Navy SEAL who’d moved to Alaska to escape Legion’s death threats, were driven into hiding in Wyoming along with many others and forced to change their names.
Even though four months had passed, she was still getting used to the new name. She’d lived with Piper most of her life. Sidney Garner was going to take more time.
The urgency to stop Legion had ratcheted up to a new threat level with the latest intelligence they’d received. Far from being broken after the chemical weapons Legion planned to use were confiscated, they appeared to be stepping up their plan of attack. Every day became critical and she had no idea what was coming next.
Someone knocked on her door. Sidney crossed the room with slow steps. Without opening the door, she knew the person waiting outside. The one who’d been by her side throughout months of healing. Reed now went by the name, Kaiden Bennett.
“Hi,” he said once she pulled the door open and he stepped inside wearing a smile on his handsome face. His blue eyes, a reminder of the Alaskan sky, reflected his happiness at seeing her. She loved him so much. Loved his ability to stay positive even after everything they’d been through. She’d had two years to adjust to life on the run. Kaiden only had a few months.
He leaned over and kissed her tenderly. The same reaction of butterflies fluttering in the pit of her stomach was there every time he touched her. A reminder of God’s faithfulness. He’d reunited her and Kaiden. Restored their love. Carried her through one storm. He’d bring them through this one, too.
She went into Kaiden’s arms and held him close. Breathed in the fresh outdoor scent that clung to him and prayed for calm. Why was she so anxious?
Forcing a smile, she let him go. Was it just nerves at being about back in the game again? She’d worked dozens of missions with Kaiden in the past. Had she lost the edge that helped keep her alive?
“Ready for your first day back?” he asked and handed her a cup of coffee before bending to give Samson some attention.
Through all the long nights of hiding, remembering Kaiden’s love kept her going when there was nothing else to hold onto.
While Kaiden stroked Samson’s fur, Sidney tried to get a grip on her emotions. Coming close to dying had played havoc on her confidence. It made her realize no one was bulletproof.
“Thank you for the coffee,” she said when he straightened. She tried to shove aside her misgivings. “And yes, I am ready to be back.”
His smile disappeared. Something she recognized from the past replaced it. He was worried about her
. Probably with good cause. Though she had to see this thing through to the end, the thought of facing down the men who’d almost ended her life was terrifying. All she wanted to do was stay close to Kaiden and live in this moment because in her heart she knew, something was coming. Something truly bad.
The look in his eyes assured her of his love. He ran his fingers across her cheek, and she shivered at the contact. Would they get their happy ending? She’d prayed for it. Longed for the chance. But only God knew the future.
Kaiden kissed her forehead and stepped out into the hall. She followed along with Samson who trotted ahead of them. He’d be heading for his food bowl downstairs to refuel.
Closing the door, Sidney reached for Kaiden’s hand, lacing her fingers with his. She’d been so sure she was ready to jump back into this fight. Had counted down the days until Doctor Oviok released her, but now that it was a reality, she needed Kaiden’s strength more than ever. Death had become too real for her.
Side by side they descended the stairs of the three-story log home that Ben Parker, the leader of Strike Force, had the forethought to convert into a headquarters for the team. The former Army Ranger had been working undercover with CIA Director Cole Hernandez to ferret out intelligence on Legion for a long time. If it weren’t for Ben rescuing them, they all would have died in Alaska.
“Want some breakfast?” Kaiden asked when they passed by the kitchen.
She shook her head and glanced at Samson gobbling his food. “Maybe later.” Right now, she didn’t want to delay this moment. The others would be expecting her.
Kaiden stopped in front of the basement entrance, his eyes on her. She read all his doubts before he slowly opened the door. She descended the stairs to the computer operations room that Teddy Harper, aka, James Cooper, had put into place.
The room sizzled with excitement assuring her something had broken with Legion. Sidney stopped on the bottom step to take it all in. James and several of the people he’d brought on board were buzzing around the room like hornets.
The moment James spotted her, he stopped what he was doing and hurried to her side, enveloping her in a bear hug like only he could give. “You have no idea how good it is to have you back,” he said in a quiet tone.
“Thank you. It’s good to be back,” she said, even though it wasn’t quite the truth. James had been a good friend, and she’d always be grateful for his friendship when she had no one in her life but Samson. “What’s going on here?” she asked and pointed to the multiple video screens mounted on the wall above the computer console.
James shot Kaiden a surprised look and Sidney froze. She’d been right. Something had happened. Something Kaiden had been reluctant to tell her.
“Quite a lot actually,” James answered. “One of Ben’s people, Will Grayson, has been tailing Deputy Director Jake Evans for days now. Thanks to our latest listening technology, Will managed to catch one of Evans’s phone conversations while Evans was at a park outside of Washington, D.C. He’s meeting up with someone in Amarillo, Texas, tomorrow evening. We have no idea who the person is or why the need for the meeting, but Will’s convinced this is about Legion. We’re scrambling to get boots on the ground in time for the meeting.”
At times, Sidney still couldn’t believe that Evans who’d been a good friend to both her and Kaiden was actually one of the leaders of Legion. Even more disturbing was the realization that Evans was the one who set Sidney up.
So far, Evans had no idea Ben was working against him. Director Hernandez commissioned Ben to set up the Strike Force because he’d uncovered intelligence that indicated Evans was plotting something major. At the time, no one had any idea how enormous the conspiracy really was.
“I want to be part of the ground team,” Sidney said without hesitating. “I’m ready,” she added more for Kaiden’s benefit. She didn’t have to look at him to know Kaiden’s doubts by heart, but he wouldn’t try to stop her. Kaiden of all people understood the importance of bringing down these dangerous men before it was too late.
“Good. We need you,” James assured her and continued to fill her in on the details they had so far.
As she listened, her palms grew sweaty. This would be her first time out in the field since she’d been shot. Was she ready to go back there? Battle the forces of darkness once more? Every fiber in her being screamed no.
She’d have less than twenty-four hours to overcome her nerves because the middle of a battle was the last place to have doubts. A clear head and a steady hand were needed to protect those around her. And she wouldn’t let the men and women of Strike Force down. She’d give her life if necessary to stop this nightmare because there was no other option.
◆◆◆
Thirty-seven hours later. An abandoned warehouse outside of Amarillo, Texas. . .
The night crackled with electricity. A storm was rolling in over the canyons near their location. The air was thick with impending rain.
“We have the target in sight,” Kaiden said into the mic on his jacket label. Hunkered down on their bellies above a bluff overlooking an abandoned warehouse, all he could think about was the woman beside him. Sidney. Was she ready for what lay ahead of them? He wasn’t so sure. All he wanted to do was protect her, but he couldn’t. She was more a part of this than any of them and deserving of her place beside him now.
He focused the night-vision binoculars on the seemingly innocent and decaying building below. “So far, there’s no movement. No one’s around. The place is empty,” Kaiden informed the rest of the ground team situated some distance from their location.
According to Will, Evan’s phone call had been cryptic. The time and date along with the location were all the conversation consisted of, which seemed to indicate Evans was being particularly cautious.
Kaiden’s gut told him Legion’s threat spread much wider than the US borders. They were aiming for world domination. The only question was how they planned to obtain it now that the chemical weapon threat had been removed.
“I see movement.” Sidney’s voice interrupted his disturbed thoughts. She pointed to the dirt road at the left of the warehouse. Kaiden focused on the area.
“A single vehicle moving this way,” Kaiden told James and the team.
The car eased down the road while dust plumed behind it. Once it reached the front of the building, the vehicle stopped. One man got out. Kaiden recognized him right away. CIA Deputy Director, Jake Evans.
Beyond the warehouse, the rough terrain of the canyons stretched out for miles in every direction with few trees to offer coverage. Kaiden hated feeling this exposed. “Any idea who owns this warehouse?” he asked James while watching his former commander below.
“I’m still peeling back layers. Whoever it belongs to doesn’t want it connected to them. Probably for good reason,” James interjected.
An uneasy feeling settled in around Kaiden at what James said.
Lightning flashed along the eastern horizon, illuminating the bluffs. Kaiden prayed the strikes wouldn’t expose their location. A few seconds later, thunder rumbled closer than before. The storm was growing in intensity as it approached.
Though Kaiden and Sidney were some distance away and they had cloud coverage, both tucked in low when Evans’s gaze panned across the horizon in their direction.
An anger Kaiden had fought against since the attack in Anana Harbor raised its ugly head once more. It was there every time he thought about how close to dying Sidney had come. For weeks, she’d fought for her life, but she was strong. She’d lived. They’d all survived the storm and come out more determined than ever to bring down Legion.
“I’m okay,” she murmured and squeezed his arm as if knowing his thoughts. He turned to look at her. His rock. Though still not a hundred percent, Sidney possessed a calming strength that helped keep him focused.
“I know,” he said and smiled. He’d die before he’d let Evans and Legion near her again.
After a second’s hesitation, Evans entered the war
ehouse. It was time. They needed to know what was so important for the deputy director to meet in such a remote location.
“Go,” Sidney urged Kaiden and slipped the communication earbud in place so she could alert him to any threats approaching while he planted a tracking device on Evans’s car and got close enough to the warehouse to allow then to hear Evans’s conversation with the listening technology James had perfected. He’d then clone Evans’s burner phone with the spy app James created for the task. Sidney would be his eyes and ears while he was exposed.
Kaiden eased down the hillside to the back of the warehouse. Whoever owned the place had boarded up the windows. It looked as if the building hadn’t been used in years, and yet there were tire tracks around the rear of the place near the loading docks. The tracks appeared to belong to a large truck and they were recent.
Kaiden stopped to take in the surroundings before moving to the side of the building. Evans’s car was parked a few feet away.
“He’s still inside. You should be able to reach his car without being spotted.” Sidney’s voice came through his earbud and he left the shadows surrounding the building. Another lightning strike flashed brilliant across the sky. Kaiden froze. After a couple of breaths, he moved to the back of the car and knelt, placing the tracker beneath the bumper. Evans had tried to disguise his movements by driving to the location instead of flying and risking there being a flight record to tie him to Amarillo. What was he up to that required such secrecy?
Kaiden snapped a photo of the license plate and sent it to James.
“There’s another vehicle moving your way, Kaiden. Get out of there!” The urgency in Sidney’s tone was clear.
Kaiden moved closer to the front of the building. “Hang on, we need to get the listening device into place and I still have to clone Evans’s phone.”
“It’s too risky. You’re in danger,” she said empathically. “Once they get closer, they’ll spot you.”
