by KaLyn Cooper
The bright light shining in her face all but blinded her. She pulled her gun and was going to shoot him because she didn’t have time for his shit. They were on the clock and that fucking cool helicopter Black Swan team two flew was due back in twenty-seven minutes for first extraction attempt.
Stepping out of the glaring light, she watched his bright blue eyes widen when he saw the gun. She knew those beautiful eyes. A wide sapphire blue ring surrounded a crystalline blue, the color of the Caribbean Sea at thirty-five feet underwater. A third ring of silver next to the pupil amplified their intensity. Her team leader had those eyes.
So did her brother, Daniel.
Nita had stared into them with lust and unguarded desire on more than one occasion. The last time she’d seen them, Daniel had kissed her with so much passion, she’d wanted to throw him on the ground and see just where the ride would take them both. But the kiss had been far too short for that conclusion. She was headed back to the U.S.A.—with her team which included his sister—so their hidden kiss was brief, but filled with promise.
Their gazes met and a slash of white teeth gleamed amidst the night camouflage face paint. Nita, let me in, he mouthed.
Excitement and relief warred within her. Daniel was there.
She waved him over to the door. He had to suit up, for his safety. Half way to the non-functioning wind curtain, she veered off to grab her bag and the vials sent by Uncle Tom. She internally chuckled. Her surrogate uncle was Daniel’s real uncle. But she had no familial feelings for the man who’d spent an entire night sharing views on every subject imaginable, getting to know her, the real Nita Banks. She had plenty of other emotions when it came to the hard-bodied CIA agent.
She shook her head as though that would wipe away any memories about the way his arms felt around her, his deep voice in her ear as he told her to sleep well while hugging her goodnight.
Focus, she chastised herself, you have a mission to complete.
She stripped out of the suit in the vestibule and stepped through the first area to unlock the door. When he stepped in, the smell of man and Daniel’s unique scent filled the small area.
She wanted to throw her arms around him, but instead said, “You need to suit up. The CDC intern dropped a tray of live Ebola viruses when the lights went out. This strain is an airborne contagion.”
“Oh, fuck.” He headed for the dressing area.
“Wait.” Nita pulled out a syringe and the bottle of what everyone hoped was a preventative. While filling the vial, she ordered, “Drop your pants.”
The corners of his mouth twitched as he unbuckled his cargos. She could only imagine his thoughts, but was glad he didn’t say anything.
“This goes into your butt cheek right near your hip so I don’t need to see your dick.” Although, maybe someday she’d like to see it…touch it…lick it…suck it.
“You keep looking at me like that, and I’ll drop these pants right now and show you exactly what I can do with my dick.”
She glanced at his crotch and sure enough, he was hard. It was probably just a combat boner. Men got them all the time when adrenalin rushed through their veins. She’d seen it many times while in theater, especially just as they headed into a stressful mission.
She shrugged. In her clinical voice, she claimed, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but as a doctor, I’ve seen lots of dicks before. Yours isn’t anything special.” She lied. He had a very impressive package if the bulge in his boxers was any indication.
She tore open an alcohol wipe and swabbed the area before trying to pull together some fat so the injection didn’t hurt as much, but the man was fit. He didn’t have an inch of fat on him. Just a nice tight ass. She tried to find a little more so this time she grabbed a handful creating a mound.
“A little pinch, then it’ll feel warm for a minute.” At least that’s how hers had felt.
He didn’t even flinch when she injected the needle and plunged the lifesaving liquid into his butt. A tiny drop of blood surfaced when she was finished, so she used the alcohol swab to remove it.
He pressed around the injection site. “That made a lump.”
She swatted his hand away and kneaded the area hoping it would dissipate faster than hers had. “Rubbing might help.”
He grabbed her wrist and lifted her hand away. His eyes closed and dragged in a deep breath. When they opened, powerful blue eyes, filled with controlled lust, stared back at her. “I’d much rather you rub something else, but this is not the place and most certainly, not the right time.” He pried open her fisted fingers and placed a kiss on her opened palm. “But I promise you, Nita Banks, I’ll let you touch and rub any part of my body when this fiasco is over.” His grin was devilish. “As long as you let me return the favor.”
She couldn’t breathe. Tingles raced from her hand to her lungs and completely shut them down. Lack of oxygen. That’s why her brain wasn’t functioning correctly. Or was it the man who still gently held her hand in his much larger one?
Where the hell were all her snappy replies? She could always put a man in his place. But there was only one place she wanted this man. In her bed. Then she’d get tired of him like all the rest, and kick him to the curb.
“What makes you think I’d let you touch me?” She was already getting wet and aching between her legs at the thought of Daniel circling then rubbing her clit. She needed to shut this flirtation down right now, so she stepped away from him and discarded the needle. “Ew. That’s a little incestuous. I thought you considered all of Katlin’s friends as quasi-sisters.”
He spun her around and pressed her body into his, jerking his hips into her lower belly. She couldn’t miss the extraordinary erection. “There’s no fucking way I think of you as a sister.”
He crashed his mouth on hers.
The second his warm lips touched hers, her mind melted, completely forgetting they were in the midst of an op. He slanted his head and opened his mouth just as she opened hers, giving him access, taking the kiss deeper.
“Dr. Hall, we’re pa— Oh, excuse me.” The young voice was like dumping cold water on them.
Nita took a huge step away from Daniel and looked toward the lab entrance. What the fuck was she thinking, bantering with Daniel while the scientists were feverishly packing, scared out of their minds that they’d be captured and tortured? She’d spent valuable time reassuring them that she, a female, was going to get them to safety.
She stared at the woman. “You’re ready to go?”
“Yes.” The pretty young blonde in the third year of her doctorate program couldn’t take her eyes off Daniel. “Is he here to get us out?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Daniel interjected before Nita could say no.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. Why the hell did she think he was there? Just to kiss her stupid? “You are?”
He nodded. “I was sent to this location to help evacuate American citizens.” He opened what looked like an older flip phone and showed her the 3-D schematic with six red dots, three together in one place and three more at the back of the adjoining room.
“Does it show you where the rest of the Ladies of Black Swan are?” Nita stared at the device but only saw only the six of them.
“No. Somehow only you were tagged,” he noted.
“Yeah. I tagged each of the researchers as soon as I got here so we could track them if we got separated.” She wouldn’t mention that she had an implanted tracker, just in case Daniel didn’t know.
“What was your extraction plan?” he asked.
Irritated because he seemed to want to take over, she explained, “Our plan is to head out the door at the end of this hall. A tunnel one level up goes north. We escape through the adjoining building.”
“Then what?”
“Follow me,” she ordered. He didn’t need to know all their plans. “You can help us carry the containers.” She didn’t bother re-suiting, but walked into the clean room. It was no longer germ free by then anyway
. Without the backpressure ventilation system, the live viruses dropped by the intern were already seeping into the surrounding air, possibly traveling through the ventilation system, infecting everyone in the building. At least all the researchers, and Daniel, were protected…supposedly. She hoped the CDC back in Atlanta was right.
“Go ahead and get out of those suits.” In full Lady Harrier mode, she ordered the scientists around like recruits. They immediately obeyed and shucked out of the self-contained hazard suits. “Let’s go.”
Each grabbing a milk crate-sized container and pulling the strap over their head, she led the way, weapon to her shoulder, scope on infrared.
“I’ve got your six.” Daniel grabbed the last two containers allowing two of the researchers to walk unencumbered. A pang of jealousy shot through her when the young intern blushed as he took the strap from her hand.
The man oozed testosterone. But she knew exactly what the student felt.
They had just reached Sublevel 1 when they heard boots on the stairs, descending fast.
“Hurry,” Daniel ordered in a low voice. “Get them into the tunnel. I’ll take care of those guys.”
Thankful he was there, Lady Harrier darted through the door into the pitch-black hall. As soon as the door shut, she instructed the nervous scientists, “Hang onto the waistband of the person in front of you. We’re going to move fast.”
Thank God for the night vision mode on her riflescope, but it was a straight shot to the next building.
Muffled gunshots echoed down the long hall as she trotted the hundred yards. “Everyone keeping up?”
“We’re all here,” the male researcher replied. “But the soldier…”
“Don’t worry about him. He’ll catch up.” She didn’t dare think about Daniel getting shot. She had to concentrate on getting these three women and one man to safety.
At the door on the far side, she halted. “Stay quiet while I check to see if the way is clear.” With her hand on the knob, the door at the other end flew open.
Lady Harrier shoved the civilians behind her and took aim down the long hall.
“Nita, wait.” Daniel’s voice echoed as his running steps tapped on the concrete floor. “Don’t open that door.”
Relieved it was him, she remained in a shooting position, rifle aimed at the far door in case he was followed.
He wasn’t even breathing hard when he reached her. “I have men in this building. Let me go in and be sure it’s clear.” He screwed in an earpiece then boldly opened the door.
In Spanish, he quickly ordered, “Lieutenant Callahan here, report in.” Pause. “Stay on protection for Cris. I’m on Sublevel 1 and headed back outside to assist General Cortez’s men. Stay away from the windows. Watch the hallways.” Pause. “Roger that. Callahan out.”
He stared at Nita. “Let’s go.”
With a nod to her, they sprinted the length of the hallway to the outside door. After checking to be sure no one was around, she led them through and into deep shadows. She sucked in a breath of fresh air as she took stock of her charges. The heavyweight man was winded, as were two of the women. The intern was obviously in much better shape. The way she smiled up at Daniel expectantly, as though for direction, infuriated Nita.
She was in charge. This was her mission. He’d appeared out of nowhere and seemed to take over. They were willing to follow him just because he had a penis. Well, that didn’t work in the world of Black Swans. Everyone seemed to forget that, with a vagina, she could get all the penises she wanted! At that moment, she wanted to get rid of Daniel Callahan and his impressive package.
Without even a side-glance at the college student, he strode to Nita’s side while scanning the surrounding area. Tenderly, he tucked a stray curl behind her ear and traced her jaw with a finger. “Where to next, angel?”
Her mind was too overtaken with the sensations from his touch to even respond.
He bent to peer straight into her face. “You okay, Nita?”
She heard the true concern in his voice.
“Excuse me,” the young intern interrupted. “I’m Chyna—that’s with a y, not an i—and I just want to thank you for rescuing us.” She threw her arms around Daniel’s neck.
Immediately shattering her lust fog, Nita snapped, “Of course I’m okay.” She turned away from the woman in Daniel’s arms, and took her comm unit out then tapped it before placing it back in her ear. “Operations, this is Lady Harrier. Confirm connection.”
Silence.
“What the fuck is wrong with this thing?” She took it out again and turned on her red light.
Daniel plucked it from her palm. “It’s fried. The EMP took out everything electronic that wasn’t hardened.” Heat radiated from his body warming her entire side as he invaded her personal space. He’d obviously scraped off Chyna with a y.
Ignoring him, she slid out her phone, but couldn’t even get it to power up. “Fuck!” she swore in a low tone.
Holding out his phone, he offered, “Mine works. I don’t have USSOCOM’s number, but if you need Katlin, press five.”
“That’ll do.” She grabbed it and called her team leader.
“Great to hear from you, big bro, but I’m in the middle of a shit storm,” Lady Hawk said hurriedly. “If you’re in trouble, though, I’m here for you.” Her tone had become apprehensive.
“It’s Lady Harrier. Daniel lent me his phone,” Nita explained.
“Thank Christ,” her team leader said on a sigh. “That fucking EMP wiped out all our communications gear. Did it get your phone?”
“Yeah.” She thought about the Black Swan team two helicopter that had dropped her off. “Is everyone safe?”
“Thank God the chopper was half way back to our base when the explosion happened. According to operations, you were at ground zero. It wiped out everything electrical within a two-mile radius, which included most of the city. Some electronics got slapped beyond that, but there’s a lot of farmland once you get outside the city limits.”
“Good to know.” Nita needed to get moving before they were discovered. “Extraction point alpha in fifteen minutes?”
“Negative. We’re in flight now. There’s a park along the lakeshore. Can you be there in five?” Lady Hawk was already in flight. That was great news. Nita wasn’t sure the scientists could make it the mile to the soccer stadium for extraction. She could see the park from where they stood.
“Roger that.” Lady Harrier turned to Daniel only to realize that Chyna was wrapped around his free arm. “We’re moving out. Now.”
Chapter 6
What the hell was up with Nita? If Daniel didn’t know better, he’d think she was jealous of the frightened young girl clamped to him. Being female, he would’ve thought Nita had more compassion. He’d been on more than one op where he’d rescued women and they were always frightened, on the verge of panic. He’d handle what’s-her-name…Chastity…no, Chelsea…no, that wasn’t it either. Aha, Chyna, with a y—like that fucking y was important at a time like this.
Nita walked back to the scientists huddled up against the building. “Can you see the lake at the bottom of the hill? That’s where we’re headed.” She looked at Daniel. “I’ll take point, and you bring up our six.” To the anxious researchers she instructed, “We have to work our way through the park, but we’ll use the trees as cover. I’ll go first and Daniel will send you to me, one at a time. Understood?” She looked at each scientist for affirmation. “Line up.”
They both tipped down their night vision goggles and searched the area. Over her shoulder she reminded them, “Do exactly as I do, one at a time, follow me.”
She sprinted to the first large tree. At her signal, Daniel sent the first researcher to her. As each was hidden, he’d send the next. When he stepped behind the last person, she took off for the next tree. They repeated this three times. After sending the second researcher, she signaled for him to hold. He followed the direction of her gaze, and froze.
Fuck. Ten full
y armed members of the presidential guard were sweeping through the park as though looking for the tangoes responsible for capturing the president. Daniel looked at the innocent researchers and inwardly shuddered at the torture they would endure needlessly.
Nita had moved the first two researchers to the back of the large tree and had taken up a defensive position, gun pointed at the incoming troops. Fortunately, Daniel’s two charges had no idea what was heading their way. In a low voice he ordered, “Move around to the back side and lay flat on the ground.”
Chyna grabbed his gun arm. “But I’m supposed to run next,” she said in a normal voice. He shoved her around the tree and pushed her head down as he tried to make his own body as small as possible, seconds before the first bullet nicked the tree, sending shards of bark in all directions.
Chyna squealed.
“Shut the fuck up,” Daniel hissed through clenched teeth as he raised his rifle to his shoulder and took out two of the advancing men. From twenty feet away, he heard a burst of five bullets and watched three more men drop.
Damn, Nita can shoot.
Red tracers flew by on both sides of the tree as the park filled with the sound of a firefight. Fortunately, he and Nita had the high ground with more trees surrounding them.
Then everything went quiet.
Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel watched Nita pick up a pinecone and toss it down the hill behind a tree. Two men popped out from behind a statue and a third peered around a tree to fire into the lower area. The angle exposed more of their bodies to Daniel. He took out two more while Nita got the third.
What a woman. He grinned at the use of such an old trick. But it had worked. By his count, they were down to two tangoes.
Scanning the area through his scope, he saw someone move toward the statute. Before he could pull the trigger, two rounds flew from Nita’s gun and the man face-planted. The last man sprinted off in the direction the team had come, zigzagging through open patches and using the scattered trees for cover.
Daniel couldn’t get a clear shot at him.
