Seek and Destroy (TREX, #5)

by Allie K. Adams

  Thank God he didn’t.

  She finished up and dried, then threw all of her toiletries in the suitcase. Her good mood faded as she thought about her trip back. What would she say to the director? She’d obviously failed her objective, which meant her brother’s transfer to spec ops would be reversed. And if word got out about what she’d done with another agent, they’d never let her live it down. She may even lose her chance to work with another male agent. After all, she’d have a reputation.

  Well, damn. She didn’t think about what would happen to her professionally. What about David? Would this leave a black mark on his record? She doubted it. The director met his wife on a mission in Colombia. They were both TREX spec ops agents before they got married.

  But she wasn’t spec ops. She was intel. They played by a separate set of rules.

  She pulled her bag off the bed. It landed on the floor with a resounding thud. Her father was in Montana, waiting for her to fail this mission and return to intel with her head hanging in failure. Her over-protective brothers would all string David up from the tallest tree on the island. And her sisters? Bailey would politely change the subject. Not Kaylee. She’d demand details and then beg to be introduced to one of his friends.

  She had to laugh. Gotta love family.

  One last sweep of the room and she’d be ready to go. As she threw the covers back on the bed, she eyed the blue dress on the floor. The sight of it gave her pause. She’d never been one to believe in superstitions or lucky rabbit’s feet, but something about that dress made her everything she’d ever wanted to be. She’d been bold, daring, not afraid to go after what she wanted.

  She grabbed the dress and shoved it into her handbag. It had to be at least two sizes smaller after wearing her fabulous dry clean only dress into the ocean. It was now a piece of shredded silk to boot. But none of that mattered. A good luck piece like this dress didn’t come along very often. She’d need all the luck she could get when she showed up at HQ without David Snyder.

  Having already prearranged for a taxi, she had just enough time to get down to the lobby before the taxi left for the airport.

  When she finally arrived in Seattle, seven hours and a million excuses as to why David hadn’t joined her later, she waited at baggage claim as she debated which excuse to use. She didn’t want to face SD Weber but couldn’t avoid him. She just needed to get this over with and go back home to Montana. She’d bury herself in her work and this would all be a distant memory.

  Someday. With any luck. And a lot of therapy.

  Standing outside of TREX’s HQ, she gave an involuntary tremble. Back to the rain and cold and gloom and... She stopped. Feeling sorry for herself wasn’t helping the situation. With a sigh, she swept her hair behind her ear, looked up and shielded her glasses from the annoying drizzle. Lovely. The rain in Maui had followed her to Seattle.

  She eyed the building. The average passerby would never guess this to be the headquarters for the Tactical Retrieval Experts Agency. The single-story building had an old primer-colored paint job chipping and peeling off the sides. The parking lot sat hidden in the back. The faded sign over the door read AAA Consulting.

  TREX went through all the proper channels to make sure the firm looked legit in case anyone went snooping. But it ended there. She should know, having had to make up new client lists every year so to not raise suspicion.

  She walked through the front door and drew in a steady breath. Unlike the outside, the inside was warm and inviting. The plush gray carpet had specs of magenta throughout, in no particular pattern. The chairs lining the walls had the same design. The basic artwork hanging on the walls wouldn’t compel anyone to take a second glance.

  The corner tables had stacks of various outdated magazines scattered across the top, just like every other waiting room in the nation. The large marble reception desk was off to the left, where Sally Bassett sat. Always ready with a smile, Sally had been with TREX for over thirty years. Everyone considered her the mother hen of the TREX agents who lived in the western region. She wore her gray hair pulled up neatly in a bun on top of her head, and she dressed impeccably. As she smiled at Charis, her pale eyes twinkled, warm, welcome, just like a mother.

  “Ms. McKoy. I was wondering if I’d get to see you again. Always a pleasure.”

  “Hi, Sally. How’s the knee?” She’d blown it out up at Snoqualmie Pass a few weeks back. Even in her late fifties, she held her own against people half her age when she slapped on a snowboard.

  “Nothing that’s going to keep me down,” she answered, almost singing. “Jack is taking me to Aspen for our anniversary. And this is the year I’ll beat him on the double diamond.”

  Charis nodded, impressed. Double diamond? After her accident on the slopes, she’d never even gone back on the bunny hill. “You’re in better shape than half the TREX agents. I’m sure you’ll whoop him.”

  Having spent almost three hours with Sally as they coordinated her mission in Maui, she knew more about her than she did the agent she’d just spent the night having wild monkey sex with.

  “He’s expecting you. He’s called up here three times.” She smiled her knowing smile. “I finally told him to wait until I relayed a call from you. Funny thing is, I haven’t had to relay any calls from you in over twenty-four hours.” Charis nodded in understanding. “And I’m to remind all agents they should be using the back entrance, not the front.”

  “Oh, right.” She nodded, embarrassed. “I forgot.”

  “Understood. You don’t visit HQ much. I should warn you, he’s in a mood today.” The phone rang then and Sally pushed a button under her desk to buzz Charis through the next door as she answered. “Good afternoon, AAA Consulting. How may I direct your call?”

  “Thank you,” Charis whispered and slipped through the door. Sally waved as she talked to the party on the other end about the various BS services of AAA Consulting. If her vague description of their services didn’t thwart the caller, after Sally stated their hourly rate, they’d all but hang up on her.

  Once behind the solid door in the reception area, the inside changed completely. The ceiling, the walls, even the shiny linoleum floor was a striking white. It looked like a clean room. She made her way down the long hall, the sound of her heels striking the hard floor the only sound, aside from the thumping of her heart in her ears.

  She approached the next door and unlocked it with the transmitter inserted into the lining of her watchband. Once inside, she walked down another stark white, and completely empty, hall to the retinal scan used to gain access into the elevator. She lifted her glasses and stared into the scanner. Once behind the double doors, her fingerprint granted her access down to HQ, five stories below the ground.

  The doors slid open to another hallway looking exactly the same as all the others. With a conscious effort to not hyperventilate, she stepped out and started down the hall. How much longer would she have access into this building? As soon as she told the director David Snyder would not be rejoining TREX, he’d lock her out.

  The sound of her heels clicking against the shiny white linoleum echoed throughout the empty corridor. Odd. There were always agents on this floor. She expected the director here, at least. Where was everyone? Rounding the corner, she had her answer.

  Special Director Weber paced the hall, cussing up a storm, his expression hard. No wonder everyone else ran for cover. The man, as big as a doorway, with a blond buzz cut and piercing blue eyes, could cut a person down to tears with just a look. He was definitely in a bad mood, as Sally had warned. Charis didn’t need to add to it. She’d come back later when he felt better.

  If that ever happened.

  As soon as he spotted her, she turned around to make a break for it. She almost made it around the corner before his terse bark stopped her.

  “McKoy! What the hell happened to you? Why haven’t you checked in? You were due back here over an hour ago. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  She debated telling him her
phone was now somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. “I lost my phone.”

  “Did you also lose the ability to use a phone?”

  The heat of humiliation slapped her cheeks. He narrowed his eyes in on her. Oh boy. Here it comes.

  “Where is he?”

  “I—” She didn’t have to finish. He cursed like a wild man, threw his arms out and went back to pacing.

  “I need him here. Now, goddamn it! We are out of fucking time. He’s the only one I trust to do this. Another bombing. Shit! I should have gone myself.” He cursed a few more times.

  She backed up. He had his answer. By all rights she should be able to go back home. Back to intel. Back to boring, uneventful days with her nose glued to a computer screen. If they even allowed her access to a computer after this.

  “In room three. Now.”

  Closing her eyes, Charis cursed inwardly. This didn’t sound good. Why did he feel the need to prolong her torture? She’d failed her assignment. Slap her on the wrist, assign her shit duty, and let her be on her way. She followed Weber into the room and took a seat in one of the metal chairs on the opposite side of the table.

  The director sighed and pinched the skin between his eyes. “Repeat your objective to me, Agent McKoy.”

  “To seek out and return Special Agent David Snyder to TREX HQ,” she recited from memory. Not to sleep with him. Not to fall in... Severe lust. Not to wake up missing him so much she physically felt the loss.

  “And did you seduce him?”

  She choked on a breath. “What?”

  “I said, did you succeed?”

  Her heart started to beat again. Thank God she’d heard him wrong. “Sort of.”

  He looked at her. “Care to elaborate?”

  She couldn’t very well tell him how close she’d gotten. She couldn’t tell him how they spent last night tangled together, having sex like wild bunnies, how the damage deposit she left at the hotel wouldn’t begin to pay for what they’d done to the room. “Not really.”

  “Too bad. Tell me how close you got to Snyder.”

  “I think that’s a bit personal, don’t you?” A distinctive and familiar baritone voice reverberated from behind her.

  Charis swung around in her chair and sucked in a slight gasp. When did he get here? Strike that. How in the hell did he get in here? He no longer had clearance. The retinal scanner. The fingerprints. The... The... The fact they were five stories below ground.

  David Snyder, larger than life, stood in the doorway, looking better than ever. All night sex did him some good. He didn’t look anything like he did in Maui. Over there he looked like all of the other locals with his beachcomber shorts, and if the need to dress up arose, a shirt. Today he looked like...

  The real David Snyder. Superspy. Sexy secret agent. 007, nothing. 00-Oh my God was more like it.

  He wore a nice fitting pair of Dockers and a dark shirt, and wore them well. His deep-set dark chocolate eyes danced as the corners of his mouth pulled up to a grin. He’d combed his hair, even shaved. She gave out an audible sigh.

  Oh wow. And she thought he’d looked good in last night.

  He hooked the brown leather jacket over his shoulder and leaned against the doorframe. “You know, your security in this building could use some work. You’re slacking, Weber.”

  “You son of a bitch,” the director bit off. “How in the hell did you get in here?”

  Her heart skipped to her throat. That wasn’t quite the reaction she expected from him. Instead of anger clouding David’s features, he flashed a grin that sent her insides purring. “Good to see you too.”

  Weber rose and approached him without an expression. He stopped in front of him and David lost his smile. They stood face-to-face, eye-to-eye, for an eternity. Charis had never been tenser in her life. Would Weber throw a punch? Would David be the first to strike? Oh dear God, why did she just sit there? Should she jump between them to stop the inevitable blow-up?

  And then they threw their arms around each other and embraced, slapping each other on the back, laughing and grinning as wide as Cheshire cats. She didn’t remember ever seeing SD Weber smile, let alone laugh.

  Men.

  “Damn, Snyder. I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”

  “And let you have all the fun? Not a chance.” He followed the director into the room and took a seat next to her. She held her breath as she waited for him to look at her. Touch her. Hell, acknowledge her in some way. He didn’t even throw her a courtesy glance.

  “What changed your mind?” Weber asked.

  David flicked a quick glance in her direction. “Let’s just say I had a personal breakthrough.”

  The director studied him, skepticism etched into the lines of his face. “I’ll bet.” He lost his smile as he pierced Charis with those unyielding eyes. “We’re not done. Wait outside.”

  She didn’t want to leave without at least pointing out her success. She had to end this meeting on a positive note. “I guess this means I did it.”

  “Did what?” Weber asked.

  She eyed David and hummed in the back of her throat. “I brought him home.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “Actually, I brought me home. Which, of course, I’ll be submitting the bill to TREX. Do you have any idea how expensive it is to fly first class?”

  Weber chuckled, a sound she’d never heard escape from the man. “I never said you could fly first class.”

  “I didn’t ask permission,” David retorted lightly. “Besides, I was on the same flight as McKoy here. I couldn’t very well be in the same cabin as her.”

  “Why the hell not?” Weber asked.

  Yeah. Why the hell not?

  He shrugged, favoring his good shoulder. “I didn’t want her getting a big head.” He glanced at her and winked, sending her insides into orbit, her excitement settling into her core.

  It didn’t matter who’d brought him home. It didn’t matter how. He’d come back. And that meant she’d completed her objective. She’d succeeded in her find. “Welcome back, Special Agent Snyder.” She stood and held out her hand.

  David eyed it and, after waiting until she started to pull it back, finally took it in his. The spark of recognition flooded her soul. Those hands were all over her a mere lifetime ago, drawing reactions out of her she didn’t even know she had in her. He stroked his thumb over the tender part of her wrist, and chills washed up her spine.

  He imprisoned her with his gaze. “Thank you, Charis.”

  The sound of her name on his lips made her insides shimmy. She adjusted her glasses to give her time to regroup. “You’re welcome, David.”

  NINE

  David turned to make sure the door shut behind her. Damn, that had to be the hardest thing he’d ever done. Not even crawling across the desert during the hottest part of the day or going days on end without a single drop of water and locked in what he thought would be his coffin compared to the torture he’d just endured.

  He couldn’t touch her, not the way he wanted to. Hell, he knew better than to even look at her. He had to bury whatever feelings he had for the lovely Charis McKoy—not that he had any feelings for her. He didn’t give a rat’s ass whether she succeeded on this find or not. But he wouldn’t let her take the heat for his decision not to return. Not when he knew how much heat her tight body generated.

  He’d loved the feeling of her snuggling close as she slept on his shoulder, rubbing her pretty little nose against his chest. He wanted to protect her from the world, needed to protect her. Which scared the hell out of him.

  He didn’t need this. Not now. After spending years building the rock wall encasing his heart, how did one woman, one night, change that all? His mind refused to focus on anything but Charis McKoy and how she’d blown through his defenses with just a smile. And then he spotted her sitting in that chair. The cream-colored skirt and matching top made her look so prim and proper, and so different than she did last night. She wore her long dark curls tied back and off her face much the
same way she’d worn it back in the hospital. He didn’t usually favor women with glasses, but for some odd reason, he really liked the way they looked on her.

  It took a shit ton of willpower to not pull her into his arms the minute he spotted her today. And when he took a seat next to her, he smelled her. Like wild berries and sunshine, her scent made him long for last night.

  He hated sneaking out before she woke up. They’d spent the better part of the night in each other’s arms, on the bed, against the wall, the floor, the shower. By the time they’d finally collapsed, the room looked like a twister had passed through. They were exhausted, but he’d fought against the sleep trying to pull him in. He’d watched her as she slept on his shoulder, his arms around her, possessively holding her close. Even now as he remembered how peaceful she looked, how much peace it brought him to simply watch her, to hold her, his heart warmed and he smiled.

  “It sucks, doesn’t it?” Weber’s voice broke him of his thoughts. “Wanting something you can’t have.” His gaze lifted from David’s face to the door and back down. “Or at least shouldn’t have. You want to tell me about it?”

  He glanced at his friend. “Weber, I doubt you brought me back here to talk about my love life.”

  “Interesting choice of words.”

  “Piss off. You know what I mean.”

  With a sigh, he nodded. “Unfortunately, I do. You want my advice?”

  “Not really.”

  “Too bad. Be careful. This one isn’t another one of your quests. She’s a TREX agent.”

  “Funny,” he retorted. “Didn’t I say the same thing to you about JT when you first met her?”

  Shaking his head, Weber grunted. “And look where that got me. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” If he didn’t know any better, he’d say Weber tried to hold back a smile. Fucker.

  David traced the room in a glance, memorizing everything about it. Within seconds he knew how many books lined the rickety wood shelf against the opposite wall. Which ones had green spines. Brown. Black. He knew the size and shape of every trinket, which were sparse. If nothing else, his photographic memory and instant recall kept him entertained.