by April Kelley
“Jalen. It’s safer under there than if you go with me.”
Jalen turned around and finally got a good look at his rescuer. Man, the guy was gorgeous. Jalen opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He tried again, but instead of the argument he wanted to make, he asked, “What’s your name?”
“Rico.” His eyes were some type of animal. They reminded him of pictures he’d seen of a bird once. He couldn’t remember what type of bird, but they were remarkably similar. Rico’s arms came around his waist. “Now get under there.”
Jalen hardened his expression and moved away. For the first time, he noticed his tool belt. He vaguely recalled some of the tools digging into his back. “I have family back on the island. Are you the undercover new guy, or were you sent to rescue me?”
“I’m the undercover new guy turned rescuer.”
“If you leave me here, I guarantee I’ll panic. Again. And give my position away. As you pointed out—”
Rico pulled him close again. “Shh. Another patrol. Fuck, we gotta move.” Rico pulled on his arm, practically dragging Jalen to a building off to the right as they ran. When they were underneath the shadows of the building, Rico leaned into him. “Which building is the prison?”
How the fuck was he supposed to know? “The prisoners walk on the paved path every day. East to west. That’s all I know.”
“Stay here.” Rico let go of his hand.
“No fucking way.”
Rico grabbed him by the back of the neck in a hard grip. It didn’t hurt, but it definitely got his attention. “You’re my mate, Jalen. I’ll protect you with my life. You have to trust me.”
Mate? Really?
Jalen nodded. A lump formed in his throat, so he couldn’t speak.
“I’m going to shift and get a view from the air. The brig has to have a fence around it.”
Jalen nodded again.
* * * *
Getting an aerial view of his surroundings also gave Rico time to think. Gods, he needed to be away from Jalen simply so he could think past the way his body reacted.
He had found his mate. How surreal was that?
And damn did he want to go back to that trailer, crawl under it with his mate, and fuck him. Never in his life had attraction slapped him in his face so hard.
Not even Markie.
His attraction to Markie had happened by slow degrees until it was a realization that they had some type of connection. It was like heating up a pan. Once it heated up, he felt the sizzle between them. Not so with Jalen, and it made him one lucky hawk shifter that Jalen turned out to be his mate, considering the conversation he had overheard.
Fate worked in weird ways.
Rico let his eyes adjust to the darkness before looking at the buildings. He circled around, looking for a fence.
He wished he’d had Dylan or Christian draw him a map before he’d left that morning, but he hadn’t thought of it. He hadn’t thought things would turn bad so soon after arriving.
A brig in the human army didn’t look anything like the one on any Rogue Army base he’d ever been on, and there were a few. Keeping paranormals contained meant high thick walls and electrical wire at the top. The simple fencing of the human army brig, with its barbed wire, might be very different, but it was still distinct enough on the human base for it to set the building apart.
Rico flew back to Jalen, landing a few feet away. He shifted, and Jalen came out of the shadows to meet him, carrying Rico’s clothes. Rico didn’t know where his tool belt had gone, but he didn’t need it anyway.
Jalen was the one to close the distance between them, hugging him for one brief moment before pulling back. He thrust Rico’s clothes at him and looked away.
Jalen went into the shadows again, and Rico followed him.
Jalen wasn’t a small man. Not by human standards, anyway. Of course, he was shorter than Rico, as most humans were. Jalen’s job in construction probably kept his body in shape.
“You know I’m not going to let anything happen to you, right?”
Jalen nodded. “I have two brothers,” Jalen whispered as if that explained everything.
Jalen ran his hand over the top of his head. His black hair was cut short and had tight curls that looked soft to the touch. After Rico finished dressing, he reached over and ran his fingers over Jalen’s hair. “Yep. Soft.”
Jalen rolled his eyes. If it wasn’t for Rico’s hawk taking over and his eyes changing, he probably wouldn’t have seen it with the shadows covering them.
Rico caught movement out of the corner of his eyes, so he pushed Jalen against the side of the building, providing him with as much cover as he could, hoping the shadows would conceal them both. Unfortunately, the guard saw them move.
Rico slipped his hand down Jalen’s body to his tool belt and started unlatching it. He nuzzled Jalen’s neck, kissing at a spot just underneath his ear. When he had the tool belt off, he let it slip to the ground, hoping the guard wouldn’t notice it.
It took Jalen a minute, but he finally got with the program, pulling Rico’s shirt up. Cool hands ran the span of his back.
Rico’s teeth elongated, the urge to bite overwhelming his senses, taking over his mind. It wasn’t the appropriate time, not with the human guard watching them.
“You’re mine.” The words tumbled out of his mouth before he even knew he would say them.
“He’s coming closer, so stop sounding like a paranormal.”
Rico could smell the human guard’s arousal, so clearly that was why he hadn’t said anything to them yet.
Rico had no idea what words a human used when they were making out. He’d never thought about it, but clearly, it was different than a paranormal.
Did humans have mates? Rico knew they married each other, and it was all ceremony with a few words. No real physical connection bonded two people together like it did with paranormals. Did Jalen’s soul recognize him as a mate?
“Drop to your knees, boy!” Even as the words came out of Rico’s mouth, he knew right away they were the wrong thing to say.
That was confirmed when Jalen jerked back and glared at him. “We’ll talk about this later.” Then Jalen let out an exaggerated moan and dropped to his knees.
Rico let his head fall back as Jalen pretended to fumble with the snap on his jeans. Thankfully, he wore his civilian clothing in an attempt to blend in with the other construction workers.
With Rico’s nose in the air, Jalen’s scent was far enough away Rico could concentrate on the guard’s scent. When it grew close enough, Rico reached out and pinched a spot on the guard’s neck. The guard obviously thought Rico intended to include him in their sexual antics, because he leaned into the touch. He was so close Rico could see his face. The guard’s forehead wrinkled with confusion right before he swayed on his feet and fell to the ground.
Rico took a step back.
“Did you kill him?”
Rico reached for Jalen’s hand and laced their fingers together, pulling him in the direction of the brig. Jalen pulled out of his hold and Rico stopped, turning to see him grab both of their tool belts. “No. Just cut off the blood supply to his brain. With any luck, he’ll be embarrassed enough not to tell anyone. It’s why I’m not taking his gun from him. I’m hoping he’s not smart enough to put two and two together, but if he is, then we only have around fifteen minutes before the shit hits the fan.”
Chapter Five
Getting into the fence proved to be a challenge. At least for a human. Rico could just fly over.
He looked over at Jalen, then back at the fence.
“Okay. New plan.” Rico grabbed Jalen’s hand and pulled him over to the tree line, tucking him in behind a bush.
Jalen blinked up at him in surprise, as if he wasn’t sure what had just happened.
“Stay here.” Rico kissed him on the mouth right before he stripped and shifted. He took to the air, immediately circling Jalen. Jalen looked
up at him with narrowed eyes, sitting on his knees.
Satisfied, Rico flew over the fence. He looked back once just to make sure Jalen was still safe.
He cried out in protest—the sound shrieking across the sky—when he noticed Jalen using his tools in his hand and starting to cut into the fence.
Rico circled back around and shifted as he landed. “I told you to stay behind the tree line.”
Jalen cut into the fence. “You’re not going to leave me. You do it again, and you’ll be sorry. I know people, Rico. So don’t fuck with me.”
He had the fence cut so quickly Rico didn’t even have time to respond before Jalen threw Rico’s clothing through the opening and squeezed through the hole. Jalen picked up Rico’s clothing and stood there waiting, the fence separating them.
Rico shifted just long enough to fly over the fence before shifting back to his human form. “Did you just threaten me with Virion?”
Jalen gestured with his hand that they should go, so Rico turned and led the way across the lawn. “I’m a single. Or was. I know people worse than anyone in your army, and that includes my brother’s mate.”
“You do realize I’m your mate, right?”
“That might be, but all that means nothing if you leave me to these assholes in this army.”
“You’re human.”
“So what? These bastards aren’t my people. Willard, Fred, and the other guys. The guys they rounded up like criminals. They’re the ones I care about right now. And I care about getting home.”
Rico stiffened and growled. “I’ll get you home.”
“Can you get dressed?” Jalen pressed his clothing against Rico’s ass, as if that was the part of Rico’s body that was the most distracting.
“Why? I might have to shift again.” Rico looked up at the corners of the buildings, looking for cameras. If they were spotted, he wasn’t sure what he would do about that. Alpha Delco had said to get in and out as quietly as possible, but if Rico’s face was on camera anywhere, he’d have a lot of forced downtime. And his alpha would probably take some heat for it. Whatever was going on at the human army base had never happened before. The last thing Rico wanted was to make it worse.
“I’m not used to seeing so much nakedness.”
“Like hell. You live in Virion’s cabin, right? It’s in front of the training field. Lots of naked there, considering shifters go from one form to another all the time.”
“Just get dressed, Rico.”
“No.”
“Do what I say.”
Rico rounded on Jalen, grabbing him by his nape to hold him in place. “You don’t call the shots here, Jalen. Our time is running out, and if I don’t get everyone off this base, then they aren’t coming off. The humans won’t let us breach the base a second time.”
Jalen huffed and looked away from him. “Don’t try to leave me behind anymore.”
Rico couldn’t help but smile. Jalen was used to being the boss, and he clearly didn’t like it when his orders weren’t being followed. Rico patted him on the back of his neck and pulled him close. “I won’t. But follow orders, baby. Okay?”
Jalen nodded.
Rico let him go and made his way to the prison building. There was a red light above a door that glowed, illuminating the spaces around them. He had seen it from the air.
It seemed the easiest way to get into the building. He’d have to take at least one guard out as quickly as possible, though.
They stopped right next to a gray door with the words employees only stamped onto the front of it in white letters. The red light above made the gray darker.
Rico pressed the button beside the door. A buzzer sounded, and then they heard a woman’s voice through the speaker. Rico pressed and held the button the second time, leaning forward to talk into it. “Forgot my key. All the shit going down today messed me up, man.” Rico let go of the button.
“Name.” Again, her voice was barely recognizable through the static.
“Smith.”
“Really? Smith. That’s the best you could come up with?”
Rico just shrugged. It was a common enough name that there was a small chance they might let him in. Rico was actually hoping someone would come to the door because the name didn’t match up. It was their best chance of getting a uniform and keys.
It wasn’t even a full minute before the door opened and a man stepped out. Rico was on him in seconds, making him pass out the same way he had the other patrolman.
He let the man drop to the ground and began stripping him of all his clothes. It was awkward to strip a lifeless body, but he managed. Jalen had his foot stuck in the door and waited while Rico dressed in the guy’s uniform as quickly as he possibly could.
Rico grabbed one of Jalen’s hands, putting him in front as they went inside. He took Jalen’s other hand and held them behind his back, pretending he had Jalen handcuffed. “We only have a couple minutes.”
Jalen’s hands shook but he nodded, indicating he understood.
“We’ll make it out, mate.”
They walked down a long hallway with closed doors on each side. He cursed in his mind when he came to the end and saw a camera. There would be others. His face would be all over them.
He used the key to open the door and propelled them through. A prison guard stood on the other side. “Found this one outside as I was coming in.”
The guy looked down at Jalen’s tool belt. “The construction crew are in the holding area on the south side of the building.” When the guard looked at Rico. “You must be new.”
“Yeah. Just started today. All the extra prisoners and shit.”
Jalen stiffened as the guard shifted on his feet. He leaned against Rico as much as possible, as if looking for comfort and protection. Rico wasn’t sure which one, but Rico would give him both just as soon as the acting job was over.
“Yep, even be fuller if the Rogue Army keeps trading guys, and we keep imprisoning them as if they were criminals.” The way the guy said it made it seem like he didn’t like the practice. Rico took the time to study the man’s facial expressions, trying to decide if he could trust the guy or not.
“Oh yeah? That’s a thing huh?”
“The Rogue soldiers aren’t even put into the ranks.” The guard leaned forward. “I think it’s shitty what we’re doing. It’s all those uppity bastards in family groups. Us singles know better than to think we’re better than the paranormals or anyone. We’re the fucking same, you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I know exactly what you mean.”
The guy held out his hand. “I’m Rut. Well, George Rutkowski but everyone calls me Rut.”
“Rico.” Rico shook Rut’s hand. “Did you voice that opinion to get put on guard duty?”
Rut grinned. “Yeah. Was special ops before they put me here. Now I don’t have to kill innocents just because they were born paranormals. Fuckers are starting a war they can’t win. Too bad we’re on the wrong side.”
Rico let his eyes change. “I’m not on the wrong side. Want to put your actions where your mouth is?”
Rut jumped and instinctively put a hand on his stun gun. He didn’t pull it out, but his breathing changed from erratic to calm in seconds. “You here for the paranormals?”
“And the construction crew.” Rico let Jalen’s hands go and put an arm around his waist, pulling him close.
Rut nodded. “Follow me.”
“Let’s get the Rogue soldiers first.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m not called sir in the Rogue Army, but you’ll learn that later.” Rico followed Rut through the prison.
Jalen leaned into him, whispering in his ear. “Can we trust him?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll take him out if he crosses me,” Rico said it loud enough for Rut to hear.
“I’m on your side. Most of the guys who started out as singles think like I do. At least the ones who’ve tried and failed to g
et into a family group. Some of those family group bastards will use a single for their own gain and then let them go.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean they’ll use us to further themselves in the ranks because it looks good on the resume to daddy or some shit like that. I don’t fucking know why they join, but they do. It’s all about the climb with the family group fuckers.”
Sounded like Rut had experienced that in his past.
Jalen relaxed his body, pressing into Rico’s side. The movement was subtle but unmistakable. “That happens to women a lot. Men in family groups will use them without following through on promises.”
“Exactly.” Rut used his own key in the door. He pointed to the cameras. “No one is in the security room right now. The guard who’s supposed to be in there is getting his dick sucked by a guy in section B right now. He always does this time of night. He’ll probably be another ten minutes, and I can erase the feed on the way out. We’ll be out of here by the time they notice something’s off.”
“Thank you.”
“The government is starting something with the paranormals they can’t win, and the armies are both stuck in the middle. I might have signed up to get three squares, but I also was told I’d be defending people who couldn’t defend themselves. That’s what my first CO said. Now, I’m imprisoning innocent beings. Fuck that. I’ll take my chances with the Rogues.”
“My brothers and I just moved to the island about a month ago. The Rogues are good guys,” Jalen shared with Rut.
Rut nodded. “I figured. Met a few years ago and they were all good folks. Well, as good as any single.”
Rut opened a door made of thick metal bars. They entered a room with tables in the center. Cells with glass doors circled the room creating an outer wall. Men stood, sometimes two in each door, inches from the glass in jumpsuits. Rico spotted Seazur immediately. Waldron took up a spot directly behind him.
Seazur grinned and got a smugly satisfied look on his face. Rico smiled and shook his head. Based on Seazur’s reaction, which was very typically him, the two weren’t injured. Rico had been worried about that from the start of the mission. Seazur had a big mouth and didn’t know when to shut up sometimes, which got him into more trouble. Rico needed Seazur and Waldron to be in top form if they were going to get out of there in the next few minutes.
