CODE NAME: GHOST
A Warrior’s Challenge Series 1
Natasza Waters
Sensual Romance
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book
Sensual Romance
Code Name: Ghost
Copyright © 2013 Natasza Waters
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-792-7
First E-book Publication: July 2013
Cover design by Dawné Dominique
Edited by Tamara Hoffa
Proofread by Laurie White
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Secret Cravings Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Secret Cravings Publishing
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Dedication
All stations…
It is my honor to write about the brave souls in the United States and Canadian forces. They protect our countries, and nations that cannot protect themselves. There have been many changes over the years, whether it was technology that silenced the Morse key or terrorism, which opened the world’s eyes on 9/11. I am certain one thing will always remain the same—there will never be a withering in the hearts of the men and women who keep us safe from dark things.
Love, Hope and Faith
This is Natasza…out.
Acknowledgment
Saying thank you seems mundane for the gratitude I have for several people. My husband stands at the front of the queue for putting up with take out and dust bunnies. My dad, who taught me more things than I have pages to write them down. My mom, who watches me from somewhere up above. I still try to be as patient and committed to a task as she was. I owe many thanks to my beta readers, Amanda, Vicki and Naomi, who read the dirty versions and kept me buoyed. Finally, to Tamara Hoffa, whose magical editorial wand and support means a chance at success.
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Can some slashed tires and an ornery bull bring two hard-headed people together for some fun in the sun and a little more?
**Forget Me Not, paranormal erotic romance:
A war is brewing, a war that could destroy an entire vampire race if left unchecked, and Julian Marino has been requested to participate in it. He stops his search for a long time friend to go home and discovers there is more at stake than just his wants.
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CODE NAME: GHOST
A Warrior’s Challenge Series 1
Natasza Waters
Copyright © 2013
Prologue
Kayla’s fingernails hooked into the tight weave of the Berber carpet, anchoring her to the precious moments she had left. Warm blood pooled in the hollow of her back and streamed down her sides, drenching the floor. The blade remained embedded deep in her flesh, driven to its hilt. Even with a shallow breath, her broken ribs ground together angrily.
Someone was shouting in the room. Someone else was weeping. She could do neither. Both became white noise, drowning in the whoosh of the furnace kicking in and sirens in the distance. More voices erupted from the doorway, strong, stern voices—men of valor.
They were too late.
If she could have opened her swollen eyes, pummeled shut by fists of rage and despair, she would surely see the reaper kneeling in front of her, waiting patiently for her last breath. Two thoughts floated with certainty in her mind as she gave way to the darkness.
Love, can be as deadly as combat. Hope…can end your life.
Chapter One
A heavy duffel bag hitting the deck snapped his attention to the SEAL who entered the office. “Ghost, good to see you made it back with your head,” Captain Redding said.
Commander Thane Austen, Ghost, swung his fatigue jacket onto the coat stand beside his desk. With a quick hand, he steadied it before it toppled. “Yup, the Serpientes are less one drug lord. They won’t be helping Al-Qaeda with arms and funds for a while, Red. Unfortunately, we missed Faron. He slipped down some rat hole before we eve
n hit the beach, but his brother had a moving burial at sea.” He turned to survey the Base Command’s Operation Center through the one-way glass.
Satellite links brought sensitive data streaming in from around the globe and the mass of radio equipment squawked twenty-four seven in the dimly lit room. No windows adorned the walls for security reasons, literally hundreds of lights and switches covered the operation consoles.
“Pretty rough one, by the looks of you,” Captain Redding remarked. Standing at a daunting six-foot-three, and built into every muscle God bestowed on him, Commander Austen belayed his thirty-seven years, keeping himself as strong as a twenty-five-year-old, but he could tell this mission had taken its toll.
“Who’s that?” he asked, jerking his head toward the occupants behind the glass, picking out the strangers quickly.
Red joined Ghost at the window. “Those are my new-old recruits, and yours, of course.”
Ghost’s brow rose, reading between the lines. “New-old, huh?”
“They’re all highly trained, especially her. Their captain was none too happy when I called to ask for their yearly evaluations.”
“You’re hiring people without me on the board again.”
“You’re always looking for perfect.”
“Perfect is what I need if they’re taking care of my men and coordinating base operations,” Ghost replied, staring in the direction of only one of his recruits—Kayla.
“Her name is Kayla Banks, and she has nearly twenty years experience. Her captain said she’s the best tactical specialist he ever had. She can extrapolate options that others don’t see, and as for rooting out sources, she’s untouchable. She convinced the other two to come with her. The shorter one that looks like a jock is Barry and the tall gangly one is Gord. They’re pretty tight, those three, but probably because they’re expats.”
“What is it with you and foreign hires? There’s a truckload of paperwork involved.” Ghost crossed his arms over his sizeable chest. "What's the matter with our homegrown boys?"
“Nothing, but budgets are tightening and that includes the training budget. Besides, Canadians aren’t foreigners. I recruited them from the Department of National Defense. They just have to learn the base operations, some American red tape, and they’re good to go. Working a command center is second nature to them.”
The quick jerk of Ghost’s head said he wasn’t convinced. “I’m not sending a woman into an FOB, Forward Operations Base even as a liaison.”
He wasn’t going to argue Ghost’s stubborn stance on women and combat.
Kayla, Barry and Gord huddled around the monitors bringing in real-time downloads from geostationary satellites locked in rotation at thirty-five thousand kilometers above their tiny blue planet. Constant surveillance and special op reports from the teams filtered in. Coronado Base Command processed, actioned and stored them. “Her hometown boys dote on her, but you can see they respect each other a lot. I assigned John to Kayla. He says she’s catching on quick.” He chuckled, which drew Ghost’s attention. “In fact, he said she’s taught him a couple things.”
The Commander swung his attention from the window and rolled out his chair, filling it with his mass. His body language told him Ghost wasn’t going to argue, but he wasn’t happy.
Kayla was the only female working as a tactical specialist in Base Command, and they needed her. Based on expertise, the brass wanted equality in all departments. A woman couldn’t be a United States Navy SEAL, but she could support the teams in many ways. Ghost viewed the role of a woman differently. “I had lunch with Admiral Timmons yesterday. He said intelligence has found a network of caves in the White Mountains. If it’s what they surmise, it could break Al-Qaeda’s back. They’ll be looking for your team to roll in first, Ghost.”
“The squad needs a rest. They’re on stand down for six weeks.”
He lowered himself onto the edge of Ghost’s teak desk. “When the hell are you going to stop taking your aging ass out into the theater?”
“Probably after it’s six feet under,” Ghost said, pulling open the middle drawer, digging for something.
“I came to my senses, when are you going to come to yours?" he said eying him. “There’s serving your country, and then there’s asking for a bullet.”
“Had a few of those in my time, but it sounds to me like you’re trying to tell me I’m past my prime.” Ghost’s fingers shuffled through napkins and business cards with phone numbers and a lipstick kiss on more than a few of them.
“You will be, soon enough.”
Captain Redding limped to his own desk and eased into the chair. Rubbing his aching knee didn’t help, nor did any of the therapy the damn doctors tortured him with. His wife, Lydia, wanted him to retire when he had turned sixty, which was last January.
“Once a SEAL, always a SEAL. You miss it,” Ghost said, resting his elbows on his desk and flipping the card he’d chosen in his fingers.
“Yeah, maybe, but the old girl would kick my ass if I ventured farther than this base.”
He peered over at him. “Domesticated…it’ll make a man old, Captain Redding.”
“Don’t give me that shit. You know damn well most of your own team is married, and happy.”
“Not as happy as me.” He swung his chair to look through the window again. “I’ve got one helluva good-looking redhead coming over tonight to coo over this SEAL,” he drawled, snapping the card in his fingers. “Maybe she’ll be the one, hey, Red?”
“Uh-huh.” He watched Ghost survey the ops room. Although there wasn’t much going on except normal base and port traffic, Captain Redding reached over and turned on the portable radio he kept on his desk to monitor the new recruits.
“Base this is Charlie Seven, outbound for San Clemente, thirteen souls onboard, ETA three-zero minutes, over.” The pilot’s voice carried a slight vibration and a familiar tinny hiss.
Kayla’s voice answered without a second’s pause. “Charlie Seven this is Base, good copy, we’ll advise. Requesting current visibility, extensive fog bank reported north-northwest of base, over.”
The Commander swung around and stared at the radio.
“Nice—cadence, huh?” Seeing Ghost had the same response most men did when they heard her.
Ghost twisted a look over his shoulder. “Yeah, I guess—for a one-nine-hundred number.”
“Apparently no one’s complaining. The lieutenant from the boathouse wants to give me an award for hiring her.” He picked up the portable and turned the volume down.
Ghost rose and scooped his bag from the ground. “As long as she knows what she’s doing, I don’t give a shit what she sounds like. Men’s lives rest in her hands.”
“She does, don’t worry about that.”
“Excuse me, sir. Oh, Commander Austen! I didn’t realize you were back. Welcome home.” Karen, their administrative assistant, paused in the doorway. Her hip kicked out as the tip of her high-heeled shoe curled to finish a perfectly executed Betty Boop stance. “I’ve kept your monthly reports up-to-date while you’ve been gone, sir,” Karen said, softening her voice and following Ghost’s gaze out the window.
“Thank you, Miss Harrison. I’ll review them tomorrow.” Ghost swept an uninterested look past her as she brushed a wave of blonde hair away from her chest, revealing an extremely low-cut neckline.
Karen stiffened, seeing the Commander turn his attention back to the ops room. “Gord and Barry are a nice addition to the team, but Kayla’s not very friendly,” she said, offering an unsolicited critique. “I’m having trouble with her work visa. She may not get approved.”
The Commander turned his steely gaze on her. “Make it happen, Miss Harrison. I don’t need friendly. I need experience. If Captain Redding handpicked her we’re not going to let red tape get in the way.”
Red smothered a grin. Karen had been in lust with the Commander from day one, and he hadn’t given her an ounce of interest. The skirts had gotten shorter and the heels higher over time, but sh
e was still batting zero.
Karen faltered. “Yes, sir,” she said, her expression melting to apologetic. “I tried to warn Kayla about the ‘Blood Shark’ but she brushed me off. I was just trying to be nice. Kayla’s older, and that’s what the Shark seems to be hunting.”
“No leads on him yet, hey?” Ghost asked, settling a dark look on him.
“Afraid not.” Five women had been murdered and left on the Coronado Amphibious Base. Once the San Diego media dubbed the serial killer ‘The Blood Shark,’ headlining him as prolific and uncatchable, a national fervor grew wings with every investigative reporter scrambling for theories. “But a nurse disappeared while you were gone. Police are sure it’s the Shark.”
“I bet you and the team could catch him,” Karen said smoothly, tilting her head and muzzling a coy smile.
The Commander was the last man on earth who needed flattery. “The Naval Criminal Investigative Service San Diego is a competent agency. They’ll apprehend him, Miss Harrison. Until then, keep your wits about you. Even though you don’t match his profile, I’d think wearing less revealing clothing and lowering your heels would be advisable.”
“Yes, sir.” A crushed look dawned on her features, and she quickly departed.
Oh, Lord. “Ghost, she’s young, enamored, and all starry-eyed working with the infamous SEALs. Cut her a break.”
The Commander snagged his jacket from the coat rack. “She’s been misinformed, thanks to the media. She’s looking for a hero and a husband, like most single women who come here,” he stated, his attention drifting to the ops room. “It takes an independent, strong woman to live a life with a SEAL. Most women don’t know we’re out in the field for most of the year. When they want to start nesting, it’s nothing but trouble.”
Code Name: Ghost Page 1
