Would I ever get enough of his wicked mouth? Would my body always unwillingly respond and soften when seconds before I wanted to punch him in his throat for being an overbearing asshole?
The kiss ended all too soon and without a word Linc was out the door. What the fuck was that! It took me a moment to shake myself out of my Linc induced stupor and run out the door to watch my team depart. I made it out the door just in time to watch the helicopter lift off the ground. The whine of the engines roaring to full power was so loud I covered my ears and enjoyed the vibrations the noise sent through my body. I always loved traveling by helicopter. The sheer power always amped up my adrenaline. Fuck, this sucked ass. Watching my team leave left me feeling inadequate and weak, neither of which I was comfortable with.
Tom and Drew walked back towards me. Tom patted my shoulder and continued on towards the house, leaving Drew and I standing outside watching the helicopter disappear into the dawn.
“You good?” Drew asked.
“I get to shoot guns and take out bad guys, life is good.” I tried to force some spunk in my voice. I did not want a postmortem of my relationship and that is exactly what Drew was trying to do.
“You think that bullshit works on me, girl?” he laughed.
Shit and damn! Since when did Drew want to do girl talk?
“It was worth a shot, there’s nothing to say Drew. My life is fucked. I have lived a lie my whole life, I have an uncle that is the freaking President, and, oh yeah, I am married!” My voice raised a few octaves towards the end, it sounded shrill even to my own ears. What in the hell was that shit?
“Let’s start with your life is a lie. It sounds to me like you had parents that gave a shit and wanted you protected from the fall out that was their life, not wanting you to grow up having to be followed and watched. Get the hell over it. You know now. Move on and get to know your uncle.”
I stood frozen. Get over it. What the fuck?
“Nice. Thanks for that very insightful outlook.”
“Jasmin, what is the alternative? What would your life have been like growing up if Tom took you? You would have grown up in a bubble. You would have been stifled. Body guards and all that other bullshit. Or if you didn’t have Noah? Foster care? So yeah, get over it, that simple. You want a pity party, poor you? That is not the bad ass Jasmin I know. The Jasmin I know pulls her shit together gets square and moves on. So move on.” Drew threw his arm up in obvious frustration.
He was right, of course. I was not one to allow anyone to pity me or treat me like I needed to be managed
“Shit and damn! I hate it when you’re right. I’m good. Yes, just like that before you ask. I just needed someone to set my ass straight. You’ve always been good at that.” I smiled at him.
I knew this was somewhat of an uncomfortable conversation for Drew. He did not do touchy feely. Oh he always had my back and was protective, but he was all man. For him to bring this up to me meant I looked worse than I thought. Damn it to hell.
“You know, I worked with Linc on an op in Germany about five years ago?” he asked, his eyes guarded, looking more uncomfortable then he did a minute ago. “We didn’t work closely, his team was the secondary. We tracked a jihadist group to Germany and his team was already embedded so it just worked to use them.”
“Yeah?” I was confused. Why in the hell would that make Drew so uncomfortable, “So you got a problem with him, did the operation go to shit?”
“The opposite actually. Lincoln Parker is one of the best operators I have ever worked with. Before I knew his connection to you I was relieved he was joining the team. I knew his shit was wired tight, he is smart with great instincts.”
“And now that you know there is a connection, that he is my husband?” I asked, still unclear where this was going. Surely Drew knew I could handle myself; I had never given any of the guys any reason to think that I was some wilting flower that needed five big brothers to protect her. Even though that is exactly what they did when we weren’t on a mission. When we were in theater they treated me no differently than they treated each other. But when we were stateside they acted like I was the little sister.
“Fuck! Now I am not so sure.” he shoved his hand through his short hair, clearly agitated
“The fuck?” I blurted out.
“Shit, damn. Look, Jasmin, I do not want to get into your personal sex life…” Drew started, but I cut him off before he could finish.
“The hell you say? Then don’t. You do realize you are like a brother to me. I get all the rest of you talk about the ass you get, but you have always respected me enough not to ask me about my sex life, or lack thereof.” I hissed out, pissed as all get out he would have the nerve to bring up my sex life.
“God Damn this is not easy for me. I am worried about you. I have seen Linc at a club.” Drew’s face pinched up in horror.
“What in the ever loving hell does that have to do with anything? It was five years ago. Long before I met him. Who cares if he was at a club? We go to clubs to blow off some steam after a mission or to shoot the shit, why does this even matter?” I questioned, getting more pissed by the second. What was wrong with the men in my life? Were they all trying to drive me bat shit crazy?
“Jasmin,” he spit out, annoyance evident in his voice, “a kink club.” At least he had the decency to look embarrassed.
OH! Oh shit. It became blindingly clear what he was trying to tell me. My faced flushed red, giving away my embarrassment. We all knew Drew had a particular taste when it came to sex. He had never hidden the fact he was a Dom. His kink, from what little I knew, was extreme. He liked to dish out a side of extreme pain with his sex. I, for one, never cared what two consenting adults did behind closed doors, or in front of a room full of likeminded people, if that was their brand of kink.
“Why… why are you telling me this? Does he… um was he… shit why can’t I say it? Is he hardcore like you?” I stammered out, feeling my body heat up and flush red with memories of Linc ordering me around and spanking my ass in the shower.
I had never been so turned on or felt more at peace then I did when I gave up my control and gave it over to Linc. I could let go and relax, knowing he was calling the shots, but I didn’t know how much more pain I could take. I think my entire body might have shook at the images my mind was conjuring up. Holy shit, Drew turned crimson and looked away again when he noticed my visceral reaction.
Drew quickly recovered and schooled his expression. “No, he had a sub in ropes using a deer skin flogger for light impact play.” He looked like he wanted to crawl out of his skin as he uttered the words.
When the hell would I learn to stop asking questions I did not want to know the answers to? The thought of Lincoln with another woman had my heart rate spiking and rage flowing through my body. What the in the actual fuck was that? Was this what jealousy felt like?
“And?” I squared my shoulders, showing more confidence then I felt.
“And? Jesus Christ, I just told you. Linc likes to tie subs up and flog their asses, isn’t that enough? A man like Linc cannot just turn off who he is, Jasmin. I needed to make sure you knew what you were getting with him.” Drew eyed me up and down like I was some puzzle he couldn’t work out, trying to fit all the piece that made me into a neat little rectangle.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” My back shot ram rod straight under his scrutiny. “You gotta know it pisses me right the hell off that I am feeling like I am being judged here. By you of all people, mister ‘I like to throw a whip and see my welts on the ass of my wife’. What the hell, Drew! Does that make me weak in your eyes now? I will not apologize for who I am or what I like.”
“Fuck no! It takes a strong woman to fully submit to her man, to give all of her trust over to him, and allow him full control. Every time Julie submits to me it is a gift and one I do not take lightly. I just never took you as a sub, Jasmin. I thought you would cut Linc’s dick off at the slightest hint of dominance.” He looked away
again, shaking his head as if he was trying to shake away an unpleasant image. Good. The fucker wanted to talk about my sex life, I hope that image is seared in his brain forever. God knows I could not unhear this conversation, and I wished I could.
“Thanks for the concern brother,” condensation dripping off my tongue, “but I am five by five.”
I started to walk away. I was so over this uncomfortable conversation. What the hell? How damn embarrassing!
Drew stepped in front of me. “I am sorry, baby girl. I should not have gotten in your business. I was just worried about you and about Linc.” He waited to continue until my eyes met his. A look of hurt flashed in them. “I know what it is like to have, shall we say, certain tastes. And when someone you care for does not share in those tastes it leads to heartache.”
Shit and damn! How could I stay mad at Drew when he had obviously opened himself up to me and was just trying to look out for me?
“I know. Really. I’m cool.” I gave him a loopy smile and a wink, earning me a chuckle. Drew had a great laugh; it was straight from his gut, full and gruff. Hearing it made me smile bigger. Damn, I loved my family, uncomfortable sex talk notwithstanding.
“So my girl is a sub. Who knew? Here I had always figured you as a Domme. I was waiting for the day you asked to borrow my flogger. Shit Dom I am, huh?”
FML! Just kill me now. Serious as shit, my face felt like it had caught on fire and I looked around for the nearest hole to crawl in and die.
“Nope. Just waiting for the right man to come along. You know, one strong enough to overpower all my sass and bend me to his will. You know all the spankings are just a bonus. It makes the…”
“ LA LA LA… I get it. Stop there is not enough ear bleach.” he covered his ears.
I smirked at him, trying my hardest not to blush a bright red, “Right. Are we done with this heart to heart?”
He barked out a laugh and pulled me into a hug. “Yeah, baby girl, we are so done. Let’s grab our shit. Transport to the White House will be here in thirty.”
“Love you, Drew man, even if you’ve gone all soft and shit with a case of the feels.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lincoln
I swear to Christ if she left the God Damn White House unprotected while I was on this mission I would tan her ass when I got home! I usually used my time in transport to go over mission specifics and reports; this morning, however, I was thinking about how infuriating my wife was. My head was not in the right place for this op. Thoughts of Jasmin invaded every corner of my mind. Her sweet little body under mine, her capture and torture, her nightmares. They were all flashing together in a jumbled mess that only fucked with my mind more. Not to mention that fucked up stunt she pulled. Trying to play me as just a dick to warm her bed.
Two fucking years I lived and breathed filth and shit. I chased some cocksucker over four different countries to find those women. To dole out the punishment he deserved. It was slow and it was painful. By the time I found him there was only ten of the original fifteen women left, but the piece of shit had added twelve more to his stable. Twenty two women were rescued and returned to their countries of origin. Ten came back to the United States.
I gave up two God damn years to finally come home and claim my wife and her ass threw me attitude. If I was being honest with myself, I knew she would. I knew it would be a struggle. Nothing was ever easy with Jasmin. That was why I fell in love with her; she was all fire and sass. You had to work your ass off to get to the sweet. But once you get there, it was pure beauty. I needed that back. I craved to have that back. She soothed my soul and kept my demons at bay. After this mission I would make things right. I would not allow my pride to ruin me.
“Ten minutes out.” The pilot’s voice crackled over the headset.
“Copy,” Zane confirmed.
I laid my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. I had ten minutes to lock that shit down and focus. When I opened my eyes I could see The Farm in the distance. We would use the landing pad in the center of the oval driving course. I tried to distract myself by identifying all the additions Zane had made in the last two years. There was a new sleep cabin, a new shoot house, and it looked like the shooting range had been expanded somewhat, if all the new steel target systems were any indication.
“That a new rodgers range?” I inquired.
“Hells to the yes,” Jax answered. “When this shit is over, you and me. Best time wins.”
“Shit yeah, you wanna place a wager on that?” I asked Jax.
“I got a c-note that says I smoke your ass.” His lips twitched as he tried to hold back a smile.
“Shit, I’ll gladly take that bill off your hands, bro,” I joked back. Damn, it felt good to smile. The last twenty four hours had been absolute hell. I needed this.
I felt the helicopter start to descend and the aerial view of The Farm narrowed to just the landing field. We touched down with ease and Zane slid the door open. I quickly pulled my headphones off and grabbed my bag, patting the pilot on the shoulder as I prepared to exit.
“Smooth flight, thanks.”
I jumped to the ground, keeping low as I ran from the helicopter to the waiting Suburban.
***
Our first stop was the armory to get our gear and weapons. Holy hell, if I had thought the armory at Z Corp’s HQ was badass, this was the motherlode! Our gear for the mission had already been laid out for us on the larger work table in the center of the room. I made my way over to a pack and started to inspect my equipment. Picking up a fully kitted out Colt M4 carbine, I racked the weapon, leaving the slide open. Pointing the M4 towards the wall, and checked the Trijicon reflex sight. Clear and crisp. Perfect for close quarter operations. I placed the M4 down and did the same with the SigP220 .45ACP before I strapped my SERPA thigh rig on and holstered my weapon.
“God Damn, Z, you win the lotto?” Eric whistled as he inspected his gear.
“I think I need a raise if you can stock all this shit,” Leo said, noting all of the expensive gear.
“Yeah, cause your ass is broke,” Zane shot back.
“Fuck, the raise. I just want a week here at The Farm with unlimited ammo once a month as a perk,” Colin joined in as he checked the number of chem sticks on his tac vest.
“All a bunch of jokers, no raises, no free ammo,” Zane laughed. “You assholes get plenty of perks. Finish up in here. Garrett is ready for an updated brief.”
Zane finished checking his gear and started to walk out the door when he suddenly stopped and turned back towards us. “Though, Jax, if you can smoke my brother’s ass on the range there will be a five hundred dollar bonus for you.”
All the guys snickered and laughed. I bent at my waist in an exaggerated laugh, pretending to wipe a tear from under my eye. “Oh brother, that shit was funny.”
He just shook his head at my antics and continued out the door. We all followed him down a hallway into a conference room.
Zane wasted no time loading the video conference feed onto the large LCD monitor that hung on the wall. Garrett on half the screen and Drew on the other.
“Update.”
“Codes are filed and verified. Mission name: Sierra, Sierra. Countersign: Nightlight. Password of the day: Parris,” Garrett clipped.
I wondered if that man had left his desk in the last forty-eight hours or if he even slept. I hoped Zane had finally hired someone to help him, poor bastard.
“Copy that,” Zane smiled. “I see the director did not find the humor in my mission report.”
“No sir, he did not. I believe his exact words were, ‘how stupid does this cocksucker think I am?’ I think he has caught on. He thought you were naming all your missions after the tail you bagged, however the Traci Lords op gave you away.”
“Damn, I knew that one was too obvious,” Zane chuckled. “Drew, you got anything new for us?”
“Captain Black has checked in again, the tunnels are still clear. You’ll have safe passage to the o
ther side. Black has an informant they use from time to time. He told the kid to spread the word that the border patrol was going to be doing exercises in the area. The drug runners will stay clear,” Drew filled us in. “Jasmin has something to add.”
Drew stood up and Jasmin replaced him on the screen. She had her hair pulled up in a high ponytail that gave me an unobstructed view of her beautiful face. I studied her for a moment, her mask of professionalism clearly in place. She gave away no emotion as she began to speak.
“Intel came back on the guards. Three men, all South African Special Forces; Tito Lee, Junior Alco, and Banele Yost. All three spent six years as Recces. When they left they started offering personal protection for the dirt bags of the world. They are excellent at what they do including safe transport for drugs and girls as well.” Jasmin stopped and looked down, obviously to scan a report in front of her. She looked up and continued. “Do not underestimate these mother fuckers.”
“Copy that. Do we have their service records and pictures?” Colin asked.
“Yes, I have already sent that information to Zane’s tablet. Their client list and last known ops are also there. If at all possible I am sure the director would love to rendition their asses.”
“The director can kiss my pale white ass. That cocksucker would love nothing more than to send us out to do his dirty work, and then leave our asses flying in the wind. Fuck that noise. Let him send out his own God damn team.” Eric crossed his arms over his chest, looking like he was ready to spit fire.
All of us in this room had been burned by the CIA at one point in our careers. It still burned my ass to have to play nice with the bastards. I hated to have to eat shit, yet whenever the CIA stuck their nose in an op that is exactly what you had to do, eat shit. Eric was not wrong. The director was notorious for letting an operative swing in the wind to save his own ass. So much for playing on the same team.
“That all you got Jas?” Zane asked as he scanned the information on his tablet.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zane stiffen, but before I could fully study his reaction it was gone. I racked my brain for any recollection of the three shit bird guards, but I was coming up empty. I could not remember ever hearing their names, which is a red flag in my book. When you’re in the game long enough you know all the players. You make it your business to know every detail. It could be a matter of life and death.
Nightstalker: Red Team book 1 Page 15
