Athena Force: Books 1-6

by Justine Davis, Amy J. Fetzer, Katherine Garbera, Meredith Fletcher, Catherine Mann

  She was already primed to explode as it was. So why wasn’t she climbing into her car?

  “Josie?”

  A coyote howled in the silence before she finally forced the truth out between gritted teeth. “I’m just pissed at myself.”

  “Well, I guess that’s a change from your being pissed at me.”

  She tried to smile. Failed.

  “Okay, what’s got your G-suit in a twist?” He gentled his demand by caressing his thumbs along her jawline. “Spill it, because I’m not interested in anything but your full attention right now.”

  She hesitated, out of habit and yes, the very real fear that this man would think she was a paranoid nutcase.

  “Josie?” he insisted, and for some reason she wanted to trust him.

  She had no idea why, only that impulsive Josie was clearly in control over her more practical Josephine ways at the moment. “I really do like the idea of being wild and uninhibited out here together. And I hate that it won’t happen because I can’t shake the creepy feeling that someone’s watching me. Okay?”

  He stilled against her. Already-honed muscles hardened to a sheet of steel in his wolflike wariness. “Right now? You feel like someone’s watching us now?”

  “I’m sure it’s because I’m spending so much time peeping with reconnaissance cameras, I’ve started assuming everyone can see. Totally paranoid, I know. And if you tell anyone I said it, I’ll vow you’re lying.”

  “Your instincts say someone’s watching us now?” he repeated as if to insure her exact perception.

  She hesitated, searching his eyes until she was certain he wasn’t looking at her like she was a nutcase. “Yes. Even though we’re in the middle of nowhere without a tree or hill in sight for anyone to hide behind, I feel like somebody’s watching us.”

  He didn’t argue, merely nodded, all passion gone from his face and replaced by pure lethal drive. “Get in the car. Go straight to your place, since at least it’s in a populated area. Mine’s too remote. I’ll be behind you the whole way.”

  “Diego?” She’d wanted him to believe her, but his quick insistence rattled her. She almost didn’t recognize this man barking orders at her, a strange contradiction of military authority packaged in a rough biker body. “I just wanted us to slow down and head home. I don’t honestly think there’s someone right here threateningly close—”

  “We’ll talk when we get to your place. Time to go. Now,” he ordered.

  She grappled behind her for the door handle. Diego Morel might not be wearing his uniform these days, didn’t even carry the commission any longer, but there was no denying that this man was still a warrior.

  And he sensed danger, as well.

  Ever aware of the danger of discovery, Birddog adjusted camera angles on the Predator’s remote control screens. Working both the pilot and sensor operator jobs was challenging, but doable with some autopilot settings. A hazardous risk? Maybe. But the payoff would be rich.

  And the thrill made it all worthwhile. Besides, he wouldn’t be caught. Hadn’t he proved his invincibility over the years?

  Officially, there weren’t any flights tonight. But Josephine Lockworth didn’t know everything that went on around here. He had a few connections of his own to log unofficial flight time on a regular, unmodified Predator that didn’t require a test rider on the craft.

  He’d simply disguised the request as an interest in keeping skills honed on projects in his testing world. In reality? He wanted to test a little idea he had in mind for an upcoming mission.

  He’d hoped the near miss at Red Flag would shake her focus, since siccing Shannon Conner on her hadn’t. But no luck. He’d been certain the adjusted coordinates at Red Flag would go undetected in the fog of practice war fighting, and he’d been correct. He’d been equally certain she would survive. Again, correct. But he had also expected her to doubt her instincts, and therefore falter on her next Predator ride.

  Wrong. She’d come back stronger than ever, grabbing hold of her life.

  Or rather, grabbing hold of Diego Morel.

  Birddog watched the two trails of dust puffing behind the Mustang and Harley as they tore back across the dried-up lake bed.

  He could get a better look if he didn’t have to man both crew positions. But something was better than nothing. She was looking over her shoulder far too often these days, double-checking her work. Listening to Morel.

  Now their out-of-control necking session left him with no doubts. They’d teamed up. He could see that well enough. Morel was supposed to have been so riddled with resentment over Josie Lockworth living his dream that he would screw up and offer an easy conduit for disinformation. Instead, this woman somehow seemed to be bringing the old Diego Morel back to life.

  If women had any clue how much influence they had over a man, how much power they wielded, the male species could well be doomed. Hell, wasn’t his life even now being shaped by one rejection?

  Birddog swiped dust from the screen, then from beside the keyboard. Didn’t anyone clean this place? The damn dust and dirt were everywhere.

  He forced his hands to still. It would never be clean enough anyway, since she never seemed to notice and appreciate his attention to detail.

  The bitter gall of being tossed over for another man, an unworthy man, roiled bile up his throat. He swallowed down the burn. Who knew what the hell drove women to pick such obvious losers—men never destined for greatness because they were weak when it came to women.

  He wasn’t weak. He’d lost the opportunity once, but wouldn’t fail again.

  No more time for wondering. Time to act.

  Inaction was about to kill her.

  Josie steered her car into her parking lot. Thank God, their hour-long ride back was finally finished. The whole way, Diego had kept his bike centered neatly behind her Mustang, but there had never been a sign of anyone following them. Her sense of being watched faded with every mile.

  Other gut feelings, however, were still at full roar…and were damn glad they were approaching her condominium complex, where they could find a bed. A wall, floor, sofa, hell, even a table, would work, too, as long as they were minus some clothes.

  She scanned her parking lot, which was filled with cars but quiet. Logical for this late at night. Lines of two-story stucco town houses stretched, lights glowing from only a few windows. The last of her jangling instincts quieted. For now at least.

  Josie flung open her car door. Diego had her by the arm, hauling her toward her condo, barely leaving her time to grab her bag from the seat. Hand on her back, he shuttled her deeper into the condo complex along the curvy sidewalk.

  “Diego?” Her flip-flops slapped the walkway. “I really think we’re okay now. We’re safely home and I’m already starting to laugh at myself a little for getting wigged out—”

  “I’m almost certain someone was also watching you a couple of weeks ago.”

  Her feet slowed. “Then it hasn’t been my imagination all this time.”

  Shooting her an exasperated look, he tugged her along. “You’ve wondered about someone watching you before tonight in the desert? Why the hell didn’t you say something sooner?”

  “It’s not like I’m getting creepy calls or letters. It’s just a feeling that I thought had more to do with my project being under such scrutiny.” She paused. “Hey, wait. You said you knew someone was watching me?”

  “Back at the Wing and a Prayer, the first day we met.”

  “But I thought you were the one watching me there. You thumped on my roof right after I got that being-watched intuition.”

  “Great. You thought I was a stalker perv.”

  “Apparently I got over that impression fast, since I’m here with you now.” Likely to be much closer.

  “I came to your car because I thought someone was watching. Even though I never saw anyone, I was mighty certain. At the time, I figured it was some drunk looking to take advantage. But now with you having the same sense—more than once
—that’s too much to put down to coincidence.”

  “You didn’t need a ride that night.”

  He shrugged.

  “Why didn’t you tell me then so I wouldn’t have to worry that I’m losing my freaking mind?”

  “I thought it was just someone looking to hit on you. I didn’t have reason to believe otherwise.”

  She scrunched her toes in her flip-flops and started walking again. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  “Yeah, I hear ya, Buttercup. But sometimes it doesn’t hurt to have a little help on your side to tip the scales. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Stopping in at the corner unit in front of a silver gray door with stained-glass stars inset, she reached into her purse and pulled out her keys. “Sorry for being an ingrate when you were just worried about me.”

  “There you go again, being all fair and genuine.” Backing her under the safety of the porch overhang, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t know people like you still existed. I figured they would have all been gobbled up by the Big Bad Wolf a long time ago.”

  “Is that a proposition to gobble me, Mr. Wolf?” She gripped his shirtfront, yanking him closer.

  “I believe it could be. How will you protect yourself?”

  “I do have some serious martial arts training.”

  Angling her hips closer to his, he grinned. “Wanna mosey inside and wrestle?”

  She smiled back. “I’m a black belt.”

  “And I’m a street fighter. Should be fun.”

  “It could get messy.” She tugged the leather band from his hair.

  “I fight dirty, as big bad wolves are known to do.” He flattened her against the door.

  She plowed her fingers through his hair. No teasing brushes of mouths and tongues this time. She went after what she wanted. Took it. Demanded more.

  Her fingers tangled in his hair while her other hand scaled along his back, lower to guide him against the cradle of her hips.

  He mumbled against her mouth, “Give me your keys.”

  “My keys?” She held up both empty hands. “Oh, uh, I thought I had them. I must have dropped them when I—”

  Damned if her face didn’t heat.

  “When you put your hands in my hair? Or on my ass?”

  Josie swatted him. “The keys are probably on the sidewalk or in the bushes somewhere.”

  She leaned just as he scooped the key ring from between his boots. He began to straighten. She didn’t.

  “Hey, Buttercup? You okay there?”

  She was still staring at the dim glow streaking through the stained-glass inset on her door, casting shadows on the walkway. Her brain tried to push reason through the passionate fog. “I didn’t leave the light on inside.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. I always turn off the lights.”

  Someone had broken into her apartment. Might still be inside. Even as her fingers dialed 9-1-1, she wouldn’t wait idly by, allowing the intruder the opportunity to sneak back out. And she knew without question there was no way in hell Diego would stand by while she tackled this alone.

  Black belt and street fighter, they were going inside together.

  Chapter 9

  Diego could actually see Josie’s muscles bunch in preparation for whatever threat waited inside her condo. Undoubtedly, she could put up one helluva fight. But with his instincts still on high alert and testosterone in overload…

  Well, hell. He just couldn’t bring himself to let her take the lead. Now he had to figure a way to maneuver her into staying outside the condo and out of the intruder’s path. She could chew him out later.

  And he didn’t doubt that she would.

  “Is there a back entrance?” he asked low.

  She nodded. “With a fence around the patio about five feet high. And a balcony on the second floor off of my bedroom.”

  “No need for either of us to go in. Just kick the door wide. Loud. Most likely whoever it is will make a dash out and we can tackle him.”

  “Works for me.”

  “You watch the front. I’ll take the back entrance.”

  “Since he’s most likely to leave out the back?”

  So much for maneuvering her any-damn-where. “Hey, I’m a guy. I don’t care how capable you are. The protector syndrome comes with the testosterone for us men. You’re lucky if I don’t lock you in your car until this is done.”

  Josie rolled her eyes. “And you’re lucky I don’t have time to argue. Take the back exit, Thor.”

  He knew how to accept a win gracefully.

  Without a retort, Diego tucked around the side of the corner unit and stopped behind one of the trees planted for decoration and watered endlessly to survive in an environment not meant to support shallow-root life-forms.

  Of course, wasn’t he as out of place with Josie?

  Mind on the moment, Thor, he mentally thumped himself.

  From this vantage point, he could keep his eyes on Josie at the front and the patio out the back. She slid the key into the lock, turned. Click. Click. He tensed.

  She flung the door wide with a crash. Then flattened herself to the stucco wall beside the portal.

  Waited. And waited. For nothing. Not a sound drifted from the condo. Maybe the intruder had already left. He debated how much longer to wait.

  A shuffle sounded from inside. “Josie?” a female voice called. “Is that you?”

  Josie’s shoulders sagged as she all but deflated against tan stucco.

  What the hell? Diego eased from behind the tree.

  Spinning into the open doorway, Josie propped her hands on her waist, one hip jutting too damned enticingly. “Holy crap, Diehard. You’re lucky we didn’t kill you.”

  “You could have tried.” A woman, mid-twenties maybe, scuffed toward the door in holey sleep socks with a bowl of macaroni and cheese cradled in her hand.

  Diego assessed her as a possible threat in spite of Josie’s—warm?—welcome. Medium height. It was tough to gauge her build or muscle tone buried under layers of baggy black sweats at least a size too big. Cheese sauce drips stained her left shoulder and the insignia on her top—a lightning bolt slashing through a red-and-gold crest.

  Her short blond waves were swept back from her face with a wide green sweatband. Most women he knew would have run screaming in the other direction if faced with a man while wearing slouch clothes. Yet her oblivion gave her an appeal most women wouldn’t understand.

  There was potential under those sweats. Waaay under those sweats. Not that he was interested in looking, beyond making sure she wasn’t out to hurt Josie. He had his hands more than full with a certain mouthy test pilot.

  Diego ambled up to the two women exchanging hugs with a hint of awkwardness, as if out of practice. Watching them both so close, the family connection clicked as he spied their common ground. “Moxie.”

  “Huh?” Josie and Diehard answered in sync.

  “You two don’t look a thing alike, other than your eyes and similar height, but I could tell you’re sisters by the attitude alone.”

  “No kidding?” Diehard shuffled back inside, Diego and Josie following. “I take after Dad, she takes after—”

  “Our crazy mother.” Josie slammed and locked the door.

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  Tension washed from Josie’s spine. “I know. Sorry for snapping. Just one of those hot buttons, I guess.”

  Diego filed away the cryptic statement along with all the rest of the surprise personal info about Josie to process later. When his body wasn’t testosterone fogged to Thor level.

  He thrust out his hand. “Diego Morel.”

  The woman’s eyes widened in recognition before she took his hand and shook. “Diana Lockworth, and it’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

  Sir. Diego winced. “Thanks. But if you start telling me about how you studied my work ‘back in the day’ I’ll have to kick your ass.”

 
“Like I said before.” Diana hitched her hands on her hips in more of that sisterhood-inherited moxie. “You could try.”

  Josie stepped alongside Diego, close, oddly so in a way she’d never done before. Damned if she wasn’t claiming her man.

  Testosterone levels rose. Thor-overload alert.

  Diana simply laughed, turning to mosey into the great room. “Sheathe the claws, Josie, I’m not into poaching.”

  Diego winked down at Josie. “Does that make me a piece of meat or a carcass?”

  Josie scowled.

  Diana jerked a thumb in his direction. “I like him.”

  Hooking her hand through the crook of his arm, Josie stared up at him, scowl long gone and replaced by pure sensual hunger. “Me, too.”

  Need hammered through him like…well, like Thor’s hammer. And there wasn’t a chance in hell of relief tonight, thanks to Josie’s surprise company. He needed an about-face away from temptation. And all told, the night had still been damned incredible. “I’m going to head out so you two can visit.”

  Diana gestured with her mac-and-cheese spoon. “Give me twenty bucks and I’ll do the good little sister disappearing act with a movie and some jujubes.”

  “No,” Diego insisted, “really, it’s okay. I need to feed my dogs.”

  Josie followed him toward the door, calling back to her sister. “Hold on a minute and I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time. I’ve got a pot of mac and cheese calling my name for seconds.” Diana disappeared into the kitchen with a shoosh-shoosh of her slipper socks along the tile floor.

  Josie stepped into his arms. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out for us tonight.”

  “Did you have a good time?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then they worked out just fine.” He met her kiss halfway. Ah, hell. He groaned against her lips. “How long is she in town?”

  “I don’t know,” she whispered with a hint of regret. “I wasn’t expecting her at all.”