Jinn & Toxic

by Franny Armstrong

  His head pounding with the pain, Tab asked, “Where’s Jinn?”

  “Captain?” Jennings asked, appearing confused.

  “I mean Dennison. Where’s Dennison?”

  From the looks on their faces, the news was bad. He’d have to heal himself fast so he could go after her if she ran, unless…she was dead.

  “We can’t find her. She went after the kid and Tanaka took off before we could stop him.” Blackstone’s quiet words sent shivers up Tab’s spine. Tanaka with Jinn? It couldn’t be possible. She had disobeyed his orders, but Julie always did when she thought it necessary as well, so he expected no less of the twin.

  “Start searching for her. Blackstone, help me with Seguire. We need answers and now.”

  “Captain, you may have a concussion. Perhaps you should¾”

  “You have my orders.”

  Though the room wobbled alarmingly, Tab stood and made his way to the traitor’s side.

  “Seguire, start talking. First, tell me why you betrayed us.” Tab stood over the man wanting to beat him to a pulp after all they’d been put through because of him and Tanaka.

  “Go to hell. I’m not telling you anything.” Seguire spit blood on the floor then rested his cheek against the tiles.

  “Blackstone, use your skills.”

  A bitter laugh from Seguire echoed in the room. “It won’t work on me. Go ahead.”

  Blackstone leaned in close and placed his large hand on the back of the man’s neck.

  “It’ll work.”

  The gentle giant turned into a hard, cold soldier in that moment, all steel from top to bottom. His concentration was visible in his expression as he focused on the traitor. Though his fingers never moved to tighten on Seguire’s neck, the man began to groan and thrash as though in pain. The longer Blackstone held on, the more he moaned and tensed up.

  “Stop…it,” he hissed, unable to get away.

  “We’re losing daylight. Hurry.” Tab knew Blackstone would extract the information needed. Impatient to go after Jinn, he tried to focus on Blackstone. It took every bit of his patience to hold back. Without knowing what happened to her, or her location, made him edgy and frustrated.

  Eyes closed, Blackstone began to talk in a calm voice. “I see a woman. The letter ‘S’. A name…Sol…Solange. She’s Latino, very beautiful but black of heart. She’s standing with a man with white hair. He’s an albino Mexican and holds onto the hand of a boy. The boy is trying to break free. A young woman…ah, it’s Tara. She’s with them as well. Dennison. She’s going to die. I see where they are and can lead you there, but it will be too late. There isn’t much time. Seguire and Tanaka were paid off to betray us all. There is someone unknown behind this. He doesn’t know who it is.”

  When the tenseness left his body, Blackstone sighed, releasing Seguire. When he stood up, Tab looked down. The man was dead!

  Chapter Ten: Tracking Traitors

  “Chan, Jennings, you’re on clean up. Give Gonzales a proper burial, bury the dead, and sanitize the site. I’m going after Dennison and Tanaka. Blackstone, you’re in charge. Murphy, Flame, go with him and follow the trucks. We’ll meet up as soon as possible. Silent communication unless absolutely necessary.”

  The wounded were patched up and allowed to live unless they fought further. Tab made sure all vehicles and weapons were destroyed but left rations for the captives. Satisfied that his team would take care of it, he began a mental search for Jinn.

  Jinn. Can you hear me?

  She didn’t answer. He knew that could mean she was either unconscious...or dead. Stiff with anger, Tab secured his knapsack on his back then turned to face Blackstone.

  “Captain. I’m sorry about Seguire. He fought me too hard mentally and his mind just shut down. I didn’t mean to kill him.”

  “You did what I ordered, Blackstone. For now, our job is to find my sister, Dennison, and the little boy. Let’s move out.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Tab knew that the giant preferred not to hurt anyone unless he didn’t have a choice and would feel guilt about the man’s death. The best way to handle that was to keep going and let him forget by keeping him busy. There’d be time later to deal with the situation—he hoped.

  ***

  When Jinn was able to open her eyes, she saw Tanaka squatting on the ground a few feet away with a blade in his hand as he studied her. Since she had no knowledge of Julie’s relationship with the man, she didn’t know what to expect, but his expression was foreboding. Hands tied to a branch above her head, her feet barely touching the ground, she figured she was definitely in trouble.

  “What’s up, Tanaka?”

  “You, apparently. We have some talking to do.”

  Her arms suffered the strain of holding her body up, tendons taut with stress.

  “So talk.” Jinn tried to coax him into releasing her with mind control. Untie me, Tanaka.

  “That’s not going to work this time. I’m aware of your new ability to get me to do what you want. Why are you screwing Toxic? What happened to us?”

  “I take it by ‘us’, you mean we still have an agreement.”

  Slowly, he shook his head, a bitter smirk on his face.

  “I can’t let you live now that you know about me. You understand, Julie.”

  “That depends on how you look at it. I may be more interested in you and was just stringing the Captain along to keep him off guard. After all, he thinks I’m the traitor.”

  Tanaka began drawing circles in the dirt with his knife, quiet for a few moments then glanced up at her again.

  “Are you saying you’d stay with me, work with me on the other side?”

  “What side? Drugs, weapons, or the slave trade?”

  “Any of them. I want money and lots of it. That’s all I care about.”

  “Why not simply ask me instead of this?” She looked up at her wrists where they were tied. Her hands were going numb, her broken hand beyond pain. She hissed as agony began to radiate down her back.

  He shrugged. “You’re a soldier. If you chose to, you might kill me. I wanted to make sure you were into us before I let you go.”

  “Well?”

  “I’m not sure.” He stood and walked closer, knife in hand.

  Jinn held still though she wanted to kick his ass for tying her up in the first place. When he ran the tip of the blade over her neckline, lightly cutting the skin until she bled, she waited, not sure if he’d harm her further. At least, she hoped he wouldn’t.

  “There was a time when you wouldn’t look twice at another man. I watched you two, you know. You were enjoying it.”

  Stunned, she shook her head. Her arms were like lead weights, her fingers going numb from lack of circulation.

  “I’m good at faking it, like most women. Cut the rope, Tanaka. We should get moving.”

  He seemed surprised by that.

  “You want to come with me?”

  She offered a slight nod and slipped her leg around his waist, pulling him close to her until his hard staff was pressed up against her mound.

  “Does that seem like I want to leave?” she asked, a purr in her tone, though she fought back the nausea it brought her.

  “I could have you just the way you are, tied up like that. Now there’s a picture I’d like in my mind.”

  His fingers moved to her waist and started undoing the belt.

  “Not so fast, my friend. This isn’t very comfortable. I’d rather get rowdy with you on the ground.”

  The deep chuckle he released suggested he had other ideas. He dropped the knife at his feet and moved in closer. She fought back a cringe as he slipped his fingers inside her pants and pressed his thumb against her nub. There was no help for it, she’d have to fake her way out of it.

  “On the ground. I want you now,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him, but he pulled back, releasing her.

  “You lying little witch. You never let me touch you before. Why all of a sudden if not because you want me to
let you go.”

  “I changed my mind.”

  His fist shot out and clocked her on the jaw, snapping her head back.

  Though her pants hung open, he watched her eyes. She found it difficult to maintain eye contact and hide her feelings when she truly wanted to kill him.

  “Toxic is dead. You can either have me or die. Make your choice now.”

  Pain flashed through her heart when she realized he could be right. Tanaka had won the fight with Tab or he’d be the dead one. There was no time for regrets as she worked the man’s ego some more.

  “You, of course, even if he was alive. The man’s way too bossy for his own good. He kept me prisoner even though I’ve served him for years without complaint. The whole team thought I was a traitor. I might as well be. There’s no way I can go back to base now.”

  Tanaka studied her again as though judging her words. He leaned in close and kissed her, his cold wet lips sending shudders of revulsion through her.

  “I thought so.”

  Jinn froze, concerned he’d found her out.

  His fingers slid into her thick hair and held her captive as he tried to thrust his tongue down her throat. When she gagged, he reared backward, shock on his face.

  “What the hell? You do want him.”

  This time he backhanded her, fury in his eyes.

  Her cheek was on fire as he hit her again until she’d had enough and raised herself up, using momentum as she swung her feet into his gut. When he staggered back against a tree Jinn prepared for his next move. He didn’t disappoint her and came charging.

  This time she kicked up high, landing her feet on his shoulders so he would slide in between her legs, his head caught. As soon as he was in place, she hooked her ankles together and squeezed her thighs until he gasped, unable to break her hold. Like a boa constrictor, she kept the pressure up, her muscles digging into the arteries in his neck. Agony from her arms nearly broke her grip. It seemed like forever before he began to lose control, his face a furious red as his eyes bulged.

  Only when he went limp did she release him and let him fall to the ground. There was no sensations left in her hands as she hung there, panting for breath. She knew that time was of the essence, and she had to break free of the ropes or she too would die.

  Jinn? Are you alive?

  Tab’s voice whispered in her mind.

  Yes. I’m okay.

  I’ll find you. I promise.

  Hurry! I need help. Though she hated to admit it, she’d take any kind of assistance right now. In minutes, light-headed, she began to fade. Am I going to die here? I haven’t told him how I feel about him. Damn, life is fickle.

  As consciousness receded, Jinn wondered if she’d see Julie on the other side.

  ***

  Tanaka didn’t bother to hide his trail for which Tab was grateful. That meant he didn’t believe Tab was a threat and his focus was on abducting Jinn whom he’d assumed was Julie. It also indicated that he presumed Tab couldn’t or wouldn’t follow.

  Either he’s completely crazy, or he thinks I’m dead.

  When Tab found them, his stomach knotted in fear. On the ground Tanaka lay still as death while Julie hung suspended from a tree, crimson blood staining the top of her shirt. She appeared to be dead, her face sheet-white but for the bruises on her cheeks and jaw. The bastard had beaten and stabbed her.

  Before he could move in, Tab scanned the area around the couple and surmised that there was no one nearby. First, he checked Tanaka’s pulse.

  “Dead.”

  With tender care, he checked her pulse. “She’s alive!” Slipping an arm around her waist, he held her close and cut the rope that bound her. She groaned as her arms dropped over his shoulders, her head on his chest.

  “I’m here, baby. Hang on a minute.” Tab lay her down on the soft ground and began the healing energy. Soon her wrists were back to normal, the cuts gone and bruising fading. She opened her eyes and stared up at him.

  “Are you all right now?”

  “Sure. Can I kick his ass?”

  “Already done. You’re my kind of woman.”

  Her eyes filled with pain.

  “Tab. I can’t love you. I’m sorry, but this thing between us. It’s over.”

  “Why, Jinn?”

  “I’m dying. I have an inoperable tumor and could go at any minute. That’s why I wanted to get to Julie fast. I had no choice. I’m a failure, Tab. I couldn’t save her, and I can’t share my life with you. Go find yourself a healthy girl.”

  Tab shook his head and smiled.

  “Jinn, when you fell into that pit, I healed you. The tumor is gone.”

  “What? You’re kidding me.”

  “No. I’ve never been able to heal so in depth before but something strange happened. It was like I reached out beyond my boundaries. I guess it’s because I was so scared of losing you. I love you, Jinn.”

  “The headaches. I haven’t had any since that—Wait. Say that again.” Her eyes widened in wonder.

  “You’re healed.”

  “Not that, you goof. The other part where you love me.”

  He chuckled. “I love you. How often do you have to hear it?”

  “How about every day for the rest of our lives? All we have to do is convince the government that I’m not a lab rat anymore and get them to let me go.”

  “We can discuss our lives together later. Right now I have a sister to save. Are you with me?”

  Though her heart ached for her own sister, Jinn nodded. “Sure thing.” She glanced over at Tanaka and shuddered. “I suppose it’s sanitation time.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Tab stared down at her opened pants and anger stirred. “Did he hurt you other than the bruises and cuts?”

  “I’m fine. He never got a chance.” Her expression hardened. “No man has the right to touch me unless I want them to.”

  Tenderly, Tab kissed her forehead, relieved she was okay.

  “From this day forward, you aren’t alone, Jinn. I’ll be with you all the way.”

  “I don’t know. I’m AWOL. When I get back, I’m in big trouble. My orders were to stay put, and I took off to save Julie. Damn. I wish she had lived. I’d have loved to hug her one last time.” Tears formed in her eyes, one trailing down her cheek.

  Tab brushed it away with his thumb then kissed her with gently.

  “Let’s get busy and finish this. Tara is in danger.”

  “They’d better not have hurt her or they’ll have me to deal with.”

  Jinn’s protective nature pleased Tab. “I’m sure you’ll love your new baby sister as much as she’ll love you. When we’re done here, no matter what happens, we’re getting married.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to ask a girl instead of telling her?” She caressed his cheek and nibbled his lip.

  “Not my girl. She needs a firm hand.”

  Throwing back her head, Jinn laughed. “You know me well, but we’ll see. I’m a handful, that’s for sure. It will be interesting to know if you have what it takes to keep me in line. No one else ever has, including the military.”

  “I’m up for the challenge.”

  His lips crushed hers to prove his power over her, and it worked. She melted beneath him.

  ***

  To make up for time, Tab and Jinn raced along the road. The team would have warned them if there was cause for alarm. Both used to running, Jinn had no problem keeping up with him. She enjoyed matching her skills with his as well and even sprinted now and then to test him.

  The air was less humid which made running easier, but the hot sun beat down between the branches above. She wanted to run with him forever, enjoying the competitive pace he set.

  “You’re going to be trouble for me, aren’t you, Jinn?”

  “I already am,” she teased, snickering as she wiped sweat from her brow. “How far ahead do you think they are?”

  “Blackstone sent me a silent message and said they have an hour head start, but the trucks had to m
ove slowly on the old roads so we can catch up fairly fast.”

  “Why is it that I can’t use my gift on your team?”

  “TT&T was trained for telepathic interference and we have chips that block signals. Each level of energy has its own signature. Our team isn’t connected with your frequency.”

  “I think one member is. Tanaka was susceptible to me.”

  “He definitely was a weak link. I can’t believe they were both traitors.”

  “I’m glad you don’t think Julie or me were anymore. I think there were two people who couldn’t resist my charms.”

  Tab chuckled. “I know I am one of them. I have no problem with that. It started the first time we made love.”

  “Made love. That sounds so sweet. Still, you don’t give into my demands mentally, or physically.”

  “I might if you ask nicely.”

  Jinn’s laughter echoed in the trees. “We have no time for that, Captain, but you just wait until we do.” Panting, she wiped at the sweat on her brow and grinned at him.

  “I can’t wait. Stop for a minute,” he growled. Tab took her arm and pulled her to a halt then snaked his arm around her waist pulling her tight to his rock-hard body. “There’s a stream just past the bushes. Let’s take a break.”

  “Now you’re talking.” She trembled in his arms.

  Together they walked hand-in-hand to the edge of the water and knelt down to wash up. After taking a long cool drink, Jinn took her top off and rinsed it then hung it on a branch. Ignoring Tab, she took off her boots, socks and then slowly stripped her pants off, dropping them around her ankles.

  Naked, she stretched, stepping into the cool stream to splash water over her heated skin. Tab never moved a muscle as he watched her every step.

  “Aren’t you hot?” she asked, staring at him with passion-filled eyes.

  “You have no idea!”

  Tab stood and stripped, throwing his boots to the side, his clothes on the ground then strode forward to stand beside her. His cock was rock hard and already dripping with dew.

  For a moment Jinn knelt and splashed water up his calves then higher, to his thighs.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice a hoarse whisper.