Act of Surveillance: Paranormal Security and Intelligence® an Immortal Ops® World Novel (PSI-Ops/Immortal Ops Book 7)

by Mandy M. Roth

  Liberty tipped her head back, staring up at Rurik. “Huh?”

  He laughed softly and kissed the tip of her nose. “Yes, Duke. She’s my mate.”

  Auberi grinned. “She’s all right then?”

  “She is,” said Rurik.

  Auberi stared at him. “How about you? You’ve looked better.”

  “I’m fine,” returned Rurik.

  “Your arm,” said Liberty, coming just shy of touching where Pavel had clawed him.

  “It’s fine. Just a scratch,” said Rurik.

  She cast a disapproving look at him before pulling back fast. “Isobel! Daisy! Gus said they’re in danger.”

  Gus had talked to her?

  Garth stepped out from behind the telecommunications van with Blaise at his side. They were still in the street, both glancing at the dead hybrid bodies. It was then Rurik noticed the black SUV parked partially in the yard. Clearly the operatives had been taking driving lessons from Bill.

  Bill cleared his throat. “Gus had me call Frenchie when I got home with the baked goods.”

  Auberi nodded. “Garth put calls into trusted assets in the area. They should be to the hotel of the woman at the conference as we speak.”

  Rurik eyed Bill. “How do you know where Daisy is staying?”

  Bill pointed toward the safe house.

  Gus was on the porch holding Mona’s head under his arm.

  “I didn’t,” said Bill. “Gus told me. I just passed the info on to Frenchie.”

  “I just got a call back from the team I dispatched to the university here, for, um, Is-it-a-belt,” said Garth as he dragged his attention to Rurik. The expression on his face said the news wasn’t good.

  Is she dead? asked Rurik on their mental pathway.

  There is no sign of her there, returned Garth. But there are signs of a struggle. Something went down there.

  Headlights splashed over the area as a big black vintage convertible car came speeding at Garth and Blaise. The men froze, watching the oncoming vehicle with surprise.

  Auberi moved with lightning-fast speed, knocking the Viking from the car’s path.

  Blaise wasn’t quick enough. The car struck him full on. He was launched into the air and then came down hard on the pavement. He lay there, face down, unmoving.

  The car came to a screeching halt and Isobel was out of it in seconds. She lifted her hands and flames appeared in each as she glared at the gathered group of men.

  Liberty darted down the stairs. “Stop! They’re the good guys. Don’t light them on fire!”

  The flames died out as Isobel ran for Liberty, drawing her into a hug.

  Duke wasn’t far from Blaise, who was still face first on the street. He hurried over to the vampire and bent. “Uh, how do I tell if he’s deader than normal?”

  Liberty tensed, still clinging to Isobel. “Oh God, you hit a good guy!”

  Isobel’s gaze was slightly wild as she focused fully on Liberty. “Are you hurt? You’re bleeding!”

  “I’m okay,” said Liberty. “But you hit that man.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” said Garth, pushing off the ground. “He started out dead.”

  Auberi smoothed his dress shirt down, adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves, and then strolled toward Blaise. “Blaise is fine. Stunned, but alive.”

  “That’s kind of debatable,” said Duke before grinning at Garth. “Your father-in-law just saved your life.”

  Garth flipped him off.

  Auberi rolled his eyes. “Again with the hand gestures, Viking. Try using words.”

  “Fuck. Off,” said Garth, putting emphasis on both words.

  “That’s more like it,” supplied Auberi before glancing at Duke. “Tell my daughter I saved her mate’s life.”

  “Trying to win some brownie points before you kill him?” asked Duke.

  Auberi nodded demurely.

  Duke laughed as he pointed to Blaise, who was still on the street. “Uh, what about your Fang Gang buddy?”

  “Someone will need to either donate blood or get him some bagged blood,” said Auberi. “He’s alive but has internal injuries.”

  Duke lifted a hand. “I call not it.”

  Isobel clung to Liberty and then jerked back, appearing to come out of her haze of concern for her friend. “Shit. I ran over one of the hot Russian’s buddies.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” said Bill with a wave of his hand. “The Viking is right. The vampire did start out dead tonight.”

  “Vampire?” asked Isobel.

  Bill nodded. “Yeah. He’s a vampire. The blond with girl hair is a wolf-shifter. The other asshole here is one too.”

  Duke grunted.

  “Well, you are one,” said Bill. “And my boy up there is a bear-shifter.”

  “Your boy?” asked Garth.

  Liberty eyed him. “His son. Rurik.”

  Garth cocked his head to the side. “Rurik is not Bill’s son. Rurik is hundreds of years older than Bill.”

  Liberty eyed Rurik. “Come again?”

  Rurik cringed. “About that.”

  “Hundreds of years? Not his father? You people have some explaining to do.” Isobel drew Liberty back from the others a tad. “I’m sorry but shifters and vampires? I’m kind of stuck on that.”

  “Hey, you shoot fire out of your hands,” said Bill. “Don’t go throwing stones there, young lady. You’re liable to hit a supernatural.”

  Garth motioned to the bodies of the hybrids. “Uh, what happened out here?”

  Bill nodded at Rurik’s mate. “Liberty Bell used her power and threw their sorry asses around. It was awesome. The crazy therapist chick ran away though. She knew she was in over her head.”

  Rurik stared at his mate, pride welling deep in his chest. He winked at her.

  Liberty looked to Rurik and then came toward him quickly.

  He met her halfway, down in the yard.

  She hugged him. “We need to get you checked over.”

  “I’m fine,” said Rurik.

  She gave him a stern look.

  He grunted. “Auberi, come tell her I’m fine.”

  “I’m not about to tell her anything,” said the vampire. “I saw her throw Duke like a rag doll.”

  Blaise groaned on the street. “Ouch. What in the hell hit me?”

  “A hot chick,” said Bill, walking closer to Blaise. He nudged the vampire with his foot.

  Blaise lifted his head and sniffed the air. His gaze whipped to Isobel as he began to push off the ground. “You hit me?”

  “Note the vampire thinks you’re hot,” said Bill to Isobel with a grin.

  She took a step back and put her fingers up in the sign of a cross. “Stay back there, bucko. You may be the hot Russian’s friend, but I’m trying to absorb a lot here. I’m gonna need a minute to come to terms with vampires being real. Though it does kind of explain the guys who tried to jump me at the university.”

  “Did they hurt you?” asked Blaise, concern in his voice.

  Isobel shook her head and narrowed her gaze on him. “Vampires are really real?”

  Blaise stood to his full height and winced slightly. He then reached down and adjusted himself, his hand on his groin, as he continued to stare at Isobel. It was evident she affected him greatly. “I can show you just how real I am.”

  Isobel offered a droll look. “Should I have driven over you fully and then backed up for good measure?”

  He grinned. “Maybe.”

  Bill groaned. “Vampire foreplay. Gross.”

  Rurik turned Liberty to face him. He touched her cheek and stared into her brown gaze. “Can I talk you into coming home with me?”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Are we mated or whatever Bill called it?”

  He nodded.

  “And that means I’m your wife?” she asked.

  Isobel tipped her head. “Say what?”

  “I apparently married the hot Russian,” said Liberty with a small laugh.

  Isobel seemed to mull
it over. “Okay, but someone is going to really need to wake me up soon.”

  Liberty let out a long breath. “Isobel, you’re not dreaming.”

  Isobel’s focus shifted to Blaise and lingered a moment before sliding to the porch again. “If you say so.”

  THE END

  Be sure to check out the next book in the series world, Act of Freedom (PSI-Ops). And don’t miss Blaise’s book Bat Out of Hell (Crimson Ops).

  Sources

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  Annas, George J., and Michael A. Grodin. The Nazi Doctors and the Nuremberg Code: Human Rights in Human Experimentation. Oxford University Press, 1995.

  Applebaum, Anne. Gulag: a History. Anchor Books, a Division of Random House, Inc., 2004.

  Applebaum, Anne. Iron Curtain: the Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956. Signal, McClelland & Stewart, 2013.

  Boylan, Michael, and Kevin E. Brown. Genetic Engineering: Science and Ethics on the New Frontier. Prentice Hall, 2002.

  Davies, Kevin. Cracking the Genome: inside the Race to Unlock Human DNA. Free Press, 2001.

  “Duke University.” In Virtual Reality., 2020, www.youvisit.com/tour/duke.

  Friendly Swede. “Instructional Video The Friendly Swede Hand Exercise Balls.” YouTube, 4 July 2015, youtu.be/8CUJr7BxT-o.

  Gaddis, John Lewis. The Cold War: a New History. Penguin Books, 2007.

  “Hand Therapy Ball Exercises to Improve Fine Motor Skills.” Flint Rehab, 25 May 2021, www.flintrehab.com/hand-exercise-ball-stroke-patients/.

  Heerema, Esther. “Questions and Answers About Sub Acute Rehabilitation for Inpatient Care.” Verywell Health, 19 Feb. 2020, www.verywellhealth.com/things-to-know-about-sub-acute-rehab-4140601.

  Holman, Pablos. “Top Hacker Shows Us How It's Done.” TEDx Talks YouTube, 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqKafI7Amd8&ab_channel=TEDxTalks.

  Judson, Karen. Genetic Engineering: Debating the Benefits and Concerns. Enslow Publishers, 2001.

  Lo, Garlen. “Gulags Explained.” YouTube, 2019, youtu.be/-pwAb5FsXuc.

  Malyukova, Anna. “Everyday Life in the Soviet Union.” Left Voice, 2017, www.leftvoice.org/everyday-life-in-the-soviet-union.

  Mattingly, Jonathan. “Neighborhoods Near Duke.” Stochastically Yours, 6 June 2013, sites.duke.edu/stochastically/2013/06/06/neighborhoods-to-live-or-buy-in-near-duke/.

  “Nuclear Physics: Crash Course Physics #45.” YouTube, 20 Mar. 2017, youtu.be/lUhJL7o6_cA.

  Scaron. “Homemade Apple Pie.” Tablespoon.com, 13 Sept. 2010, www.tablespoon.com/recipes/homemade-apple-pie/08d26cd9-3a69-4596-9c07-f6ae1cd0fd0f.

  Solzheniëtìsyn Aleksandr Isaevich, and Ralph Parker. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Signet Classic, 1993.

  Spufford, Francis. Red Plenty. Graywolf Press, 2012.

  Theroux, Marcel. “What the Soviet Union Was Really Like.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 8 Dec. 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/articles/soviet-union-travel-memories-marcel-theroux/.

  “Trinity Heights.” Trinity Heights | Open Durham, www.opendurham.org/category/neighborhood/trinity-heights.

  Voon, Claire. “A History of Russia in a Massive Photo Archive.” Hyperallergic, 30 Aug. 2016, hyperallergic.com/319300/a-history-of-russia-in-a-massive-photo-archive/.

  Winfrey, Michael R., et al. Unraveling DNA: Molecular Biology for the Laboratory. Pearson Education, 1997.

  “История России в Фотографиях.” History of Russia in Photographs, Yandex and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, russiainphoto.ru/.

  Immortal Ops® Series Helper

  Immortal Ops® (I-Ops) Team Members

  Lukian Vlakhusha: Alpha-Dog-One. Team captain, werewolf, King of the Lycans. Book: Immortal Ops (Immortal Ops®).

  Geoffroi (Roi) Majors: Alpha-Dog-Two. Second-in-command, werewolf, blood-bound brother to Lukian. Book: Critical Intelligence (Immortal Ops®).

  Doctor Thaddeus Green: Bravo-Dog-One. Scientist, tech guru, werepanther. Book: Radar Deception (Immortal Ops®).

  Jonathon (Jon) Reynell: Bravo-Dog-Two. Sniper, weretiger. Book: Separation Zone (Immortal Ops®).

  Wilson Rousseau: Bravo-Dog-Three. Resident smart-ass, wererat. Book: Strategic Vulnerability (Immortal Ops®).

  Eadan Daly: Alpha-Dog-Three. PSI-Op and handler on loan to the I-Ops to round out the team, Fae. Book: Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops®).

  Lance Toov: Werepanther and vampire hybrid. Book: Area of Influence (Immortal Ops®).

  Colonel Asher Brooks: Chief of Operations and point person for the Immortal Ops Team. Book: Administrative Control (Immortal Ops®).

  Paranormal Security and Intelligence (PSI-Ops®) Operatives

  General Jack C. Newman: Director of Operations for PSI North American Division, werelion. Adoptive father of Missy Carter-Majors.

  Duke Marlow: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Book: Act of Mercy (PSI-Ops®).

  Doctor James (Jimmy) Hagen: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Took a ten-year hiatus from PSI. Book: Act of Surrender (PSI-Ops®).

  Striker (Dougal) McCracken: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Book: Act of Freedom (PSI-Ops®).

  Carbrey (Car) McCracken: PSI-Operative, werewolf.

  Macbeth (Mac) McCracken: PSI-Operative, werewolf.

  Miles (Boomer) Walsh: PSI-Operative, werepanther. Book: Act of Submission (PSI-Ops®).

  Captain Corbin Jones: Operations coordinator and captain for PSI-Ops Team Five, werelion. Book: Act of Command (PSI-Ops®).

  Malik (Tut) Nasser: PSI-Operative, werelion. Book: Act of Passion (PSI-Ops®).

  Colonel Ulric Lovett: Director of Operations, PSI-London Division.

  Dr. Sambora: PSI-Operative, (PSI-Ops®).

  Garth Ingersson: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Book: Act of Brotherhood.

  Rurik Romanov: PSI-Operative, werebear. Book: Act of Surveillance (PSI-Ops®).

  Johannes “Hans” Bach: PSI-Operative.

  Jannick Bach: PSI-Operative.

  Col Alden: PSI-Operative.

  Immortal Outcasts®

  Casey Black: I-Ops test subject, werewolf. Book: Broken Communication.

  Weston Carol: I-Ops test subject, werebear. Book: Damage Report.

  Bane Antonov: I-Ops test subject, weregorilla. Book: Isolated Maneuver.

  Cody Livingston: I-Ops test subject, wereshark. Book: Wrecked Intel.

  Ace Hargraves: I-Ops test subject, werehorse.

  Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops Shadow Agents®

  Bradley Durant: PSI-Ops: Shadow Agent Division, werewolf. Book: Wolf’s Surrender.

  Ezra: PSI-Ops: Shadow Agent Division, dragon-shifter.

  Caesar: PSI-Ops: Shadow Agent Division, werewolf.

  Gram Campbell: Shadow Agent Division, werewolf and magik.

  Armand: Shadow Agent Division, vampire.

  Seth: Shadow Agent Division, vampire. One of the founders of the Crimson Ops Division.

  Wheeler Summerbee: I-Ops test subject, vampire hybrid. Book: Out of the Dark.

  Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops: Crimson Ops Division

  Bhaltair: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire. Book: Midnight Echoes.

  Labrainn: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire.

  Auberi Bouchard: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire.

  Searc Macleod: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire. Book: Expecting Darkness.

  Daniel Townsend: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire

  Blaise Regnier: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire. Book Bat Out of Hell.

  Philandros “Landros” Mires: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire.

  Paranormal Regulators

  Stamatis Emathia: Paranormal Regulator, vampire.

  Whitney: Paranormal Regulator, werewolf.

  Cormag Buchanan: Paranormal Regulator, master vampire.

  Erik: Paranormal Regulator, shifter.

  Shane: Paranormal Regulator, shifter.

  Kippar Reed: Paranormal Regulator, shifter.

  About the Author


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