by Cara Carnes
That made sense. If they had masks, the gas wouldn’t work. Bree hoped they didn’t.
“We’re pulling satellite imagery of the target site and will continue to do so,” Vi said.
“Wheels up tomorrow morning. It’ll take thirty-six hours to get into position,” Jesse said. “Bree, we need you to get trackers on Knight, Grim, and Shadow.”
She nodded. All three blanched. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt. And I can remove them afterward.”
“Good.” Knight unfolded his arms. “We’d like to study the tech you all have so we’re up to speed.”
Ram grinned as he stood. “I was about to ask if you three wanted to join Doug, Pierce, and me on drills.”
The kill squad. Bree fought back the worry. They were good at what they did. No one had argued against her going, which was surprising. Even though she’d love nothing more than spend time with her family or Ram—or all of them—she knew there was work to be done.
She waited until everyone had greeted the three operatives from the Scythe MC. She hadn’t heard much about the group but knew they’d recently started working with Counterstrike, a nonprofit group based out of Austin who helped people in trouble.
Ram, Doug, and Pierce all approached with Knight, Shadow, and Grim. The nicknames suited each of the men. They were tall, muscular, and exuded badass in lethal doses. Yeesh.
“Bree, meet Knight, Shadow, and Grim,” Doug said. “Bree here is the brains behind the drones and a lot of the fun toys we’ll be playing with today.”
“Those drones are something,” Shadow said. “I may have shot one the first time I saw them.”
“Oh, I heard all about you. You somehow managed to avoid getting darted with one of the drones in Jen’s house,” Bree said with a grin. “I might have to see if we can speed them up if people move that fast.”
The man chuckled.
“Are we all headed down to my lab? It won’t take more than a few minutes.” Bree glanced up at Ram when he slid his arm around her. “I might have a few things you could play with.”
“Oh yeah?” Pierce asked. She didn’t catch the double meaning until Doug chuckled. She punched his arm.
They headed out of the building. Mia was waiting near the exit. “One hour, behind the mess hall. Does that work?”
“Huh?” Bree asked.
“Training. I want to show you a few things before we go wheels up. Wear something comfortable. It won’t be fun but could prove useful.” Mia walked away.
“Why do I get the feeling that woman can kill anyone here?” Grim asked.
“Because she can,” Pierce replied. “Remind us to show you the picnic table attack.”
Bree couldn’t help but laugh. Excitement bubbled within her. She was about to have her first ninja training class.
Sweat dampened Ram’s skin by the time they finished the final obstacle course run through. All three of the Scythes were damned good—easily as good, if not better, than any of the operatives on Arsenal teams. They’d taken to the tech well after a few issues with the headgear.
“We have a few more guys we could call if we need more operatives for this,” Knight said.
“Smaller is better for this,” Ram said. “But we can let Edge know. The tech should handle a lot of the initial combatants.”
Jacob had volunteered to be the guinea pig for testing the gassing antidote, with Logan observing. It’d taken three minutes for the injection to take effect. The poor guy had puked his guts out. Rhea had asked several questions and promised to have injectables ready for use in case they proved necessary.
Ram’s cell rang. He clicked answer. “Yeah?”
“Our girl’s about to have her first mock fight. Behind the mess hall. I figured you’d want to cheer her on,” Zoey said. She hung up.
He couldn’t help but grin even though he was worried about her going on the mission. While her presence might be necessary, he wished it wasn’t. “Bree’s about to fight someone. Guess Mia’s first training session is done.”
“Let’s go cheer your woman on.” Pierce clapped him on the back.
A large group congregated in a circle. The operatives parted to let them get closer. Bree stood in the middle of the circle in tactical pants and an olive green T-shirt with The Arsenal logo. She walked over to the corner and donned a vest.
“Does that vest look different?” Doug asked.
“Yeah.” Amusement filled him. She was up to something.
“Okay, this is a friendly test fight to give Bree some practical experience against combatants larger than her,” Mia said. “Hurt her and I’ll hurt you. Who’s up first?”
First? Ram’s eyebrows rose.
Bree rocked back on the heels of her combat boots. “I can’t promise I won’t bite. She said I could.”
Everyone laughed as Dallas stepped forward. “What are we testing?”
“Breaking from a restraint,” Mia said. She motioned to Bree. “Go ahead.”
Ram knew Dallas was one of the best trained operatives at The Arsenal. All the team leaders were. Everyone cheered and clapped as he expertly worked several scenarios through with Bree. She did well in most of them and even managed to get him into a “kill position” twice. The crowd went wild on the second one.
Bree grinned as she offered him a hand up.
Thunder volunteered for the next round, which didn’t go as well at first because he was massive. Mia pulled Bree aside and spoke to her a couple minutes, then the battle was on once again.
Bree’s beautiful mouth shifted into a determined line as she maneuvered her way out of hold after hold. Whatever Mia had said had worked. She managed to get out of more than half, was damned good after only one training session.
Everyone applauded when it was over.
“Not sure about this next part,” Mia said.
“It’s fine. Logan’s here,” Bree replied as she waved at the doc.
“Oh boy,” Pierce commented.
“What does that mean?” Shadow asked.
“She’s up to something,” Ram said. He smirked. “This’ll be interesting.”
“Okay. This is probably going to be painful,” Mia said. “She’s got something she wants to test.”
“Not that you commandos would ever need this.” Bree donned a wrist apparatus and smiled at the crowd. “Anyone? Please?”
Amusement rolled through the crowd as several operatives shoved Raul into the circle. He glared at them. But his expression shifted when he looked at Bree.
“Be gentle.”
“We’ll see.” Bree nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“I’m not. Does that count?” Raul chuckled as he grabbed her in a backward choke position. She tried to maneuver out of the hold at first, but he firmed his grip with his other hand, locking her into place against him.
A growl rumbled from Ram as he watched. Bree touched a button he hadn’t noticed on the bottom of the vest. Raul’s entire body locked. His eyes widened.
Then he was out.
He tumbled to the ground. Bree stepped away as Logan crouched beside him.
“Oops. The charge may have been a bit higher than I realized,” Bree said.
“I’m good,” Raul said, his voice pained. “Fuck. That was intense. Like taking a taser from the inside. What was that?”
“A shock vest I’m testing. That was the low setting.”
“Fuck.” Raul sat up. “I vote yes as long as I never have to do that again.”
Everyone laughed.
“Impressive. How does it work?” Nolan asked.
“A power source like what’s in the micro drones,” Bree said. “There’s a few prongs that shoot out and zap the target, which probably won’t work as well if they have a vest on. Though, I did factor in any metal they have on their person conducting the charge so…” She glanced down at Raul.
“No. Sorry, B. I’m tapping out.” He stood. “That’d take down an elephant if the charge is any higher.”
“Yeah, but you
didn’t pass out. Would that even be usable in the field?” Her honest inquiry made Ram proud. She was in full-on scientist mode.
“Yeah,” Nolan said with a grin. “That’d be usable. Let’s pack that with your gear for our adventure.”
Thank fuck. Ram didn’t expect anyone to get close to Bree with Addy and Mia protecting her, but knowing she had that vest would go a long way to calming him.
“Too bad the vest isn’t longer. A few more inches and someone wouldn’t be getting up for a long time,” Mia commented.
Doug winced. “Damn that woman is terrifying.”
“She’s not wrong, though,” Grim said. “Getting a hit like that to the dick would fuck anyone up.”
“Hmm… I bet I could rig something.” Bree grinned. “Thanks, Mia. That’s a great idea.”
“You’re welcome. Okay, break it up. Show’s over.”
Mia and Addy pulled Bree aside. Ram watched the animated conversation a few minutes. He glanced over at Pierce. “Why don’t you show them the mess hall? I’ll be there in a while.”
“Sure.”
Ram made his way to the women. Wrapping his arm around Bree’s waist, he kissed her neck and hummed his approval when he relaxed against him. “Got a minute?”
“For you? Always.” She grinned up at him.
Mia and Addy both offered chin lifts as they left. He turned her to face him. “I know you’ve got a lot going on right now, but I think you should go and spend some time with Rhea and her kids.”
“It’s been so busy. There hasn’t been time.” Bree chewed her lower lip. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. I know you’ve been wanting to,” he whispered against her cheek. “I’ll go with you if you want.”
“That’d be perfect.” She took his hands. “Maybe you could talk to Fallon. I’m worried about him with everything that’s happened.”
“Not sure I’m the best one to chat with him. I know Jesse and Nolan have both been working him through everything.”
“Yeah, but they’re Command.” She stroked his jaw. “Just be a sounding board for him. If you don’t mind.”
“This must be what he meant,” Ram whispered.
“Who?”
“Gage.” Ram chuckled. “He said there’d come a time when I realize there’s nothing I wouldn’t agree to if you asked.”
“Really?” Her eyes gleamed with delight. “I can think of a few things to ask for. Some very fun things.”
“Fuck.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Keep talking like that and we won’t get away from the compound.”
“Come on, commando. We’ve got a mission.” She took his hand and headed toward the parking lot.”
21
“I love everything you’ve done here,” Bree said. Her gaze swept her friend’s new home.
* * *
Toys were strewn about the large living room, which was filled with comfortable sofas and chairs. Everything about the area screamed family. Bree blinked back the happy tears welling in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Rhea wrapped an arm around her and guided her to sit. “Talk to me.”
“Nothing.” She smiled. “I’m just so happy for you. I-I was so afraid you’d never have this after finding out about…” She took a deep breath. “Seeing all these toys and hearing the kids laughing outside. It’s perfect. So perfect.”
Tears ran down Rhea’s face. “When Jade told us, you were the first person I thought about. I wanted to share what’d happened with you. God, Bree. I was so terrified when we went to meet them. So many scary thoughts. What if they didn’t like me? What if I screwed up?”
Bree hugged her friend. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”
They cried together a few minutes. The silence was comfortable, a balm that eased the ache in Bree’s chest. “I should’ve been there.”
“You were where you needed to be,” Rhea whispered. “You’ve always put others before yourself. I’m glad you took the time you needed. I just wish I could’ve been there for you.”
“You were where you needed to be,” Bree repeated. “The timing really sucked, huh?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Rhea joined in. Any discomfort she’d felt slipped away. Her gaze swept to the small table in the corner, where a small lab set was. “Which of them are you infesting with our crazy?”
“Kaylani.” Rhea’s smile made Bree’s heart swell. Pride shone on her friend’s face. “God, B. She’s so smart. A little sponge ready to soak up everything. She and DJ are both so obsessed with the drones. Jacob promised to get her a toy drone built soon.”
Bree made a mental note to get with Jacob when everything was over. The young man’s “toy drone” was far beyond a mere toy. She’d offered some advice when he’d first started designing it, but she knew he’d wanted some time to improve on it.
She and Ram had eaten with Fallon, Rhea, and the kids. Kaylani and her younger sister, Dava, had chatted happily as they ate their chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. Mike, the eldest, had been quiet but his gaze had remained locked on Bree and Ram the entire meal.
“Mike’s really intense,” Bree commented into the silence.
“We’ve been worried,” Rhea admitted. “He’s better when it’s just us or us and Kamren’s crew. He latches onto TJ a lot. Kamren and Dallas told me not to worry about that, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s good for either of them.”
“They’ve both been through a lot,” Bree said. “Mike must see himself in TJ. The intensity. TJ’s improved so much since he first got here. He’ll help in ways we can’t.”
“That’s what the therapist said, too.” Rhea swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “The first few days they were here, Mike wouldn’t let anyone near his sisters. God, B. It broke my heart to see the fury and terror on his little face when he glared at Fallon or one of the Masons.” Rhea looked up at the ceiling. “They were so good with him. Fallon and Dallas gave him the space he wanted, but made it known they weren’t a threat. They were so patient.”
Bree glanced out the sliding glass door leading to the backyard. Kaylani and Dava both played in a pale green “castle” Kamren had clearly made. The converted deer blind was similar one to the boys had at Kamren’s farm.
Mike was tossing a football with Fallon and Ram. The boy hovered closer to Fallon, but his gaze remained on Ram. A wide grin appeared on Mike’s face when Ram said something a couple moments later.
“He’s good with them,” Rhea commented. “Ram. Several have come over. I’ve never seen Mike relax this much around a stranger.”
“You should see him and the other two with Luke. God, it was so embarrassing.” Heat rose in Bree’s face. “The whole superhero thing. Ram, Doug, and Pierce all took it in stride and fed Luke’s joy rather than smash it like they could have. Pierce is even giving him shooting lessons with a toy gun.”
“How’s Lars handling the situation? I’d imagine moving here is an adjustment for all of them,” Rhea said.
“Everything’s been so nuts I haven’t spent as much time with them as I want to. Lars is looking forward to being off the mountain. He knows this is a great move for them all, especially the kids.” Bree laughed. “The Masons are already trying to talk him into helping them with survival training. I may have mentioned he was pretty good with stuff like that. Not Kamren good, but definitely better than a lot of the commandoes.”
“It sounds like he’ll fit in great,” Rhea said. “Fallon mentioned he was good with construction as well. I’d bet Burton Construction would love to have his help.”
“Yeah, Lars mentioned Nolan mentioning that. Dom’s been coordinating most of the builds at the compound, but he’s got his hands full with the mechanical stuff. There’s definitely a lot of options for work when Lars is ready.” Bree loved that everyone was helping make her family feel welcome.
“Things are going well with you and Ram?”
Bree nodded. “So good it terrifies me sometimes. I…” She t
ook a breath. “I’ve never had anyone like that in my life. Someone to whisper my darkest thoughts or fears to. No matter what I share, I know he’ll listen without judgment. It happened so much faster than I expected. I love him. So much.”
Rhea hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. You two have been hovering around one another for a while. I’m glad you finally landed on your happy.”
Bree was too. Now all they needed to do was survive the Facility Six mission and finish what The Arsenal had started. Once they got all the assholes involved with Carlisle, everyone could breathe easier.
“You’re going to do great,” Rhea whispered. She squeezed Bree’s hand. “Just listen to Ram and the others. That’s what I did. Trust them to get you through the mission.”
“That place.” She shivered. “It’s been in my nightmares for so long. Going back…” She swallowed. “I know I’ve got to be there. I won’t chicken out because Shelly is relying on me. On all of us.”
“Do you think she’ll want to stay here?”
“No.” Bree would love it if she did. “She’s a lone wolf. There’s no way she’d want to be at the compound. I just want her safe.”
“She will be.” Rhea smiled. “Want to help me make some cookies?”
“You know I’m not good at baking. Even Ellie’s given up.” Bree stood. “But sure. Tell me what to do.”
Spending time with Rhea had been exactly what she needed. Seeing her friend’s new life as a mom and wife? Perfect. Bree clung to the love and joy within the home. This was what she wanted with Ram.
“Thank you,” Fallon said as he tossed the ball to Ram.
Ram caught the football and tossed it gently to Mike. The kid had relaxed a lot since they’d started playing toss. “No thanks needed.”
“You’ve had Spade’s and Donovan’s backs. I fucked up and wasn’t there when they both needed me.” Regret filled the man’s face. “Jesse and Nolan are helping me figure out what’s best for the team. Leading a crew isn’t my strong suit. I warned them I’d mess up and I did.”
