Sweet Firecracker Read online

  I lifted the secure phone and shook it, hoping he’d take the hint and get his intense self outa here. “Gonna let me make my call, now?”

  He gave a slow nod. “I’ll give you ten minutes, and then I’m coming back in.”

  I pressed my lips together and nodded. As soon as he turned and left, I made my call.

  Director

  Melissa

  Lindsay Phillips was not an easy person to reach. Especially when your rogue boss was just outed by yours truly and wanted your head for calling his ass in for treason. The phones were off the hook. So I called Mack… Again. He had a direct line to her.

  “Tools and More,” the same drawl sounded.

  I sighed. “My tool broke, and I have the Mack warranty.”

  “UPC code?”

  “Sweet Firecracker.”

  “One second.”

  A click sounded. “Firecracker, talk to me,” Mack barked.

  I guess he wasn’t too happy about how I left him earlier. “Long story short, I need to talk to Director Phillips.”

  “Gotta give me something first. Spill it.”

  “I found the location on Trisha, but someone got the drop on me.”

  “Who, and are you secure?”

  “Secure for now. Military, secret military, got the drop. They want info, I need the Director’s approval.” In a low whisper, I added, “Only have ten minutes, Mack.”

  He grunted. “Putting ya through, now.”

  I shifted, turning my back to the door while I held for the transfer. Mack wasn’t FBI. Hell, he wasn’t even CIA. He was…something else. A ghost with the means of getting infinite information, connections, and tapping into secure phone lines, like he was doing for me right now. Mack didn’t work for Director Lindsay; he was leased, on loan, from my father. Yep, that’s right. Dear old dad couldn’t let his daughter go and be an FBI agent without slipping in one of his guys. Even after he retired, he still had pull.

  “Director Lindsay.”

  “Ma’am, Melissa Tanner here.”

  “Tanner, where are you? We sent in another team to the compound only to find Craig and Nero dead? And your father called about Myter being a traitor? What hell is going on?”

  I took a deep breath. “Myter killed Craig, then he killed Nero.”

  Lindsay’s voice got low. “He said the same thing about you. Do you have proof?”

  “That asshole,” I cursed. “I know it’s crazy shit, but you have to believe me. I saw the whole thing. I swear, Director, it wasn’t me.”

  She was silent for a moment, then a beat later she asked, “Where are you? You need to come in.”

  “Can’t. But if you give me clearance to tell this secret military about what I know, they might share their information with us.”

  “You trust them?”

  “I don’t think we have a choice. Myter’s not the same man as he was yesterday. I think we’re going to need them if we want him in custody.”

  “You have your clearance, but I want in on the conversation.”

  “What about Myter?”

  “I’ll send some agents to his daughter’s hospital. He’ll most likely show up back there.”

  I gave a sigh of relief. “Just tread carefully around him. He’s not the same person.”

  “Well, obviously.”

  I gripped the phone. “No, you don’t understand. Nero injected him with something.”

  “Explain.”

  “I’ll do it with the others. I believe it involves them as well.”

  After she agreed to wait, I walked to the secure door and tapped on it. Garrett swung it open, his gaze landing on me with one eyebrow arched. “Done?”

  I wiggled the phone in front of him as I stepped back into the hallway. “She wants to do a conference call.”

  Back in the kitchen with Garrett, I noticed two others in the room. “Who are the new Joes?”

  “Zane and Samuel,” Aaron explained. “They’re here for added protection.”

  Understanding, I nodded as I laid the phone on the table. “Director Phillips?”

  “Here.”

  I stared at the table. “Guys, please state your names.”

  Aarron stated his name and the others followed.

  I cleared my throat. “What I have to say pertains to both parties. As you all know, Myter shot one of our own.” I went on about the conversation Nero had with Myter, my assumptions, and then the shock that rippled through me when he executed one of our inside operatives. I clung to the thumb drive around my neck and kept my stare on the table. It might look like an ordinary necklace, but inside, a secret compartment held evidence against Nero. That didn’t really matter now that Nero was dead. It would help bring down whoever took over for him. Someone always stood in line, waiting at the chance to make the horrors of the world just a smidgen darker. Unfortunately, with the inside operative’s murder, I was the only evidence against Myter. I clenched the thumb drive in the palm of my hand.

  I told them about hiding in the vent connected to Nero’s office, while Myter’s back was still turned moments after killing our man.

  “The next thing that happened was Jerrico, Nero’s second, stepped up and injected Myter with something.”

  It was like I was back there, reliving it all over again.

  ***

  Myter had jerked away the same time Craig started to spill out over the floor. It was like I was back there reliving it all over again.

  Clasping the back of his neck, Myter had stumbled. “Why?” he asked Nero, outraged. It was like they had it was like they had a plan and Nero double crossed him.

  Nero had given him an evil grin. “I need to know if it worked.”

  I remember my muscles tensing as I waited for the next part.

  Nero opened the briefcase and took out a vial. Turning back to Myter who was now waving on his feet, Nero went on with his explanation. “The poison I had Jerrico injected you with is currently wrecking havoc on your body.” He explained evilly as he slowly made his way toward my boss bent over in pain.

  I was frozen, torn between doing what was right and letting him die. Then decided wasn’t going to save Myter who had just shot one of ours, but I wanted to see what this asshole Nero would do. I waited. What was in that vial? A new drug?

  “First your limbs will go numb.”

  Myter fell to the ground.

  Circling him, Nero continued. “And then you’ll lose the ability to breathe.” He leaned down close with the new syringe in his hand. Whispered something in in his ear and then stab him with whatever he had in his hand.

  I winced.

  Nero backed up, leaving my boss on the floor to put back the vial in the case. Turning around, Nero stood there and folded his arms, waiting.

  Myters ragged breath slowed until, his body no longer shook. Then he started to gasp, like he had been reborn. As if there had been a jolt to his system he started to seize on the floor then rested, taking in strong deep breaths.

  “Well,” Nero stated smugly as Myter just laid there, breathing, letting the effects of whatever Nero put in him consumed his body. “Looks like you’ll survive the deadly cyanide.”

  Myter lifts up only to toss his cookies, while echo’s of evil laughter surround him.

  “Good.” Nero stated in satisfaction, “You can take the serum that’s in you and recreate it.”

  Myrter struggled to his feet, his body shaking in rage as his fist were clench down at his side.” “That wasn’t the deal!”

  Nero shook his head. “Tisk, tisk, only one vial left, and the other is in you. You want your daughter to live?” He sneered. “Recreate it.”

  Then, something strange happened. As fast as I’ve ever seen a man move, Myter was at Nero’s side and snapped his neck. And then, he turned and killed Jerrico.

  Macintosh knew where I hid. We planned it as part of the operation. When he finished releasing the other prisoners, he ran to Nero’s office, witnessing the dead bodies.

  Then, My
ter took him.

  ***

  I watched at the guys as I told the story. “He killed Nero. Whoever gave Nero that vial was a leak you have in your agency. That’s why I wasn’t surprised at your explanation. Your serum is in Myter’s hands. I’m not sure if he used it on his daughter yet or not, but he took Macintosh, and I don’t know why. I have no idea where they went, but the first place I’d check would be with his daughter.”

  The guys sat back and stared at one another.

  Director Lindsay finally spoke. “I’m not sure what to say. Is my agent safe?”

  My head lifted to peer at the phone. Was that all she was going to ask?

  Dallon answered her. “Yes, ma’am. She’s under our protection at the moment.”

  “When can I have her back?” she demanded. “I want her safe, on my turf, working on this case.”

  I nodded. Now, that sounded like the woman I knew.

  Dallon shifted a glance to me before staring back at the phone. “It may be a few days. We still have some other things to clear up first.”

  “Like what?” she barked. “As I see it, you’re going to hunt for Edmond Myter. My agent can do the same from a safe and secure location. As well as my other agent, Trisha Macintosh. Where is she?”

  I jerked my head up, glancing to all the guys as they kept their features stone straight. It was weird seeing them like that.

  Aaron spoke up. “We have our suspicions that the serum we’ve taken have affected your agents. We’re not sure why or how yet—”

  My gaze swung to Aaron’s. “What do you mean it’s affected me? I’ve said no such thing!”

  Garrett and Dallon both touched me and sparks flew. Like literally, shiney blue sparks flew from where they touched me. And it felt good.

  Garrett raised a brow. “See?”

  I growled and shrugged them off.

  “What happened?” the director demanded.

  I glared at Garrett. “Let’s just say, there’s an issue, and they are going to take care of it.” I raised an eyebrow. “Right?”

  Garrett nodded. “Agreed, but we already have an idea as to what’s going on with you. We just need to get you in and figure out why.”

  “Look, I have to go, but I want my agents back in seven days unharmed, or else.”

  “We got it, ma’am,” Seth grumbled and flipped the phone closed.

  “Hey…”

  Seth picked up the phone and pocketed it, sending me an annoyed glance. “Don’t ‘hey’ me, she said she had to go.”

  There was a round of curses, and Aaron shot up, slapping a hand to the table. “Shit, I need to call this in.”

  I steered away from Dallon and Garrett, and over to Seth. “Now, where is Trisha?”

  ***

  After talking with the director, Aaron, Seth, and Weston left to find Myter’s daughter and check if her father had been by to see her. I wanted to go, but both Lindsay and the guys wanted to keep me out of the heat since I was a witness.

  Dallon and Garrett decided this would be a great time to catch up and talk about…things. I had a feeling I knew what they were talking about. I also wanted to find out what was going on with the sensations I experienced with Dallon and Garrett. Too bad they left to grab food but not alone. Samuel and Zane, new guys from another team, were left behind to keep a watch on me.

  Not sure what to do, I wandered the house, acutely aware of being watched. None of the others wanted to give me a chance to run. So, they hovered.

  I planned. Trisha had to be somewhere nearby. Yeah, I knew the guys. And yes, I had these feelings with them. But I didn’t know them anymore. We had years between us. I was surprised I even recognized them. People change over the years. Looks, personalities, and even morals. Trusting them now was a stretch. They needed to be comfortable with me; I gave them a sense of familiarity. A loose sense of trust.

  I made my way into the front room where normally a television, couch, and coffee table would be and found an exercise area.

  They must not entertain guests often.

  “Need something?” a smooth voice asked.

  Over in the far corner stood a guy I didn’t know. Blond hair and buff shoulders, he hung from a bar doing chin lifts. When he spoke, he didn’t seem to be out of breath in the least. Impressive.

  How did they keep in shape if they ate out all them time?

  I stopped in the doorway and really looked him over. He was hot, with sweat glistening of his muscles and killer abs, wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung low. Sadly, my heart didn’t pick up like it should. I moved my gaze back to his face. He smiled in amusement, two dimples peeking through.

  I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah, where’s your TV?”

  The guy pulled himself off the bar and grabbed a towel from a bench nearby. “In the bedrooms.” Wiping himself down, he shrugged and expanded on that. “That’s where we do all our entertaining.”

  I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. The idiot.

  Once he finished wiping down his face, his amused gaze came back to me, resting on my lips. “Ah, don’t pout. I’m sure Dallon or Garrett wouldn’t mind watching the flat screen with you.”

  My eyes narrowed on him as my lips twisted in a sneer. “Watch what you say, buddy.”

  He tossed the towel over his shoulder and walked toward me, picked up a bottle of water from a side table, and drank. Standing in front of me, he took the bottle from his lips and the smile came back. Amusement filled his gaze. “I don’t remember you being this sassy, Lissa. Lighten up.”

  My eyes went wide with the nickname. “Samuel? Samuel Houston?”

  He grinned, arms spread his arms wide. “That’s what they like to call me.”

  I stayed put and didn’t go into his embrace. I didn’t know him that well. Yeah, we won the summer games, but I ate, slept, and played with Aaron, Weston, and Seth. Dallon and Garrett came in at a close second to familiarity, but Samuel? Yeah, no.

  He frowned as he dropped his arms. “What? No hug?”

  I ticked off the reasons on my fingers. “First, you’re sweaty. Second, I’m not here willingly. Third, you wouldn’t cough up five fuckin’ bucks for my bet.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Damn! Fifteen years, and she holds a grudge.” His gaze came back to me, still smiling. “But we won the summer games.”

  I folded my arms. “Correction, I won the summer games.”

  His smile disappearing, he gave a firm nod. “That you did.”

  “Dallon and Garrett went to go get dinner.”

  Samuel turned around and went back to his water bottle. “Uh-huh, and Aaron, Weston, and Seth went to check out a lead, right?”

  “Yeah. Do you know where my friend is?”

  Samuel situated himself on another piece of exercise equipment. “I heard Triton and Tristan have her. Some kind of connection they have to deal with between the three of them.”

  My gaze narrowed on him. “What kind of a connection?”

  He gave me an annoyed glance. “You know what kind.”

  “Entertain the idea that I don’t. Enlighten me.”

  He paused midway reaching down for a barbell, before straightening without it. His scrutinizing gaze focused on me. “Look, we’re not all that sure what it is either. It happened to them at—”

  I folded my arms. “Who?”

  “First Triton. Then the others followed, excepted me, Kellan, and Zane.”

  My lips twisted. “Zane.”

  He nodded slowly. “Our…unique position in the military is currently made up of three teams. Team A is the Tristan and the Triton duo, along with Dallon and Garrett. Team B is Seth, Kellan, and Zane. I’m in Team C with Aaron and Weston. Your friend Trisha met Triton two days ago and something happened. Some kinda connection shit. And when we went to infiltrate Nero’s compound, not only did Triton have that feeling, Dallon and Garrett did, too. We thought it was a fluke, but then Tristan pursued, and we ran after him. Yesterday the twins found out from Doc
that the connection they’re experiencing is from some kind of screw up with the serum we were all given. It acts like a fuckin’ mating drug and leaves a connection that can’t be undone.” I stood there shocked as he gestured to me. “Just like the one goin’ on with you, Garrett, and Dallon.”

  I stepped back. “I— No.” Shaking my head, I firmly state, “You have that wrong. You have to.”

  He shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

  When the guys came back with pizza, and as we sat in the kitchen eating, I couldn’t help but wonder what talents they all had. Especially Dallon and Garrett. As we ate, I grew annoyed as they planned out how to find Myter. I wanted to get back to Trisha and have the two of us come up with our own game plan, but I knew it was pointless. These guys had abilities we didn’t, but that didn’t mean I trusted them.

  The Past

  Melissa

  That night, they locked me in my old bedroom with two companions, Dallon and Garrett. Lucky me.

  Garrett still wore his uniformed cargo pants, but he’d stripped down to his gray tee. He decided to sleep in a stuffy chair in the corner where my twin bed used to be.

  Dallon was also still in his uniformed cargo pants, but he’d exchanged his long-sleeved camo shirt for a SEAL’s tee that fit snug. He chose to settle back against the bedroom door on the floor, stretching his legs out to get comfy.

  Me? I sat cross-legged on the bed, one of their shirts hanging off my shoulders and a pair of shorts three sizes too big for me with the drawstring pulled tight, admiring the view the two of them displayed.

  As silence droned on, I decided to break it with my curiosity. “How did you guys get into the army? And all together? That’s a miracle in itself. They check for siblings before placing in the same unit.”

  Garrett chuckled. “I didn’t think you’d remember. It was so long ago.”

  Dallon snorted. “What Garrett is trying to say is that the army overlooked the fact he and I have the same mom. We weren’t in the same unit and were often out on deployment at different times, but when we were selected for the secret military team, they just assessed our talents. Garrett and I could speak three different languages, were top in our class in boot camp, and had something else they were looking for, they thought we were orphans. Guys who could disappear. They just didn’t know we were actually siblings and had two other siblings who also had different fathers. We were a unique family. From there on, we lent suggestions to the general on who would be good for this trial run, and that’s how the others got here.”