Angel still hadn’t spoken more than a few words since her release. She’d withdrawn into herself as though to block out the world. Tab and Gonzales watched over her. Jinn studied Tab as he fed the woman and realized by the tender care as he wiped some meat juice off her chin with his thumb that he had feelings for her. A twinge of jealousy reared its green head.
Jennings sat down beside Jinn and studied her for a few moments before she spoke, the first of the soldiers to even acknowledge her since she’d been unveiled by Tab.
“I don’t know what’s changed about you or why all the lies, Dennison, but I want to tell you something. Don’t you harm the Captain or anyone else on this team, or you’re a dead woman whether you helped us or not. Understand?”
The serious frown on her face caused Jinn to realize there was more to the threat than simple protectiveness. “You’re in love with the Captain, aren’t you?”
A flush turned Jennings’ cheeks red as she stood.
“I meant what I said.”
Jinn nodded. “I’ll take that into consideration. As I said before, I’m not here to harm anyone. I have a job to do, and I’m going to do it with or without the help of TT&T.”
“As long as your job doesn’t jeopardize the rest of us, I’m good with that.” Jennings stood and moved off to sit with the others, leaving Jinn to her thoughts.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she realized that someone was watching her, she looked up and met Tab’s brooding gaze. Her lips tingled at the memory of his mouth on hers, his body mastering her on the ground earlier. She licked her lips unconsciously and nearly grinned when his eyes dropped to watch the movement. He might pretend to be impartial, but by the growing bulge in his pants, he was anything but.
Tab turned around and disappeared into the forest. Satisfaction was a sweet tool.
***
After a few hours rest, the group gathered up their supplies and moved on. Some of them had gone back to the enemy camp and found their own equipment as well as food rations. Metcalfe handed her some but didn’t speak to her. It seemed she was being tolerated only because of their Captain’s orders. In their eyes, she imagined, she’d have been killed on sight as a traitor the moment she showed up.
Ungrateful
bastards. That’s what I get for saving their hides
.
When Tab turned quickly and glared at her, she knew he’d listened in once again and cursed, offering the same look of fury back to him. He only shook his head and continued to tidy up the camp with the others, leaving no trace that they’d been there.
“So, this is what you do all day while I’m out tracking!” a man spoke from the shadows of the trees. Immediately, every face in the group held an expression of relief and joy.
Metcalfe laughed. “You son of a bitch! Tanaka, get your ass out here and let us see if you still got it!”
“Oh, I’ve got it and more, my friend. Where the hell have you all been? I’ve tracked all over this blasted forest and never once came across a trail of you. That just goes to show, you truly are ghosts of the forest.”
Jinn watched as the man’s eyes fell on her and started. He was in love with her…or her sister anyway. The gentle look in his eyes was more than she could handle. By the file she’d read on him, Yoshi Tanaka was a martial arts expert.
“Hello, Dennison. Miss me?”
Jinn bit back a laugh and winked at him. “Sure, didn’t everyone?”
He moved closer and knelt down beside her, touching her jaw with tender fingers. “I heard you were shot and drowned. I’m so glad it wasn’t true.”
“But it was. I’m back from the dead, just like the rest of these ghosts.”
The instant frown on his face made her regret her words.
“Are you all right?”
A quick glance at the Captain showed he wasn’t too impressed with the attention she was getting so she turned it up a bit.
“I am now that you’re here.”
“Tanaka, report!” Tab barked.
“Yes, sir! I was with Seguire, but…I’m sorry, sir, he died from wounds received in the weapons fire. I buried him two days ago.”
The team stood silent for a few moments in shock. Angel’s eyes filled with tears, but she swiped them away while Blackstone slammed his fist into a tree trunk and cussed up a streak that burned even Jinn’s ears. Seguire was a well-liked member of the group.
Tab cleared his throat. “Before we go a step further, we’ll have a memorial for him. Atten…hup!”
Everyone stood in a straight line tall and proud, waiting for their Captain to speak the words that would set their friend and colleague to rest.
Tab began to talk, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“It’s a hell of a day when we lose someone we admire and respect like we do Lieutenant Pavlo Seguire. He died in the line of duty, honor bound to protect others and keep drugs and weapons from entering North America. Though we can’t offer him a twenty-one gun salute, we can share our memories of him with each other. We’ll meet at
Bysbies Bar
and lift a mug to his life when we get home.”
A lump of emotion rose in Jinn’s throat. When Tanaka moved a little closer to stand by her side, she accepted his offer of support and was grateful. She’d been through many ceremonies like this one and hated every minute, but it was a necessity of their job. The thought of his family and their pain when they were informed reminded her of her own heartache from personal loss.
“Take this moment to give our fallen friend the respect and admiration he deserves.” Tab lifted his hand and held a smart salute for one of the longest moments Jinn could recall, met by each member of the team, including her.
When he released it, they moved as one to finish their job. Before they left the area, Tanaka spoke. “Captain, I have one more thing to tell you. I found our target.”
Again, silence met his words as everyone froze in place.
“How far?” Tab asked.
“Two hours south of here. I also have something you might want to take into account before we attack—they have your sister.”
Chapter Six: The Chance
As Tanaka spoke of Tab’s sister, Jinn watched the commander’s eyes narrow with a glare of death then fill with the flames of hell. His entire body went taut, a tick in his jaw leaping along with the veins in his neck and temple. She was amazed to see the swiftness of the change in him. If she thought he was dangerous before, that was like comparing a lamb to a wolf and it intrigued her.
“Fill us in. We head out as soon as we have the details and God help those bastards if they’ve hurt her.” His voice was low and cruel as his expression turned to granite.
“Captain, she seemed okay, if not a lot different than I remember. It’s as though she doesn’t know who she is. I noticed that she’s jumpy, nervous, and unsure of herself. They’ve got her babysitting some little kid.”
A man like Tanaka didn’t cow to anyone, but Jinn could tell he was backtracking to keep the Captain from flipping out. If she didn’t know better, she’d say that the man was trying to manipulate his boss.
That bears looking into
.
Immediately, those cold eyes flashed over to meet hers and once again she realized that he was in her head. “Shit!” Jinn rolled her eyes and averted her gaze.
“Tanaka, you can take over watching our traitor. Keep a close eye on her. She’s one tricky bitch.” Tab’s vicious words stunned her as she watched him turn his back on her and leave.
“Move out!” Tab called.
The rest of the team followed leaving her behind with her new guard.
“Traitor?”
“Tanaka, the Captain is acting weird. He thinks I betrayed the troop and there’s no way I could or would. Who do you think has that kind of disloyalty?”
He frowned a moment then slowly shook his head. “No one in the gang that I know. Let’s get moving.”
Jinn wondered if her skills would work on this man as he had an interest in her as a woman. She made sure to block her mind from Tab and began walking beside Tanaka while planting suggestions in him subconscious.
The Captain took me with him. You will keep to the back of the group for the next hour. No one saw me with you
.
For once she didn’t get any warning from their leader and Tanaka appeared mildly confused as though he’d lost a trail he was tracking. Next, he walked off ahead of her leaving Jinn alone. Without waiting for a moment, she took off like a shot, heading in a northeast direction toward where Julie had first disappeared. With all senses on alert, she moved fast, not stopping for anything.
***
An hour later, Tab called a halt to discuss their approach on the compound Tanaka had described to them. When he saw the man come into view without Jinn, he knew something was wrong.
“Where is Dennison?” he asked, knowing she’d pulled a fast one.
“Dennison? I thought she was with you. I’ve been guarding our rear, Captain.”
The man truly seemed confused and Tab realized she’d used mind control techniques to manipulate him so she could escape. Livid, he knew he had to make a choice of either going after his sister who by Tanaka’s account was doing okay, or follow Jinn. Even with her concerns for Julie, if she was indeed alive, Jinn had promised to stay with him. It irked him even more to know that the thought of her not being with him was unbearable.
“Sit down, everyone. Let’s talk about the plan then I’m going solo. Blackstone, you’re taking over the team. I’m going to track down Dennison and bring her back. Can you handle the operation?”
“Yes, sir. I’m sure I can. Consider it done.”
Tab figured the woman had at least two hours head start and promised himself that Jinn Dennison was going to need a medic after he got through with her.
***
Though she had a stitch in her side, Jinn kept moving. With the thought of Tab in pursuit strong in her mind, she did her best to keep her tracks hidden. She’d been traveling at a fast pace for three hours with no river in sight and no way to gauge how far away it was. All she could do was follow the direction of the sun. It was starting to move into afternoon based on the angle of the rays through the thick canopy, but they began to fade due to cloud cover.
I can sense him. It’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me, but it’s like I know he’s getting closer. This heat is slowing me down!
The humidity was rising as another storm rolled in, thunder booming miles away. Sweat rolled down her face and chest making it impossible to continue with the insulating jacket on. She took a moment to remove it and tied the sleeves around her waist. After a quick sip of water, Jinn continued.
Julie?
The forest floor was beginning to change. Small hills made rushing through the bush harder as rocks became boulders.
I must be nearing the mountains near Oaxaca. Huatulco is just south of that, and there is a river with class IV rapids. If I’m correct, that’s the same area where the team was caught
.
Jinn ignored the growl in her stomach as she pushed on. Though the river was extremely rough, she was sure her sister was alive when she heard her voice in her head.
Jinn?
Juliette, talk to me. Give me your location! Are you a captive?
There was no response. Frustration ate at Jinn as she realized how hard it was going to be to find her. When she heard the sound of rushing water, she saw the first sign of hope.
The storm approached faster, releasing huge drops of warm rain, a wind stirring up the trees as well as the creatures that hid high up in the branches. Jinn sighed with relief and dropped her bag to release the jacket from around her waist. The heat and humidity made her skin steam as raindrops streamed over her skin. Instead of running for cover, she raised her arms and cherished the sensation, thrilled to know Julie was still alive.
Who are you and why are you blocking my sister from talking to me?
Jinn froze in place. Something wasn’t right. She felt someone watching her and spun on her heel, fists up and ready. She had no time to react when the man slammed into her and took her down to the ground. Though she did her best to fight, she found her hands captured in his and her body pinned down, unable to move an inch.
“I ordered you not to use silent communication, Sergeant. You promised you’d stay with me as well if I released you. What are you trying to pull?”
Tab’s eyes were filled with fury and more. There was a promise of revenge…and passion. Before she could answer, he seized her lips and kissed her hard and long, his tongue melding with hers as he mastered her. The smell of him, the wet earth, and the damp forest around them was heady and stirred her senses to the point of no return as she fell under his spell. He didn’t bind her wrists this time, which surprised her until she realized he wasn’t going to stop and she didn’t want him to.
The rain was intense, drenching them both as they began ripping at each other’s clothing. In that moment nothing mattered but getting closer and letting the chemistry that raged between their bodies loose.
Thunder crashed as they rolled back and forth as one, stripping off each piece of material until they were naked and cradled on a bed of soft, wet grass.
Jinn moaned as Tab’s mouth took charge, his hands everywhere at once. He was impossible to resist as she lay there, striving to get more of him.
“Tab, fuck me!” she growled.
He lifted his head a moment and glared at her. “Oh, I’m going to fuck you all right, woman. My only regret is that you’ll enjoy every moment. Now shut up.”
She couldn’t help it, she laughed at his harsh words. It was usually her who spoke like that. He was her perfect match. When she tried to turn him over and mount him, he held her down, kneading and worshiping her breasts, in control of her body every moment. The rain continued to pour down on them like an aphrodisiac to their mating.
In order to speed things along, she cupped his sac, but he was in charge and stopped her, continuing with his journey. Again, she tried to capture his staff in her fist, but he avoided her fingers.
“Damn you! I’m not a blowup doll. Let me touch you.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you are nothing more than that. I’m the boss and we do things my way.”