Nightstalker: Red Team (16 page)

“Fuck! Now I am not so sure.” he shoved his hand through his short hair, clearly agitated

“The fuck?” I blurted out.

“Shit, damn. Look, Jasmin, I do not want to get into your personal sex life…” Drew started, but I cut him off before he could finish.

“The hell you say? Then don’t. You do realize you are like a brother to me. I get all the rest of you talk about the ass you get, but you have always respected me enough not to ask me about my sex life, or lack thereof.” I hissed out, pissed as all get out he would have the nerve to bring up my sex life.

“God Damn this is not easy for me. I am worried about you. I have seen Linc at a club.” Drew’s face pinched up in horror.

“What in the ever loving fuck does that have to do with anything? It was five years ago. Long before I met him. Who cares if he was at a club? We go to clubs to blow off some steam after a mission or to shoot the shit, why does this even matter?” I questioned, getting more pissed by the second. What was wrong with the men in my life? Were they all trying to drive me bat shit crazy?

“Jasmin,” he spit out, annoyance evident in his voice, “a kink club.” At least he had the decency to look embarrassed. 

OH! Oh shit. It became blindingly clear what he was trying to tell me. My faced flushed red, giving away my embarrassment. We all knew Drew had a particular taste when it came to sex. He had never hidden the fact he was a Dom. His kink, from what little I knew, was extreme. He liked to dish out a side of extreme pain with his sex. I, for one, never cared what two consenting adults did behind closed doors, or in front of a room full of likeminded people, if that was their brand of kink.

“Why…why are you telling me this? Does he… um was he… shit why can’t I say it? Is he hardcore like you?” I stammered out, feeling my body heat up and flush red with memories of Linc ordering me around and spanking my ass in the shower.

I had never been so turned on or felt more at peace then I did when I gave up my control and gave it over to Linc. I could let go and relax, knowing he was calling the shots, but I didn’t know how much more pain I could take. I think my entire body might have shook at the images my mind was conjuring up. Holy shit, Drew turned crimson and looked away again when he noticed my visceral reaction.

Drew quickly recovered and schooled his expression. “No, he had a sub in ropes using a deer skin flogger for light impact play.” He looked like he wanted to crawl out of his skin as he uttered the words.

When the hell would I learn to stop asking questions I did not want to know the answers to? The thought of Lincoln with another woman had my heart rate spiking and rage flowing through my body. What the in the actual fuck was that? Was this what jealousy felt like?

“And?” I squared my shoulders, showing more confidence then I felt.

“And? Jesus Christ, I just told you. Linc likes to tie subs up and flog their ass, isn’t that enough? A man like Linc cannot just turn off who he is Jasmin. I needed to make sure you knew what you were getting with him.” Drew eyed me up and down like I was some puzzle he couldn’t work out, trying to fit all the piece that made me into a neat little rectangle.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” My back shot ram rod straight under his scrutiny. “You gotta know it pisses me right the fuck off that I am feeling like I am being judged here. By you of all people, mister ‘I like to throw a whip and see my welts on the ass of my wife’. What the hell, Drew! Does that make me weak in your eyes now? I will not apologize for who I am or what I like.”

“Fuck no! It takes a strong woman to fully submit to her man, to give all of her trust over to him, and allow him full control. Every time Julie submits to me it is a gift and one I do not take lightly. I just never took you as a sub, Jasmin. I thought you would cut Linc’s dick off at the slightest hint of dominance.” He looked away again, shaking his head as if he was trying to shake away an unpleasant image. Good. The fucker wanted to talk about my sex life, I hope that image is seared in his brain forever. God knows I could not unhear this conversation, and I wished I could.

“Thanks for the concern
brother,
” condensation dripping off my tongue, “but I am five by five.”

I started to walk away. I was so over this uncomfortable conversation. What the hell? How damn embarrassing!

Drew stepped in front of me. “I am sorry baby girl. I should not have gotten in your business. I was just worried about you and about Linc.” He waited to continue until my eyes met his. A look of hurt flashed in them. “I know what it is like to have, shall we say, certain tastes. And when someone you care for does not share in those tastes it leads to heartache.”

Shit and damn! How could I stay mad at Drew when he had obviously opened himself up to me and was just trying to look out for me.

“I know. Really. I’m cool.” I gave him a loopy smile and a wink, earning me a chuckle. Drew had a great laugh; it was straight from his gut, full and gruff. Hearing it made me smile bigger. Damn, I loved my family, uncomfortable sex talk notwithstanding.

“So my girl is a sub. Who knew? Here I had always figured you as a Domme. I was waiting for the day you asked to borrow my flogger. Shit Dom I am, huh?”

FML! Just kill me now. Serious as shit, my face felt like it had caught on fire and I looked around for the nearest hole to crawl in and die.

“Nope. Just waiting for the right man to come along. You know, one strong enough to overpower all my sass and bend me to his will. You know all the spankings are just a bonus. It makes the…”

“ LA LA LA… I get it. Stop there is not enough ear bleach.” he covered his ears.

I smirked at him, trying my hardest not to blush a bright red, “Right. Are we done with this heart to heart?”

He barked out a laugh and pulled me into a hug. “Yeah, baby girl, we are so done. Let’s grab our shit. Transport to the White House will be here in thirty.”

“Love you, Drew man, even if you’ve gone all soft and shit with a case of the feels.”

Lincoln

I swear to Christ if she left the God Damn White House unprotected while I was on this mission I would tan her ass when I got home! I usually used my time in transport to go over mission specifics and reports; this morning, however, I was thinking about how infuriating my wife was. My head was not in the right place for this op. Thoughts of Jasmin invaded every corner of my mind. Her sweet little body under mine, her capture and torture, her nightmares. They were all flashing together in a jumbled mess that only fucked with my mind more. Not to mention that fucked up stunt she pulled. Trying to play me as just a dick to warm her bed.

Two fucking years I lived and breathed filth and shit. I chased some cocksucker over four different countries to find those women. To dole out the punishment he deserved. It was slow and it was painful. By the time I found him there was only ten of the original fifteen women left, but the piece of shit had added twelve more to his stable. Twenty two women were rescued and returned to their countries of origin. Ten came back to the United States.

I gave up two God damn years to finally come home and claim my wife and her ass threw me attitude. If I was being honest with myself, I knew she would. I knew it would be a struggle. Nothing was ever easy with Jasmin. That was why I fell in love with her; she was all fire and sass. You had to work your ass off to get to the sweet. But once you get there, it was pure beauty. I needed that back. I craved to have that back. She soothed my soul and kept my demons at bay. After this mission I would make things right. I would not allow my pride to ruin me.

“Ten minutes out.” The pilot’s voice crackled over the headset.

“Copy,” Zane confirmed.

I laid my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. I had ten minutes to lock that shit down and focus. When I opened my eyes I could see The Farm in the distance. We would use the landing pad in the center of the oval driving course. I tried to distract myself by identifying all the additions Zane had made in the last two years. There was a new sleep cabin, a new shoot house, and it looked like the shooting range had been expanded somewhat, if all the new steel target systems were any indication.

“That a new rodgers range?” I inquired.

“Hells to the yes,” Jax answered. “When this shit is over, you and me. Best time wins.”

“Shit yeah, you wanna place a wager on that?” I asked Jax.

“I got a c-note that says I smoke your ass.” His lips twitched as he tried to hold back a smile.

“Shit, I’ll gladly take that bill off your hands, bro,” I joked back. Damn, it felt good to smile. The last twenty four hours had been absolute shit. I needed this.

I felt the helicopter start to descend and the aerial view of The Farm narrowed to just the landing field. We touched down with ease and Zane slid the door open. I quickly pulled my headphones off and grabbed my bag, patting the pilot on the shoulder as I prepared to exit.

“Smooth flight, thanks.”

I jumped to the ground, keeping low as I ran from the helicopter to the waiting Suburban.

***

Our first stop was the armory to get our gear and weapons. Holy hell, if I had thought the basement armory at Z Corp’s HQ was badass, this was the motherlode! Our gear for the mission had already been laid out for us on the larger work table in the center of the room. I made my way over to a pack and started to inspect my equipment. Picking up a fully kitted out Colt M4 carbine, I racked the weapon, leaving the slide open. Pointing the M4 towards the wall, and checked the Trijicon reflex sight. Clear and crisp. Perfect for close quarter operations. I placed the M4 down and did the same with the SigP220 .45ACP before I strapped my SERPA thigh rig on and holstered my weapon.

“God Damn, Z, you win the lotto?” Eric whistled as he inspected his gear.

“I think I need a raise if you can stock all this shit,” Leo said, noting all of the expensive gear.

“Yeah, cause your ass is broke,” Zane shot back.

“Fuck, the raise. I just want a week here at The Farm with unlimited ammo once a month as a perk,” Colin joined in as he checked the number of chem sticks on his tac vest.

“All a bunch of jokers, no raises, no free ammo,” Zane laughed. “You assholes get plenty of perks. Finish up in here. Garrett is ready for an updated brief.”

Zane finished checking his gear and started to walk out the door when he suddenly stopped and turned back towards us. “Though, Jax, if you can smoke my brother’s ass on the range there will be a five hundred dollar bonus for you.”

All the guys snickered and laughed. Bent at my waist in an exaggerated laugh, pretending to wipe a tear from under my eye. “Oh brother, that shit was funny.”

He just shook his head at my antics and continued out the door. We all followed him down a hallway into a conference room.

Zane wasted no time loading the video conference feed onto the large LCD monitor that hung on the wall. Garrett on half the screen and Drew on the other.

“Update.”

“Codes are filed and verified. Mission name: Sierra, Sierra. Countersign: Nightlight. Password of the day: Parris,” Garrett clipped.

I wondered if that man had left his desk in the last forty-eight hours or if he even slept. I hoped Zane had finally hired someone to help him, poor bastard.

“Copy that,” Zane smiled. “I see the director did not find the humor in my mission report.”

“No sir, he did not. I believe his exact words were, ‘how stupid does this cocksucker think I am?’ I think he has caught on. He thought you were naming all your missions after the tail you bagged, however the Traci Lords op gave you away.”

“Damn, I knew that one was too obvious,” Zane chuckled. “Drew, you got anything new for us?”

“Captain Black has checked in again, the tunnels are still clear. You’ll have safe passage to the other side. Black has an informant they use from time to time. He told the kid to spread the word that the border patrol was going to be doing exercises in the area. The drug runners will stay clear of that area,” Drew filled us in. “Jasmin has something to add.”

Drew stood up and Jasmin replaced him on the screen. She had her hair pulled up in a high ponytail that gave me an unobstructed view of her beautiful face. I studied her for a moment, her mask of professionalism clearly in place. She gave away no emotion as she began to speak.

“Intel came back on the guards. Three men, all South African Special Forces; Tito Lee, Junior Alco, and Banele Yost. All three spent six years as Recces. When they left they started offering personal protection for the dirt bags of the world. They are excellent at what they do including safe transport for drugs and girls as well.” Jasmin stopped and looked down, obviously to scan a report in front of her. She looked up and continued. “Do not underestimate these mother fuckers.”  

“Copy that. Do we have their service records and pictures?” Colin asked.

“Yes, I have already sent that information to Zane’s tablet. Their client list and last known ops are also there. If at all possible I am sure the director would love to rendition their asses.”

“The director can kiss my pale white ass. That mother fucker would love nothing more than to send us out to do his dirty work, then leave our asses flying in the wind. Fuck that noise. Let him send out his own God damn team.” Eric crossed his arms over his chest, looking like he was ready to spit fire.

All of us in this room had been burned by the CIA at one point in our careers. It still burned my ass to have to play nice with the bastards. I hated to have to eat shit, yet whenever the CIA stuck their nose in an op that is exactly what you had to do, eat shit. Eric was not wrong. The director was notorious for letting an operative swing in the wind to save his own ass. So much for playing on the same team.

“That all you got Jas?” Zane asked as he scanned the information on his tablet.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zane stiffen, but before I could fully study his reaction it was gone. I racked my brain for any recollection of the three shit bird guards, but I was coming up empty. I could not remember ever hearing their names, which is a red flag in my book. When you’re in the game long enough you know all the players. You make it your business to know every detail. It could be a matter of life and death.

“What is it Zane?” I asked.

“All good.” He looked up, his eyes boring into mine.

With a nod of acknowledgment, I let it go. Zane was not ready to share. I trusted my brother. He would never keep something important from his team.

“That’s all I got boys. The jet will be landing in,” Jasmin stopped to look at her watch, “fifteen minutes. Flight plan to San Diego has been filled. Your transport to the tunnel will be awaiting you. See you all tomorrow, out.”

Before I could even blink, Jasmin’s side of the screen went blank. My gut twisted in an uncomfortable knot. Something felt off. My head was so fucked I could not work out if it was all the shit swirling around with Jasmin or if something was off about the mission. Christ, I had to pull my head outta my ass before I got myself dead. My gut was always right, always.

“Garrett you got anything else?” Zane looked up from his tablet.

“That’s all I got. I’ll be on standby at HQ.”

“No you won’t. Go home get some rest. You look like shit, brother. Drew and Jas can take over from here.”

“I’ll sleep in your office, Z, I need to be here. Out.” Garrett disconnected before Zane could argue. Smart man.

The screen once again came to life and images of three men were displayed. Each of them standing in their dress uniforms; complete with the maroon colored beret displaying the Recce insignia on the left side. Behind them was the South African flag. None of them looked familiar. I glanced around at the team to see if any sort of recognition dawned on them. Nothing. Well, fuck me, this was not good.

“I will make this brief, six years’ service all three. Tito Lee. Only child, honorably discharged, clean record, top of his class in his Special Forces Basic Training Cycle, served four years in SANDF. Junior Alco. other than honorable discharge, two older sisters. Father deceased- murdered in a robbery attempt, middle of the road through his schools, five years in SANDF. Benele Yost. Cousin of Alco, dishonorable discharge, only child both parents deceased boating accident. Raised by his uncle and aunt, uncle deceased - Alco’s father, in and out of trouble all through school. Several letters of misconduct, violation of rules of engagement, court marshalled by UN officials, civilian casualties.” Zane stopped and placed his tablet on the table scrubbing his hands over his face. “I have seen firsthand this son of a bitch’s handy work. He is a mean mother fucker and does not give the first two shits about taking out everyone
,
innocents included.”

I knew my brother had seen some fucked up shit in his time. He locked it down deep and would not allow anyone in to help relieve the burden. So God damn strong all the time, but one day all that weight will bear down and break even the strongest man.

“Do not let Yost get the drop on you. Do not hesitate. This is not a CIA op, this is a cleanup effort. Clean these mother fuckers up by any means necessary. I am fully aware of what I am asking of you and in a court of law it might be considered murder. I do not give two shits that I am playing judge, jury and executioner with these scumbags. The last time I saw Yost he slit a six -year-old hostage’s throat after the boy was no longer needed. If you are uncomfortable with what I am asking, stay behind.” Zane had officially gone thermonuclear. His face was stone and his eyes had gone blank. That six-year-old’s death was still weighing on him and he was ready to exact retribution.  

I looked around the room, the team stood at the ready, all with the exact same steely looks of determination on all of their faces. At that moment I finally felt it, I belonged and was God damn proud to stand beside these men. Each of us ready, none of us blinking an eye at taking out these fucks. Four less dirt bags in the world.

No one spoke a word as Zane studied each of us. “Right. Let’s roll.”

“HOOYAH”

***

We touched down in California six hours later. I would like to say that my gut still wasn’t screaming at me, but that shit would be a lie. Something was not right, the look on Zane’s face only confirmed that my instincts were spot on. He felt it too. We rode to our drop point in silence. Thank fuck each of the men around me had already slipped into that cool detachment. no one needed to fill the silence.

“Two-minute warning,” our driver announced.

“Roger that,” Zane was curt.

I mentally went over all my gear one more time, touching the front of my vest, insuring each item was precisely where I needed it. With a knock to my chest to confirm my plates were indeed in my carrier, I sat back. Old habits and all that. My first deployment in Afghanistan an infantry specialist came back to base with a small caliber GSW. He had forgotten to wear a plate carrier. That would have stopped the bullet. Instead he died in surgery, stupid mistake. After that I always knocked my chest to confirm I did not make that same mistake.

“Nightstalker, over,” Zane tested his COMS.

“Loud and clear, Viper,” Jasmin came back over our COMS.