Intense - Aspen Drake & Emily Cain

by Special Forces - Operation Alpha

  “Yes, there were casualties.”

  My heart fell at his words. He was a murderer and I despised him for that, but I still cared about him anyway. I cared about the man I met in that bar, the one who drove me home so I didn’t have to walk in the snow. I cared about the man who smiled as we made a snowman together. Could I really care about that man and ignore the crimes of the other?

  “But they deserved it.”

  “Says who?” I felt my chin jut out defiantly even though I had no reason to feel so strongly about strangers.

  He gave me a look that answered the question.

  I took a deep breath to settle my attitude. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay…”

  “Me too.” His eyes never left my face. “I was surprised to see you so worried over me.”

  “That makes two of us.” My scoffed teasingly.

  “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you liked me.” His lips upturned into a smile.

  “I don’t,” I said defensively. “I just…”

  “Yeah?” he pressed, that smile still there.

  I shrugged and avoided his gaze. “I was just worried for Jana’s sake.”

  “Sure. Whatever you say.”

  I was embarrassed to admit my feelings. I didn’t want to, but my heart had a mind of its own—a stupid one.

  I stared at the bedspread that covered my legs.

  Parker watched me, and I could feel his eyes burning into my face. “I care about you too, Sierra.”

  “But I shouldn’t care about you. You can justify what you do as much as you want, but it doesn’t change anything. It’s wrong.” I looked up and met his gaze, seeing the hurt reflected openly on his features.

  “You’ll change your mind about that.”

  “No. I never will.” It didn’t matter how he spun his tale. He could say whatever he wanted, but it didn’t change his actions. He pulled the trigger and snuffed out the lives of innocent people. Even if I cared about him, I would never approve of that. My moral compass didn’t always point north, but it didn’t point south either.

  His body tensed and pivoted away from me. “I’ll show you my office tomorrow. Then you’ll understand.”

  And maybe I would stop caring about him altogether.

  Chapter 9

  Parker walked beside me across the yard. Snow blanketed the lawn, and the buildings were all covered with snow. There was only one narrow door. It was red, and it looked like it was made of stone.

  He pressed his hand against the door, and a keypad appeared on the wall. After he entered a code, the door slid back into the wall and a camera emerged to perform a retinal scan.

  Damn. He didn’t mess around when it came to home office security.

  He walked inside first then quickly shut the door behind me. Automatically, the bolts and locks stretched across the bulletproof door. Actually, the door looked everything-proof, like not even a bulldozer could get through it.

  On the wall was an enormous screen with different images projected across it. One block looked like a field map of an unfamiliar country, another was the entrance into a building, and the largest image was a map of the world. Red pins marked different territories, but I didn’t know what those pins meant.

  Speechless, I just stood there.

  The floor was made of concrete, and a large desk was positioned in the center of the room. Various computers buzzed on the desk beside a stack of folders and documents. My breath caught when I noticed dozens of guns and technical gadgets lined up along the back wall.

  Shit.

  Parker watched my reaction to everything but didn’t say anything as I stood there in shock.

  “Uh…it’s nice?”

  He moved to the desk and pulled out the chair for me. “Take a seat.”

  I lowered myself into the chair and immediately felt uncomfortable. It felt like the death seat. “Do you want to know where I was this week?”

  I glanced up at the wall of screens and back at him. “I’m not sure.”

  He pulled up a chair beside mine and took a seat. Then he waited for me to give my verbal consent.

  I took in a deep breath and blew it out through my nose. “Yeah, I guess…”

  “This stays in this room. Jana doesn’t even know what I was doing.”

  “Okay.” I nodded, equally terrified and excited about what he was going to say.

  He grabbed his mouse and moved the pointer across a screen on the wall. After clicking on a few things, he brought up a picture of a terrifying man with dark eyes. He was standing in front of a building with an AK-47 hanging by his side. “His name is Adeeb Baqri. I’ve been trying to find him for years. Every time I get close, he disappears.”

  “Why do you want him?”

  Parker changed the image on the screen. What he pulled up made me shake. It was an image of young women in cages. They lay on the ground like they were dead, but they weren’t. They seemed incapacitated, confused. “Adeeb runs the largest sex-trafficking organization in the world. He has at least twelve headquarters across the world, including the United States. He’s wanted internationally, and I’m one of the people searching for him. These women range from ages twelve to thirty-five.”

  I stared at the image and felt my eyes burn.

  “He’s been doing it for years. I’ve managed to liberate a few of their brothels, but they’re constantly on the move. They operate under the radar, and they’re smart. It’s nearly impossible to track them because they have unlimited resources and most countries are too frightened of retaliation to intervene. I intend to put a stop to the entire organization. It’s just taking some time…”

  Sick to my stomach, I couldn’t do anything but just stare. When it became too much, I closed my eyes. “Turn it off, please.”

  He clicked and brought back the surveillance feeds, but I kept my eyes closed anyway. One of my greatest fears was of being raped. When I thought Parker was going to do it to me, I realized how traumatic it would be. Being subjected to that torture on a daily basis was unthinkable. I wanted to vomit and avenge those women at the same time.

  Parker stayed silent until I was able to compose myself.

  I finally opened my eyes and felt the moisture pool. They weren’t tears of sadness, but rage. Some of those girls were only twelve years old. It was disgusting.

  “That’s what I was doing when I left.”

  “Did you succeed? Did you save those women?”

  He shook his head with an empty look in his eyes. “They’d already been moved. But I killed the men who were still there.”

  Now I understood why he felt no remorse about killing people. Maybe he really was a good guy. My perception was beginning to change. I didn’t think he was a monster anymore.

  “This is what I do, Sierra. I’m not a hit man. I don’t kill random people for a paycheck. I fight for people who can’t fight for themselves. I kill people who deserve it. I give people their basic right to freedom. My bosses are committed to intervening for people who’ve been abandoned and forgotten. That’s what I do. And I’m damn proud of it.”

  Guilt rushed through me. All this time, I thought he was a soulless fiend. Little did I know, he was a hero. Now I knew the two parts of him I was so conflicted about were one and the same. I cared about a man who deserved my affection. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “You don’t need to apologize.”

  “I said some mean things…”

  “You didn’t know the truth. It’s smart to be cautious. Never blindly trust anyone—even me.”

  My hands were clenched in my lap, and I stared at them in silence.

  Parker rested his ankle on the opposite knee with his eyes trained on me, like he expected me to say something else.

  Now I was scared. If he was telling the truth about himself, then was he right about my father too? Could the man who tucked me in at night when I was a little girl be one of the bad guys? Is it possible he’d killed innocent people? Was
he the opposite of Parker?

  I took a deep breath that hurt my lungs. “I’m ready to see the evidence you have on my father…”

  Parker’s eyes were dark and endless as he crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Not today.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t think you’re ready.”

  I squared my shoulders and sat up straight. “I can be emotional sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak. Parker, I can handle it.”

  He turned his gaze away. “Not today.”

  “Why?”

  “When I tell you, you’ll understand why I kept it from you for as long as possible. Trust me on this. Enjoy your ignorance. It’s bliss.”

  I sat in front of the window and watched the lights twinkle. They were just bright enough to outline the mountain in front of me, but most of it disappeared into the shadow of the night. The lights from the village had a golden glow to them. It felt like I was looking at an image from a brochure.

  It was easy to understand Parker’s fascination.

  A knock sounded on the door, and I recognized his specific pattern. He and Jana both had their own ways of doing things. I could tell who had been where just by looking at their trail.

  Either I was observant or they were lazy. “Come in.”

  Parker entered my bedroom then joined me on the floor. He usually visited me in the evenings if we didn’t see each other during the day. For the past few days, he’d been working in his office. I needed space anyway, so that worked out in my favor.

  He wore grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips and a black t-shirt. His evening outfits were predictable. It didn’t matter what he wore because he looked good in everything he put on his body. He filled out the shirt nicely, showing the outline of his chest and shoulders. I’d seen him shirtless before, and it was a memory I wouldn’t forget.

  Now that I knew the truth about him, I was no longer tense. If anything, I felt remorseful for accusing him of being a criminal and a thug. But could I really blame myself for jumping to that conclusion? After all, I was still his prisoner. He hadn’t released me nor had he explained why he needed me.

  Parker sat right beside me, his shoulder touching mine. It was nice being close to him, physically and emotionally. Since he was pretty much the only person I socialized with, it was impossible for me not to get attached. My heart had grown fonder of him with each passing day.

  “Keeping busy?” he asked.

  “I took a nap today.”

  A faint smile stretched his lips.

  “Then I took a bath.”

  “Wow…productive.”

  “It’s not like there’s a lot for me to do around here.” I pulled my knees to my chest and looked out the window. I wanted to look at Parker, but I resisted the temptation.

  “Want to train with me tomorrow?”

  Both of my eyebrows rose as I turned to him. “Train?”

  He shrugged like it was no big deal. “You know, sparring, running, weight lifting…”

  Working out with a smoking hot guy sounded like fun. “Sure. But don’t let your guard down unless you want a black eye.”

  He chuckled. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

  I leaned against the frame of the bed as my arms continued to squeeze my legs. “What’s Jana’s story?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  I shrugged. “Just curious.”

  “It’s her story to tell.” He rested his arms on his knees.

  “Is she forced to be here? Like I am?”

  Parker sighed and I immediately felt guilty for asking. “No.”

  “Have you ever forced someone to stay with you?” Or was I the only one?

  “No.”

  I still couldn’t figure out why I was there. What could he possibly need me for? I wasn’t particularly talented at anything. I was smart, but I wasn’t super-geeky-computer smart. “Will you ever let me go?”

  “Yes, Sierra.” The back of his head rested against the bedframe, and he turned so he could look at me. “Are you in a hurry to leave?”

  “Not really.” If my father was evil, there was nowhere for me to go. I didn’t have grandparents or siblings, so I was on my own.

  “Then just relax and enjoy the vacation.”

  In the beginning, I felt like a prisoner of war. But now things were different. It was like I was just visiting a friend. I wanted to spend time with Parker and get to know him in a way no one else ever had. “So, Jana is here because she wants to be here?”

  “Yes. She takes care of this home in exchange for a place to live and a generous salary.”

  “Does she have her own family?”

  “No. Just me.” Parker’s lips lifted slightly. “You have a way of pulling things out of me. It’s those eyes.”

  I smiled triumphantly. “Then tell me.”

  “I won’t get into the specifics, but Jana was in a really bad situation. I rescued her along with many others. Everyone else went home to their families, but Jana had nowhere to go. I invited her to live with me—so she wouldn’t be alone.”

  “Awe…” My heart started to swell. Parker was much kinder than he let on.

  “She’s a sweet woman. It makes her happy to make my life easier.”

  “I can tell.” I smiled warmly.

  Parker smirked. “She likes you.”

  “She does?” All she ever did was try to wait on me hand and foot. We hadn’t had very many conversations, and the first time we met, I was a little rude.

  Okay, I was super rude.

  “She thinks you’re a nice, young girl.” His lips stretched into a grin. “But she doesn’t know about your party girl secret.”

  I was surprised she liked me. It didn’t seem like many people liked me when they met me. “I guess I’ll be nicer to her from now on.”

  “Just be yourself.” He eyed the hearth and realized the flames were starting to die out. He got up and tossed more firewood inside, moving it around to get a steady burn before he returned to his place beside me.

  “Where are the others? The men you work with?”

  “All over the place. Most are still working from the States. Others are staying nearby.”

  “Texas, right?” I asked. “Not somewhere tropical?”

  “You aren’t a fan of the cold?”

  “I love it and think it’s beautiful, but I couldn’t live in perpetual winter.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, Fort Hood. Not exactly tropical but still very warm.”

  Well, that was better than nothing.

  “But I have a home in Maui. We can visit it sometime.”

  My jaw dropped. “You have a house in Maui?”

  “Yep.” He didn’t gloat, but he seemed amused by my excitement.

  “Do you have homes anywhere else?”

  “I have one in Cambridge.”

  Now that I knew he traveled to exotic places, Cambridge didn’t add up. “Why there?”

  “It’s where I grew up. I don’t have any family, but the city keeps their spirit alive.” His voice didn’t belie his sadness, but the look in his eyes did. “I also have flats in Italy and New York City.” He added the last two quickly to change the subject.

  “Wow. That’s a lot of real estate.”

  “It’s nice to feel at home when you’re traveling.”

  “That must cost a fortune…”

  “My job generates significant bonuses.”

  “How does that work?” I asked. “For instance, who’s paying you to help those women?”

  “Actually, no one is paying us for that.” His eyes were no longer on me. He stared out the window like he was looking at something only he could see. “We do that because it’s the right thing to do. Sex trafficking shouldn’t exist—period.”

  It was volunteer work? “Why are you so passionate about it?” Did Parker know someone who was a victim? Had he seen it first hand?

  Parker didn’t elaborate. In fact, he didn’t move or react whatsoever. It was as tho
ugh he hadn’t heard me at all.

  I knew I wasn’t getting an answer. “If that’s volunteer work, how do you earn a living?”

  He came back to life at that question. “Do you remember the assassination of Gohir Alvi?”

  “Yes.”

  “That was me.”

  My entire body froze like it’d been sheathed in ice. I didn’t even breathe because his words hit me so hard. I was impressed, terrified, and completely in awe. I was younger when that terrorist had been apprehended, but I understood the significance. I still remembered watching an entire city get blown to pieces on the news.

  “The CIA and FBI were struggling to find him. Every time they got a lead, it went cold. Eventually, they commissioned us to get the job done. And we did.” Parker said all of this like it wasn’t a big deal.

  I swallowed hard and stayed absolutely still.

  “We’re often hired to go after terrorist groups. Right now, both France and the US have commissioned us on separate missions to eliminate threats they don’t want the public to find out about. We take on some of the most difficult missions, but we also take on civil ones. Just last year, I was paid to be the bodyguard of a famous model in New York City. She had a few enemies, and when they tried to get to her, I took care of it.”

  I soaked in everything he said like a sponge.

  “We take on the missions we want. When someone pays me to assassinate someone, they have to have a damn good reason for me to do it.”

  “I’m sorry I misjudged you.” It was the only thing I could come up with to justify every bad thing I’d said to him.

  “You don’t need to apologize. I don’t look friendly. Like you said, I have danger written all over me.”

  “I meant that in a different context.” And he knew it.

  Without thinking, I hooked my arm through his. His skin was warm, and it was better than any heater I had ever been near.

  He turned my way, and his hand rested on my thigh. He responded to my affection immediately, his fingers stretching across my knee.

  It felt so good.

  When I looked up at him, I saw him staring down at me. “I love your eyes. I’ve always been a sucker for green eyes.”