Delta Force: Six: Wayward Souls

by Norris, Kris

  He sighed. He’d been waiting for her to broach this topic, especially after he’d told her they could “discuss it later.” And it seemed as if that time had arrived. He just hoped it didn’t freak her out. Because he’d never explained it to anyone before, other than his grandmother. Though, thinking back, he didn’t recall actually telling her. She’d just known.

  Christ, had she had time leaks, too? Was it some kind of genetic marker passed down through the generations? If he had kids, would one of them inherit the same ability? And when had he started thinking about having kids?

  “Casey…”

  He blinked then cursed. He’d spent the past minute staring at her while lost in thought. Definitely not a good start to their conversation. If she didn’t already think he was crazy, she was bound to, now.

  He sighed, brushing some hair off her shoulder. “Sorry, I was thinking.”

  “About how to get out of telling me how you seem to know the future? Because there’s no doubt you have something…unusual going on.”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you.” I just don’t want you to leave because of it. To think I’m too different to be with. That it’ll spoil whatever surprises we might share.

  “But…” she added.

  He groaned, sliding off her then rolling onto his back, one arm bent across his forehead. “You gonna think I’m crazy.”

  Kam propped herself up on her elbow, trailing one finger across his chest. “Hate to break it to you, soldier, but I already think that, so…”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I. You risk your life without a second thought. Always put yourself between your teammates and danger. Death, really. So, yeah, I already know you’re crazy.”

  She pushed up, apparently obvious to the fact she was naked. That it was going to be next to impossible to hear a word she said when he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Her pert breasts with pink-tipped nipples. How her muscles moved beneath her skin. The small white scars from either the IED or that bastard McCormick.

  Fuck, Six was going to have to end the man. Once and for all.

  “Casey. My eyes are up here.”

  Shit. He’d done it. Again.

  Six shook his head. “Hold that thought, sweetheart.”

  He jumped out of the bed, then darted into the bathroom. A quick grab of their clothes and he was back, sliding on his briefs as he tossed his shirt at her.

  She caught it, smiling. “I could have worn the one Gibson left for me. It’s still hanging over the end of the bed. Though, I did enjoy the view.”

  “If you’re going to wear a man’s shirt, it had better be mine. Being your husband and all.”

  A snort as she tugged the garment over her head. “Okay, hubby. Back to this sixth sense of yours…”

  Hubby. Christ. It was corny and stupid, and he fucking loved hearing her say it.

  Six climbed onto the bed, sitting on the edge as he turned to face her. “Just promise me you won’t freak out, okay?”

  She held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

  “Wench. Fine, I’ve never liked labeling what happens, but my grandmother called them time leaks.”

  “Time leaks?”

  “I guess she felt that’s what best described them. In short, I get glimpses of what’s about to happen a few seconds before it happens.”

  “So, you see the future?”

  “Not always see. And I prefer to think of it as one possible outcome.” He blew out a rough breath, allowing his head to tilt forward. “See? It doesn’t make much sense when I say it out loud. Which is why I’ve never told anyone. It’s easier to let my buddies imagine the truth than actually hear it.”

  Her hand cupping his chin then lifting his head until their gazes clashed. “I’d like to think I’m much more than one of your buddies. And it sounds like a perfectly reasonable explanation. I’ve seen enough sci-fi movies to know the difference concepts of time. Answer me this. If you do nothing, does it always end the way you saw it?”

  “Like I said. It’s not always an image. Sometimes it’s just a feeling. Like Spider-Man’s spider sense, I guess. Others, it’s more like a whisper to move.” He didn’t need to mention his inner voice yelled at him. Or that it felt as if he got hit up the side of the head, at times. “But, yeah. If I do nothing, things usually go sideways exactly the way I’d envisioned.”

  “So, this ‘sense’ allows you to alter how the timeline continues.” She sat back. “Wow. That’s pretty freaking…”

  Here it came. The part where he was weird. Too different to be part of her life.

  “Incredible.”

  It was?

  “Have you always had this ability?”

  She wanted to know more?

  “How often do you get them? And is it always just the immediate future or can you see an event, say, months down the road? Oh, can you control it? Make it happen by thinking about it?”

  “Wait…just back up a few steps. You’re okay with it?”

  She furrowed her brow. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Because it makes me sound like someone who should be heavily medicated and locked away.”

  And just like that, the switch flicked, and she went all supernova. Smiling. Beaming at him. Face lit up like the damn Fourth of July. “Casey. Baby, I’ve seen you in action. Hell, you’ve saved my life a dozen times just these past few days because of this…ability. These time leaks. I’d be the crazy one to doubt you.”

  “Still…”

  She slid closer, pressing against him. “Like I said before. Do I look scared?”

  He chuckled. “No. But I do recognize that look and are you sure you’re ready for another round?”

  “Definitely, but first…” She palmed his chest, preventing him from pushing her onto the bed. “You mentioned something before about your ability not working with me—”

  “Us. I said it didn’t work with us. With our future.”

  “What does that even mean? Have you gotten glimpses of the future with other lovers? Other women you’ve been in a relationship with?”

  “First, there haven’t really been any relationships for that very reason. I always get a peek at the future.”

  “So, you can see beyond the next few seconds.”

  “Only when it comes to relationships, it seems.”

  “And…”

  “And it’s never been good.”

  “But with us…”

  “Nothing. Just you and me. Here. Now. In this moment. It’s…strangely addicting. Not knowing what’s going to happen. Puzzling my way through it. Scary as hell, but…nice. Like having someone adjust the focus, and now it’s all crystal clear.”

  “I…I don’t know what to say. Why I’d be…different.”

  “I believe the word you’re looking for is special. And you are, Kam. More than you know.”

  “Casey, I…” She exhaled. Loudly. As if she was trying to hold something in. And he hadn’t missed the odd sound of her voice. Thick. Like in the truck when she’d been talking about how the IED had changed her. Made her less desirable if he’d understood the veiled meaning correctly. She was wrong, but he had a feeling she might not take his word on that.

  Then, she smiled, again, and he didn’t need his sixth sense to read her expression. To know what she was thinking. Feeling. It was just like last night when she’d told him she was his. “So, you have no idea I plan on picking up where we left off last night? As I recall, you denied me my prize.”

  Her hand slid down his chest, across his abdomen then between his legs. Her fingers squeezing his length through the thin material. Six inhaled, held it, then hissed it out through clenched teeth. Damn, one more pass like that, and he might just cream his shorts.

  He snagged her wrist, holding her gently but firmly. “Or, I could reverse our positions. I believe you said that grinding your cleft on my face was a sword you’d be willing to fall on.” He let his gaze drift down to her crotch then slowly back up
. “I think it’s time for you to make that sacrifice, sweetheart.”

  She swallowed. Hard. As if it had taken conscious thought to get her throat to work. Then, she poked her tongue out to wet her lips, and he was lost. Instantly blinded by the desire to make her unravel in his arms, again. To cry out his name as she pulsed against his tongue. To make her so damn needy she’d never be able to picture a future without him in it. Exactly the way he was.

  He moved, pushing her flush to the mattress as he claimed her mouth. She smoothed her hands across his sides and onto his back, pulling him closer. Eating at him as if she couldn’t get enough of him. Was trying to remember how he tasted—like that morning in Vegas. Only, this was genuine. All Kam.

  And now, he could do what he’d wanted to do back in that hotel room. Lick every inch of her. Make her shatter.

  Six nibbled his way down her neck, grinning at her breathless encouragement. The way her thighs opened at the promise of more. Of him driving her wild. He’d just reached her hips when the image flashed in his head. A hand on the doorknob. Another freaking interruption.

  He grunted, lifted his head and looked over his shoulder. “I swear to god if whoever is about to open that door, actually opens it, I’ll shoot you, myself.”

  A huff. “Damn, you Americans are a touchy lot. Fine, then stop snogging with your wife, and get your arse out here. We have shit to discuss.”

  Oh yeah. Six would do Gibson in right after he got rid of Cannon. Crow. Hell, Colt, too, because his buddies were going to push him off the deep end.

  Kam sighed. “Can’t seem to catch much of a break, now, can we?”

  Six gazed down at her. “Damn, you’re just so fucking beautiful. And no, we can’t. But mark my words, sweetheart. I will have you at my mercy, later. This is just a postponement. Not a cancellation. So, you might want to pace yourself, today. You won’t be getting much sleep tonight.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Well, crap. The situation was quickly escalating into a full-scale mission—one that included her own Black Ops squad because Kam had never seen this many Spec Op soldiers in the same room outside a military briefing. Only Phoenix was missing from Six’s old unit. Not that they were lacking personnel. Phoenix’s place had been filled by Rigs and Midnight. In fact, the only member of Cannon’s crew missing was Ice, who was on a location shoot with his wife, Harlequin. Though, he’d promised they’d be back within a week—sooner if Ice could swing it.

  But his expertise had been replaced by Gibson’s friend, Coen Brady. Doctor Coen Brady—ex-military and with a service record as questionable as Gibson’s. Made Kam wonder if the doctor had been involved in covert operations alongside his friend. Gibson was still discussing Coen’s presence with the man. Though, based on Coen’s firmly set jaw, Gibson’s rantings were going unnoticed. Or at least, unheard. It was obvious the doctor wasn’t leaving until the situation had been resolved.

  Gibson clenched his jaw. Cheeks red. Fists white-knuckled. “You fucking knob. I gave you explicit instructions.”

  Coen merely crossed his arms over his chest—the massive one that fit in with all the other guys. “And I followed them. Got Finley and Jonah safely to Spokane. They didn’t like it, but I worked out a deal.” He held up one hand. “This isn’t a discussion you’re going to win, mate, so just shut up and let’s get down to business. Besides, it’s not like I’ll be going hunting alongside you. Just standing by in case Six decides to go all Kamikaze, again.” Coen grinned at Six. “Being newlyweds, and all, the man might be feeling a bit protective of his new bride.”

  Six grunted, shaking his head. “You know, you’re all pretty cocky considering I might need to pull you out of the way of a bullet in the near future.”

  Coen nudge Gibson. “Notice how he didn’t deny the protective part.”

  “Could we all try to focus on the situation at hand. That is why you’re all here, right? Crow sent out a blanket nine-one-one after our encounter last night?”

  Cannon scrubbed a hand down his face. “We were already gearing up. This just escalated a bit quicker than we’d anticipated. Call me crazy, but I thought it would be a few more days before Slader made another move. Sent another team your way. And how did he know you’d be back in Seattle? We had your truck at the hotel in Vegas.”

  “He probably has all the damn airports under surveillance. It’s not like we can lie about who we are on a flight. If he has hackers watching, they see our names pop up and he’s got us.”

  That or someone had tipped the man off. Not a scenario Kam wanted to consider because it meant someone they trusted had turned. Not that she’d believe it was anyone in this room. These men bled honor. No way one of them would switch sides. Still…

  “If he’s got people who are that skilled at hacking, why the hell does he need Kam? Can’t someone else hack into this secure vault you have?”

  Kam sighed, leaning forward as she raked a hand through her hair. “It’s not just the encryption on the files. Navigating the archives isn’t easy. Nothing is straight forward, and if you aren’t familiar with the codes, it could take you months to find the right information. And the chances of staying inside a secure network that long without getting caught are pretty slim.”

  “Kam’s right.” Ellis nodded toward her. “One of the keys to being a successful hacker is getting in, finding what you need, then getting out. Quick. Organizations like the CIA have the authority to perform sustained surveillance, but if you’re breaking in… No way McCormick or anyone he has working for him would risk repeated, prolonged attempts, now. Before we caught him? Sure. But, not now. Kam’s his best bet. His only one, at the moment.”

  “What about you?” Cannon glanced at Kam. “Not to discredit your abilities, Kam, but Ellis has cracked more secure software than anyone else I know.”

  Kam held up a hand. “None taken. Ellis is definitely the better hacker, here.”

  “Not necessarily in this case.” Ellis smiled at Kam. “I’d been out of MI for years when this happened. It would take me a fair amount of time to search through their system to find the right information. Then, more to try and crack Kam’s program. Kam could get to the archived intel in minutes and doesn’t need more time to crack the code. She has it.” Ellis shook her head. “That’s assuming I can crack her vault. I’m good, but that doesn’t guarantee I can hack it. I’ve never seen this program. At best, it would take time to get through the security walls. Time Slader can’t afford when he knows people are looking for him.”

  “So it’s Kam or—”

  “Nothing, at this point.”

  “Fan-fucking-tastic.” Cannon grunted when his phone rang, glancing at the screen. “I need to take this. I suggest we start planning how we’re gonna take this Slader asshole down because I’m done playing by the rules.”

  Cannon turned and stalked off, answering his phone as he went. Kam sighed, watching the man’s muscles clench and release as he nodded, using his hands to convey something, not that the person on the other end could see them. But, she assumed it made Cannon feel better.

  Six nudged her side, laying one hand over hers on her thigh. “It’s going to be okay. Promise.”

  She snorted. “Your sixth sense telling you that?”

  He smiled, and just like that, the rest of the room faded. Just vanished into the curl of his soft lips. The hint of white from his teeth. And damn, she knew exactly how his mouth tasted. How it fit against hers. The feel of it on her body.

  Six paused, tilting his head slightly as if trying to figure her out. Or maybe he was listening to that inner voice—the one he’d finally told her about. Then, he was leaning in. Stopping a breath away. “Don’t need any help knowing how this is going to end. Nothing’s going to get to you. Period.”

  Kam wet her lips, barely holding back a moan when his gaze dropped—followed the slow path of her tongue. The man was dangerous, and definitely a risk to her good health because just looking at him spiked her heart rate. Had her chest squeezing tig
ht as her lungs fought to inflate. Just her luck, he’d give her a damn heart attack right there on the couch.

  She forced herself to breathe, reaching up to graze his chin when a throat cleared off to her right. Kam inhaled, whipping her head around, only to groan as Cannon arched a brow, alternating his gaze between her and Six. His expression clearly asking if they needed some alone time.

  Kam snatched her hand back then scrubbed it down her face, ignoring the burn beneath her palm. Surely, things couldn’t get any worse.

  Six leaned in, mouth brushing her cheek. “Steady, sweetheart. They’re like wild animals. Don’t let them see your fear.”

  She laughed. Couldn’t help it because in the space of a heartbeat, he’d totally dissipated the tension. Just like before when everything had disappeared except the luscious curve of his mouth. Now, all that remained was upbeat humor. A lightness she hadn’t felt in a long time. Probably since that fateful day in the desert. Christ, the one that had saved her life.

  She still wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Knowing that Slader would have had her unit killed, regardless, had altered how she felt about their deaths. Had relieved some of the burden. The guilt. And she was starting to think that maybe, with Six’s help, she could finally let it go.

  Forgive herself for surviving.

  Cannon arched a brow. “We good, now? You two think you can focus on the rest of us for a while?”

  Six grinned. “You’re just sore because you spent the night in my truck.”

  “Don’t remind me. My neck is killing me.” Cannon took a step closer, glancing at Jericho before exhaling roughly. “That was Jack.”

  “And…”

  “You want the bad news or the really bad news?”

  “Might as well ease us into it.”

  “Bad news, it is.” He took another breath, shaking his head. “Seems our thoughts about McCormick were close, but not quite correct. He was being held in a secure facility. Not exactly a jail, like the bastard deserved. It appears he swung a deal. Intel for better-than-average accommodations. He’s been there since that day on the pier.”