by Jaime Lewis
The Trident Series
ACE
Jaime Lewis
Copyright © 2020 Jaime Lewis
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The Trident Series - ACE
Copyright © 2020 by Jaime Lewis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.
ISBN: 978-1-952734-00-7
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Epilogue
Book List
AcknowledgEments
Prologue
Afghanistan – Two Years Ago
Inhaling, she was overcome with the thick smoke that filled her nostrils. It was thick and made it hard to breathe. A light caress of a large hand swept across her forehead before a familiar voice echoed in the distance.
"Alex, can you hear me? Come on, Alex!"
It was a voice she would recognize anywhere, and she was confused as the voice brought her back to reality. In her scattered thoughts, she searched for an explanation that would explain Bert’s presence. He hadn’t been on the op; he was supposed to be manning the office back in Washington.
“Open your damn eyes, Alex!”
Her head was hurting so badly she wished he would stop shouting. The pain was so intense, and she couldn’t understand what was wrong with her. Why was everything in her vision black?
“Sir, we need to get her on the chopper now.”
She wondered who was with Bert and why would she need a helicopter. Were she and the team leaving to go home? Again, confusion wracked her brain as the throbbing pain continued to wreak havoc in her head.
“What’s wrong with her? Why isn’t she responding?”
"I don't know, sir. We'll know more once she has been evaluated. This burn near her hip requires treatment ASAP. Not knowing how close she was to the blast zone, there's no telling if there's any major head trauma or internal injuries. I've got the IV-line in, but we have to move her now!"
She could hear the two men as they spoke about burns and head trauma. If she could just talk with her team, they could explain what was happening. Her body was jostled, and the movement caused her stomach to revolt. She felt like she was going to be sick. Her eyelids stuck together as if they were glued shut, but she managed to pry them open little by little.
“Stop! Look, she’s trying to open her eyes! Oh God, Alex. Look at me, look at me!”
"Bert…" Her voice came out raspy, and her throat felt as if she had swallowed shards of glass.
“Stay with me, keep talking, Alex. You’re safe now. We’re getting you to a hospital.”
“Bert…the others…where are the others?” She was in so much pain that even speaking was an agonizing feat.
“There was an explosion. I’m so sorry, Alex. They’re gone.”
She didn’t understand. What explosion was Bert talking about? She was just with the team. They were playing cards while dinner was cooking. They were making plans for when they returned home. The last thing she remembered was getting a phone call and walking out the back door. What was she missing? Suddenly, pieces started coming together. She wasn’t far from the door when a bright flash of light blinded her. The next second, she was being thrown in the air. Her breath caught in her throat when the realization hit her. Someone had blown up the house.
Chapter One
The violent jerk of the plane jolted Alex from the painful nightmare. Her heart pounded in her chest as she desperately gasped for air. Leaning forward in her seat, she sucked in a few deep breaths as she tried to fill her lungs with oxygen and calm her breathing before a full panic attack wracked through her body. She lifted her hand to her throat, feeling it constrict. No, no, no. Not now and not here.
She dropped her head between her knees, then closed her eyes as she tried to control her breathing using the techniques she found useful in the past when these attacks made their ugly appearance. The problem was they weren't always effective, depending on the severity.
After a couple of tense and eerily quiet minutes, her anxiety symptoms started to diminish and ever so slowly, she sat up, making sure to keep her eyes closed. She wasn't ready to face the eyes of those on the small plane with her who had seen her at her worse. Gulping down her last shred of pride, she took a little peek and was surprised she hadn't alerted the three men sitting near the plane's front. From her vantage point, she could see they had their heads buried in the massive piles of papers in their laps.
She knew her face was probably a couple of shades of red by the heat in her cheeks. This had been a concern of hers ever since she answered that damn phone call. Having to come back to the place that left her with nightmares and scars was bound to resurface those memories. It had been months since her last episode. At least then, she had been at home and not in the presence of others.
She thought two years would’ve been enough time to get her head on straight after that shit show of a mission. But now she wondered if there would ever be a day she wasn’t reminded of that ill-fated evening when she and her team were hunted down and attacked.
She reached for the water bottle from the drink holder and took a few sips, wetting her parched mouth. She thought about how close she came to telling her boss no when he asked her about this assignment. Now she wished she had "accidentally" misplaced her phone. Especially considering she was only a day and a half into her dream vacation. She shook her head, remembering she had just sat down on the lounge chair to soak up some sun when she heard that ring tone that only meant one thing. She was needed for a job.
She couldn’t really complain since it was her job. Being an intel analyst had its pros and cons. Unfortunately, because of her background and fluency in multiple languages, including dialects in the Middle East, she was called upon regularly.
She had resigned her position with the NSA after what the government called a botched mission two years ago. It had been the best decision because after returning home, she soon realized that those individuals she thought had her back didn't, including her former boss. Not too long after her resignation, she was offered a job with her current employer, Mason Whittemore, and she took it without a backward glance. She still lived in Annapolis, Maryland, just a couple of hours from her hometown, Virginia Beach, and worked out of her house, well, that was when she was actually home. Mason's company did a lot of work under the radar, which meant most of her assignments took her out of the country. At first, she tried keeping a low profile and focused on analytical work, but that didn't last long. Mason was a former Special Forces soldier and wasn't stupid. Having worked alongside him on prior assignments while she was still with the government, he knew her talents and capabilities. She was fluent in multiple lang
uages and was sought after in the intelligence community. She was always turning down job offers from other government agencies as well as competing private firms. She was content working for Mason. He was a good boss and friend as long as you worked hard. This was why she couldn’t say no to him when he called her, even though he explained to her he would understand if she wanted to decline.
Now she was in a plane heading back to the one country she swore she would never step foot in again, and along for the ride sitting just feet from her was the man she hoped she never had to associate herself with again. Unfortunately, she wasn't given a choice to cherry-pick who the government sent as their representative. Bert McMahon was a callous man who positioned himself before his team. She had worked under Bert for a few years, and even though he had some minor faults in his character, she had been blindsided when he turned his back on her when she needed his support the most. After the shit show she’d gone through when she returned stateside after that mission, she had learned the hard way that Bert indeed was a one-person show and didn't know the definition of the word team, even if it was imprinted in his brain. Her respect for him diminished when he aligned himself with what the government thought had happened when they decided she and her team were derelict in their duties. She knew then she wouldn't work for someone or an agency who wasn't honest or loyal to their employees. Not to mention that he had made it known throughout their working relationship that he wanted her in his bed. He went so far even to claim that it was the norm in the world they operated in. He also had the audacity to ask her out on a date after she resigned. Creep!
She didn’t miss the subtle glances he’d been sneaking when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. She knew that her silence was driving him crazy, considering the last time she had spoken to him was when she gave her notice. Thankfully, his colleagues with him had kept him confined to his seat.
Even though she couldn't choose who the government sent, she could control her contact with him. When she brought up her concerns, Mason was adamant that Bert and his team were only there to provide support and act as a communication liaison for the government. As Mason put it, he was sort of working for her. She couldn't wait for the first opportunity to get a little payback. She wouldn't stoop to his level, she would be professional about it, but as the saying goes, karma is a bitch.
She had a lot riding on this assignment, not to mention five men's lives were at stake. She didn't want to disappoint, nor did she want Bert getting his panties in a twist and causing issues for her. In her mindset, this was also a chance to redeem herself in the government's eyes and prove to them they had made a massive mistake in letting her walk away.
A couple of days ago, five US security contractors were believed to be kidnapped in the middle of the night. They were part of a team hired to secure a weapons facility for Afghani security forces. The group responsible had also walked away with millions of dollars’ worth of weapons, weapons that were paid for by the American government. She was sought out by the government because of her extensive knowledge and background of the suspected leader of the terrorist organization believed to be responsible.
The main suspect happens to be the same man who had made her life hell for the past two years—the same man who claimed responsibility for her five colleagues' deaths. Nobody else inside the government had the knowledge she possessed on Ashraf Fayed. After her team's failed attempt to bring him in, he’d dropped off the radar. After she had been released from the hospital, her one goal in life was to be the one who ended him if ever given the opportunity to face Ashraf again.
She looked down at her watch; they still had a couple more hours before they landed. She might as well try and get some more sleep. God only knows how much sleep she'd get once they got started. She reclined the seat and made herself comfortable, letting the hum of the plane's engines lull her into sleep with hopes of no more nightmares.
Chapter Two
As the plane's tires bounced down the runway, Alex released the deep breath she had been holding. She didn't mind flying per se; it was the takeoffs and landings that jumbled her nerves. Once the plane came to a stop, she powered on her phone and scrolled through a couple of new messages. One was from Mason's office, so she listened to it and smiled when she heard her friend's voice.
“Hey Alex, its Bowman. By the time you get this, you’ll have landed. But I wanted to give you a heads up that the team assigned to your operation is en route and should be meeting up with you at Bagram. It should be interesting. Anyway, if you need anything give me a shout. Take care."
Dang, it had completely slipped her mind about the specialized team being brought in to assist. She wondered what Bowman meant when he said, “it should be interesting.” She didn’t miss the slight humor in his voice either.
Shaking her head, she reached for her backpack by her feet, then pulled her boots and socks out. She took off her flip flops and placed them in her bag. She’d wear flip-flops twenty-four-seven if she could, but the flip-flops weren’t the best choice of footwear with the terrain in this part of the world. After slipping her socks and boots on, she pulled up her left pant leg and strapped a knife to her ankle.
“I see you haven’t changed when it comes to your safety. You were always prepared. My imagination can only wonder what other surprises you’re hiding under there.”
When she looked up, Bert stood there, his eyes raking over her body like some sex addict waiting to get his next fix. What a sicko! Thankfully, the jeans she wore covered her legs. The only skin showing was her shoulders and arms in the tank top, but she’d rectify that once she slipped on her button-up shirt.
She dropped her gaze back to the knife with thoughts of sticking the sharp object into his back just as he had done to her. She didn't feel the need to respond to his nasty comments, but sometimes, she just couldn't hold her tongue. "It's fun to leave people guessing what I'm carrying and where." She glanced back up and couldn't help the slight grin when he narrowed his eyes at her. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the gentlemen traveling with Bert interrupted their reunion.
“Excuse me, but someone from the base commander’s office is outside. He said he wanted to speak with you.”
"Tell him, I'll be there in just a minute," Bert replied arrogantly, never taking his cold eyes off her.
“Umm…He asked for Ms. Hardesty, sir.”
She reigned in her smile at the shocked expression on Bert's face. Ignoring the angry man next to her, she adjusted the knife, slid her pant leg into place, before standing and gathering her belongings.
As soon as she stepped off the plane, the hot, dry air hit her skin, sending a tremor through her body. She forced her rigid muscles to move, even though they begged her to walk no further. Reality set in, and a funny sensation swirled around in her belly and not in a good kind of way. Not wanting to cause a scene or look weak, she pretended she was looking through her backpack for her sunglasses while she talked herself off the ledge. Finding her sunglasses, she pulled them from the bag and put them on. At that precise moment, the wind whipped around, blowing the fine dust this part of the world was known for, everywhere. That was another thing she hadn't missed about this place, the mess the dust created. Those damn tiny granules found their way into everything.
She shook hands and introduced herself to the Sgt. He informed her that her "team" had already arrived and were anxiously awaiting to meet her. Since Bagram was just a stopover, he pointed out where she was to meet up with the convoy she would be hitching a ride with. The forward operating base, Camp Sunshine, was about a two-hour drive from Bagram on some of the most treacherous roads within the region. In the last few weeks alone, there had been an uptick in convoys being ambushed as they traveled through.
With no further questions, she excused herself and took her bags over to the pick-up corral. She glanced at the time and saw she had a little time to kill, so she headed toward the mess hall to get a small bite to eat to tide her over until dinner. Bert and
his two shadows decided to go in the opposite direction, looking for a colleague of theirs. The last thing she needed was him breathing down her neck the entire trip. Just that thought gave her the shivers.
As she made her way into the building, she came to a halt just inside the doors. Damn, they must be serving something really good, or either people were just hungry because it was wall to wall people. She strategically moved about the room bustling with activity, weaving in-between tables and people.
She passed by a table of Special Ops guys and nodded her head in greeting. The one guy sitting at the end looked up and nodded back before returning to his conversation. If you didn't know Special Forces soldiers' traits, most people would think they were just ordinary soldiers. But thanks to her upbringing, she could spot them a mile away.
Her dad was a Navy SEAL. Tragically, he was killed in action when she was only six years old, leaving her with no immediate family. Her mother was no longer in the picture after walking out on both her dad and her when she was just a baby. Unselfishly, her dad's best friend and teammate stepped in and claimed guardianship of her. Derek was still on active duty, serving as a SEAL team commander in Little Creek, Virginia.
As she moved deeper into the building, it became even more crowded to the point that it made her uncomfortable. She was borderline claustrophobic, and being only five-foot-three and finding herself in a crowd of people that towered over her kicked up her anxiousness. Looking around for a path, she finally gave up. By the time she made it to where the food was, she wouldn't have time to eat.
She had seen a side door earlier and knew that was her best bet in getting out of the chaos. In her quest to exit the building, she made an abrupt one-eighty but wasn't prepared for the person standing right behind her. As she bounced off the rather extra-large person, she stumbled backward and lost her balance. Her arms windmilled around, and she tried to reach for something to grab onto, so she wouldn't fall on her ass and make a fool of herself in front of everyone. When she thought nothing was going to save her, two muscled arms wrapped around her waist and hoisted her back up.