by Ainsley Cole
“Bones,” Wolf whispered, and he turned his head.
“What?”
“Stop staring, you’re making her uncomfortable.”
Bones looked back to her again, seeing her gaze lift to his. Her face shaded the prettiest pink he’d seen on a woman in a while. His cock bounced against his pants, and he shifted, trying to stop his erection. That was the last thing he needed right now. He hadn’t expected to have that kind of reaction from a woman he’d only a few minutes earlier met.
“So… uh, Major Roberts? Would you like to say a few words?”
Bones blinked, frowning. He looked at Wolf, and the man raised an eyebrow.
Inhaling, Bones stood. “We’ll be heading off at first light tomorrow.”
He sank into the chair, looking at the doctor and she blinked. “Uh, okay. Thank you.”
It was quick and sweet. The details of the mission and what they would have to go through were simple. The doctors’ job was to find the source of the infection.
Black Dove Security’s job was to get them in and out, without incident.
“Well, then. That’s it.”
People started to move, but Doctor Baker stayed at the front.
“Go play nice, and by nice, I mean be civil and please keep your hands to yourself,” Wolf said to Bones as he ushered the rest of the team out of the room.
Bones sat in the chair, watching as the doctor shuffled. Picking up papers and squaring them off, before shoving them into a tattered briefcase. Her hands kept lifting, sweeping back long tendrils of her hair. Would they be as silky as they looked?
“Is there something you need, Major?”
Bones’ gaze lifted to hers, seeing those brown eyes staring. Sitting forward, he watched her as she watched him.
“Major?”
“Ex-Major,” he replied, her face flushing again. He stood, showing her his full height. When she had walked into the room, he'd already been in his seat. She shrank back a little. He was impressive. Not as beefy as Reaper, but impressive, nonetheless. “How long do you plan on staying?”
“In Kenya?”
He nodded, sidestepping the chairs left by the others. Coming closer, he stopped a few chairs short of where she was and pulled one out. Moving it to the side, he perched himself on the conference table and waited for her answer.
“A few days.”
“A few days?”
“Yes.” Nodding, she pushed back her hair again. It fell in her eyes, and he had to stop himself from reaching out and tucking it behind her ear. “Long enough to get data and specimens to bring back to the lab. Once we have them, we can figure out what it is. Then decide if the WHO needs to know.”
“And if they do? Are we to stay longer?”
“No, we’re pretty much just going in to get samples. That’s it. See what kind of virus it is.”
“And if there isn’t a cure?”
“Isn’t—?”
“An infection of unknown origin could potentially wipe out a good chunk of the population, and you want to bring it back? What if it gets loose somehow?” His eyebrow rose.
Abigail shook her head. “It won't happen. There are measures in place to contain it.”
“Contain?”
“Yes, specialized containers. They will house the samples. Locked with keys, only I and one other carry—”
“Okay. That’s all I needed to know.” Bones stood, clapping, making her jump. “We will be leaving first thing in the morning. Get some rest, Doctor.”
Turning on his heel, he walked from the room, stomach churning.
A few days.
He didn’t want to spend any more than two. Which meant, once they had the base camp sorted, they had to get the doctors in and out of the village as quickly as possible. Any longer would draw unwanted attention.
Walking along the corridor, his hands shoved down into his pockets, he whistled as he went. He had to have a clear mind when he went into this mission, in this country. If he didn’t, he would lose not only the lives of the people he must protect, but those of his team and himself.
Stepping out into the late-afternoon light, he stopped.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled. He listened to the sounds of the medical compound. It was essentially set out like a military base. They had choppers, medical vehicles, small bunkers on the edge of the tarmac to house medical equipment.
There was chatter as people milled, getting supplies ready for the trip, the roar of vehicles as they moved through.
The sound of Apollo and Queenie arguing…
His head snapped to the left, seeking out the pair.
They were like chalk and cheese, at each other’s throats about anything.
Right now, they were toe-to-toe, and Bones could tell it was about to get physical. He turned, walking toward them. “Hey, cut it out, you two.”
Queenie glared as Apollo stepped away. “He started it.”
“Well, I’m finishing it. Go and find something to do. Try and act professionally for once.”
Apollo flipped Queenie off, and the dark-haired man stepped forward, fists raising.
“Milo!” Bones’ voice boomed across the grounds, making most people stop and stare. Queenie stopped his advance on Apollo, fists shoved down beside his hips. “Go, before I kick you off this job.”
The threat of no pay had the man huffing, and he turned on his heel, stomping away. Queenie was a party animal. Blew most of his money on the clubs… he needed this job.
Apollo was already long gone, off to the sheds to make sure their medical supplies were in order. Queenie—after his telling off—would be making sure the coms were good. Wolf would already be with the big-wigs of the company, making sure they had all the necessary paperwork, and Reaper…
The redheaded man walked past, a front axle over his shoulder. Bones raised an eyebrow. Reaper turned his head, looking at his boss. “What? It’s for the Humvee.”
“Is it going to be ready in time? It’s got to be able to be driven onto the chopper.” Bones asked, and the man stopped, face becoming stony.
“Have I ever not had a vehicle ready in time?”
Reaper rolled his eyes and continued on his way. Bones shrugged. The man had a point. Reaper could make anything run—and in the quickest time. When this was all over, he planned to open his own mechanic shop.
Blinking, Bones turned, trying to find something to do.
Doctor Baker was strutting across the tarmac, her pale heels clacking on the ground. Her pencil skirt made her hips sway way too much, and Bones let out his breath in a whoosh. “I’d do her. In a fucking heartbeat.”
She disappeared into one of the bunkers and Bones made a mental note. Keep away from the doctor, before he got himself and his cock into trouble.
* * *
Abigail had seen ex-Major Roberts on the tarmac. His figure was impressive, all muscle and sinew, tanned skin and broody. And that beard…
Oh God, did she want to run her fingers through it, touch his skin.
Leaning against the door of the office, she inhaled, calming her nerves and hormones. She hadn’t been so hot for someone in her entire life.
Abigail had seen the way he had looked at her in the conference room. The way his electric blue gaze had slid over her body, mentally undressing her. And the way he had spoken to her afterward when they had been alone in the room.
His voice had been soft, but deep. Hitting every single tingling nerve in her body.
“Abigail, are you ready?”
Blinking, she looked at the other member of their team. Along with Andrew, Chris would be coming with them. Both had more experience than her, but she had been with the company longer. “Yeah.”
“Well, Major Roberts—”
“Ex-Major Roberts,” Abigail corrected him, and the man frowned.
“Ex-Major Roberts said we have to be ready to head off at sunrise.”
“Yes, he said as much,” she replied, nodding. “I’m going to make sure Andrew has all th
e equipment ready.”
“Okay.” Chris returned to his desk and Abigail turned, going back to the door. Looking out, she saw the handsome man walking across the tarmac, heading for one of the aero-hangers. Good. While she couldn't see him, she didn't have to deal with him.
Scooting out of the bunker, she headed toward her office to make sure she had everything. She needed to prepare for the next few days away with the Black Dove Security team.
Chapter Two
Having been dropped in Garissa, a town 203 miles east of Nairobi, Bones now stood out of the top of the Humvee, staring out over the flat expanse of the African savannah. The horizon shimmered, rippling with the last heat of the day. Flies buzzed around his head—enough of them to drive a man to insanity.
With reflective flash goggles, helmet and handkerchief covering his nose and mouth, he was protected. It was stiflingly hot in his combat gear, but he knew the consequences of being without it. Many a man had died of heatstroke and exhaustion. He wasn't going to be one of them.
“How far out are we?”
From below him, a voice replied. “About twenty miles, boss.”
Bones turned his head, looking at the man beside him. “How are you feeling about this, Wolf?”
The man’s dark gaze turned back to him, his eyes narrowing. “I’m not sure.”
As well as being their liaison officer, Wolf was their tracker. He was the best at what he did, and they always listened to him. So, for the Native American to be not sure, it had Bones uneasy.
“Waterford paid a lot of money.”
“I know. But something doesn’t feel right,” Wolf replied, turning his attention back to the horizon.
Inhaling, Bones dropped to a crouch, looking at the other two men in the cab.
Reaper had drawn the short straw.
Currently, the Irishman drove the other Humvee, escorting the doctors and their gear. He could only imagine how much fun the man was not having. And the drive would be quiet as hell. Reaper wasn’t one for idle chit-chat.
“What do you guys think? Wolf has a bad feeling. You know what it means.”
“Yeah,” Apollo said, sucking his tongue over perfect white teeth. His blue gaze flashed as he turned his head, looking out the windshield. “Shit’s going to go sideways.”
“Wolf is never wrong,” Queenie piped in.
Bones sighed and lifted himself, taking up position next to Wolf again. “It’s up to you.”
The dark-haired man turned to him. “You know I follow you, Braedon.”
“Yes, but you are never wrong. Shit goes sideways when you don’t feel right. I don’t want to have the call and have something happen to one of you guys or the clients.” He looked at the horizon again, the sun starting to kiss the edge of it. “We have an hour—tops—of daylight left. We won’t make camp by then. But I don’t like the idea of being out here in the open when night falls either.”
Wolf turned his head back to the other Humvee, close to half a mile behind them. It held the medical supplies. Reaper had orders to take it easy, that’s why it was so far back.
“You think the doctor will give us problems?” Bones asked, and Wolf looked back to him. Bones knew it wasn’t the doctor he was having doubts about. It was the way Bones looked at her and the way the woman reacted. She flushed every time Bones spoke or threw a glance in her direction.
“Not her. But something isn’t right. I can feel it deep in my spirit.” He looked back out to the horizon. “I think we should push on until we get to camp. It means we’ll have to unload in the dark, but it’s the best option. We’ll have shelter and access to clean water once Queenie sets up the pumps.”
“You sure?”
“No. But what other option do we have?”
Bones frowned, hearing the rumble of the vehicle behind them. He ducked down into the Humvee, opening the door and stepped out.
The orange cloud of dust which kicked up from the Humvee settled as it rumbled to a halt. He waited for the good doctor to make an appearance.
“Why have we stopped?”
There she was.
No taller than five-eight. Abigail Baker was lithe but toned. She strode from her vehicle toward him. Camel-colored pants and a pale blue blouse hugged her figure. Still a size too small in his books, but he didn’t care, he liked the way it looked on her.
Dark hair whipped around her face from the settling dust, and she stopped in front of him. Dark purple sunglasses reflected him, and he knew she would be able to see herself in his goggles.
“Ma’am, we’ve decided to push on to the clinic.”
“Well, that would be the best idea. We have to get there before nightfall,” she stated, crossing her arms over her chest, plumping up her breasts. They looked to be a good size—big enough for his hands…
Bones blinked, shifting to his other foot, aware of the way his body responded to hers. “We won’t make it before nightfall. It is about thirty kilometers, and there is only an hour of light left.”
“Then we increase the pace. Easy.” She huffed, shooing flies away from her pale skin.
He tilted his head to the side. “Increase the pace?”
“Yes. You know, go faster?”
“Doctor—”
“Abigail.”
“Doctor,” he repeated, and she pursed full lips. “We cannot increase the pace. Unless you want the supplies you brought with you rendered useless.”
Abigail turned her head back to the Humvee. He knew what she’d be thinking. The supplies were what was going to keep them safe. Control the suspected outbreak which was happening in the small village.
She turned back to him, lifting her hand, brushing the hair back from her forehead. A ring glinted on her left third finger, and it was his turn to purse his lips. He hadn’t seen it the day before—but then again, he hadn’t been looking at her hands either.
Married?
Of course.
Someone so beautiful.
Someone would have grounded her in an instant. His gaze shifted to her stomach. Did she have kids? What would she look like, barefoot and pregnant?
His eyes closed, and he turned his head away.
He wasn’t going through this again…
“So how long will it take to get there?”
“At our current pace, close to two hours,” he replied, looking back at her. “If we try and go any quicker, the supplies won't survive. My man has orders to keep the pace slow, so as to not let that happen.”
“Fine. What happens when we get there?” She was starting to find her voice around him, the tone becoming a little more forceful and Bones was unsure if he liked it. He didn’t mind women who spoke their minds, but there was a limit to how much he could tolerate.
“We will unload the supplies and food. Make sure they are secure. I don’t expect anyone getting to bed before midnight.”
Nodding, Abigail turned and walked back to the Humvee.
No thank you or okay. She turned on her heel and left.
Bones’ gaze gravitated to her hips, watching them sway as she walked. She had such a nice figure—what would she look like, writhing under him?
Groaning to himself, he turned and walked back to the Humvee and climbed in, slamming the door.
“Trouble?” Apollo asked, and he looked at the blond, shaking his head.
“No. It’s all a go.”
The Humvee moved off.
Wolf and Queenie chatted about the mission. Apollo piped in every now and then with suggestions. But Bones’ thoughts weren’t on the mission at hand.
Outbreak, no outbreak. He didn’t care. He’d do what he was paid for.
His mind was on the woman in the Humvee behind them.
Not with what she was doing; he couldn’t give a fuck.
His mind was on what she’d be like naked, on her knees in front of him, begging for him to punish her.
Bones was brutal in the bedroom. He liked it rough and wild.
Hair pulling, spanking, rest
raint.
Few women could handle it and he was damn sure the woman in the Humvee behind them was too prissy. She’d be the kind to like vanilla—it was a flavor he hated.
Sighing to himself, Bones looked out the window, watching the plains go past.
He had to remain professional.
Get her in and out without a scratch… not even from him.
It was going to be a long week.
* * *
Abigail was tolerant. She always had been. But the leader of their security was starting to grate on her. One minute he was nice to her, the next he was cold.
The conversation she’d had with him had been none too pleasant and she knew this trip was going to sap all her strength.
She'd expected more trouble with Andrew.
The tall, thin man always made her skin crawl. When he had found out she was the lead on the mission, he had almost salivated all over her. She knew she’d have to fight him off with a stick.
But since climbing into the vehicle with Reaper, both scientists in the back seat had been silent. At least she’d have time to think about the mission in peace.
The outbreak had happened close to a week earlier. Well, that’s what the reports had told. They’d had a few photos leaked out from aid agencies; but other than that, there hadn’t been much information.
She had beaten out two other teams for the mission. This was her chance to get out of London. Drab and dreary, the gray concrete and red-tiled rooves were starting to get to her. She had been considering changing companies, just to be able to get out of the city.
“Is your boss always so cheery?” Abigail asked Reaper, turning to the big man. He turned his head, looking at her from behind round sunglasses, but didn’t say anything. “Right.”
She looked out the window, watching the scenery whiz past.
The man could be mute.
Though she didn’t understand how that would suit their line of work. Or he didn’t want to talk about his boss. Code of conduct and all that.
Settling down into her seat a little more, she crossed her arms over her chest. Staring at the plume of dust from the car in front of them, her mind whirred.
Inside the car, a man who was going to be the worst trouble she ever found herself in.