Clarity (The Admiral's Elite Book 3)

by HK Savage

  No comment, Black moved toward the door to his office. Avoiding the glare she could feel coming from Michael and the curious silence of the others, she followed in their leader’s wake.

  “Don’t.” The whisper was so faint it could have been imagined.

  Aside from a stutter in her step, Becca effectively hid what his request did to her. Only she could know how it tore her apart knowing she would betray him, make his sacrifices for nothing. The image of him blood covered and unconscious in the parking lot flashed through her mind.I’m doing this for you.Becca entered the dark office.

  ***

  “Close the door.” The quiet command came from the area of his desk. At least that was her guess, her eyes had yet to adjust. Hands shaking, she did as she was told, though her flight instinct beat on her to whip open and get the hell out of there.

  “You requested this meeting, Rebecca. I would assume you have something to share.”

  Straightening her spine, she turned and took two strides in to stand in front of the desk. A large desk she already knew was there, she could make out the shape and creamy complexion hovering behind it. From the height she knew he was sitting. “Sir, the request you made regarding my ability.” She cleared her throat again, afraid what he’d do when he learned of her duplicity.Michael has taken a lot more for me.She threw back her shoulders. “I’ve been successful. I can do it.”

  Her announcement was met with silence. Nervous, she shifted her feet. “Um, I’ve been able to jump into more than just Captain Rossi.”

  “When did you make this discovery, Rebecca?” His response was quiet. Too quiet. Where was the interest? The surprise?

  He knew. All along he’s known. The increase in her heart rate was impossible to stop. “Sir?”

  “I would assume this breakthrough has some source, some specific occurrence when you discovered you were able to jump into a mind other than Michael’s.” There was a sound, fabric rustling as he shifted.

  Please don’t get up.“It’s been a progression, Sir.”

  “A progression?” His tone almost sounded amused. That was good. Amused wasn’t pissed.

  “Yes, Sir. I’ve been making progress but recently I was able to do it and stay for several minutes. The jump was just like it is when it’s Captain Rossi, just as solid.” The conversation was best turned away from anything more specific. Becca wasn’t a great liar and Black, like the predator he was, could tell if she was hiding something. “I’ll be able to do whatever you need me to in Washington.”

  “That is good to hear, Rebecca.” Black sounded genuinely pleased.

  Sighing in relief, Becca felt the danger passing. Black was probably contented with the fact that she’d become a better tool for him to use. Her next hope was that Michael would be as happy that she’d declared herself useful. After he was over being mad for her breaking his silence.

  “Is that all, Rebecca?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Turning to leave, she reached for the door handle.

  Fabric rustled again and a whoosh of air moved her ponytail off her neck. She shivered.

  “One more thing, Rebecca.” His voice was in her ear.

  Squeaking before she could stop herself, she clamped her lips shut and willed her pulse to slow.

  “What type of creature were you able to ‘jump’ into? I would like to know.”

  “What type? I’ve, uh, been working with humans and the werewolves, Sir.”

  “And this serendipitous occurrence, would it have anything to do with Michael betraying my trust?”

  “Sir?” The back of her throat tightened, bile creeping up.

  A long fingered, freezing cold hand clamped her throat, his other spun her shoulder and threw her back against the door with a resounding thud. Pinned against the door, her toes stretched for the ground, barely able to touch. The pale, glowing fangs were inches from her face, transfixing her. She couldn’t let her eyes move to his or she’d be unable to keep anything from him.

  “Did you honestly believe I would miss the timing of this special announcement? Do you think I have failed to notice the way Michael avoids the subject of your progress,” he lowered his voice, “no matter what pain he suffered?”

  Tears pricked her eyes. She tried to swallow, to speak, but the bony appendage wrapped around her fragile flesh wouldn’t allow it.Fragile.A tear escaped, running down her cheek.

  “Sir.” Michael’s muffled voice came through the door.

  “You may not agree with my methods, however, they have proven effective in the past. Michael is different; special to me. Because of that, I have made certain allowances. You being one of them.” A minor movement and she lost contact with the floor, instantly cutting off what little air she’d been able to suck in. Instinct took over and her feet sought purchase on the door, pushing against his hand to bring some relief.

  “Is there a problem, Sir?” Michael’s apprehension was impossible to hide.

  “I need information. You have a choice. Either you tell me what creature you jumped into and when or I will ask Michael again. This time,” Leaning in, he nearly touched her nose with his. Those eyes burned through her and Becca smelled death. His influence rolled through her and she felt her will crumble. “I won’t accept anything but the truth. No matter what I have to do to get it.”

  Spots danced behind her eyes from lack of oxygen, not her sight. Or maybe it was both, control over that part of herself was fading with her consciousness and his pull.

  A bang on the door behind her. Becca pictured Michael trying to come in.Black will kill him.A pained cry confirmed Black would not let him come. More tears spilled over. “Please.” She mouthed the one word, praying he would hear.

  Feet returned to the floor and air rushed back into her burning lungs. Black’s hand remained fitted to her throat, reminding her she lived at his discretion. Another sound, a moan mixed with a growl.We all do.

  “Please what, Rebecca?” At least he didn’t gloat, his question was posed as plain as if they were back in the war room. “Do you wish to tell me what I need to know?”

  Uncertain her ability to speak, she nodded.

  “I am not a patient master.” The prompt was combined with a minor tightening of his fingers. A reminder.

  Swallowing, she spoke in a broken whisper. “A demon.” She closed her eyes. “In Wisconsin.”

  When he didn’t respond right away, Becca forced her eyes open. And regretted it. White skin pulled parchment thin across his prominent bones lent him a skeletal appearance. The ever prominent fangs grew to below his chin. The admiral under normal circumstances was scary; angry at her, he was like facing a wild animal. Equally unpredictable. This time, as their eyes met, he used his influence to dig into her mind. She felt him sift through her thoughts, not making any efforts to be gentle; it felt like he was combing through her brain with a rake. There was no stopping the hoarse groan that rattled through her clenched teeth. Her insides were equal parts rolling and burning.I’m going to die right here.

  Michael banged on the door again, she heard his snarl through the thick wood. At least Black was no longer tormenting him.

  The twirling of her guts like flaming spaghetti stopped. Panting, Becca focused on the deadly creature in front of her.

  “You have threatened the stability of a unit I took great care to assemble. You can be replaced, do not assume greater importance than is warranted.”

  Becca could only nod, waiting for him to squeeze that hand and end her. Her actions certainly justified it. Afraid for what missions he might send her on, what he would expose her to they’d hid her increased ability. It was stupid. And selfish. If she lived she vowed never to do it again.

  Another bang on the door. Harder. The wood moved behind her.

  Black blinked.

  Her body trembled as pure animal fear took over.

  “You will not interfere with my command again. Do you understand?” He didn’t wait for her to answer, acceptance was assumed. “Any changes to your abilitie
s will be reported directly to me, they will not go through Michael. You serve me, is that understood?”

  This time he waited so she nodded, offering a faint, “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good.”

  The hand at her throat disappeared and another rush of air marked his movement as he returned to his desk.

  Becca clutched at her swollen neck.

  “Dismissed.”

  Resisting the urge to tear open the door and run from the room, Becca’s shaking hand twisted the knob and she came face to face with a haunted Michael. Fresh blood marked his upper and lower lips, his shirt bathed in it. She knew he tried to get to her, but seeing the evidence of what he’d endured sickened her. Opening her mouth, she tried to speak.

  “Don’t.” He reached for her hand and, taking a very firm hold, they strode rapidly from the monster’s den.

  ***

  Reaching the stairs Becca faltered, physically and emotionally at her end. Without pause, Michael twisted his upper body, wrapped an arm under her legs, the other around her back and swept her up into an embrace. Relying solely upon his power, they took the stairs two at a time and were in the kitchen only long enough for a quick raid and locked themselves in the relative safety of his room. Only when the door was closed and she was sitting down bed, Michael kneeling between her knees, did she feel she could finally breathe.

  “I thought he was going to kill you.” Tears choked her words, snot clogged her throat; she knew she looked terrible, was crossing into hysteria. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t stop. “I thought he was going to kill me.”

  “Shh, my love, I know.” He dug in the pile he’d thrown on the bed next to her. “Try not to talk, your throat’s bruised.” Producing an ice pack, he wrapped it in her pajama shirt at the foot of the bed and pressed it against her swelling throat.

  “What about you?” she croaked. “Can’t we have a night with no blood? One night with no more blood.” Focused on the drying blood on his lip, she rubbed at it. The need to be rid of the physical evidence of admiral’s presence in the room, between them, the lines blurred. Cleanliness turned to obsession as she scrubbed. “No more blood, please, no more blood,” her muttered mantra.

  “It’s off,” Michael spoke softly, his hands covering hers. Stilling them. “There’s no more, Becca.”

  Tears clouded her eyes as she looked up from his raw face. “There’s always going to be blood, Michael. Until one of us dies there’s always going to be blood.”

  Chapter 11

  “What the fuck is he thinking? A human, he replaced me with ahuman?”

  Gabrielle tried not to roll her eyes, making no effort to respond to his repetitive complaint as she let him blow himself out. Sanity was a reach on a good day and this was not a good day. Nothing she said would register at this point.

  Kenneth continued to pace the kitchen, tearing at his hair in agitation. Eyes wide, they would have shown mostly white had he not been in full on vampire mode. As it was, it was big black eyes and long white teeth flashing and gnashing. “And we can’t eat her? Why? Because Captain Suck Up likes to fuck her? Why can’t we do both? It’s ahumanfor fuck sake!”

  “That’s enough, Kenneth.” Gabrielle’s instinctive defense of the captain and his woman bugged her as much as it did Kenneth. Glaring, she went on the offense to avoid any questions that might get her to dig further into uncomfortable territory. “If you want to sign your own death warrant go ahead. Clearly you’re out of practice, if you think he can’t hear your ranting you’re an idiot.” She smirked at his widening eyes. “Yeah, duh; you’re yelling and he’s a vampire. Think he can’t hear you questioning his judgement?” Eyes rolled. “And we know how much he likes that.” Moving away from the interior of his room, she sauntered to the door. “If you were smart, you’d shut your mouth and get a feel for how things are before you say the wrong thing and get yourself staked and thrown in the desert.” Gabrielle paused at the door, hand on the wooden frame, and looked back over her shoulder. She couldn’t muster a shred of sympathy at the sight of the returning odd man out lowering his body to the mattress. “I’d be real careful before shooting my mouth off around here, Kenneth. Things are different now.”

  Closing the door gently, she wandered down the hall toward her room, reflecting. It was true. Everything was different now. Whatever was happening between Michael and Becca, it was bigger than just some love affair. The physical effects of his touch on her body Gabrielle had witnessed, the way he could calm her racing heart and pull her out of a full blown panic attack or episode, whatever you wanted to call them; that wasn’t normal. There was something there. Something weird. The admiral was behaving strangely toward the two as well. Taunting Michael, using Becca to bait him. What was that? Ryan was in on it too, closing ranks with them against the admiral, as much as anyone dared. Why? What did he know? She wanted to ask. But. Ryan.

  His name hit her at the same time as his scent. Naturally, she was standing outside his door. What the hell? She should keep going to her room, where she should hide. Pain was all the big Marine would bring her. Still, thoughts of him brought that flutter low in her belly. She knew better than to fall again. Not in this business when death waited around every corner. Teammates fell, even when they were damn near indestructible. Damn near wasn’t safe enough to avoid that kind of pain, and after Luc, she knew she wouldn’t survive that soulrending agony again. Once nearly killed her. To allow it again was pure stupidity.

  The door opened, its frame filling with well over six feet of tanned, toned muscle. Tousled auburn hair hung over one eye, Gabrielle’s hand itched to push it aside and reveal those vibrant eyes she loved.Loved? No.Her inner cynic rose to wall off her squishy, vulnerable parts. So much for fuck buddies with no strings.

  “Gabs?” His big hand came up to sweep his hair aside, bright green times two shone straight through her. “What are you doing here?”

  The edge of hope behind his question sliced at her self-control. Then, as a brutal reminder, the ghostly image of Luc’s shrapnel riddled body popped into the forefront of her brain. Straightening her shoulders, she held his gaze. “Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure.” He stepped back to allow her entry, closing the door and leaning against it while she didn’t stop till she was at the foot of his bed. Further would be better but what was she to do, run to the wall?Mature.

  “What’s going on between Michael and Becca?”

  Shock wiped the hopeful expression from Ryan’s face. Gabrielle kept going, no way he was taking control of this conversation. “There’s something they’re hiding and it sure as shit looks like you’re in on it.” She swallowed, hating the shadow she watched pass behind his eyes before he tucked it away.

  “What?”

  Lifting her chin, she crossed her arms. “You heard me. There’s something going on and I don’t like being left out of it.”

  Ryan lifted his bulk from the door with ease, closing the distance between them until he was an arms length away. “Months you’ve been treating me like I just rolled in garbage and you couldn’t stand the smell, now you come to me demanding I answer your questions? What the fuck, Gabs?”

  Gone was the gentle giant she so adored, the one who so frequently brought her respite from her inner demons. Hatred for herself at putting that ugly in him flowed through her.It’s better this way,she reminded herself. Gabrielle tucked that tender part of herself back in its dark corner where it belonged, shutting the door tight.

  “I told you before, Ryan, there’s nothing to talk about. We had fun and now we’re done.”

  His mouth gaped for a second before snapping shut. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?” The air filled with energy. Ryan’s volatile state tipped him toward changing.

  She was riling his beast and a part of her was glad. She wanted something to strike out at, preferred anger to the emptiness threatening to devour her whole. Gabrielle schooled her expression, affecting her usual uninterested air as she waited for him to go on. She didn�
��t trust her voice, the lump in her throat nearly choking her.

  Ryan changed tactics. She wasn’t ready for it. Another step and he was in her space. Heat and power radiated off him, there was no hiding the shudder that rippled through her. She caught her breath as Ryan leaned in.

  “You know what I think?” His whisper caressed her skin. “I think you feel me and you feel me deep.” Fingertips rested at the top of her breast, over her pounding heart. “It scares the shit out of you so you’re pushing back as hard as you can, trying to get me out of here.” Lowering his head, Ryan rested his forehead to hers.

  Unable to handle the intimacy of his gesture, Gabrielle closed her eyes.

  “I’ve got news for you, Gabs.” Running a hand down her arm he met no resistance when he captured her hand and placed it over his own chest so she could feel his great heart beating. “You’re in here just as deep, and I’m not letting you go. No matter how hard you fight it, I’m already there. Just like on a mission, I got your back. You don’t have to be afraid, I won’t let anything happen to you.”