Traces of Grey
Book Four of the Alexis Stanton Chronicles
By
J.C. Phelps
SMASHWORDS EDITION
*****
PUBLISHED BY:
J.C. Phelps at Smashwords
Traces of Grey
Copyright © 2013 by J.C. Phelps
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
*****
Written for:
Alexandra
Edy
Ellie
Jim
Rick
Robert
&
Robert
Special thanks to:
Angela - Bobbe - Carmen - Dawn - Deb - Jen - Jessica - Jimmy - Karen - Linda - Lynn - Mac - Natasha - Robert - Sandy - Terry
Thank you to all of my beta readers. Without you I wouldn’t have had to courage to press that publish button.
An extra big thank you to my bestest ex-Ranger friend – You know who you are and you may or may not be listed above. I’ll never tell!
I’d like to express an extra hearty thank you to Mac. THANK YOU!
*****
TRACES
OF
GREY
Table of Contents
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 One
I was feeling claustrophobic, trapped and restless.
“You’ve been back in the office for a month now.” I heard the whine in my voice and tried to disguise it. “When are you going to put me back to work?”
Less than two weeks ago it would have taken all of my partners to pry me away from White’s side. But now he was recovered enough to be back at work. I should be back out there, too.
It had been more than two months since Ruben shot him. That was a defining moment in my life. James Ruben had learned the identity of Penumbra so my father had locked him up to protect my mother. Colin had unwittingly let him out in hopes he would lead them to the mob boss, Dimitri Glasgov. Instead, Ruben went straight to my mother to kill her. He wanted to get even with my father for locking him up.
Something clicked inside as I watched White fall to the floor that night. The agony I felt in that short moment had the potential to bring me to my knees. As he fell in slow motion I had a moment of clarity. I knew I would be lost without him. As my knees threatened to buckle my training kicked in and I instinctively took care of the threat. Karma is a bitch when you’re a bad guy, and Ruben quickly found out that I’d recently changed my name to Karma. I fired my weapon. I was only slightly disgruntled that Ruben probably didn’t even have time to realize what happened before he was lying dead in a pool of blood on my parent’s floor.
The memory of White falling to the floor was something I’d carry forever. It made me sick to my stomach every time I let it play through. I’d gotten better at repressing the memory by having White constantly at my side.
“You are working.” White’s voice pulled me out of the nightmare.
“No, I’m not. I’m hanging out and watching you and Gabriella work. I need to get back out there. The only excitement I’ve had in months is that Angel Moran concert Gabriella took me to.”
Angel was one of my favorite artists at the moment, but it was sad that I’d even compare a few hours at a concert to what had become my life. Still, it was all I had.
“Maybe you could put me through some more training if you aren’t going to put me on a job.” I begged. “Has anything come down the pipes for Penumbra?”
“No. Just the one you passed on when I was still recovering. Penumbra might be the most sought after assassin in the world, but he’s too expensive or exclusive for just anyone. You should go back and figure out how many hits he did before the switch. That might give you a better idea of how often you can expect to get one of those jobs.”
“I suppose. I just thought I’d be busier now.” I sighed and slumped a little more in my chair.
“Okay. I do have plans for you. I just wasn’t ready to put you back out there yet.”
My spirits brightened. “Really? What is it? When?”
His smile had a hint of sensuality that made my insides burn. A memory that I savored regularly was the kiss we’d shared just before he’d been shot and the look he gave me brought me right back to that spot. I regretted that it had never gone any further. While caring for him in those first few weeks, I assumed we were a couple because of that kiss. It felt like I’d signed a contract with that kiss, an unbreakable contract. As he grew stronger and his fire returned, I expected us to continue where we left off. The tension was still there, so I knew the attraction was there too, but his lack of ambition, when it came to follow through, threatened to push me over the edge.
Too many times to count we’d brushed past one another. We’d linger but not long enough to allow the heat to build. One of us always backed off. I’d come to accept that this was to be our relationship and was determined to be okay with it.
“That’s why you fit right in. You’re always ready to take on the next job.” His face turned grim, but it didn’t last before he put his boss face on. “Actually, I have a couple of options for you. You need some isolation training, flight training, and then there’s EOD but—”
Again, the less than pleased look flashed across his face. It only replaced his cocky half grin for less than a length of a blink, but I noticed it and it shook my own confidence.
I waited with my stomach in my throat.
“I’d hoped to keep you here for a bit longer. You’re going to be gone for months at a time for this training.”
I swallowed hard. Did he just admit he didn’t want me to leave? Though I’d convinced myself that I was okay with a flirt buddy, I still hoped. Now he was telling me this. He didn’t want me gone for months? My heart leaped, but I quickly got it under control. The last thing I wanted was to relive that moment when I realized we’d never take it further. I couldn’t allow the hope to rise above the disappointment. I didn’t know how well I’d cope. I took a deep breath and was about to ask how long each training option would take when the phone rang. I remained quiet as we waited for Gabriella’s voice over the intercom.
“Mr. White?” Her voice broke the silence as expected.
“Yes?” he answered as he pushed the button.
“Admiral Stanton. Line one.”
“Thank you, Gabriella.” White gave me a shoulder shrug and a hike of the eyebrows for a
n apology as he lifted the receiver to his ear.
I studied my hands as he spoke with the Admiral. Maybe he’d have a quick job for me, but chances were the job wouldn’t be big enough to send me out. The Admiral had a budget, even if it didn’t seem like it at times.
The conversation was quick and ended with White saying, “I’ll get someone right on it, Admiral.”
White replaced the receiver. “The Admiral wants me to put a man on an intel-gathering mission.”
I nodded and expected him to start making calls to set it up but instead he narrowed his eyes at me. I could almost see the wheels turning and wondered what he was up to.
“What?” My temperature rose. Prolonged eye contact with White always made my blood boil.
His smile became calculating. “We could do this one together. We’d just have to take a pay cut. The Admiral said he didn’t want to pay much for this one.” He shrugged.
“What are the details?”
White explained the target was expected to be in Jamaica next week, and the objective was to take pictures of him and all of his security detail.
“Why?”
“I have no idea and I really don’t care. Your father has his reasons, and that’s good enough for me.”
“I guess you’re right. We don’t have to shoot him with anything but a camera. I don’t really care, either.”
“Interested?” He asked.
“Jamaica?”
“Jamaica,” he repeated with a slight eyebrow hike.
I took a deep breath. The two of us in Jamaica, away from everyone else, with an easy job and probably extra time scared the shit out of me, and so did the gleam in his eyes. He had that I have a plan that can’t fail sparkle. He seemed determined to make the hope rise to the top.
His confidence and aggressive posture reassured me when I was about to do a job with him, but this time I was the target. White was deadly and maybe he’d just been easy on me so far. As soon as I felt any signs of dismay in our flirts I’d back away but there had been times I’d decided to go through with it, and he still backed off. I have to stop the hope from building. I guess the fear on my face wasn’t a big turn on. Maybe that was why he backed off.
His animalistic expressions always made me work to remain in control, and I could tell by the glint in his eyes he was going to do everything in his power to make me relinquish that control. Honestly, I wanted to give in but feared it would screw everything up. Our working relationship was important, but I was terrified I wouldn’t be good enough for him. He was experienced, and I was anything but. I’d never been with a man before. Anthony didn’t count and not just because I didn’t remember it.
I swallowed hard. My tension must have shown on my face because White’s attitude changed again. His inner beast sank deeper, softening his face. I’d seen this look before, too. It brought up even stronger emotions than his lecherous guise. It made me feel confident and secure, warm and comfortable inside a fog of amour. Or was it just desire? The hope had risen slightly above the acceptable line. I knew he was about to cave and scrap his plan and I couldn’t let him. Not this time.
“When do we leave then?” I decided not to think this one through because I knew I’d find a reason not to do it. Somewhere inside that warm, enveloping fog the fact that this was a job first made it easier. Even if I ended up being disappointed I could always blame it on the job.
“I’ll have to make travel arrangements and find us a place to stay,” he said. “Let me work it through and I’ll let you know later.”
I took a deep breath and stood. “Can you email me the info so I can do a little research on the target before we go?”
“Right away.”
We’d both reverted to work mode and the fog of sexual tension mixed with the want to be loved dissipated.
“I’ll call you with our departure time as soon as I get it set up,” he called out as I crossed the threshold between his office and Gabriella’s.
“Sounds good.” I shut his door.
I knew Gabriella was watching me exit White’s office. She watched almost everyone exit. But, for some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t make eye contact with her, as if I’d just done something wrong.
“Can you say where you’re going?” Gabriella looked up from her computer screen. The smile that occupied her face disappeared. “Is everything okay?” Her brow furrowed and she placed both of her hands flat on her desk, preparing to stand.
“Yes. Why?”
“You look ill, sweetie. What’s going on?” She hadn’t relaxed her stance and if I didn’t explain, she’d be at my side consoling me for whatever she thought might be wrong.
“Nothing’s wrong. We are going to Jamaica. Intel-gathering for the Admiral.”
“Jamaica! You are so lucky, girl.” She relaxed and sat back into her chair with a sly look. “White’s going.” This wasn’t a question. “It’ll be just the two of you then?”
“Yep.”
Gabriella knew my feelings and knew that nothing had happened yet.
“No wonder you look sick.” Her grin broadened. “Don’t forget there is nothing wrong with combining business with pleasure. Find your strength and make the first move.”
She winked and I smiled back at her.
“Shhhh.” I pointed at White’s closed door. “I have no idea what to pack.” I couldn’t talk about this in the front office.
“Your bikini. That’s it. You don’t need anything else. Unless you have more than one.”
“I’ll figure it out.” I laughed. “We’ll be leaving as soon as White makes the arrangements, so I’ve got to go.”
“If I don’t see you for a while, have a great time and stay safe. Oh! Don’t forget sunscreen. That stuff comes in handy for lots of things.” Her eyebrows were still dancing as I shut the office door behind me.
Instead of packing I went straight to my computer and checked my email. White had already sent me the info, so I did a quick search for the target. I was rewarded with a photo and a dossier. Mateo Ruiz was a known drug dealer operating out of Ecuador with connections across the globe. Though I’d told White I didn’t care why I was doing this, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to come down on this man. The Admiral asking for information about his security detail indicated that they planned to breach that security somehow, and soon.
I shook Ruiz out of my mind and looked up the resort. It was very elite and very private. If White got us in I’d be impressed. The layout was simple, and included its very own private beach.
For being so elite and private, their computers weren’t well protected, and I’d pulled up their reservation records within seconds. Mr. Ruiz was scheduled in a six-bedroom villa right on the beach. Very private and easily defended from everything but prying eyes.
The ringing of my phone made me jerk in my chair.
“Hello?”
“The resort is booked and I can’t get us in,” White’s voice gave me goose bumps when it was so close to my ear.
“I wondered. So, what’s the plan?”
“I just got off the phone with Gary Waterstone and he’s agreed to take us out on his yacht.”
“Waterstone?”
“He’s an old friend of the family and he’s a steady client for the company.” He continued to explain. “Waterstone caters to high profile clients, so we keep a couple of men on his yacht. I’d ask them to do it, but—” I could hear a smile in his voice. “I really want to get out on that yacht and Waterstone would rather I not pull our guys off their security detail.”
“Security on a charter yacht?”
“He caters to high profile clients.”
“Like who?”
“Like us.” He said this as if we might actually need a security detail.
I almost laughed.
“It’ll be fun.” White continued. “I’ve always wanted to go out on his yacht. It’s amazing but expensive.”
“Will the Admiral pick up the expense?”
“
No. He specifically said no one special on this one. That means he doesn’t want to pay a lot for the info.”
“How do we justify it?”
“I gave Waterstone a discount on his security detail for the next six months. The Admiral will pick up some of the expense, it’ll work itself out.”
“When will we leave?” My excitement and my fear were at equal levels.
“We can leave as soon as I track Brown down. We’ll need him to fly us out to the yacht. Waterstone is already on his way to Jamaica on a charter. Thankfully, there’s just enough room for us on the yacht.”
“We are going all out for this low paying gig.”
“It’s okay. It’ll work out. Did you figure out a plan of attack?”
“Not yet. I think, if we can get the boat to anchor off shore in front of the resort, we might be able to get the photos we need. Depending on Ruiz’s routine, we may need to go ashore. I’m emailing you the ideal area on the water to get pictures of him at the resort.”
“Sounds good. I’m sure I can get Waterstone to anchor where I need him to. Get packed because we’ll be leaving as soon as I can track down Brown. Oh,” he added before he hung up, “I’ll take care of the equipment. You just worry about yourself.”
Chapter Two
I was still packing when I heard Brown’s knock rattle my door. I stopped what I was doing and hurried to let him in.
“You ready?” He was surly and ruffled.
“Not yet. What’s wrong?” I pointed at him, indicating his appearance.
“I was busy.” He huffed.
“Doing what? Sleeping?” I asked while I tried to straighten his hair.
“I wasn’t sleeping, but I was in bed.” He was mightily pleased with this statement, so I smacked him alongside his head messing up my previous efforts.
Traces of Grey: Book Four of The Alexis Stanton Chronicles Page 1