Favored by Felix

by Shelley Munro

  Huh. His son had found his balls. “Do not question my orders!” he thundered. The lieutenant flinched, and momentary satisfaction flooded the general. “Is that clear?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I expect her to be at the facility tomorrow morning. Without fail.” He clicked off and gave in to the urge to pace. The general stalked to and fro in front of his window, the view of the city not as comforting as normal.

  Perhaps he should work this from another angle. His daughter cared for her aunt and spent most of her leaves with his wife’s sister. If he threatened Elsa, his daughter would step in line with his wishes.

  He found himself smiling and the expression felt foreign on his lips. But he felt a sense of triumph returning, and the promise of success.

  His daughter would crack like a tree during a Worra sandstorm if he got his hands on her aunt.

  The general buzzed his aide and issued additional orders. His smile widened, and he moved to stand at his window. Somewhere down in the city, Elsa Torrens was going about her business. All these years, she’d interfered in his life. It would be a pleasure—his pleasure—to knock her off her stride.

  * * * * *

  No sooner had Casey closed her eyes the very next evening than the alarm went off, dragging her from sleep.

  “If that’s those black ops guys again, I’m gonna be pissed,” Felix muttered. “I’ll bite them.”

  “If it’s black ops, I’ll be doing some biting of my own.” Casey scrambled into her clothes and grabbed her weapon. She hesitated before rifling through her gear for a knife, which she tucked in her boot.

  Before she reached the door, it flew open and two strangers burst inside the suite.

  “Hands where I can see them,” one ordered.

  The other—her oldest brother—merely pointed his weapon in a watchful manner.

  “Drop your weapons on the floor,” the first one said and glanced at Felix. “You too.”

  Felix lifted his hands to show they were empty. “No weapons.”

  He moved to the right, and the two soldiers tracked him with their eyes and weapons. She knew what Felix was doing—taking their focus away from the entrance.

  The ex-soldier in her wanted to chew their butts for not covering their asses. Her brother should know better, but she wasn’t about to warn them of the impending ambush.

  “I’m not military any longer.” Casey’s voice was calm, belying none of her nervousness. “If you kidnap me from the resort, I’ve left full details with my friends. They will publicize the story. While I might lose my identity, the general will lose his too—and his job—and you’ll all be dragged down with him. Think of that before you try to force me to leave against my will.”

  “I don’t believe the things you told William,” her brother Jonathan said. “You’re lying.”

  “It’s easy enough to prove,” Felix said. “Check with the medical facility. See what they say.”

  “No one asked you. Who the phrull are you anyway?”

  “I’m Casey’s husband,” Felix said. “We got married today. And I’ll be one of the people who create a huge fuss if something happens to Casey.”

  Casey grinned. “Thanks, husband.” She waved her hand in the air, the light catching the golden glint of her wedding ring.

  From the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of black. The cavalry had arrived.

  Two black leopards stalked into position. They glanced at each other in a quick form of communication then pounced, knocking the two men off their feet.

  Jonathan cursed, attempted to get up, but one of the twins snarled, snapped his teeth close to Jonathan’s face. Her brother froze.

  A third black cat trotted up to Felix and gave a grunt. He settled on his haunches beside Casey, and she reached out to run her hand over the cat’s head. He purred, and Jonathan stared at her in disbelief.

  “You’re married to him?” he asked finally.

  “Yes.”

  Felix reached out to draw her against his side and away from his brother. He let one hand settle on her belly. “And she’s pregnant. She doesn’t consent to any medical tests that might harm our baby.”

  Ooh, good one, Casey thought. Jonathan knew what went on at the medical facility. He had to. There were rumors…rumors about soldiers who went in and never came out.

  “He’s really forcing you to undergo nanotechnology? And you didn’t consent?” Jonathan asked, a strange expression taking residence on his face.

  “No. I didn’t resign of my own volition, either. The general forced me to,” Casey said. “He arranged everything, told me how it would be without giving me a choice.”

  “Why didn’t you say something? Tell me?” Jonathan asked.

  Casey snorted. “The general doesn’t encourage close family relations. You don’t believe me now, and you wouldn’t have believed me earlier. What was I meant to do?”

  “I’m going to stand up,” Jonathan said. “I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

  The cat sitting beside him shifted enough to let him move, and he stood carefully. “I want to show you something.” He pulled back his sleeve. “I still have a difficult job believing the general would stoop to something so…so far reaching. But I do know they do radical experiments in the facility in order to make the perfect warrior.”

  He turned his arm over—and Casey stared.

  It wasn’t real.

  “What happened?”

  “I went in with a minor injury. They put me under, cut it off and replaced it with an artificial arm. They wanted to do more but I refused a second operation.”

  “Your father is a prick,” Felix said. “He needs to be stopped.”

  “I’ll talk to William. Neither of us will be part of any black ops team to move on you again, but I don’t know how you’re going to stop him. The general is a determined man. He always gets what he wants.”

  Felix smiled and it held a smidge of nasty. “He won’t this time. We’ll make sure of it—because we have a plan.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Casey strode into the Mitchells’ private shuttle and strapped in. Felix settled in the pilot’s seat and started the engines.

  He shot her a sidelong glance. “Are you ready for this?”

  “Not really.” She gave a soft laugh. “Is it that obvious?”

  “I know how I’d feel in your position. You haven’t changed your mind?”

  “No. The general needs to be stopped, and I have the power to do it. It’s obvious he doesn’t care who he harms.” Her stomach quivered at the thought of confronting the general in his lair.

  Felix reached for her hand and squeezed. “I’ll be with you every step of the way. You’re not going to be alone with him at any time.”

  “Promise?”

  “You’re my wife. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  * * * * *

  “General, Captain Seonaid is here to see you.” His aide poked his head through the door. “Do you want to see her now?”

  “Show her in.” General Seonaid leaned back in his chair and allowed himself a smug smile. He’d known she’d come around. He’d expected her to be delivered to the medical facility, but obviously the black ops team had come through. Ah, life was good.

  His office door opened and his daughter strolled into the room. Instead of her uniform, she was wearing a dress.

  A damn dress, in some floaty material, and…phrullin’ gods…was that makeup?

  A tall dark-haired man, fit and military material, ambled after her. They both halted in front of his desk. Although curious about the man’s identity, he was more interested in his rebellious daughter. At last, greatness was within his grasp. Now that his daughter was here, she was within his power. He had soldiers at his disposal.

  She wouldn’t get away again.

  His gaze narrowed when she stared at him in a direct manner, and her lack of respect raised his ire. “Soldiers don’t salute any longer?”

  “I’m not in the
military. You organized that.”

  Low-level anger started to pulse in his chest. “Saluting is a show of respect.”

  Her chin lifted in defiance and challenge glinted in her eyes. “I don’t respect you.”

  Anger swarmed like insects, attacking his brain, attacking his pride, attacking his control. “The medical facility is awaiting your arrival. My aide will arrange your transport.”

  “I don’t think so,” the man said.

  General Seonaid shot him a hard scowl. “Who the devil are you? This is none of your business.”

  “This is Felix Mitchell,” Casey said. “He’s my husband, and we’ve just—”

  “I’m calling the medical facility.” He cut off his daughter. He didn’t give a fodo crap what his daughter said. “Telling them you’re on your way.”

  His daughter darted forward and snatched his communicator before he could attempt to make the call. She tossed it to the dark-haired man, who ground it beneath his heavy boot.

  General Seonaid gaped at his daughter. What the hell? How dare she?

  The man—Mitchell—went to the door, opened it and called for his aide. “We require your help.”

  “General?” His aide hovered in the doorway.

  “I will not be going to the medical facility, now or in the future. I am a married woman and have a new life elsewhere,” Casey said.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” General Seonaid thundered. “I’ve gone to considerable trouble to arrange this and the results—the results will be astounding. You’ll be better. Bigger. Stronger. The flawless specimen. The perfect soldier!” And he’d be famous because of his foresight, his ingenuity, his decision to take this step.

  Mitchell moved with a speed that made General Seonaid blink. The man grabbed his collar and half hauled him out of his chair. The easy strength of the man sent stabbings of fear, a rush of adrenaline through him.

  “I’ll have you up on charges!” General Seonaid wheezed through the chokehold.

  “I don’t think so,” Mitchell said with confidence. “Sweetheart, do you have that statement we gave to the media? It’s time to finish this bullshit before I end up on charges of murder for throttling your father.”

  Mitchell released him without warning, and General Seonaid straightened his shirt, more fear stirring…until he recalled the weapon in his drawer. And there was also a security button. Help was but a summons away.

  Yeah, he could play this game still. A winning game.

  Captain Seonaid pulled a piece of paper from her purse. Her purse, phrull it. What kind of soldier carried a purse? His bottom lip curled. After she’d shown the desire and aptitude for the military, he should have sent her to military school. If he’d paid closer attention to her as a youngster instead of ignoring her, he might have seen the possibilities sooner. He wouldn’t have had to deal with this fodo crap because she’d decided she should have a say in this matter.

  “This is what will appear in the media later today.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Mitchell, her gaze softening as they exchanged silent communication.

  General Seonaid snarled under his breath. The man had turned her into an even bigger weakling. But not for long.

  His daughter started reading.

  “‘My name is Casey Seonaid, and I used to be a captain in the Dalcon military. Last solar month, General Seonaid, who is also my father, arranged for my service in the military to end—unbeknownst to me. He called me to his office and informed me that he’d booked me into a military medical facility. This surprised me, since I am physically fit and have no need of medical attention. Upon telling the general this, I was told the operation he’d arranged was an experimental one. He expected me to undergo nanotechnology that would transform me from female to a male. I do not want this surgery, and have repeatedly told him so, yet he continues to put pressure on me. He believes all soldiers should be from the male sex’.”

  “Lies!” General Seonaid snapped. “No one will believe this drivel.”

  “But they will,” Mitchell said. “Because we have proof of your intentions. Keep reading your statement, sweetheart.”

  “‘When I failed to show up at the medical facility, the general authorized a black ops team to descend on the resort where I now live to retrieve me against my will. Luckily, my husband’s resort has very good security and we were able to thwart their mission. These soldiers, one of whom was my brother, were sent back to Dalcon with a message for my father.’

  “‘He ignored that message, and sent another black ops team. Once again, the team failed. My other brother was part of this second extraction attempt.’

  “‘My brother has since revealed to me that he had previously received a minor wound on his arm. A medical team put him out for surgery, and when he woke, he discovered his arm was no longer flesh and blood, but machinery. The medical facility conducted cyber technology without his permission. They performed the unnecessary operation on the order of my father, General Seonaid’.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Shut up,” Mitchell snapped. “Let her finish.”

  “‘We have discovered from a source at the medical facility that General Seonaid has authorized several operations to test technology on other soldiers. This must stop. It is an abuse of power, and it is wrong for anyone to hold that sort of power over others. I submit General Seonaid be tried by the military courts for his crimes, be stripped of his rank, and be dishonorably discharged.’

  “‘Casey Seonaid’.”

  “No one will believe a word you say.”

  “They already do. Jonathan has also given a statement to the media. The story should be hitting the streets in…” She glanced at her wrist unit. “Oh—now.”

  Traces of panic tingled in his belly. No. This wasn’t happening. He wouldn’t believe it. Fodo crap, no one would believe the words of a mere woman! “You can’t do this.”

  Heavy footsteps sounded in the outer office and he almost sighed in relief.

  “That will be the black ops team to escort you to the medical facility. Believe me—you’ll thank me once the operation is complete. You’ll be a better soldier,” he declared, desperate to regain control of the situation. “And I’ve sent a team to retrieve that meddling bitch Elsa. You’ll go to the facility if you know what’s good for your aunt,” he said smugly.

  His daughter stalked toward his desk, fury twisting her face. “Not in this lifetime, Daddy dearest. And black ops don’t work for you anymore.”

  Without warning, she slapped him across the face. The sharp sting rocked him back, while shock bloomed to the tune of the sound.

  “That is assault!” General Seonaid spat. He cupped his cheek and his fingers came away with blood, his flesh scratched by her nails. “I’ll have your head for this!”

  Casey stared at the general’s contorted face. He wasn’t mentally stable. He couldn’t be if he expected to use his children as medical experiments. And she’d bet that was just the stuff they knew about. He’d probably stomped over many soldiers on his way to the top.

  Fiercely glad at the way they’d cut him off at the knees—even if he didn’t yet realize the extent of the actions they’d taken—she stared at the man who was her father.

  He still thought he could wriggle out of his troubles. She could see it on his face. He didn’t understand this was the end. With her statement, her brother’s statement and an ambitious investigative reporter on the case, his prized promotion would explode in his face. By the time the reporter finished with him, the general wouldn’t have much of his precious reputation left.

  But the worst thing, Casey thought, was she didn’t feel a scrap of pity for him. She felt for her brother and the general’s other victims. But the general—she wasn’t going to have any trouble turning her back and walking away. Felix’s family had shown her more love than she’d ever had in her lifetime. And with Aunt Elsa setting up shop at the resort, life couldn’t get much better.

  Although everything had ha
ppened so quickly, she loved Felix with a fierceness that stole her breath whenever she looked at him. And their life would only get better.

  Several soldiers entered the general’s office. They fanned out, eyes watchful and weapons at the ready.

  “Arrest her! Take her straight to the medical facility and report back once she is under lock and key,” the general ordered.

  “I don’t think so.” General Gallagher filled the doorway. “Arrest General Seonaid. Take him to lockdown.”

  Casey watched her father, saw the punch of shock on his face—and just a sliver of cunning as his agile mind attempted a way to spin this situation. The general stood and the solar light streaming through the windows struck the gold braid on his uniform.

  “What are the charges?” he demanded.

  “Atrocities against those under your command and abuse of position, for a start,” General Gallagher said in an even voice.

  “Where is the proof?”

  “We have proof,” General Gallagher said with distaste. “Take him away.”

  The soldiers advanced on him, and the general made his move.

  Casey had expected it. He was a proud man, an arrogant man, and getting led away by underlings would not suit him.

  Casey slid her weapon from the side pocket of her dress. She’d previously set it to stun—and fired before the general’s own weapon cleared his desk drawer.

  He dropped to the floor, a look of surprise frozen on his face.

  “I bet that felt good, sweetheart.” Felix moved to her side and took the weapon from her.

  The soldiers secured the general and carried the unconscious man from his office.

  “How did you know he’d grab a weapon?” General Gallagher asked. “I assumed he’d do the dignified thing when faced with armed soldiers.”

  “His pride in his position is colossal. His arrogance is almost as large. When he comes to and when he’s faced with the charges, he’ll still assert his innocence and try to blame someone else,” Casey said. “I know how his mind works.”

  “You should have come to me earlier,” General Gallagher said, his stern face softening when Felix wrapped his arm around her waist.