Smoke & Fire - Adult Paranormal Romance Series, Book #1

by Michele Wesley

  Mycale was sure his father used his business connections to the Anderson brothers to encourage them to recruit him. He’d only accepted the job offer as a way to try to be more considerate of his family, but after his initial meeting with Drake and Damon Anderson, he knew he’d made the right decision.

  Immediately impressed with the brother’s operations, he found it surprising that two millionaire businessmen were doubling as heads of a secret spy organization. Their organization was small, discreet, and well hidden in plain sight. The brothers handled everything professionally and expertly, and only Top agents and a handful of very wealthy and trustworthy supporters knew about MIA.

  MIA worked cases that were mostly top secret, sometimes above top secret, so Mycale’s new position would shoot his agent status even higher. He relished the idea of being able to bring down criminals and organizations that were elusive or considered untouchable by many officials.

  Overall, Mycale was happy about his new job and determined to do his best. He smiled, knowing his father probably had no idea he was helping him secure a job that was just as dangerous and deadly as his last. The difference this time being, MIA was danger dressed up in a nice suit.

  CHAPTER 8

  Distracted

  Sori had just completed an assignment posing as a weapons dealer. She’d borrowed weapons from the military as a show of her legitimacy, and the cover paid off. She, along with ATF agents, had been able to catch and apprehend two of the top ten most wanted weapons dealers in the nation.

  After briefly speaking to her brothers, they’d boomed excitedly through the phone at the prospect of her visit. It had been nearly four months since she’d seen them last. Surprisingly she longed to see them. She had her moments, still having doubts about having family, but she was determined to work through her demons.

  With her latest assignment in her rearview mirror, she headed toward her brothers’ house.

  It was about 8:00 p.m. on a Thursday night, which meant that MIA was probably in a meeting, briefing on their new assignments. Sori made her way into the house, down the stairs, and to the hallway right outside the conference room. Determined not to be normal, she didn’t use the front door. When she thought about it, there weren’t many things about her that were considered normal. That her brothers accepted and appreciated some of her unorthodox behavior was a blessing.

  Purposely not giving them a specific time, Sori enjoyed seeing the big smiles on their faces when she surprised them.

  Breaching all levels of security outside and throughout the huge mansion, she passed Mrs. Ruth twice without being discovered. She peaked in on Laci and her friends drinking and enjoying their book club meeting. The house was more than twenty-five thousand square feet of living space, not including the secret nooks and coves here and there.

  The construction business treated Drake and Damon very well. Combined, their net worth was enough for them to live five lifetimes. Standing in place for a few seconds, she tried to figure out the best way to go about sneaking into her brothers’ meeting. They found out about her nickname—Smoke—and Drake had seen firsthand why and how she had earned the name. Now, the brothers were calling her Smoke for many other reasons. Not only had she successfully bypassed the brothers’ supposedly impenetrable security system at the mansion and at their offices, she had also shown them her ability to sneak into any room, building, or area seemingly undetected.

  Standing at the conference room door, she could hear the meeting taking place. Going through the ceiling seemed the most logical approach. Hopefully, no one would notice her entrance. She wanted to preserve her reputation and keep blowing smoke at her brothers.

  Wearing a black leather dress that nearly met her high boots at her knees, she looked more like Catwoman than an agent of the law. She didn’t think about what people probably called her behind her back because she didn’t care. She’d come to terms with the fact and accepted a long time ago that she was a piece of strange candy. Even when she knew she was pushing her morals to their limits, she would always remind herself, I am working on it.

  Using the end table in the hall as her ladder, she slowly and quietly boosted herself up to the ceiling tile, pushed it aside, and made her way into the ceiling.

  She was careful not to make any noise or attract attention to her location. She often surprised herself at how silent and light her movements became when she really put her mind to it. Like now, it felt more like she glided along the ceiling and hovered over the threshold between the hall and the boardroom. She slowly picked up a tile to determine where to best enter the room. There were three members on each side of the huge table with her brothers sitting at each end.

  Since everyone else was turned slightly half-right away from her and focused on Damon speaking at the other end of the table, Sori entered behind Drake. Proceeding with her plan, so far, no one noticed her move the ceiling tile or her slow descent into the room. She hung from the ceiling, holding her own body weight with one hand, and slowly replaced the tile with the other hand. She felt herself sliding down the wall like water; pouring into the room. She did it all so quietly, no one noticed her. Although Damon faced her, he was too busy talking and reading from some document to notice her meticulous movements. She had learned to work in all types of garments and equipment, so her boots and tight-fitting clothing didn’t affect her maneuvering. She continued to slide down the wall as slowly and as quietly as if she were a part of the air.

  Her heels usually clicked loudly when she walked, so she would have to land just right to keep herself from being detected. Her feet were nearly on the floor now, and still, no one noticed her entrance. She took one last look at the ceiling tile, ensuring nothing was out of place. It excited her to feel lighter than air and even she was surprised at how silent and sneaky she could be—like smoke.

  She was bold enough to stand in place for a few seconds and take a quick look around the table. The fact that no one had noticed her yet was astounding. It felt as if she was gliding as she used the tips of her feet to move closer to Drake.

  When she was within a couple of feet of Drake’s back, she straightened her stance and nonchalantly brushed herself off. Speaking as if she were a part of the group the entire time, she said, “Another fucking meeting. Just what I need right now.”

  Everyone in the room jumped, some gasped, and one even let out what sounded like a little squeaky bitch scream.

  Sori just stood there smiling, walked up to Drake, and playfully pushed him in the back. Obviously happy to see her, all he said was, “Welcome home, Sis.” She knew most of the guys there, and they all smiled and welcomed her back once the shock had worn off. She immediately noticed the new guys, sitting there with wonderment on their faces.

  “Everyone, you all know our sister, Sori.” Damon stood quickly. He wanted to encircle her with a hug but had learned that she didn’t do touch very well. With her, he and Drake settled for shoulder taps and playful pushes, like guys did with other guys.

  Damon glanced at the two new members. “Mycale, Greg, this is our sister Catwoman—I mean Ghost, no, Smoke. No, she’s my sister today, so Sori.” The guys seemed to not know what to make of the introduction and didn’t comment.

  The meeting had completely stopped, everyone seemed more interested in how Sori had gotten into the room. Using the door was out of the question, and it was obvious she hadn’t used the windows.

  Smiling, Sori said, “A magician never reveals her secrets.” There was no way she was telling them that sometimes she didn’t even know how she pulled off some of her tricks.

  What Sori didn’t know was that if anyone had seen her enter the room, they would have witnessed a secret she had been hiding from everyone including herself. There had been nothing normal or natural about the way she had floated from the ceiling and into the room. Sori always chalked her actions up to adrenaline and careful movement, not wanting to accept that she was
unnaturally different.

  Greg stared around the room in disbelief, wondering if this was all normal. His attention landed on Sori. “No disrespect, but this is not normal. How in the hell does a woman enter a room full of some of the best-trained men in the world without anyone noticing? Is that even possible?”

  Drake smiled at Greg. “It is possible if you have nicknames like Smoke, Ghost, or Catwoman, my friend.” Drake pointed at Sori. “This here is Houdini Jr., and by the way, new guys, this is who will teach you some of those techniques I mentioned.” Neither Mycale nor Greg commented, both obviously surprised.

  Figuring she’d pulled enough attention from the meeting, Sori pulled a seat between Drake and one of the new guys.

  After everyone settled down, the meeting resumed. Sori stared around the table, taking everyone in. When she finally looked at the man sitting next to her, she paused just long enough to take him in. The man wore glasses but didn’t look the least bit nerdy. Smart eye candy was the first thing that came to her mind, but she instantly knew he was just as deadly as she was. It wasn’t so much as seeing it; she felt it and knew her brothers wouldn’t have wanted him if he wasn’t capable of causing some major damage.

  Sori wasn’t afraid to admit she had trouble in some aspects of her life, even had a few emotional problems, but she wasn’t blind. Mycale was fine and sexy as hell—every woman’s dream in a pair of glasses. Tall and very well put together; even sitting, she could tell he was well over six feet. Caught between slender and medium, defined muscle tone eclipsed his clothes. He had green eyes, of a tone she had never seen before; an intense emerald green with what looked to be red or orange flecks shining through. Dark-brown hair that gave off a healthy sheen and just long enough to slide your fingers through. These features all blended into a caramel skin tone that looked smooth and unblemished. He smelled incredible, the kind of smell that pulled you closer and intoxicated your senses.

  Mycale couldn’t help stealing glances at the lovely lady sitting next to him. His first glance of her had stopped his heart. He was sure the other guys were thinking exactly what he was thinking, Damn, she fine! He tried with all the strength he had not to stare at her. Keeping his eye on the person speaking, his peripheral vision held her. She was strikingly beautiful and incredibly sexy.

  There was something about her that made it hard not to look. You had to soak her in slowly. I can’t keep looking—stop it, control yourself.

  He couldn’t believe he was acting like he had never seen a beautiful woman before. His eyes quickly shot up her arm as it rested atop the table. He stopped himself from observing her but he couldn’t concentrate on the brief.

  Reasoning with himself, Mycale thought. Okay Mycale, it’s not that you haven’t seen a beautiful woman, it’s that none have ever been so… intriguing.

  Mycale was never this easily distracted, but his focus had been stolen by the beauty sitting next to him. He had never seen a shade of brown as unique as hers, copper-brown and creamy at the same time. She was wearing the hell out of that black leather dress, and those high-heeled, knee-length boots just called to a man’s self-control. She looked like she had just walked right off a high fashion runway. She had a short stylish haircut that gave way to a face that looked innocent and housed big brown eyes that made you want to give in to her every request. Her mouth was the kicker, begging to be kissed with lips that looked so soft and enticing, you couldn’t possibly look at her face without doing a double-take. She had a medium frame with curves dangerous enough to get you caught staring.

  Mycale found it difficult to concentrate on anything while sitting next to his bosses’ sister. She had wedged her chair between his and her brother’s and sat close enough to him that he smelled her perfume. He couldn’t believe he was losing his cool, but admitted she was a distraction worth savoring.

  When the meeting adjourned, Drake asked the new guys to stay so he could properly introduce them to his sister. Sori shook Greg’s hand first, noticing he seemed caught off guard by her appearance. Then she shook hands with Mycale, who seemed very professional and polite enough to look straight into her eyes. She knew firsthand what leather and exposed skin did to some men, so Mycale had won a few points for control.

  Imagining the shock of her entrance and appearance, she looked down at herself. She said, “Guys, I just came off assignment. This is definitely not my usual getup. I guess you can say I fully immerse myself in the characters I have to play.”

  She had never really thought of herself as beautiful or pretty but was thankful that she could clean up well enough to make most men react in her favor. She had learned to use her attributes to her advantage and was well aware that her appearance had gotten her through many doors and aided her in accomplishing successful assignments. The fact that she looked a lot younger than her actual age of twenty-six was another advantage she welcomed.

  At the moment she couldn’t really read Mycale that well—he just looked bored—but Greg was so stunned, his eyes couldn’t stay off her chest as they’d dart down to her boots then back up.

  Drake informed the guys that he wanted them to learn as much as they could while his sister was visiting. Using slow deliberate words, he also warned them to not let the fact that she was a woman impair their judgment of her abilities.

  Putting together pieces in his head, Mycale wondered if Sori was in fact the female agent that was quickly becoming a legend in the secret agent world. With a nickname like Smoke, it would be hard to mix her up with anyone else.

  Greg finally found his voice. “You know. I have heard about you and why they call you Smoke.”

  Sori didn’t comment.

  “You want to know why I think they call you Smoke?” Like he was about to say something that no one else was supposed to hear, Greg lowered his voice.

  Interested in what he was about to say, Mycale glanced over at Greg. Sori let a smile slip. She had heard so many stories about herself that weren’t true, they had become entertainment. She really didn’t want to talk about her nickname, but decided she would be cordial to the new guy. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, “Don’t tell me, you think they called me Smoke because I am black?”

  Greg shook his head. His face serious, his voice still low, he said, “No, I think they call you Smoke because of all the people you have smoked. They say your kill count is in the triple digits.”

  Sori didn’t reply. She let Greg’s comment linger in the air for him to ponder. She never told anyone the specifics of her assignments, letting them assume something questionable in nature, figuring it added to her mystique.

  Drake extended an invite to the guys to join him and his family for dinner. Greg happily accept the invitation. It didn’t take a fool to see he wanted to stay because he was drooling over Sori.

  Mycale left. He didn’t want his instant attraction to her to become obvious.

  CHAPTER 9

  Slithering Bastard

  After two weeks of chasing leads that lead to nothing substantial, Sori was ready to try a root worker or hoodoo to cast out her target. She briefly checked in on her brothers for a few days when a lead led her right back to DC. This Truleta Cartel was the first major roadblock in her career, but she was determined to track down the Cartel leader if it killed her.

  Who the fuck is that slithering bastard?

  She was talking about Padre, the suspected head of the Truleta Cartel, and talking about him was starting to turn into a habit.

  Sori exited her bedroom at her brother’s mansion a little after nine and found three beautiful long-stemmed roses outside her door. A sweet gesture that couldn’t have come from anyone but her brothers. They must have known she would be in a foul mood after failing to track her target.

  She wanted to display the buds in her room, so she raced down the stairs in search of a vase to preserve the delicate dying beauties. Since her brothers were being so sweet, she decided
she’d try her hand at being corny for a day. She found Mrs. Ruth in the kitchen cooking and humming.

  Mrs. Ruth had cooked for the Anderson’s for many years and was considered part of the family. Sori never had a grandmother, but Mrs. Ruth would be her choice, hands down, if she could pick one out.

  Mrs. Ruth smiled when she saw the red, yellow, and peach roses and helped Sori find a vase to put them in. She said, “Did that handsome Mycale fellow leave these for you?” Mrs. Ruth looked back at Sori as she ran water in the crystal vase.

  Convinced her brothers left her the flowers, Sori stared at the buds with a furrowed forehead. “My brothers. They are some sweet devils sometimes.”

  Sori tried her best to watch her mouth around Mrs. Ruth. The older lady had reprimanded her numerous times about her use of bad language, and she promised to work on it just as she promised herself she would work on her moral compass.

  Mrs. Ruth offered Sori a friendly smile but didn’t comment.

  “Those damn brothers of mine, they are going to domesticate me one day.” She couldn’t stop staring at the multi-colored silky beauties.

  Mrs. Ruth gave her a stern look.

  Suppressing a smile, Sori said, “Sorry, Mrs. Ruth, I meant… darn.”

  As she added another spoonful of grits, two additional slices of bacon, and an extra biscuit to Sori’s already full plate, Ms. Ruth said, “I know you’re trying, Baby. I recon it’s hard to train a mouth that’s never been washed out with soap.” When Mrs. Ruth felt satisfied that she had added enough food to Sori’s plate, she touched her shoulder and left her alone to eat.

  * * *

  Sori found Drake, Damon, and Mycale in what she called the brothers’ SSR (Secret Squirrel Room). The room was huge by room standards and contained every piece of computer, electronics, and tracking equipment she could think of. It was located in the center of the house under the staircase. From an outside viewpoint, the space under the stairs looked tiny, but her brothers knew how to make you see only what they wanted. You couldn’t gain access into the room without having your eye and palm scanned. She entered the room to see if her brothers had something she could do. Fresh off assignment and she was already bored.