Code Name: Ghost

by Natasza Waters

  “I’ll be expecting single malt, you son of a bitch,” Commander Austen said into the other radio.

  “Nice one, Ghost,” Master’s voice came back, sounding more than dejected.

  “And I’ll be sharing half of it with you,” he whispered into her ear.

  “No, thanks, don’t like scotch.”

  “I think that just might be cheating,” Lieutenant Law said as he walked up beside them. Geoffrey Law was the lieutenant of Team Three. Prematurely grey, but with features of a man barely in his forties, his hazel eyes reminded her of an owl’s, large and aware. “You’ve got yourself a ringer.” He looked down at her and gave her a friendly wink.

  “Use everything and anything to win,” the Commander said.

  She didn’t like the sound of that, and backed away feeling like a power tool in a workshop. “Excuse me.”

  “Nicely done, Kayla,” Captain Redding said, when she picked up the file to finish the paperwork.

  Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the Commander’s jaw tighten before snapping his attention away from her. “Thank you, Captain.”

  * * * *

  The little hand struck five as she stored the communications and camera logs copied onto a USB into the safe, in case they needed to be reviewed. Popping into the lunchroom, she opened her locker and grabbed her pack.

  “That came out wrong,” the Commander said, his hand crossing her shoulder and resting against her locker, trapping her with his body.

  She jerked with surprise, but didn’t turn around. Damn the man had a silent footstep. “No worries, sir.”

  “It worries me,” he said, placing his hand on her shoulder, prompting her to turn.

  “I’ve got to get going. I’m going to miss my bus.”

  Dropping his other hand on the locker, he closed off her exit. “I’m trying to apologize, and as you can see, I’m not good at it.”

  His face, within inches of hers, brought his full, strong lips too near. Afternoon stubble covered his jaw, and she wanted to feel it scratch her cheek. “There’s no need for an apology, Commander. Good night, sir.”

  “Please, for the love of God, stop calling me sir,” he said, his expression morphing into a beseeching one.

  A searing heat ballooned in her when his gaze dropped to her mouth as if all he wanted was to kiss her. But, she saw a lot of things that were only a reflection of her own desires when she looked at him, all of them illusions. “Right,” she breathed. She averted her eyes. If she looked into his, she knew he’d see every bloody thing she was thinking, and she didn’t need to hear his “I can’t” as if she was some teenager with a crush on someone out of her league. “I have to go, Commander.”

  “You’re not going to get far, I’m afraid.”

  Her embarrassment mingled with irritation. “Why?”

  “The team is outside the building waiting for you.”

  “Why me?” The cool metal of the locker seeped through her thin blouse, and made her shiver.

  “Because I told them what happened this afternoon was all you. I also told the other commanders. They’re letting me get away with it, but during the debrief they started fighting over whose team you’ll be on for the next exercise.”

  A scoff of air escaped her throat. “Yeah, right.”

  He leaned forward, his cheek brushing hers, and his warm breath poured liquid heat down her spine. “I told them they could all go to hell. You’re mine, only mine,” he said quietly.

  His lips brushed across her cheek, stopping only millimeters from the corner of her mouth. If she didn’t have wet underwear before, she certainly did now. The skin on her arms rippled with his touch as he slowly slipped his hand to her shoulder.

  “Tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do with you, Kayla.”

  It sounded like a plea for her to make the next move and he’d accept it. The enticing smell of his aftershave drifted like a heady haze, invading her senses. One slight tilt of her head, and she could sink her teeth into his full lip. Her entire body screamed for her to do it, but she smashed the thought in her mind with a mighty fist. “Send me half a case of scotch, sir.”

  He pulled away quickly, and crossed his arms, his gaze launching to the pale linoleum floor.

  Distance broke part of the spell, but not all of it. “I’ll take the back way out.”

  “Don’t bother,” he said, backing up another step. “They’ve got it covered. I think they’re onto your evasion tactics, Ms. Banks.” He jerked his head. “Go with them, Kayla. You’re part of the team today, and they want to celebrate. I have paperwork to do, anyway,” he said, turning for the door.

  “Commander—it’s not a team unless you’re there, even in playtime.”

  He turned slowly. “So, you want me to come?” he asked, looking unsure, which was rare for him.

  “Of course, who else is going to call a cab when I’m drunk?” she said, flushing red with memories of him standing like a God in front of her in Arizona. She picked up her bag and flung it across her shoulder. “And you can keep the scotch. I hate the crap.”

  A laugh erupted from him, and he reached his arm out, curling it around her shoulders when she joined him. One finger tipped her chin. “I’m so sorry.” Without hesitation, he kissed her gently, but there was passion there as well—deep, hungry passion. Drawing her closer, he said, “Will you forgive me?”

  “For kissing me or for being a hard-ass?” Why did he have to be so overwhelmingly male? He snatched away her resistance without even trying.

  His finger traced her cheek. “Both.” His gaze flashed across hers. “But, if I’m apologizing, I think I should do it again,” he breathed, and this time his mouth came down on hers with a primal need, and she caved in to her own. His hands roamed across her back, making her feel delicate and desired. They glided down to her ass and he seductively pressed her against his hips. Her traitorous fingers snaked around his neck, wanting him closer, and the Commander’s hands tightened with his own need. “Whatever you want, it’s yours,” he said, barely moving his lips from hers.

  Confused, wrapped tightly in his strength, she gazed up at him. Never in her life had she wanted a man so much, but she wasn’t going to stick her neck or her heart out so he could detonate an explosion and blow it to bits. “What if I say you’re buying all my drinks tonight,” she quipped.

  His hand caressed the hollow of her back, and he lifted his sculpted jaw. “You’re letting me off too easy, Kayla.”

  Stepping back, his hand slid down her arm, causing goose bumps to rise across her skin.

  “Commander?” the voice of his secretary interrupted them, but he didn’t move away from her, he simply turned and drew her to his side.

  Karen’s pretty expression twisted from surprise to poorly disguised malice. “Commander Austen, there’s a phone call for you from Captain Starks,” she said, standing in the doorway with her bright red, ultra miniskirt and long, shapely legs ending in someone-pay-attention-to-me red shoes.

  “Tell him I’ll call him tomorrow. I have an important appointment.” He slid his fingers between hers. “Ms. Banks—”

  “Way to go,” she hissed at the Commander as he led her around Karen, whose eyes were sparking angry.

  “What?” he said, wrinkling his brow as they passed through the Command center.

  “Hey, Barry.” Barry waved then dropped his attention back to a file folder sitting in his lap, probably with a crossword puzzle inside. “You just pissed off the woman managing the paperwork for my work visa, Commander. You know how long it’s going to be before I get approved now? She’s already lost it once.”

  “How did I do that? And why the hell didn’t you tell me it hadn’t been processed yet?”

  She walked through as the Commander held the door open to the anteroom. “Haven’t you noticed how she raises her tail in front of you?”

  “What?” He laughed. “Kayla, she’s all of twenty-three, if that.” He tapped on Red’s door. “Red, Kayla’s taking the day off
tomorrow.”

  Captain Redding looked up and stuck his tongue in his cheek. He leaned back in his chair, and folded his hands on this stomach. “Kayla, you have four weeks of leave and you haven’t taken a day yet, maybe you should take a couple.”

  “I—”

  “Done,” the Commander answered for her. “Besides, she’s gonna need it after the team’s finished with her.”

  Red sat up straight. “Oh, no, you’re not taking her…”

  “Yup.” The Commander grinned.

  “Ghost.” Capt. Redding jabbed a finger at him. “You better damn well not let anything happen to her, you understand me?”

  She was starting to get nervous with the half-finished sentences. “Where are they taking me?” she asked.

  Red burned a severe look at Thane, then swung his eyes to her. “Keep your wits about you Kayla, even if these idiots lose theirs.” He heaved himself from his chair, looking like an old man, and she smiled sadly. His arthritis was giving him trouble again.

  “Give me your phone.”

  “Ah…okay.” She dug it out of her purse and handed it to him.

  “There.” He handed it back to her.

  “What…?”

  “I put my home number in there, Kayla. If something happens, I’ll come get you.” He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze and the Commander a stern look. “She’s your responsibility, Ghost. I’ll hang your ass out to dry, you understand?”

  The Commander pulled her from the door chuckling. “See ya, Red.”

  “Should I be worried? I think I should be worried.” Her steps slowed.

  He motioned with his arm for her to enter the elevator. “Probably, but I won’t let anything happen to you. Red’s just having a little fun. Although, he did have to bail us out of jail the last time, but I’m sure that won’t happen again.”

  “Jail?” The word rolled off her tongue with a multitude of questions behind it, and she eyed him, trying to figure out if he was trying to make one of her legs longer than the other. Uh-oh.

  Stepping out into the sunshine—just like the Commander had said—the guys waited, leaning against three cars parked out front.

  Nathan raised a small portable to his mouth. “Got the HVT,” and chucked the radio behind him into the front seat of a red Mazda.

  HVT stood for high value target. Just like the Canadian forces, the U.S. Navy had a zillion acronyms. Luckily for her, many were the same. “What?” she drawled, tilting her head at them.

  “Mexico,” Mace said, reaching out for her hand and yanked her behind him. She grabbed the Commander’s hand at the last second, and pulled him along behind her.

  “What’s in Mexico?” she asked, digging her heels in a tiny bit.

  “Tequila,” they all shouted.

  * * * *

  “This is going to suck as usual,” Mace said, looking in the rearview mirror at her squished between Cobbs and the Commander.

  “You’re not kidding,” Tony said as they drove up to the border patrol booth.

  They’d crawled for half an hour in the line. Finally, it was their turn. She half hoped they’d be pulled inside so she could relieve her sore behind from sitting on the hump.

  “What is your purpose for coming to Mexico?” The guard stared at each of them with trained, distrustful eyes.

  Mace slung his arm over the steering wheel. “A congratulations dinner. We work at the base in Coronado.”

  The guard eyed them all. “What are you bringing into the country?”

  “Just us,” Mace replied, his passport dangling in his fingers.

  The guard looked like he was definitely going to send them in for further questioning. “Citizenship?”

  “American,” Mace said, echoed by all the guys.

  She stretched her passport out to him. “I’m Canadian.”

  The guard grunted and gave her an extra long look retrieving it from her fingers, flipping through it, then giving it back. “Go ahead.”

  Cobbs and Thane leaned around her, brows wrinkled with humor. “Everyone trusts Canadians. Americans,” she paused, “not so much.” She nestled back with a cocky grin.

  Tony craned his head around. “We should bring you all the time, then we can bypass the cavity search.”

  “Whoa, TMI, Tony,” she crowed as Thane and Cobbs let out a hearty laugh.

  Mace drove through Tijuana at a slow crawl for her benefit, since she’d never visited before. The streets were crowded with tourists. Stores filled with colorful blankets and trinkets caught her eye. She’d definitely have to come back here and visit.

  “Do you come here a lot?” she asked as Cobbs offered a hand to help her out of the backseat. Mace had found a spot along a paved, but not well looked-after street, in a small town twenty minutes past Tijuana. The Commander climbed out behind her, closed the door, then curled his arm around her. It surprised her, especially when he didn’t let go.

  Tony and Cobbs led the way. Mace stayed by their side. “It’s not a bad place. Sun hasn’t gone down yet, though,” Mace said with a grin.

  The village was quaint, rustic, and very picturesque sitting next to a marina with plenty of little shops nestled close by. Mexican residents strolled along the streets, mingling with tourists. A group of small boys saw them and came running. They started asking for money even before they reached them.

  “Hey, guys.” They all looked to be around seven, and each of them stared up at her with the most beautiful big brown eyes. Their worn clothes and ragged sandals reminded her that living was a lot harder for children in this country, and right away she knew she was at their mercy.

  “Señora bonita, puede usted ayudarnos?” one little boy, a little plumper than the others asked, shoving his palm out.

  She knelt down and dug in her purse. She didn’t know Spanish, but the meaning was clear. “Do you guys live around here?”

  They nodded, giving her big smiles.

  “What about school?”

  “Some days,” the littlest one said, coming closer and draping his arm on her shoulder.

  She looked at his drawn face. He didn’t look as healthy as the others did, and it bothered her deeply. “You have to go to school, then you can become whatever you want when you grow up.”

  He shook his head slowly. “Nah, I’ll work in the factory, like my papa.”

  “You don’t have to if you learn to read and write,” she said, giving him a squeeze. She pulled out five twenties and gave each of them one.

  Their eyes popped out of their heads. “Gracias, señora,” And they scattered like mice.

  “Kayla, you just made friends for life,” the Commander said, giving her a wink.

  Cobbs had reached the stairs going into a bar that looked like a hut from Gilligan’s Island. A large thatched roof and hand-carved poles bolstered the front balcony. A few women who looked like, well—like prostitutes, sat on rocking chairs on either side of the entryway. Glancing around, she eyed the small stores sitting on the waterfront.

  “Oh, no ya don’t,” Mace said, snapping a look at the Commander.

  “Forget it,” Thane said tersely. “You’re not taking off on your own.”

  “But there could be some real treasures down there,” she said, peering over at the uneven wooden walkway lining the small shops. Two hands gripped her and she felt herself being tugged. “Guys, come on.”

  “Nope,” the Commander said grinning at her. “If you want to come back here to snoop around, I’ll bring you back next weekend, but tonight you’re not running solo.”

  “Party pooper,” she said, giving him a scowl.

  Mace cocked his head at her. “Look who’s talkin’.”

  When Fox and the rest of the men arrived, they came in loudly. Fox, in fluent Spanish, yelled something at the waitress and she gave him a nod.

  “How was the cavity search?” Tony laughed.

  This time she hauled off and cuffed him.

  “Not bad,” Clay shrugged. “But I told him not to wiggle his fin
ger so much.”

  “Oh-oooh.” She held up her hand, but the rest of the guys laughed their heads off. She guessed this is how the entire night was going to go.

  The waitress arrived with a wet tray of shooters, lemons, and four salt shakers. The woman’s thick black hair and enormous brown eyes could make any man swoon. She set the glasses on the table, offering the team a nice view of her voluptuous breasts rising from her colorful, tight-fitting shirt.

  Taking a step back, she eyed them. “The SEALs return. Is anyone interested in company this evening?” she asked, giving them a demure look.

  The entire table turned their gaze on Mace.

  “I don’t know why they’re gawking at me, Kayla, I uh….Get a grip,” he said, leaning back in the chair crossing his arms, but looking guilty as hell.

  “Guess it’s a ‘no’ for now.” Fox grinned up at her, then picked up a glass and held it in the air. “Kayla, you’re our secret weapon. Thanks for making us look good today.”

  “Hoo-yah,” they all whooped.

  “You rock, Kayla,” Mace added, bringing his glass up to hers.

  “Any time.” She winked at them. “To my heroes.”

  * * * *

  Evening shade fell slowly over the bar, and she watched the sun burn itself out in the sea. The chairs around them filled up as soon as the hint of night approached, and the loud music cranked a few decibels higher. They flung back shots like water. She wasn’t feeling any pain, but she remembered what Captain Redding said, and kept herself on this side of sober.

  The inviting nightspot lured young guys and gals wanting to party hard, mostly turistas. Scantily clad waitresses with tequila bottles strapped to their slender hips and a hose attached, roamed the tables filling people’s throats. Locals used it as a watering hole as well.

  She didn’t have to worry with her escorts. No matter how drunk they got, they could probably knock off the entire village, given enough time and ammunition. It was easy to forget who these men were and what they did. Being with them, knowing them, she often forgot they were highly skilled, highly trained assassins for the protection of Uncle Sam and his people.