Fragments of Grey [Book Five of The Alexis Stanton Chronicles]

by Phelps, J. C.

  “Don’t sound so surprised. What do you think I was trained for at White and Associates? I didn’t do windows, answer the phone or file things.”

  “Sorry. It’s easy to forget your reputation.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Let’s get this to Posner and do the debriefing.”

  We followed Jake back to Posner’s office. I didn’t think he’d be here at this time of night. Maybe it was because he was waiting to hear about the job.

  “Ah. Thank you, Jake.”

  Posner walked around his desk and took the briefcase from Jake. He then returned to his desk, opened the case, and flipped through the cash.

  “This looks right. Anything happen I should know about?”

  “Yes. Danny managed to take my weapon and Alex took Danny out. I called in a cleaning team, so everything is taken care of,” Jake replied. This was nothing like the debriefing at White and Associates. We were expected to practically write a full detailed report. This was much less formal.

  Posner’s eyebrows raised as he looked at me. “I thought you said you wouldn’t kill anyone.”

  “I didn’t say that, sir. I said I would not accept contract hits. However, I’m not opposed to protecting my teammates.”

  “That’s a definite plus.”

  His tone was condescending. If I hadn’t already made up my mind that I didn’t like Posner this short conversation would have solidified my dislike.

  Jake showed up in my room a few minutes after I’d gotten comfortable in front of my TV for the night.

  “What’s up?” I asked when I opened the door to let him in.

  “Not much, but I have a job I’d like to talk to you about.”

  “Sounds good. What’s the job?”

  “We do this job every year and it lasts three months. I have to make sure you’re up for it. Are you up for being unreachable for three months?”

  “Who’d try to reach me?”

  “White. He should be calling—”

  My phone vibrated in my back pocket and I pulled it out to decline the call.

  “How’d you know it was White?”

  “It’s White and Associates’ office number on the caller ID.”

  “Have you been spying on me?”

  “Not intentionally. I happened to see the number, that’s all.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, it’s White. I don’t want to talk to him, though.”

  “So get rid of the phone.”

  “I can’t. I mean, I could. I’m just not ready to.”

  “So it wasn’t Black you had the affair with.” Jake smiled as if he’d completed a mission with flying colors.

  “No. It wasn’t Black. And yes, I’m an idiot.”

  “Maybe we can cure you of your addiction.” He pointed to the phone I still held in my hands.

  “Yeah.”

  I walked to the side table near my bed and put the phone in the top drawer. I felt naked. This was the first time I’d not had the phone in my pocket or my hands for months.

  “So, it’s settled.” Jake said, taking a seat in my sitting room and picking up the TV remote control. “You’ll come down to South America with us.”

  “Yep.”

  The two of us sat on the couch for about half an hour before Eric showed up at my door with a bottle of Jack and Joe followed him in with ice and cola.

  “Hey! You’re coming along, aren’t you?” Eric asked me.

  “Yes.”

  “Great! Let’s celebrate.”

  He’d already made his way to my kitchenette area and was pulling glasses down from the cupboards. Joe started filling the glasses with ice and Eric followed behind him with the booze and poured in generous amounts before Joe topped them off with cola.

  “Jack coke is what you were drinking at the bar and since you’re the new guy we thought it would be appropriate,” Joe said as he handed me my glass.

  “Thanks.” I hadn’t planned on drinking tonight, but I might as well. I had nothing else to do. I could tell I wasn’t getting rid of these guys any time soon.

  Somehow, the four of us fit on the small couch in front of my television. I was practically sitting on Jake’s lap, though.

  They each took their turn congratulating me on taking out Danny and protecting Jake’s ass. Jake even gave my knee a squeeze when he thanked me again for taking the shot. For some reason, it all made me feel better about everything. I was starting to look forward to doing more jobs with these men.

  After their praise we moved onto talking about the job in South America. All we needed to do was guard an oil refinery for three months and then our replacements would show up. But, something I was to be included in on was an annual ritual these three men shared.

  We’d hire a river boat and slowly float down the Amazon to the refinery, fishing and drinking all the way there. Then we’d meet up with the rest of the security crew. It actually sounded like fun.

  The four of us eventually chose a television show and Eric kept all of our drinks full. It didn’t take long for me to drift off into my thoughts and tune out the television as well as the men.

  I found myself back in Romania watching Vasile strutting around in his birthday suit. The appreciative feelings I’d had before came back even stronger and I found myself on his bed with him looking down at me with lustful eyes. Being with Vasile was enjoyable but the moment was missing something until I pulled out my knife and stabbed him in the neck. His blood was warm as it poured over me. The feeling of complete satisfaction turned to utter disgust. I yelled “No,” and pushed Vasile away from me before I realized my reoccurring dream had found its way back into my nighttime schedule after a month of dreamless nights.

  It hadn’t been Vasile I was pushing away. I had fallen asleep on my couch and Jake was still sitting next to me. It was him I’d pushed away.

  “What’s wrong? You’re shaking.” He’d pulled me close to him and his voice was reassuring.

  “Bad dream.” I wanted to pull away from him, and tried. His grip was strong and so was his scent.

  “What is it?”

  I just shook my head and tried to get my breathing under control.

  “I’m here,” he said, smoothing my hair.

  His strong grip, heady scent, and comforting manner made me shake even harder until I finally started to cry. Crying was the last thing I wanted to do.

  “Is it Danny?”

  Again, I just shook my head as he held me tighter. He didn’t say anything else until I’d controlled my sobbing.

  “I’m so sorry, Jake.” I sniffed and got up for some tissues.

  “Is it White?” he asked.

  I laughed at that one. “No.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No.” I blew my nose, threw the tissue in the trash can, and sat at the opposite side of the couch.

  Jake slid in close again and put his arms around my shoulders and I let him. His persistence and warmth soothed me. I knew the alcohol played a large part in my acceptance of his attentions and I didn’t care. I didn’t know what I’d do if he wanted to take it further later, but I needed this right now. I let myself fall asleep in his arms.

  Chapter Nine

  I woke up to a terrible cramp in my neck. I groaned as I sat up and woke Jake, who’d been snoring.

  “Morning,” he said while rubbing the back of his own neck. “Next time, we’re moving to the bed.”

  I felt my face flush and my stomach protested the thought.

  Jake let out a laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  The shrillness in my voice hurt my head.

  “Not that I don’t find you attractive, but sex with you is the last thing on my mind,” he said.

  “Is that so?” I caught myself straightening my hairdo. “What the hell is wrong with having sex with me?”

  Jake laughed again.

  “Hey, if you insist—” He started to lift his shirt as a threat.

  “No!” I reached over and pulled his shirt back down. />
  “You’re too easy. Who would have thought a woman in your position would be such a prude?”

  “I am not a prude,” I objected.

  “Okay.”

  His tone clearly said he didn’t believe me, but he started to lift his shirt again.

  He lifted it slowly and stopped just above his stomach. His abs were a welcome sight. I got lost in the vision for only a split second before I told him, “Put your shirt down, Jake. We are not going to have sex.”

  “Hey. I’m willing to sacrifice a little if it’ll make you happy.”

  He still hadn’t lowered his shirt.

  I fought with myself. My head cocked to the side, but the indignant remark didn’t form. Instead, I licked my lips, used the angry nostril flare in a mock show of excitement, and took a deep breath.

  “Sacrifice? Really? You’d do that for me?”

  He’d pissed me off, but I hoped I hid that fact with my raised eyebrows, forced smile, and teasing tone of voice. He’d learn to feel privileged to even have unspoken fantasies.

  I lifted my own shirt as I walked closer to him. His eyes bulged somewhat. I timed removing my shirt just right. I lifted it up over my head just as I reached him. He hurried to get his own off.

  Jake stood in front of me, shirtless. It was a nice sight and I considered, only for a fleeting second, taking it further.

  The appreciation and hunger in his eyes as he took in the vision of me in just my bra almost made me cave. I regained control as soon as my mind flitted to White’s face the first time he saw me in this position. White’s eyes had carried more. The vision of me in a vulnerable position meant more to White than it did to Jake. They both held the hunger deep inside their eyes, but White’s hunger was muted by respect for the situation.

  I looked down at myself in a self-conscious move.

  At least I’m wearing my cute bra.

  It was a bra I’d bought in the hopes of showing off. It accented and supported. Somehow, seeing what Jake was seeing gave me the strength to look him in the face again. I wouldn’t share myself with anyone who didn’t look at me the way White had. The man would have to realize, before we had sex, how lucky he really was.

  I trailed my finger across his chest and watched as he took a couple deep breaths before I hauled back and slugged him hard in the stomach.

  He doubled over and tried to catch his breath while I put my shirt back on.

  “Still think I’m a prude?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he squeezed out.

  “Asshole.”

  He made his way back to the couch and put his shirt back on just as his phone chirped.

  “Yeah, boss,” was all I heard before I closed the bathroom door. I needed to brush my teeth and shower.

  I expected Jake to be gone when I came out, but I’d still dried and dressed in the bathroom, just in case. As it turned out, Jake was still in my room when I exited the bathroom.

  “We’ve got a job.”

  “Okay?”

  “This is a serious job. I have to know you’re up for it. If you don’t think you can handle it, tell me right away, okay?”

  “Well, what is it?”

  “It’s over in Sudan.”

  “Africa?”

  “Yep. One of our crews has run into some trouble. We need to get our asses over there right away and help out. Our guys have been guarding a politician over there and all hell’s broke loose. Now they are hoping to get their charge to a small village in Sudan sometime tomorrow. If we leave right now we’ll be able to meet them there and escort everyone back to the airport.” He took a breath. “There could be some resistance. Have you ever seen any combat?”

  “Not really.”

  “Well, I think you’d be okay and you’ll be with me. All you need to do is follow orders and follow my lead. Think you can do it?”

  “Yeah. Who’s the politician?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean? How can you not know?”

  “I don’t need to know.”

  “I don’t understand how you work this way.”

  I shook my head.

  “Why do we need to know?”

  “What if he’s a terrible person?”

  “What does that have to do with it? Don’t forget, our main goal, after they get him to his little village, is to get our guys home.”

  “Can you find out who it is so I can look into it?”

  I’d been burned by not doing my due diligence before and I didn’t want to repeat it.

  “No, Alex. You either work this job with me or you don’t. I don’t know the reason behind your compulsion to know all the details. We provide a service and we get paid for it. Simple as that. So, make your decision. Do you want to help me provide a service and get a paycheck or do you want to sit this one out?”

  He’d put me in a tight spot. It wasn’t a hit, it was mostly retrieval detail. So what was I hedging for?

  “Okay. I’m with you.”

  “Good. We leave right now. Get packed.”

  I grabbed up my forever-ready pack that sat near the door.

  “Ready.”

  Jake smiled and gestured for me to follow him. We stopped by his room long enough for him to grab up his own ready-made pack. Then we rounded up Joe and Eric. The four of us were joined by six more men. We were driven in a van to the airport where we boarded a light passenger jet.

  I entered directly behind Jake, who was the first on the plane.

  “Sit with me,” he said as he patted the seat next to him.

  Joe and Eric came in next and took the two seats across the aisle from us. I watched as the rest of the men filed in. The mood was light and remained that way as we taxied out onto the runway and lifted off.

  When we were up in the air one of the men moved up toward us.

  “What’ll you have, Jake?”

  “Make it a beer, Stan. Oh, mix Ms. Grey a Jack cola, please,” he added when Stan took Eric and Joe’s drink order.

  I looked at Jake in shock. We were on our way to a possible fire fight and they were going to be drinking?

  He must have read my face because he said, “What? It’s a twenty-hour flight. I don’t know about you, but I could use a little something to cut the tension and help me sleep before we get there.”

  “Fine,” I said. “Stan, make mine a straight shot with a cola back, please.”

  “Of course,” he replied with a broad grin.

  A couple of the men grumbled that Stan didn’t offer to mix their drinks or bring them beer after he served us, but were still smiling when they moved to the front of the plane to serve themselves.

  The flight was a mixture of men playing cards, chatting, joking and snoring. I even found myself waking up from a good six hours of sleep right before we landed in Sudan.

  When we exited the airplane we were led directly to a couple of Hummers that drove us over dry roads, creating a dust storm behind us.

  After several hours of being jostled around inside the vehicle, we arrived at a small village with small, roughly built wooden houses. There was no welcoming committee. In fact, the brightly dressed women grabbed up their children or ushered them into the small buildings as we drove by.

  When we stepped out of our vehicles in the middle of town an elderly man came forward and addressed our party with obvious concern. As soon as he approached us, people started gathering. He spoke perfect English, but everyone around us was speaking in Arabic.

  Jake explained to him that we were in his village to protect Malik Abu Ibrahim.

  He’d led me to believe he didn’t even know the guy’s name. I decided not to get too mad. We were in a hurry to get here and we didn’t have time for me to do any research.

  The old man laughed. It was a sour laugh devoid of mirth.

  “Yes, Malik Abu Ibrahim. His family lives there.” He pointed directly off to his left without looking.

  I followed his gesture until I saw a building and a woman with a small boy. She l
ooked terrified as did the rest of the village.

  “We had hoped to never see him again. Instead, he brings back trouble.”

  He indicated our weapons.

  The old man shouted something in Arabic at the gathering crowd and I heard our charge’s name in there. He pointed with venom to the woman and her child. The scowls we were given made it obvious none of them were happy we were here or that Ibrahim was returning to his home. The crowd dispersed quickly.

  We weren’t given any offers of a place to stay, so Jake turned us toward the house with the woman and small child to seek refuge.

  He approached her.

  “Do you speak English?”

  The only response the woman gave was to cower over her child protectively.

  Jake tried to explain what was going on, but it was obvious she didn’t understand. Instead, he called over one of the men and told him to explain it to her.

  “I think you should know that the old man told everyone to leave the village,” the man said as he came up to Jake and the woman.

  “That’s good. I’d rather not have an entire village to worry about,” Jake replied.

  “I think they plan to leave her and her child behind.”

  “Damn it. I’ll go talk to their spokesman and see if I can arrange a way out for them, as well.”

  Jake followed the old man after instructing us to start setting up a defensible area. At least there was no good way for anyone to sneak up on us. We could see for miles in every direction.

  I helped fill sandbags with dirt for a good half an hour before I saw dust rising up in the distance.

  “Joe,” I got his attention and nodded in the direction of the tan smudge on the horizon.

  “Go get Jake,” Joe told me.

  It didn’t take me long to find him. He was handing the old man a wad of cash.

  “Jake.” I interrupted the transaction.

  He turned around. “What is it?”

  “There are vehicles coming down the road.”

  “That’ll be our guys escorting Ibrahim, I hope.”

  “Send the woman and her child here. We need to leave now,” the old man said before he went into his own home.

  Jake led me back to our small band of men.

  He asked Eric, who held a pair of binoculars to his eyes, “Our guys?”