Southern Regions (Southern Desires Book 4)

by Jeannette Winters

  Marina opened her eyes and looked around. “Just like I thought, I’m still all by myself. What was I thinking? That a tall, dark, handsome man would magically appear before my eyes and make love to me until I forget how hot and miserable it is right now?” She laughed out loud at how ridiculous this all seemed. She was one of the government’s top chemists, and here she was outside in her underwear, wishing on stars, and the only thing she wanted was some sexual gratification. I could have wished for world peace or an end to world hunger, but I wasted the world’s one wish on a hot piece of ass. The government may need to rethink my qualifications when I leave here. The heat obviously has gotten to me.

  What troubled her most came from a place deep within her. It was a yearning she’d thought no longer existed. Years of being only the chemist, she forgot she was still a woman inside. One who wanted what every woman did. Someone to love me. To care if I make it home at night. Someone to bring me coffee in bed just because he thinks I deserve a bit of pampering. And me so irresistible that he can’t keep his hands off me. I really must have heat stroke.

  There was only one problem. She needed to love and forgive herself first. Until she fixed what she did, forgiveness wasn’t going to happen. Marina never intended things to go as they had. Logically she knew she was innocent. She was only doing the job she was paid to do, research and development. Yet if she had stopped long enough to look past what was in front of her, see the big picture, and think about what it all could mean if she moved forward with her research, she never would’ve continued.

  Instead she had become absorbed in her findings; each one intrigued her more. Everything would have been wonderful if the final product had been what she intended it to be. What should’ve been a cure turned out to be more deadly than any biological weapon they already had in the arsenal. How could my vision have been so clouded that I couldn’t see how something so good could be used for evil?

  The answer was simple: she’d been so focused on gaining General Floyd’s approval as a scientist that she forgot just how cruel the world could be. Marina let herself be used and manipulated. Even now in the bayou, she was still his pawn. Stuck here until he needs me again. Guess what, General? I quit working for you a long time ago. You just haven’t figured that out yet.

  Marina would continue her work here. If she could create something so powerful, she knew she could also create the vaccine against it. It wasn’t needed now, but if her specimens or even more dangerous, the formula, ever got out, it was going to be needed or life on this planet would change. I need to get my head out of the stars. No one can help me. Heck, no one would believe me even if I told them. So face it. I’m all alone. No amount of hoping and wishing is going to change that.

  She was about to sit on the chair next to her computer when she heard a soft hum off in the distance. It was barely noticeable but slowly became clearer as it approached. Planes flew over all the time, but this wasn’t one of them. That sound was all too familiar, and one she’d almost given up hope hearing again. A chopper.

  Marina ran back to the railing and looked up. There wasn’t anything in sight, no lights, no movement in the reeds, just stars and gators. What would’ve discouraged others only gave her more hope than before. If the general sent for her, it wasn’t going to be some flashing rescue. It would be some covert mission that everyone was left in the dark about. Not that I’m excited about it or anything.

  The sound abruptly ceased and her heart sank. Please don’t let this be heat exhaustion. I know what I heard. This has to be over. He can’t leave me out here forever. I know he’s sending someone for me.

  Although her heart still held hope, logic prevented her from rushing into the cabin to pack her belongings. Instead she stood there, gripping the rail tightly as though if she squeezed hard enough her desires would become a reality.

  There was nothing. Not a sound. It was as though everything became silent all at once. “Please just come and take me away from this. I can’t stand it any longer. Can’t you see what this is doing to me?” Marina shouted out into the darkness. Her voice didn’t even call back with an echo. Is this how alone I’m meant to be, that even my own voice won’t return to me?

  She was normally a strong confident woman, but over the past few years she’d changed. And the last few months seemed to have broken her. Her pain and guilt were almost too much to bear. No longer caring what happened to her, she just wanted out. Out of this place, out of the controlled labs the general put her in, and out of this project. This is not what I signed up for. I want to do good, but all I’ve become is . . . a pawn in some horrible game between powers. I’m not sure anyone even cares what happens to me anymore. All anyone wants is what I know and finding my specimens or formula. Guess what? You’re getting neither, General.

  Tears began to stream down her sweaty cheeks. “Good. Let me die in this heat, and you’ll never find what you’re looking for. Never! You’ll have done all this for nothing. You hear me? All this will have been for nothing!” Marina shouted again into the emptiness. She was filled with anger, hurt, and frustration. That was exactly how she felt, her life and existence had been for nothing. What good had she done anyone? I just want to go home.

  Dropping down to her knees, she sobbed into her hands. Home. It was a funny word because she had no home to return to. Her mother had been killed in a crash when her brakes failed, sending her car into a ravine. Marina had been a freshman in college.

  Growing up, her mother had told her that her father had been killed while serving in the military. As she grew older she wanted to know more about him, but her mother wouldn’t divulge anything, not even a name. Her lack of information only made Marina want to know more. Eventually she stopped believing he was dead and started researching on her own. Against her mother’s wishes, not only did she find her father but contacted him as well. Her mother had begged her not to. She told her he was a self-absorbed man who could never love anyone. She’d been so right, and now Marina regretted the day she called him.

  Her father only saw her as a genius he could use to his own advantage. She could never recall him asking how she was doing. As far as she knew, he didn’t know her birthday or her likes or dislikes. There was only one topic he ever spoke about with her. My research.

  When she called him about her mother’s accident, he sounded indifferent. She begged him to come to the funeral, but he told her he was busy with work. That was the day she stopped referring to him as Father and only as his rank, General. Even when they spoke she called him General Floyd. No matter how much she hated him, he was still her father and the only family she had. Like any child she wanted his approval. She’d gotten it, and now wished she hadn’t.

  Maybe I could have had a normal life if I’d listened to you, Mama. Instead I’ve spent almost half my life in a lab. The closest thing I have to friends are the security guards taking pity on me during the holidays. How she wished for friends and family, anyone to be close to. If only she could get away from here and disappear, start a new life where no one knew her.

  Tears flowed harder. She could run, but she couldn’t hide from herself. She’d created a biological chemical that, if in the wrong hands, could kill thousands of people. It wasn’t the life-saving drug I’d been working so hard to create. Now my life has to be spent preventing the evil I’ve created.

  Although she’d wiped out as much of the information as she could and hid the specimens so not even the general could find them, she couldn’t erase what her mind held. No matter how hard she tried to forget, it was impossible. Her photographic memory was a curse. Because of that she had no choice but to do everything the general said. He made it very clear that if she fell into the wrong hands, they would torture her until they got what they needed, kill her, and use the information against the country she loved so much.

  Marina would never let that happen. So no matter how much she wanted a normal life, it wasn’t possible. It was the price she had to pay for what she thought had been a gi
ft. I wish I never took a science class, never earned that scholarship. All it’s done is brought me heartache.

  Her body shook as she cried. She was thirty-six, trapped, and helpless. Why did I get on that helicopter? The general has had me on the run for so long I don’t think it’s ever going to end. I’m not just his prisoner. I’m a prisoner within myself.

  She grabbed the rail and pulled herself up. The emptiness came in waves and tonight she felt like she was drowning in it. Wiping her tear-streaked face, she looked into the darkness. There was only one reality for her, and this was it. No one cares about “Marina.” They only care about “the chemist.” Well, to hell with them. From now on, she doesn’t exist. Neither of them do. From now on I’m going to be . . . anyone but me. Looking up, she saw a bright light. Venus. If anyone asks, from now on, I’m Venus from the bayou.

  Chapter Two

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  Kevin thought for sure Marina had seen him. The way she was looking in his direction and practically calling him to show himself, he thought it was all over. He began to move from his hiding place, yet once she started to break down and cry, he realized she’d been talking to herself.

  Who were you calling out to, Marina? A lover you’re missing maybe? Judging her reaction, he felt she was missing him a lot. If it was the comfort of a man’s arms she was seeking, any other time he would’ve been happy to oblige. Now was not the time for his cock to get in the way. Besides, he’d heard the chopper earlier, and that meant Lionel Johnson and the others weren’t far. He could get some sleep, not comfortably, yet it was still sleep, and much-needed.

  Kevin knew Mark would’ve sent reinforcements earlier if he could’ve. The last he’d heard, the team had been abruptly deployed overseas. He wouldn’t even know that much if it hadn’t been for Don Farrell, who was still holding one of the secure access phones.

  That was a sign in itself. There was only one reason Don, a civilian, continued to have that phone. He and Bailey, like the others, weren’t out of danger.

  Kevin could tell Marina was in emotional pain, but did she have any clue what danger she was in? Even if she was working with the terrorist cell, Kevin knew they’d kill her once they had everything they needed from her. They weren’t known for leaving any witnesses, and she would only be a liability to them. Oh, you have no clue what you’ve gotten yourself into, do you? If you did, you’d never shout out like that. You’d be hiding under the covers shaking in this fucking heat.

  “Good way to get yourself killed, Collins.”

  Kevin had been watching the cabin so intently he didn’t hear Johnson approach. Fuck. Snap out of it. Without turning around, he replied, “If the heat, snakes, and gators haven’t gotten me yet, I sure as hell wasn’t worried about you.”

  Johnson looked him over and said, “Collins should’ve told me to bring you a razor. Damn, you look like shit, and I’m the one who just got back stateside.”

  Kevin ran his hand through his thick, scruffy beard. It was his first beard, as being clean-cut was protocol. He figured his looks couldn’t be half as bad as his smell, but he hadn’t looked in a mirror, and he wasn’t about to. “It’s a real hit with the ladies out here. You wouldn’t believe the women trying to get a piece of me. You know the type: cold-blooded, beautiful teeth, always hungry.”

  Johnson laughed. “But honestly, you look like shit.”

  “Spend two weeks out here and then we’ll talk,” Kevin said.

  “Two weeks is a walk in the park. Get some rest. I’ve got this shift. You can fill me in, in the morning.”

  Johnson was used to only taking orders from Mark. He got that, but Kevin didn’t serve in the Navy, and at no point, was he going to take orders from anyone besides his commanding officer. Of course, right now we’re all here on our own. We get caught, and we won’t be getting any medals. Hell, we’ll be lucky not to get court-martialed. No matter how tempting it was to push Johnson’s buttons and pull rank, sleep wasn’t where he wanted to draw the line at the moment. Getting up from being crouched for hours, he stretched his aching body and turned to Johnson.

  “She usually doesn’t come out again until early morning. If anything changes, wake me. No one makes a move without speaking to me first. I know the land, the wildlife, and the chemist better than anyone else. I don’t want anyone compromising the mission or alerting the chemist of our presence. Understood?”

  Johnson met his glare but only nodded. Kevin might not be his commanding officer, but they respected each other. Or you just don’t give a shit. With you, I can never tell. You’re almost as hard to read as Mark.

  Kevin grabbed his binoculars and looked toward the cabin one last time. Johnson could be trusted, but he needed to confirm for himself that all was secure before calling it a night. Scanning the entire perimeter, it seemed fine. But he took one last glance over the deck where Marina had been standing earlier, and something caught his eye. Something out of the ordinary. Kevin took a step to the right, hoping to get a clearer picture of what it was. All he could tell was the moon seemed to reflect on something that hadn’t been there before. What is that?

  It was impossible to see from where they were. Then he recalled Marina had been carrying a silver laptop with her earlier that night. Could she have left it on the table? He knew she’d been upset, so it was possible it’d been left behind in her dismay. It was the mistake he’d been hoping for. If he could get his hands on it, maybe they’d get some answers. Looking to confirm all the lights were out in the cabin, he smiled. Finally, something was going right out here.

  “I’ll be back.”

  Johnson grabbed his arm as he headed toward the cabin. “Where the hell do you think you’re going? Mark gave clear instructions. We don’t make contact without talking to him first.”

  Kevin looked down at Johnson’s hand then shot him a warning look. “Let’s get this straight, Johnson. Mark isn’t here. If you want to call him, be my guest. As far as I’m concerned, we make the decisions. If he doesn’t like it, he can get his ass down here.”

  Johnson let go of his arm and shook his head. “Damn, you’re as thick-headed as your brother. If you’re going, I’m going with you. This is what we’re trained to do.”

  “No, I’m going alone. I don’t know all of Mark’s men the way I know you. And I need to know that if I get in trouble, you’re the one with the M-16 covering my six.”

  Johnson put a hand on his M-16. “Let’s hope I don’t need to. What did you see that’s got you all riled up?”

  Kevin pointed toward the cabin. “A break I’ve been waiting for. Right now, I’m going to get the laptop off the deck. Unless you want to stand here and discuss it until she wakes up and realizes she forgot it outside.”

  Johnson looked toward the cabin. Kevin handed him the binoculars but didn’t wait for him to confirm what he’d seen. The window of opportunity could close, and he wouldn’t get so lucky again.

  Kevin knew he could trust Johnson with his life. Johnson had been part of Mark’s team since the beginning. They were close. Maybe that was what rubbed Kevin the wrong way. In some ways, Johnson and Mark were more like brothers than he and Mark were. That was expected when staying alive meant depended on each other daily.

  In all the years he and Mark served in the military, they’d never been on a mission together. Although what they were doing was illegal, this brought them closer than they’d ever been before. It was fucked up, but he and Mark finally found common ground. He had to remember they were all in this together for the same reason. Get those bastards and make them pay.

  Quickly, he closed the distance between where he’d been hiding out and her cabin. Kevin wished he’d grabbed the night vision goggles since a flashlight wasn’t an option. Please don’t let me step on a gator. I’m not going to ever hear the end of it if I blow this mission because Johnson has to save my sorry ass from getting mauled. Not a very heroic way to die.

  Arriving on the deck without issue, he made his way to the shiny silver object that
had been calling his name. Yes. Picking it up, he went to slide it into his camouflage fatigues when the sweetest voice he’d ever heard asked, “What are you doing here?”

  Kevin turned to find Marina standing there, barely covered. Although her words formed a question, she didn’t seem concerned or shocked in any way to find him standing there. That was a red flag to him. You didn’t ask who I am, so you’re expecting someone. Who do you think I am?

  He avoided her question and stood directly in front of her. Slowly he let his eyes roam over her attire or lack of it. Only then did she seem to notice she wasn’t fully dressed. Her cheeks turned red, and she dashed back inside, shutting the door behind her.

  Marina probably thought he wasn’t a gentleman. She’d be right but for the wrong reason. He had positioned himself between her and Johnson’s line of sight, hoping he’d made her uncomfortable so she’d go back inside and get dressed. Marina may think he was there alone, but he knew Johnson and the others were watching their every move. This view of her was one he didn’t want to share.

  Kevin was tempted to follow her inside, but he still had her laptop concealed inside his shirt. Once he was confident she wasn’t watching, he turned to face where Johnson was. Pulling the laptop out, he held it out in front of him and made it obvious where they could retrieve it. Although he wanted to see for himself exactly what was on there, he needed to make sure she was watched even closer than she had been before. Since you know you’re not alone anymore, I need to make sure if you contact anyone, we’re not ambushed.

  He saw the single flash from Johnson, acknowledging message received. His mind was racing for a new plan of action. I did what I came here to do, but I can’t steal her laptop and leave. Not when I have a chance to learn more about her while her guard is down. Kevin hated to admit that his one-on-one experience with interrogation was limited. It wasn’t a skill he needed for flying his F-35B. Mark could look at someone and read them better than any lie-detector. Kevin, on the other hand, followed his gut. Hasn’t gotten me killed yet, but it’s not only my life on the line this time.