X-Ops Exposed

by Paige Tyler

  Shit. Another reminder Tate didn’t have a damn thing to do to keep himself occupied while everyone else was going balls to the wall. Effing great.

  Maybe he could go out to Washington State and check on Zarina. It’d been a while since anyone at the DCO had heard from the Russian doctor. She might have gotten herself into some trouble. And since she was probably keeping the satellite phone she was carrying turned off to conserve the battery, they couldn’t even get a fix on her location.

  He was just wondering if she’d found Tanner when Alina’s phone rang. She pulled it out of her back pocket and held it to her ear, then listened attentively for a few moments before throwing Trevor a look.

  “We’re on the way,” she said, then hung up.

  Trevor stood. “We’d love to stay and chat some more about no one liking you enough to be your partner, but duty calls. That was the operations center. They have us booked on a plane for London. Some crisis involving thieves with claws and fangs.”

  Tate wasn’t surprised Trevor was the one to fill him in on the conversation instead of Alina. Of course, the coyote shifter had picked up every word that had been said over the phone. Shifters had exceptional hearing to go along with their other skills.

  “Lucky you,” Tate muttered. “Bring back a souvenir for me.”

  “Sure thing.” Alina smiled as she got to her feet. “One tourist T-shirt coming up.”

  She and Trevor were a match made in heaven. Tate wondered if they spent their free time trying to one-up each other in the sarcasm department. He scowled as he watched them walk away, acutely aware his professional life—and his social one for that matter—sucked.

  Chapter 3

  Zarina woke to the sound of voices outside the tent. She frowned and pushed herself up on an elbow, trying to hear what Tanner and the other man were saying, but they were speaking too quietly for her to make anything out. Sighing, she flopped back down on the sleeping bags. Considering she’d never spent the night in a tent in the middle of the forest, she was surprised by how well she’d slept.

  Of course, she probably wouldn’t be nearly this well rested if she’d been huddled outside by the fire trying to stay warm and freaking out about every little sound she heard. Instead, she’d snuggled down in Tanner’s sleeping bag, surrounded by his scent and secure in the knowledge that absolutely nothing was going to get past him in the darkness, not even a big, pissed-off grizzly bear.

  She started to smile at that, but then froze as she remembered what Tanner had said the night before about park rangers not liking people staying in the forest for extended periods of time.

  She bolted up, reaching for the zipper on the door flap only to realize she was still cocooned in the double sleeping bags she’d slept in the night before. The arrangement had been cozy when she’d been freezing her butt off, but now it was claustrophobic.

  She scrambled around inside the bag until she found the first zipper and got that one down, then searched for the second one. As she moved her fingers furiously around the quilted material, she strained her ears, listening for the sounds of an argument. Or worse, growling. Tanner would never hurt her, but if another person irritated him—or implied some threat to her—all bets were off. Tanner had already demonstrated on numerous occasions that he could be extremely dangerous if he thought someone he cared about was in jeopardy.

  Zarina yanked down the second zipper and shoved her way out of the sleeping bags. Goose bumps spread over her skin as the cold air hit her. That’s when she realized she wasn’t wearing anything but the flannel pajamas she’d bought in town before hitting the trails. The things had looked absolutely adorable on the store shelf, and the salesman had insisted they’d help keep her warm. That had been another lie, like the one about the flashlight.

  The pajamas were also a bit snugger than she’d realized. She didn’t mind Tanner seeing her in the curve-hugging clothes, but she wasn’t as crazy about a complete stranger ogling her. Unfortunately, the rest of her stuff was out by the fire, so all she was left with was one of Tanner’s sweatshirts that he’d rolled up and tucked to one side of the small tent. She quickly pulled it over her head, reveling in his masculine scent for a moment before shoving aside the door flap and crawling out of the tent.

  Zarina wished there was a more dignified way to scramble out of it other than on her hands and knees, but she didn’t know one. She got out as fast as she could and stood up, then pushed her long hair back from her face, fearing the worst.

  But Tanner merely stood there talking to their visitor, no claws or fangs in sight. The newcomer had dark hair and a thick beard and was dressed in jeans and boots similar to Tanner’s, as well as a heavy jacket. Tanner, on the other hand, was standing there bare-chested. The sight of him made her both hot and cold at the same time.

  Tanner gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry we woke you.” He glanced at the man. “This is Burt.”

  She waited for Tanner to elaborate on who Burt was, but instead, he introduced her with the same amount of eloquence.

  “Burt, Zarina.”

  The man gave her a nod, clearly not impressed by her moose-print pajama pants in the least, then turned his attention back to Tanner.

  “They hit the south end of the camp this morning,” he told Tanner. “There were at least half a dozen of them, and they were armed with automatic weapons this time. I’m assuming you heard the gunfire?”

  Tanner nodded. “Yeah, I heard.” He jerked his chin in Zarina’s direction. “I wasn’t able to come help. Sorry.”

  Zarina had no idea what they were talking about, but she definitely hadn’t heard any gunfire. Then again, with Tanner’s hearing, the shooting could have come from very far away. But that would suggest Burt knew about Tanner’s enhanced hearing.

  “Just as well you didn’t,” Burt said. “They raided us with military efficiency and were in and out in less than five minutes. As fast as you are, you still wouldn’t have gotten there in time.”

  Zarina frowned. That answered the question about whether Burt knew of Tanner’s abilities.

  Tanner didn’t comment on that assumption one way or the other. “Was anyone hurt?”

  Pain flickered across Burt’s face. “Three people, including Lorraine. She got shot in the leg. She’ll make it, but I doubt she’s going to be able to walk again for a long time, if ever.”

  Zarina stepped closer to Tanner, hugging herself with her arms in an effort to ward off the morning chill. “What did the doctor say?”

  She was surprised the woman was already out of surgery with injuries that bad.

  “No one in our camp goes to doctors.” Burt’s mouth tightened. “We don’t trust them.”

  Zarina gaped at him. “Why not?”

  Beside her, Tanner sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  Zarina fought the urge to throw her hands in the air. “Then you can tell me on the way to Burt’s camp. I’m going to check on Lorraine and the other people who are injured.”

  Zarina ignored Tanner’s scowl as she crouched down beside her pack. No doubt he’d been planning to take her into town this morning and get her on the first plane out of Seattle. She wouldn’t have gone anyway, but now she had even more reason to stay. This woman Lorraine needed medical attention, and she might be the only one who could give it.

  As she rummaged through the pack for fresh clothes, Zarina tried to make sense of Tanner’s behavior the previous night. He’d been angry with her, but she’d expected that. He was a stubborn man who’d decided to run off and live like a hermit in the wilderness rather than risk hurting the people he cared about. She’d never expected him to be happy about her tracking him down.

  But something told her there was more to it than that. When she’d explained about the antidote that would repair the damage the hybrid serum had done to his DNA, she’d expected him to jump at the chance to be human. Instead, he’d starte
d talking about never being normal again. That made no sense.

  Even more confusing—if that were possible—was the way Tanner had reacted after he’d carried her into his tent. She could tell from the bulge in his jeans he’d been aroused, but instead of taking her up on the offer to share the sleeping bags, he’d bolted. It was like he couldn’t stand the sight of her, and that rejection had hurt more than she could ever have imagined.

  “Did they grab anyone this time?” Tanner asked Burt.

  Zarina stilled, hand on a long-sleeved T-shirt. The thought that whoever attacked Burt’s camp had kidnapped people hadn’t even entered her mind. Who were these lunatics? She glanced over her shoulder to see Burt’s eyes fill with sadness.

  “Josh is missing.” Burt shook his head. “He was right beside me during the fight, but then next time I looked, he was nowhere to be found. We’re still looking, but…”

  Tanner growled. “What the hell was Josh doing fighting? He’s frigging seventeen years old!”

  Burt met Tanner’s gaze. “He’s old enough to carry a weapon, so he’s old enough to protect the camp.”

  Tanner cursed and turned away from her and Burt to gaze into the forest. Zarina wondered if it was because his eyes had turned hybrid red. She tightened her grip on the shirt in her hand, fighting the urge to comfort him. Something told her he wouldn’t appreciate a gesture like that at the moment.

  “Chad thinks it would be a good idea if you stayed with us until we figure out how to stop these people,” Burt said. “He doesn’t think you should be out here on your own.”

  Tanner grunted but didn’t turn around. Zarina didn’t have to see his face to know he was still angry. “Chad wants me in his camp to help protect the place.”

  Burt shrugged. “Maybe. I know I’d feel better if you were there.”

  Tanner made no comment.

  “Look, I have no doubt you’ll be fine on your own, but are you ready to risk Zarina?” Burt demanded. “Are you sure you can keep her safe from these psychos?”

  That must have struck a nerve, because Tanner swung around, his face dark. He went crazy at the mere notion she might so much as stub her toe. The idea that she might be in danger would make him go ballistic. She appreciated that he wanted to keep her safe, but she hated that he thought he could do it without asking her opinion on the matter.

  “It’s not really an issue,” Tanner stated flatly. “She’s leaving after she checks on Lorraine.”

  Straightening up, she glared at him. “No, I’m not.”

  Burt must have found that amusing, because his mouth twitched under his mustache. “Do what’s best for you and Zarina, Tanner, but if you want to stay with us, you’re welcome to. Like I said, we could use your help.” He gave Zarina a nod. “I’ll tell Lorraine you’ll be stopping by.”

  Zarina waited until Burt had disappeared into the trees before looking Tanner’s way. “Okay, what the heck was all that about? Who are Burt and his friends? Why don’t they trust doctors? And who are these crazies that keep attacking their camp?”

  “They’re preppers,” Tanner said casually, as if that explained everything. “They have a place north of here, just on the edge of the federal property above Lake Chelan. They don’t know who keeps attacking their camp, but a few nearby prepper communities have been hit recently, too.”

  Zarina waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he crouched down and started folding the blanket he’d slept on last night. She couldn’t believe he’d been comfortable using nothing but a thin piece of fabric to keep him warm, but that came with being a hybrid.

  She forced her attention away from the display of rippling muscles as he moved and focused on what he’d said. “Okay, maybe I’m losing something in translation, but what’s a prepper? And why would anyone want to attack them? Are they wealthy or something?”

  Tanner chuckled softly. “No, they’re definitely not wealthy. Preppers are people who think there’s going to be a big disaster in the world at some point, so they stockpile food, water, and other supplies. As for why they don’t trust doctors, they just prefer to depend on themselves instead of outsiders.”

  Zarina folded her arms. “So they’re paranoid kooks waiting for the zombie apocalypse?”

  Tanner finished folding the blanket and stood, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “They’re not kooks. I’ll admit, some of them are a little more paranoid than others, especially when it comes to the authorities, but most of them are normal, everyday people who live off the grid.”

  “Who keep a year’s supply of food in their pantry,” she said.

  “Who keep a year’s supply of food in their pantry,” he agreed. “A lot of them—like Burt and his friends—have community farms, too.”

  Zarina nodded. That she could understand. Farms were a way of life back home in Russia. She even got the part about not trusting the authorities. That was a way of life in Russia, too. But living off the grid and keeping that much food on hand sounded a little odd to her.

  “So why are these people attacking the preppers if they’re not wealthy?” she asked. “Is it to take their food and supplies?”

  “The attackers weren’t after food or supplies, that’s for sure.”

  Tanner dropped to one knee beside her pack, then took everything out. He hesitated a moment when he ran into the stack of panties that must have been all the way in the bottom, maybe overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. But there weren’t any washing machines out here, and the idea of wearing panties more than once made her feel gross. She reached out and snagged a pair from his hand so she could change into them later.

  Tanner didn’t look at her as he stuffed them back in the pack. “If they grabbed Josh, that makes him the fifth person who’s been abducted in the past few weeks. That’s not counting the people missing from the homeless camps located in other parts of the forest. I’d assumed it was the locals trying to chase them off, but now I’m not so sure. My gut tells me there’s something else going on, though I don’t have a clue what it might be.”

  “What are the police saying about the abductions?” she asked as Tanner finished with her pack. “Do they have any leads?”

  “I doubt the police even realize anything is going on,” he said, walking over to his tent.

  Zarina watched as Tanner leaned in and pulled out the sleeping bag, then rolled it up. If he was packing up, that must mean they’d be staying at the prepper camp. She wasn’t surprised. The moment Burt had suggested she might be in danger, she’d known Tanner would agree to move to their camp. That also meant he was smart enough to know he wasn’t getting rid of her.

  He quickly finished shoving his stuff in his pack before starting in on the tent. Zarina would have volunteered to help, but he was moving so fast, she’d only get in the way.

  “Like I said, preppers don’t trust outsiders, especially the police. I’m pretty sure they didn’t even report it,” Tanner told her.

  She blinked. “So the preppers are going to try to find their friends on their own?”

  Tanner shrugged. “Probably.”

  She didn’t see them having much success. “Okay, so they don’t like the police, but what’s the deal with doctors and hospitals? They’re willing to let Lorraine lose the ability to walk simply because they have trust issues?”

  Tanner was silent as he finished strapping the tent on top of his pack. “Hospitals mean paperwork, lots of questions, and ultimately, cops. None of them want that.”

  Zarina shook her head. Picking up her backpack, she dragged it on over her shoulders. “How long will it take to get to this prepper camp?”

  It could already be too late for Lorraine. A person could go into life-threatening shock within an hour of a major injury. Burt didn’t say whether the woman had been hurt sometime last night or early this morning, but either way, that was a long time to go without proper medical att
ention.

  As Tanner shrugged his pack on his broad shoulders, Zarina looked around and realized he’d been right. There was nothing left to show anyone had made camp except for the cold fire pit. Tanner really did carry everything he owned on his back.

  “The trip would take me a solid hour at a steady walk.” Reaching out, he snagged her pack off her back and hung it casually off one of his shoulders. “It would take you a lot longer, especially weighed down with all this stuff. I’ll carry your pack so we can get there faster.”

  In any other situation, Zarina would have complained, but Tanner was right. This wasn’t about her or her pride. There were people hurt who needed her help.

  “Okay,” she said. “But don’t think this means I’m going to let you carry my pack all the time.”

  Tanner snorted and turned in the same direction the prepper had gone a few minutes ago. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You coming or what?”

  Zarina started after him, jogging to catch up. Five minutes later, they were heading up a steep slope, and she was already gasping for breath. Maybe if she asked nicely, Tanner would carry her and her pack?

  * * *

  Zarina stepped onto the front porch of the small cabin, closing the door quietly behind her. She’d expected to find the camp’s residents waiting expectantly for her, but no one was around. That wasn’t surprising. Lorraine’s surgery had taken a long time. Reaching around, she pressed the heels of her hands to the small of her back and stretched, letting out a groan. From the position of the sun, it must be midday, which meant she’d been working for at least three hours straight. The backache was worth it, though. Lorraine wasn’t going to lose her life—or her leg—even though it felt like Zarina had just performed surgery in the middle of the Stone Age.

  She and Tanner had practically run all the way to the prepper camp. Okay, maybe she was exaggerating. Tanner had walked at a brisk pace. She’d mostly stumbled over rocks and tree roots every five feet, trying to keep up.