The media ate it up.
The colonel made a lot of noise about protocol and unacceptable behavior, but Kell figured he was glad to have the whole thing go away, case closed. No one was alive to contradict the story except Mori’s parents, and he didn’t think they’d be talking.
The new Dire alpha was a hotshot lawyer with a busy career, a human wife, and no interest in Mori other than as a possible means of extending their species, however she wanted to do it.
So his woman, his mate, his whatever-she-turned-out-to-be, would have another man’s children. Kell thought he was OK with that, but he couldn’t be sure until he was faced with a toddler who could bodily throw his stepdaddy through a plateglass window.
Nik was probably right. It wouldn’t be easy at all, but it would be worth it.
“Mori and me — is that what’s been eating at you since you got here?” Nik had been drinking even more than usual and talking less. At first, Kell thought it was because he didn’t like being around Mori; he knew his friend blamed her for dragging him into Dire politics. It had been his choice, though, and he had no regrets.
In some ways, things were better. He had finally accepted that his active duty to the Rangers was done. But he’d also learned that he could be just as valuable to his country by being part of Omega Force.
Nik shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I’ve been having dreams. Bad ones. Like something’s going to happen that’s” — he shrugged — “catastrophic, maybe.”
Kell studied his friend’s profile. He looked as exhausted as the rest of them, but haunted, too. And Nik wasn’t one to exaggerate. If he thought something bad was coming, it probably was.
Gadget came back out with the phone. “It’s the colonel, all right. But he wants you.”
Kell took the phone. “Colonel?”
“When’s that surgery of yours?” The man was never much for small talk.
Mori and Robin walked down the dock toward them, clearly listening.
“Next week. Probably a month of rehab after that.”
The silence on the line was ominous. “Put Dimitrou on the phone.”
Kell raised his eyebrows and handed the phone to Nik, who looked a little ill. And worried. He pushed the button on the side of the phone to put it on speaker.
“What’s up, Colonel?”
“We’ve got a job. Kellison’s strictly strategy on this one, so you’re leading the team. Get to DC yesterday. Kellison, get Archer Logan back on the job and wait for instructions.”
The call ended as abruptly as it had begun.
“That man needs a sedative.” Robin jerked her wet T-shirt over her head and shimmied out of her shorts. Kell shook his head at Gadget’s audible gasp. “And I need a swim. Sounds like this freaking vacation is over.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photograph by Dianne Ludlam
Susannah Sandlin is a native of Winfield, Alabama, and has worked as a writer and editor in educational publishing in Alabama, Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana. She currently lives in Auburn, Alabama, with two rescue dogs named after professional wrestlers (it was a phase). She has a no-longer-secret passion for Cajun and French-Canadian music and reality TV, and is on the hunt for a long-haul ice road trucker who also saves nuisance gators. Susannah is also the author of the Penton Legacy paranormal romance series: Redemption, Absolution, and Omega.
This book was originally released in episodes as a Kindle Serial. Kindle Serials launched in 2012 as a new way to experience serialized books. Kindle Serials allow readers to enjoy the story as the author creates it, purchasing once and receiving all existing episodes immediately, followed by future episodes as they are published. To find out more about Kindle Serials and to see the current selection of Serials titles, visit www.amazon.com/kindleserials.
Omega Force 01- Storm Force Page 29