Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protected in Darkness (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Heather Sunseri

  “Hi, Mommy,” Sarah’s voice said on the other end of the phone.

  “Hi, honey. How’s mommy’s favorite little star? You sleep good last night?”

  “I did. Ashton’s mom says they’re going to see the balloon races tonight. Can I go with them?”

  “Oh.” Kate turned on the Keurig and pulled a basket of coffee pods down from a cabinet. “Is Ashton’s mom there? Can I talk to her?” She got down two coffee mugs and motioned for Trip to help himself.

  “Okay, Mommy. But I really want to go.”

  “Hi, Kate. It’s Annie. We’re going to see the hot air balloons in Norfolk tonight. Sebastian and I would love to take Sarah with us, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Are you sure?” Kate asked. After washing his hands, Trip fixed himself a mug of coffee and was staring at her while he drank it black. She could hear Sarah and Ashton playing in the background.

  “Absolutely. You’d be doing us a favor by giving Ashton a playmate. You know, sometimes it’s easier to take care of two than one.”

  “Well, okay. Thank you,” Kate replied hesitantly. Sarah got back on the phone and sounded so excited to be staying with her friend another night.

  After she hung up, Kate started making herself a mug of coffee. “Any chance I could work an extra shift tonight?” she asked Trip.

  “Why? Aren’t you working lunch?”

  “Yeah, but Sarah is staying with her friend another night. I could really use the money.” Kate went to the refrigerator and grabbed the creamer. Before she’d gotten home, she had thought about sending Colt a note. But even though the rat was some sort of stupid coincidental reminder of her past, Kate knew that seeing Colt again was a bad idea. It was good between them last night. And not just the sex, though the sex was amazing. But they had talked and laughed, and though they kept the conversation away from personal information, she had felt like she’d truly connected with Colt. And she liked him.

  Trip took a drink of the coffee while Kate dumped cream and sugar into hers. “Actually that would be great,” he said. “It’s Saturday night, and the NCAA tournament is really slamming us. I could use the extra help.”

  “Perfect.” She took the first sip of coffee.

  “You going to tell me what you did last night?”

  She smiled. “No. Do I ask you what you do on your nights off?”

  “I don’t take nights off.”

  “Well, maybe you should.”

  “If I do, will you go out with me?”

  “You know the answer to that.”

  “As long as you’re working for me, you can’t date me,” he recited.

  “You know it wouldn’t be a good idea for you to date one of your employees or for me to date my boss.”

  “Fine. Have it your way. You’re fired.” He smiled. He set the mug by the sink, then after a fist bump to her shoulder, he headed toward the front door.

  She laughed after him. He really was a great guy for not pressuring her further. “I’ll see you at ten. Thanks again for taking the rat.”

  He grabbed the bag containing the gross critter and tossed a wave over his shoulder as he headed down the sidewalk.

  Chapter 9

  Gray Packstone

  Gray enjoyed working in the kitchen. It gave him purpose inside the prison, and it allowed him to keep moving. And ever since seeing a photo of his twin sister alive and well with a kid, he needed to keep moving or he’d go nuts thinking of ways he would torture her when he got his hands on her.

  She had faked her own death while in the process of leading the local cops and the FBI straight to his motorcycle club’s laboratory for creating carfentanil, an incredibly powerful synthetic opioid that was making them money hand over fist. She had betrayed the club and her family. And she would pay for it.

  He placed dishes in the sink of sudsy water while looking on from the kitchen into the cafeteria where other inmates were eating.

  Officer Moody entered the cafeteria and stood against the far wall next to a coworker. When Moody made eye contact with Gray, Moody shook his head and lowered his eyes, indicating that something had gone wrong.

  Gray grabbed a rag and a spray bottle and entered the cafeteria where he sprayed and wiped down stainless steel tables.

  After several minutes, the correctional officers began circling the room, eyeing the remaining inmates who were eating—just routine hovering.

  “Packstone,” an officer called from the kitchen. “Time to eat.”

  Gray nodded. With a glance at Moody, he returned to the kitchen, put his rag and spray bottle away, then made his way through the chow line. Once he was seated with a tray, Moody walked over to him.

  Other inmates sat close by, so Gray and Moody couldn’t speak openly.

  “Well, Packstone,” Moody started. “Looks like one of your own is on the loose.”

  Gray stopped chewing and looked up at Moody then back to his plate. His pulse sped up a bit, wondering what Moody was talking about.

  “That’s right. Jake Boone landed himself in the infirmary. Someone showed him something, or said something, he didn’t like, and he attacked an officer and a doctor. The doctor is in critical condition. The officer will live. But Boone? He broke himself out of prison somehow.”

  Gray began inhaling deeply and letting out each breath slowly while he processed what this meant. Jake must have been shocked by the news that Charley was alive… And with a kid? Maybe the kid was Jake’s, but maybe not. Either way, Jake was mad enough to find a way out of prison.

  Gray stood, grabbed his half-eaten tray of food and delivered it to the cleaning station. He completed his kitchen shift, biding his time until he could make a phone call.

  Donna Packstone had aged ten years in the four years since her husband, her son, and several other high-ranking members of the motorcycle club—including Jake Boone—had been incarcerated. She sat on the other side of the glass from Gray, looking at him with tired, old eyes. She’d added blonde streaks to her hair that were probably supposed to make her look younger, but instead made her look like she was trying too hard. Her skin looked like leather from too much sun.

  When she lifted her hand to grab the telephone, Gray noted her chipped nail polish. His mother was not taking care of herself.

  He pulled the phone from the wall. “Jake busted out,” he said.

  “I know. A cop already came by the clubhouse. They think he had help.”

  “Did he?” Gray asked.

  “Not that I know of.” She glanced at the guard behind Gray. “The cop said that Jake had a visitor the day he broke out. Someone—a woman—gave him the photograph that I brought you last week. You wouldn’t know anything about that, now, would you?”

  Gray knew that Moody had called in a favor from a friend with no connection to Jake or the MC to deliver the photograph. He’d wanted Jake to know just how deep Charley’s betrayal had run. “She made a mistake,” Gray said, and Mom had to know he was talking about Charley.

  “I know. And she’ll be punished. But Jake will kill her. And the kid.” Mom almost sounded remorseful about what might happen to her only daughter and grandchild.

  Charley’s offenses were punishable by death. Mom knew that full well. “Is the kid Jake’s?” Gray asked.

  “I have no idea. She turned her back on all of us when she ratted out the family.” Her voice was back to sounding harsh and unforgiving.

  “When she escaped the life? Or when she hid your grandchild from you?”

  “When she put my husband and son in jail.” Mom’s voice lifted an octave before she reined it in. “She’s a rat, Gray. She deserves whatever she gets.”

  “Do you know where she is?”

  “Yes. And I know how to deal with rats.”

  Chapter 10

  Kate

  JK Shuckers Raw and Sports Bar was crowded and loud tonight. Kate dipped beer glasses into the soapy water, sanitized them, then put them away.

  “What’s the occasion?” her friend All
i asked, referring to the packed tables, as she tied a short white apron around her waist.

  “University of Kentucky versus Duke. Most believe whoever wins this game takes the championship.” Kate smiled and tried to act like she didn’t much care either way.

  “Seriously? But I thought the Cats were riddled with injuries and limped into the tournament as a four seed.”

  “I have no idea what you just said,” Kate lied. She actually knew a lot about the University of Kentucky basketball program, but no one could ever know that she was originally from Lexington, Kentucky, or that she had any connection to the area.

  “Come on Kate. You work at a sports bar. You need to know a little about sports. Guys tip really well when you act interested in their sports.”

  Kate laughed. “They tip well enough, especially when you show a little cleavage.” Truth was, she hated that her beloved UK Wildcats were playing tonight. She’d much rather watch them from the privacy of her little cottage where she could yell and scream at the TV during the game. And she could change the channel every time they showed the replay of the famous Christian Laettner shot from back in 1992 when Duke beat UK in an obnoxious last-second shot.

  She glanced around the room at all the blue and white. She knew the chances of there being people from Lexington here who could recognize her were extremely slim. Especially since she didn’t look anything like she had when she lived in Lexington as the daughter of the president of Samael’s Army.

  Kate nodded toward a rather loud table of sailors from the nearby naval base. “The sailors over there have been throwing back whiskey and tequila shots for the past hour. They’ve yet to order food.”

  “Tequila and whiskey together?”

  Kate nodded with lifted brows. “I just hope they leave before the nausea sets in later. The only puke I clean up is mine or my daughter’s.”

  “I hear that,” Alli laughed. Alli had two children at home. Her husband worked days while she took care of the kiddos, and she worked nights when he was home. Kate didn’t know how, but Alli said she and her husband had a better sex life now than when they both worked days. According to her, they’re now just more creative about when and where. “Why are you still here, anyway? I thought you had the lunch shift on Wednesdays.”

  “I did, but my daughter is staying over with a friend, so I picked up an extra shift. Thought I might as well earn some extra money.”

  “I hear that, too.” Alli gave her a funny look.

  “What?” Kate asked.

  “I get that you need the money. You’re a single mom and all… But why aren’t you taking advantage of this opportunity to go out on a date? Get laid. Have fun.” Alli nudged her playfully. “I’ve seen three different men ask you out in the past week alone. And what about that handsome man you were flirting with last night?”

  “I was not flirting,” Kate said, purposely leaving out the fact that she ended up sleeping with the handsome man in question. She’d even thought about getting in touch with that very man again today until she thought better of it and asked for an extra shift. “Besides, I’m not going to meet my future husband in a bar.” Kate forced a laugh. She wasn’t even looking for a husband. The idea of meeting someone and lying to him about her true identity just didn’t sound like a great way to build a relationship.

  She was right to let the previous night go as the one-night stand that it was.

  “Who said anything about a husband?” Alli bumped her again with her hip. “I’m just talking about a fun night out and maybe a little romp.”

  “A romp?” Kate asked. “Who says ‘romp’?”

  “Kate,” Trip said behind her, causing her to jump.

  “Yes?” She eyed Alli sideways who was wagging her eyebrows at her and pointing her thumb toward Trip, suggesting that Kate should date her boss. Unfortunately, Alli already knew the history of Trip asking Kate out. Ignoring Alli, she turned more toward Trip.

  “You working an extra shift or visiting with Alli?”

  “Sorry, Trip.” Kate shot Alli the stink eye. “Where do you want me tonight?”

  Trip was in his early thirties, never married, but Kate always thought he seemed like the marrying type. He didn’t date his wait staff or bartenders, though he employed mostly women. Alli had told her he’d been serious about a girl some years ago—one of his waitresses—and she left him shortly after agreeing to marry him. He seemed to stop dating altogether after that, but it hadn’t stopped him from asking Kate out.

  “I’ve got a big party coming in tonight in the back party room. You’ll be taking care of them.”

  “Got it. What time are they scheduled to arrive?”

  “They’re trickling in now. The Keegan party. Should be about twenty of them. We’ll have a full house in addition to that. All here to watch the game. There will probably be more drinking than eating beyond the party room. But if you can take care of the party on your own, that would be helpful.”

  “I can handle it.”

  Trip smiled at Kate before turning and leaving. He was incredibly hot, and seemed kind enough as a boss. But she still wasn’t looking for anyone to date.

  “That man needs a little push,” Alli said beside her. She was staring after Trip as he walked around the corner. “I bet he looks amazing without all those clothes on.”

  Kate elbowed her. “You’re awful. And I better get to work.”

  She skirted around the bar just as a parade of muscular, attractive men and their dates or wives, she assumed, were led through the sports bar by our hostess, clearly being shown to the back room.

  As they passed by, Kate bolted in the opposite direction to gather menus, then followed the parade of people to the party room.

  When she got to the private room, the men and women were shifting about the room, breaking up into pairs in an organized fashion and taking seats. They laughed and carried on conversations in a way that told Kate that this was a tight-knit group of friends. A couple of men stood with their backs to her.

  “Ice,” a man called, and a woman turned and looked at him. “Get everyone to slide over one seat in that direction.”

  Ice. That was a funny nickname for a woman. Ice made eye contact with Kate, then mouthed, I’m sorry. She snapped her fingers at the group. “Okay boys and girls, I think our server is here to give us directions.”

  Kate laughed and gave Ice a wave, letting her know it was no big deal. But everyone began to calm and slowly turn their attention to her, including one man in particular. Colt.

  Her eyes widened, and her breath caught. His expression appeared equally surprised, but then softened as if he were pleased to see her. She couldn’t help herself but glance to either side of him to see if he was there with a date, or worse… a wife.

  “Good evening ladies and gentleman,” Trip said beside Kate. She hadn’t even heard him enter. “I’m Trip. I’m the manager of JK Shuckers. This is Kate, she’ll be coming around to take your drink orders to start you off. I’ve been instructed to bring a sampling from the raw bar, which I’ve already asked the kitchen to prepare. If you need anything during the night, be sure to ask Kate.”

  Kate had zoned out during Trip’s introduction. When he touched her back, she gave her head a little shake. “Right. I’ll start at that end of the table.” She pointed toward the end of the table where Ice was sitting. She risked a glance toward Colt, who was smiling as if he’d just won a contest he hadn’t realized he’d entered. She was sure he would have loved to know more about her last night. It was amazing that he had gotten Kate to return to his hotel room, and she was sure he was thinking that this was some sort of fate playing out. He had hinted more than once that their interaction didn’t have to be limited to one night.

  Kate almost laughed out loud at the thought. Not because it was funny, but because she no longer had control over her own life to even have that kind of choice. Like it was even possible for her to be involved with someone like Colt, who obviously had people he belonged to by the looks
of this huge party of people. With this large of a group came trouble for someone like her—a girl with no past, with more secrets than she could ever tell any one person, and with no ability to change any of that. People like this asked questions. They would want to know where Kate came from, her history, and other things she’d have to lie about or evade. It sounded exhausting just thinking about it.

  Colt and Kate had both agreed to keep things casual. Even if she had told him more last night—like where she worked or lived—they both knew he was only in town for a few days, and Kate knew that whatever happened would only be for those few days.

  She made her way to the other end of the table. Ice nudged the man beside her. “Wolf, order me a drink. You always know what I like better than I do.”

  The man she called Wolf leaned over and kissed her. “Roger that.” Kate’s heart tightened a bit at the way Wolf looked at his wife, knowing she’d never have that kind of relationship with someone.

  She made her way around the table, purposefully leaving Colt until last. “What can I get you?”

  “That’s it? ‘What can I get you?’” The room grew quiet. Kate looked up and saw that several of Colt’s friends had stopped talking and were looking back and forth between Colt and Kate then at each other. A couple of them shrugged and shook their heads at each other.

  A sweat broke out across the back of her neck. She glanced at Ice and Wolf uncomfortably.

  “Filly, you know this person?” Ice asked.

  Kate narrowed her eyes at Ice, then looked at Colt. “Filly?”

  Colt closed his eyes. “Unfortunate nickname.” He nodded toward Ice. “To answer your question, yes.” He stood, squaring his shoulders to face Kate, but spoke to his friends behind him. “I met Kate last night. If you guys will excuse us a minute.”

  Kate glanced at the curious eyes around the table. The guys were smirking; the ladies seemed concerned. Colt grabbed Kate’s hand and gently tugged her toward the door.