Protecting Terra (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

by Desiree Holt

  “I wish I could see through the windows.” Terra adjusted the power on her field glasses. “But of course they’ve got damn curtains covering them.”

  “The other agents are here.” Cassie had moved up to them again and spoke in a low voice.

  Terra looked at the two men who had joined them, one blond, one redhead. They were both dressed in white snowmobile suits and had white knit hats on their heads. Camouflage, the same as hers. She didn’t recognize either of them, but that wasn’t unusual. Homeland Security had thousands of agents in all its various departments.

  “Chad Houser,” the blond said in a soft voice. “And this is Frank Drummond. Griffin said their latest import joined them?”

  Terra nodded. “Hal figured once they ended up having to blow up their cabin, Jennings had the idea he’d accelerate the timetable and also bring the people directly here. It’s obvious they’ve had this place for some time.”

  “You’re right,” Chad agreed. “We read all the files while we were waiting in Bangor. You’ve got a lethal combination of people here. Sons of Allah wants to blow up the world, and the bastards running this devil’s organization want to own it and control it.”

  “We need to take pictures.” Frank pulled out his cell phone. “Hal wants as many good visuals as we can send him.”

  “I’d say we try to get shots from other perspectives,” Sam added, “but we’d be way out in the open. We have no way to get to the other side of the site without going through some open spots.”

  “And tripping the security cameras,” Terra reminded him. “I wonder why they don’t have them up here?”

  “Too far away,” Chad told her. “Hard to monitor. Plus you’ve got the occasional wild animal roaming around that’s sure to set the system off.”

  “True.” She peered through the field glasses again. “Wait. One of you come take a look. See that window up on the second floor? The one in the middle? Does that look like the barrel of a rifle poking out through the curtains?”

  Chad adjusted his glasses. “Damn it. I think you’re right. Everyone move back. If we can see them, they might be able to see us, even with the covering of the trees. I’m going to take some photos and hope we can enlarge them to see something.”

  “If it shows up, Hal can use this to get a judge to sign off on a search warrant.” She pulled out her own cell phone and snapped a second set of pictures. “Okay. We’ll send him everything, so we’ve got every angle covered. Then we’ll go from there.”

  “He’ll need to send more people up here,” Frank added. “Plus equipment.”

  Terra nodded. “We need infrared to see inside, something to knock out their security, and a lot more bodies.”

  Sam stared ahead, studying the situation. “This reminds me of when my team had to attack a compound in Afghanistan to take out a high-value target. They had equipment way more sophisticated than we expected, and we had to knock it out. It can be done.”

  Chad nodded. “I agree. I’m glad Hal had Griffin include you in this operation. You’re familiar with the territory and have a shitload of experience.”

  Sam shrugged. “I’m happy to help wherever I’m needed.”

  Terra was stashing her field glasses away and zipping up her jacket.

  “I hate to be a party pooper, but I think we should get the hell out of here. Until we have more backup and the proper equipment, hanging around could be dangerous. Plus, we don’t know how long Jennings is going to stay there. He usually doesn’t hang around too long, and I don’t think he wants to break his routine. He’ll try not to do anything out of the ordinary, at least until they’re ready to make their move.”

  “Which could be any time,” Chad warned.

  “Right. We also don’t want him and Babic to come out, hop on their machine and run into us.”

  “Yeah,” Frank agreed. “Let’s get moving. We need to report back to Hal and figure out what we do next.”

  They made their way quietly back to where the snowmobiles had been stashed in a thicket of trees. They all climbed onto their respective machines while Terra fastened her skis on.

  “One at a time,” she reminded them, “so there’s not an explosion of noise with all the engines. I’ll see you back at the inn.”

  She watched as one by one they headed off through the trees for the long trek back to the inn. Poised on her skis, she waited until the last one had pulled away before pushing off. She knew by the time she reached the inn again her legs would be sending her complaining messages, but that was okay. Nothing a hot shower and some muscle cream couldn’t fix.

  She wasn’t more than fifteen minutes into the return trip when she heard the whine of another snowmobile. Pushing hard to hide in a thick copse of evergreens, she waited for the machine to appear. Spotting the flash of black a good distance away, mostly hidden by trees and shrubs, she knew it had to be Jennings and Babic. She forced herself to wait until, with their speed, they’d be a long way past her before she pushed off again.

  By the time she reached the inn, she was more than ready for that shower, and maybe a drink. She took off her skis and looked around for Griffin, but he was nowhere to be seen. She pulled out her phone and sent a text that she was back and to call her. Then she headed for her apartment. She had slipped her key in the lock, ready to open the door, when the man himself slipped up beside her as silent as a ghost. She almost dropped her skis, but Griffin caught them for her and nudged her inside.

  “You nearly gave me a heart attack.” She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “What the hell?”

  “Jennings is back. I was checking in most of the snowmobiles when he drove up to the barn. Neither he nor Babic looked happy but he did put on his genial owner face. However, he asked if I knew where you were. Said he saw you out on the cross-country trails today and wondered if you’d found some new ones the inn could add to the brochure.”

  “I’d like to think he meant exactly what he said. I’m 99 percent sure he didn’t spot me anywhere near that house they’re all holed up in.”

  “Maybe not, but we’re right at the tipping point here. I didn’t want him to be suspicious of you.”

  “Or any more than he is,” she added. “And I wonder why that is? I haven’t done anything to make him feel that way.” She frowned. “At least I’m pretty sure I haven’t.”

  “I agree. Something’s not right here. We need to run it by Hal. Meanwhile, Jennings has got the idea we’re some kind of couple, and I’m inclined to let that stand. It leaves you less exposed.”

  “Okay, if you think that’ll work, we’ll be a couple.” She paused. “Or something.”

  His mouth curved in a half-grin. “Or something. Anyway, Hal wants to talk to all of us together but not anywhere public. I called Bruce Hager and asked if we could all descend on him.”

  Terra frowned. “I hope we aren’t putting them in a difficult position.”

  “Jennings has no idea we’re even friends. Going there is the safest thing to do unless we want to drive all the way to Bangor. Even then, what’s to say he and Babic might not take it into their heads to have dinner in Bangor, and we’d stumble into them.”

  Terra chuckled. “I can’t see the two of them having a friendly dinner out. From the look on Jennings’ face today he would cheerfully kill Babic and hide the body if he could. But the guy is Novak’s cousin, so he’s treading carefully.”

  “As long as we have you stashed tonight so he doesn’t have eyes on you. His questions made me nervous. There was nothing threatening or unusual in the words, but I don’t like the look in his eyes.”

  “It’s okay. I’m happy not to run into him tonight anyway. Let me freshen up, and I’ll be ready.”

  If she hadn’t been looking at him, she’d have missed the sudden flare of heat in his eyes. His nostrils flared as if he was inhaling her scent, and his tongue swiped slowly across his lower lip. Her own body, exhausted though it was, sprang to life. The inner walls of her sex clenched with unexpected nee
d, and her nipples felt as if they were tipped with fire.

  God!

  This man was driving her out of her mind.

  Slowly, she backed away from him and headed to her bathroom. “I’ll only be a second.”

  “We’ve got a little time,“ he assured her. “Chad and Frank are picking up dinner.” He flashed a quick grin. “We decided to let Hal pay for it. Hope barbecue is all right.”

  “After today’s ski run? I could eat plywood with sauce on it.”

  Griffin actually laughed. “I think we can do a little better than that. I’m ready when you are.

  By the time they reached the Hagers’, Chad and Frank had arrived with spareribs, chicken, slaw, mac’n cheese, and corn bread. Margie was busy setting the table, and Bruce was fixing drinks for everyone.

  When they were all seated, Griffin thanked Margie and Bruce.

  “You’re doing us a huge favor by giving us a place to meet that doesn’t cross Jennings’ horizon. It’s important that until we get ready to move none of the key players see all of us together.”

  “Happy to do it,” Bruce told him. “Whatever you need from us, just holler.”

  “Well, thanks again.” He looked around the table at everyone. “Hal’s got all the photos you sent him, guys. He’s having them enlarged, and someone at the office is putting them together to create a large image of that whole area. The Director doesn’t want to give them time to do much more planning and anyway, he thinks they’re pretty close to being ready.”

  “Let me say this.” Chad looked around the table. “Tell me if you agree. We haven’t seen anyone from the Sons of Allah yet, and I know they scare the shit out of people. But that Mislav Babic looks like he’d skin you alive and enjoy every minute of it.”

  Frank nodded and swallowed a mouthful of food. “Agreed. We all agree they’re getting ready to launch whatever they’re planning. If they manage to do that, the results will be disastrous.”

  “Disastrous as in shutting down the country,” Griffin added. “Like blowing up the infrastructure both physically and electronically. Then they can sweep in to take control.”

  “Damn.” Bruce grimaced. “This is a damn big country to shut down all at once, but I guess all they have to do is destabilize key areas. Then the rest will fall into place.”

  “You know there are enough disgruntled idiots in this country they can recruit who will help them,” Margie reminded him. “They don’t appreciate how good they’ve got it.”

  “Sons of Allah can impose their extreme practices on the population and use it to control everyone for their own purposes,” Griffin agreed. “Then Jennings, Novak, and Babic will end up controlling the government and the financial structure and there will be no such thing as freedom.”

  No one said a word as silence stretched for a long moment.

  Terra spoke first. “Okay, Hal wants to talk to all of us. Why don’t we call him on one of our phones, put him on speaker, and we can all participate?”

  Margie looked over at Terra. “Are you sure Bruce and I should be here for this?”

  Terra nodded. “You and Bruce have been investigated—twice, I might add—and cleared for this. No one’s forgetting what you did with the drug bust, either. So, yes. You’re both in.”

  Griffin dialed a number on his phone, put it on speaker, and set it in the middle of the table.

  “Everyone here?” Hal’s deep voice boomed through the room.

  “All here,” Terra assured him. “Let’s have it.”

  “First, the van. We ran the plates, and they come back to a man who died two years ago. My guess is the van is stolen. They probably grab a different one each time.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “Second. The pictures you guys sent are exactly what we needed to get started. The techs are enlarging them and creating a massive panorama of what you were able to capture.”

  “We didn’t go around to the far side of the buildings,” Terra interjected, “because there wasn’t much coverage on that side. We didn’t think it was worth the risk, especially considering how much Jennings has had eyes on me lately.”

  “Smart,” Hal agreed. “Okay. We should have the image ready in a little while. Then we’ll start planning from here how to take it down. From chatter we picked up, we’re pretty damn sure they’re close to pulling the trigger. We absolutely cannot wait for them to make a move, and we now have permission to make a preemptive strike. We should have a plan ready in less than twenty-four hours.”

  “Good.” Griffin nodded, even though Hal couldn’t see him.

  “I will send it to each of your secure phones. Memorize it then delete it. Terra, you have probably the toughest job for at least the next twenty-four hours. You have to act as if nothing is happening. Nothing has changed. Make Jennings believe you’re exactly what you pretend to be. A ski instructor, nothing more.”

  “I can do that. No problem.”

  “Good. And if he wants to think you and Griffin are developing a relationship, let him. It’ll be a reason for the two of you to be seen together. Meanwhile, you’ve all seen the place we’re going to hit. Put your heads together and feed me any suggestions you come up with. We need to get this going right now.”

  “Will do,” Griffin assured him.

  “Also, get new SIM cards for all your phones, but someone else do the shopping.”

  “Got it. Back at you soon.”

  As soon as the call disconnected, Frank looked around the table. “We should get the SIM cards before you guys go back to the inn tonight. I can run out and get them. Margie, can we hang out here a little longer so I can do that?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’ll go you one better,” Bruce interjected. “Let me run into town as soon as we finish. The stores are still open, and I can scoop up a couple of them. Want more than one each?”

  Tera glanced at Griffin.

  “If you can pick up half a dozen,” he told the other man, “that should take care of it. Give us fresh ones to switch out if we need to.”

  Terra pulled some bills out of her wallet, insisting Bruce take them.

  “I can afford a purchase for the government,” he protested.

  “I know you can, but I don’t want you to. I’ll feel better if you take this.”

  Grudgingly, he stuffed the money in his pocket.

  Griffin looked around the table. “Okay, we’ve got our marching orders. Let’s eat and plan.”

  Chapter 10

  Griffin zipped up his jeans, careful not to catch his dick in the teeth since it had been pushing to get out and play for the past twenty-four hours. Last night he’d exercised more restraint than he thought he was capable of. Once again, that famous SEAL training kicked in because when he took Terra home all he wanted to do was strip off her clothes and put his mouth on every sexy inch of her. Taste her entire body with his tongue. Fuck her until neither of them could draw a breath.

  Thank god he’d managed to leave her at her door. And thank god also for a cold shower and a strong hand. Something he seemed to be employing a lot lately. What bothered him even more than that was the shocking realization that suddenly whatever he was feeling went beyond sex. And that scared the shit out of him.

  No entanglements. That was his mantra. Only women he could have a good time with, who maybe he could call for a no-strings weekend when he wanted. Women who were good for a laugh and good in bed. Who led their own lives and wanted nothing but fun. He always figured when he was ready the right person would pop into his life.

  Ha! Talk about being an idiot. He never, ever thought that person would be another DHS agent, and he still couldn’t figure out how Fate had played this trick on him. Did she feel the same way? Since he never tried to see beyond the surface of the women he was with, he had no skills in figuring that out.

  You damn well better, buddy boy.

  Either that, or he’d have to walk away as soon as this mess was cleaned up and make sure they never crossed p
aths again. A thought that gave him an unexpected pain in the gut.

  Well, he couldn’t stand here all day like an idiot. Coffee, that’s what he needed. Coffee and a bagel. Maybe two bagels. Something to shove into his mouth so he didn’t blurt out something stupid.

  He yanked on his jacket and was about to stuff his burner cell in one of the pockets when it buzzed. He looked at the screen. Hal. He pressed the button to accept it.

  “Yeah, Hal?”

  “Your SIM cards is changed out, like Terra’s. Right?”

  “Right.”

  “Good, because I’m sending you something. We finally got the map of the key area together and marked up. Send it to your laptop then get together with everyone.”

  “Did you send this to Terra, too?”

  He certainly didn’t need her to feel she was suddenly shunted to a lesser position.

  “Yes. You both get everything, as well as Chad and Frank. She and Chad spotted something, and we think she’s right. But there are some other things, too.”

  “Okay. We’ll all have to get together later, and I’ll make sure she brings her laptop. Hers is much better than mine.” He paused. “I think we’ll have to go back to the Hagers if all of us are going to look at it and brainstorm. It’s the only place where all of us can be together and Jennings and Babic can’t lay eyes on us. You good with that?”

  “Yes. There’s something in there you all need to look at closely. I told Terra because she spotted it first. I want to hear back from you by tonight.”

  Griffin frowned. “I know we’re in a big hurry, but did something else happen?”

  “Our techs have picked up more chatter coming down the line. Apparently, Babic is pushing for sooner rather than later. We think Jennings will pull the trigger because he doesn’t want pushback from the Sons of Allah who might think he’s waffling. He’s not about to give control over to Babic no matter what.”