Wraith (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

by Kendra Mei Chailyn

  The thought made her trembled.

  “I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Doc.”

  “I thought you weren’t a fan.”

  Amelia glared at him through the rearview. “I liked it better when you were ignoring me.”

  “I wasn’t ignoring you. I just don’t deal well with—with—.”

  “Women? Emotions?”

  “Both.”

  “I see. I know I’m going to regret asking this but, where are we going? We can’t be going to the airport yet.”

  “No. Having them chasing the wrong car will give us a head start. We have to lay low until it gets dark then head to the strip.”

  “Let me guess, you have another friend who would do anything for you?”

  “Are you jealous, Amelia?”

  “Of Lili? Please.”

  “Then why the veiled questions?”

  Hell yes, she was jealous of Lili! It made no sense, but Amelia was angry Lili was so close to Liam, pissed he’d hug her like a soldier leaving for war. The way he’d pressed his face into the side of Lili’s neck when they first arrived at the home, filled Amelia with such rage. Then Lili seemed to take every chance to touch Liam. She’d laugh at his jokes and brushed his arm gently when she did. She’d sneak up behind him in the kitchen and rest her chin against his shoulder or eat from his fork at the dinner table.

  Yes, they had to have been more than friends.

  Amelia inhaled and instead of replying to his question. Liam didn’t need to know the truth. She grabbed her first bag and began taking the clothing out. She folded them neatly and stashed them into the Guess bag. She ensured everything fit and zipped it closed. Once finished, Amelia stuffed the plastic bags into one another and pushed them into the side of her shoulder bag.

  When she finally looked out the window, it was to realize she recognized the road. Lili lived there. Amelia bowed her head.

  I can’t seem to get a break, can I?

  Liam pulled in behind Lili’s pick up and climbed out. “We have a few minutes,” he said, rushing toward the front door.

  Amelia hesitated but left her bag in the back of the Jeep and followed. Inside, Doc rushed over to Liam who scratched his head. Once he received the greeting, he then bounded for Amelia.

  “Lil?” Liam hollered, disappearing down the hall toward the bedrooms.

  Amelia slipped to her knees to hug Doc’s neck then rubbed his head. “I’m going now, Doc. I know you’re a wolf and I should be terrified of you but you’re one cool dude.”

  Doc licked her face and Amelia laughed.

  “Thanks for sleeping with me and for being a perfect gentleman. You didn’t hog the covers once.”

  Doc growled at her softly before licking her face once more. Amelia dropped a kiss to Doc’s head just as Liam and Lili appeared again. This time, Liam had his bag in one hand. Amelia stood.

  “Pull your jeep into the back,” Lili advised while tossing some keys to Liam. “Take mine.”

  “We can’t take your truck,” Amelia said.

  “Yes, you can. They know the jeep,” Lili told her. “You can’t make it out of here in that thing.”

  “Thanks,” she said to Lili.

  “No problem,” Lili said. “You two be careful, okay?”

  Liam hugged Lili tightly and since Amelia couldn’t watch this woman’s perfect curves wrap around Liam, she walked toward the door. Doc followed her closely. She could hear his claws on the hardwood and felt his breath on the back of her legs.

  “Doc, come buddy,” Lili called. “You’re staying with Aunty Lili for a while.”

  Chapter 6

  Wraith couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone camping. But he figured it was the best alternative to getting a hotel. Hotels came with cameras, cameras could be hacked and the more he could stay off the radar, the better. When he suggested it, Wraith braced himself for Amelia to argue. He knew a woman like her couldn’t be used to roughing it. And to make matters worse, winter wasn’t the ideal time of year to be out in the woods in a tent.

  She hadn’t complained—not about the temperature or the fact they weren’t using a hotel. She’d merely asked him to get her coffee and a chocolate bar. He watched the way she tackled everything. They shared a tent—it couldn’t have been easy for her. As she slept, he left her alone to pee, rinse his hand from a bottle of water, then took a look around the area. He didn’t go far but when he came back, she was sitting up in the tent.

  “You left me!” She said, softly, almost like a child who thought her mother wasn’t coming back.

  “I’m sorry,” Wraith said, sitting on his section of their makeshift bed. “I had to go.”

  “Go? Where?”

  “Um—to take a…”

  “Oh!” She averted her eyes. “Sorry. I thought you left me.”

  “I would never leave you, Amelia.” He told her simply. “Get some sleep.”

  She eyed him but shifted back down and pulled the blanket up to her neck. But she didn’t sleep. Wraith watched as she stared up at the ceiling of the tent, listened as the wind blew through the tent. Amelia’s teeth chattered.

  “Come here,” Wraith said. He lifted the edge of his blanket and scooted closer.

  “What?”

  “You’re freezing. Come.”

  She hesitated—eyed him then gave in and moved into his chest. After bringing his blankets down against her, he tucked her head under his chin and pulled her closer. Her closeness posed a whole new set of issues.

  Having her body so close to him drove him insane. She smelled like soap and winter, but she aroused him. To not wake her, he suffered through the throbbing in his body, the urge to brush his lips against her forehead, to feel her as intimately as humanly possible.

  Wraith dosed from time to time but didn’t get any worthwhile sleep. When morning came, he dreaded and relished letting her go.

  They spent a little while getting ready.

  “I’d kill for a warm bath,” Amelia said as they gathered everything for disposal. “Just the thought of warm water makes me very happy.”

  “How about I make you a deal?”

  “A deal?” She cocked a hip. “Okay?”

  “The moment we can, I’ll make sure you can have a hot bath.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  Wraith smiled, and they finished up. He dumped the camping gear in the woods then they were on their way to get something to eat. They found a mom and pop diner with cameras pointing to the cashier. He was pretty sure there weren’t any other in the place.

  The waitress told them to sit anywhere and Wraith looked around to take in the place. Eventually, they parked it at a table close to the emergency exit in the back. In no time, the server arrived, poured them some coffee and took their orders.

  Wraith pulled out his laptop and headphones and tapped away. Soon, Tex’s face appeared with a man who should be familiar to Wraith, but he couldn’t place him.

  “Wraith,” Tex said. “You remember Beast?”

  “Yeah. How are you?” Wraith asked.

  “Good.” Beast offered a mock salute. “I’m gonna leave you to talk. I’m performing god-parents duties with Fleur tonight. If you need anything.”

  “I’ll call.” Tex promised.

  Beast offered a wave then was gone. Tex’s expression turned grim as he faced the camera again.

  “Okay, gimme an update.”

  Quietly, Wraith went through everything. Of course, he left out the fact he’d held Amelia in his arms and had enjoyed every second of it. He didn’t tell his friend how hard Amelia made him and how desperately he wanted to see if she would sink her nails into his shoulders as she climaxed for him.

  Tex wanted to move up their departure but Wraith didn’t want to push it. They were already cutting corners to use the runway at the KIA, moving their plans could attract the wrong attention.

  “Where is she?” Tex asked.

  “Amelia…”

  When she looked up, he motio
ned for her to sit beside him. He offered her one side of the headphones and she tucked it into her ear.

  “Amelia, Tex,” Wraith introduced.

  “You exist!” Amelia grinned ruefully.

  “I assure you ma’am, I’m very real,” Tex told her. “It’s good to see you’re okay.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tex nodded.

  “You guys be careful tonight. I’m still keepin’ and eye on things for you,” Tex said. “Wraith, call me when you guys land.”

  Wraith promised he would and soon his screen went black. Amelia handed him back the headphone and shifted away from him just as their food arrived.

  “So, he’s the one who will be helping us?” Amelia asked.

  Wraith closed the laptop and set it back in his bag. “Yes. If we need it.”

  “Good—he has a trusting face.” She seemed thoughtful. “Is he married?”

  “Very.” Wraith grunted before shoving a piece of hash-brown into his mouth.

  “Too bad. He’s very cute.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

  The Kirkland Lake Airport runway wasn’t as long as the street Liam grew up on. To most people, it would only be a small patch of asphalt leading toward the lake. The first he arrived in Kirkland, he took the easy way out and decided to land there. He almost swallowed his tongue. The plane felt as if it would fall into the water but at the last minute, hit the tarmac and cruised to a stop. From then on, if he had to go anywhere, he drove into Toronto and flew out of Pearson.

  But desperate times and all that.

  They’ d long since closed down the Kirkland airport to commercial flights. The only thing really allowed to land there were emergencies and air ambulances. Liam wasn’t sure why—perhaps lack of use.

  He slowed on the far side of the land and turned off the headlights as he eased to a stop by a fence. It’d been a while since he’d been there. Looking north, he could see a white jet sitting on the darkened tarmac.

  He twisted his body to watch Amelia’s sleeping form in the backseat. She must be tired, He was pretty sure she hadn’t slept much since they met. He hated to wake her. He glanced at his watch. They should be at the airport for nine at night. Since they were early—a whole forty-five minutes to spare, he’d let her sleep for about ten more minutes.

  Still, he kept looking at her, watching the way the moonlight walked shadows across her dark skin. She’d discarded her jacket on the seat beside her. The top she wore clung to her wonderful curves perfectly.

  What a vision…

  He tried clearing his throat and turning away, but the unbuttoned top of her shirt was open just right, exposing the delicate swells of her breasts. Wraith found himself wondering if her flesh smelled as soft and fragrant as her neck.

  From time to time her nostrils flared.

  Wraith smiled.

  She shifted then knitted her brows and muttered something in her sleep. When she began tossing about, he reached back and gently rubbed her cheek. “Amelia—wake up.”

  She swatted at his hand.

  Smiling, he squeezed her hand then shook her. “Come on, Blackbird. Open your eyes.”

  “What did I tell you about calling me Blackbird?” Her voice was soft.

  Wraith retracted his hand. “We’re here.”

  “What time is it?”

  He checked his watch again. “We have to go in a few minutes.”

  When she reached for her jacket, he turned around to look ahead. He watched the plane, searching for movement, anything to tell him if they were walking into an ambush. But the only person he saw was the familiar bulk of their pilot, walking around the aircraft with a flashlight. Wraith figured he was doing pre-flight checks.

  “Okay. Ready.”

  Wraith glanced back before removing the key from the ignition and pushing himself from the vehicle. The thought of the cops finding the van and running prints on the inside sobered him for a moment, so he took a second to wipe down the vehicle completely—including in the back and behind the rearview mirror. He reached across for his bag then closed the door with his hip. Together, they made their way along the fence until he came to a spot where he knew would give way, so they could climb through. He hoisted their bags through first then held the cutout open for her. After she was through, Wraith followed.

  Close to the plane, he stuck his fingers into his mouth and blew. The portly man turned around and lifted the flashlight toward him.

  “Cuzo,” Wraith greeted.

  The two shook hands then hugged.

  “I wish we were meeting again under different circumstances,” Cuzo said. “Get in. We have to go.”

  “Yeah,” Wraith agreed.

  There was no time for introductions. It seemed the moment they were climbed into the plane, they were in the air. At one point the plane shook and Amelia reached over and grabbed Wraith’s hand. He gave her a reassuring squeeze but didn’t release her hand.

  “Sorry,” Amelia said.

  “Nothing to be sorry about.” Wraith assured her. “You don’t fly much?”

  “No. I hate flying.”

  “This is going to be a short one into Toronto.” Wraith explained. “Then we have another plane to catch for Russia. You can sleep through it if you’d like.”

  “I won’t be able to.”

  “You need vodka.”

  Amelia laughed. “No. That would make me throw up not sleep.”

  Silence.

  “I’m sorry, you know?”

  Wraith looked at her. “For what?”

  “Getting you into this,” Amelia said. “I feel—I just—I’m sorry.”

  Wraith unlatched his seatbelt and turned in his seat. He cradled a side of her face with one hand and leaned in. “Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “How can you say that? I brought this trouble right to your doorstep. I mean, you all but moved to Timbuktu but I found you.”

  Wraith smiled and dropped his hand. “Yeah, you did.”

  “I never thought I’d be doing any of this.” Amelia muttered. “I wanted a quiet life—a husband, kids. I waited because I didn’t want to settle. In my head, the man who became the father of my children had to be all these things I have on my list. Now, I’m going to die and my list—”

  “No one’s dying.” Wraith told her.

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Sure, I do.”

  Amelia said nothing. She didn’t have time. Cuzo reported they were almost there and we should strap in again. Wraith sighed and did as Cuzo said.

  The plane landed in Toronto along a back road, two miles from Pearson without incident. Cuzo handed over the keys to a vehicle and explained Tex asked him to prepare it for them. Wraith handed the keys to Amelia and Cuzo explained the location, which was just off to the side of the road where they had landed.

  Wraith gave the inside of the plane the same cleaning he’d done to the van earlier then allowed Cuzo to showed them to their car. He helped Amelia in before closing the door and hurrying over to the plane where Cuzo was busy kicking at one of the landing gears.

  “Are you sure about this?” Cuzo asked. “I didn’t want to say nothin’ in front of your lady, but you’ve been out of this game a while.”

  “She’s not my lady.” Wraith glanced over his shoulder to make sure she was still in the car. “And I really don’t have a choice at this point.”

  “Watch your back, eh? If what Tex told me is true, this is not going to end well.”

  Wraith nodded. “Trust me. I know—.”

  A bullet missed his head by mere inches and fastened into the side of Cuzo’s plane. Wraith ducked expecting his friend to do the same.

  “Son of a bitch!” Cuzo yelled, reaching for the hole where the projectile was lodged. “I’ll never be able to get…”

  Bang!

  This time, the shooter missed the plane. Cuzo gasped, went silent before slumping to his knees. He then slammed into the ground, face first. Wrait
h didn’t have to feel for a pulse—there was a gaping hole in the back of Cuzo’s head.

  He felt sick to his stomach as he reached for his gun and rolled underneath the plane to put a shield between himself and the unseen shooter.

  “Liam!”

  “Stay put! Keep your head down!”

  Taking a breath, he fired a shot in the air, then peered around the flying contraption. True to form, the unseen assailant, returned fire. The flash of the muzzle gave his attacker away.

  Sneaking around to the other side, Wraith used the plane to steady his aim and fired. He heard the sound of bullet piercing through flesh then a groan. Though he had no idea how many there was in the dark, he hunched down low and headed for the car. Someone else began shooting at him as he went. Bullets ricochet off the asphalt. There was nothing to hide behind so he kept running. The engine of their ride gunned to life and he arched a brow.

  “Get in!” Amelia screamed.

  “Stay down!”

  “Stop telling me what to do and get in!”

  He did as she said by tossing himself into the backseat. Even before he had the door closed, Amelia already had the car turned and heading, full speed, toward the airport. A few bullets hit the side of the car but nothing too dangerous. When they were at a safe distance away, Wraith climbed between the seats to the front passenger one.

  “Cuzo?” Amelia asked.

  “Dead.”

  “Oh my God. Wraith, I’m sorry.”

  “Stop.” Wraith shook his head. He’d said it a little too gruffly and he knew it. Still, he didn’t apologize. Ever since the day he decided to join the military, people had been apologizing to him. He was tired of it.

  Them being sorry would not bring back people he cared about. It won’t make his ex love him or want him. So, what was the point of wasting breath on sorry?

  “Make a right at the next light. We need to get to terminal one.”

  Chapter 7

  Never in her life did Amelia think she’d get shot at. She’d lived in a way as to not upset people, walking on the careful side of her existence. Then in less than a week, her home was broken into, she was shot at, attacked in a parking lot, watched a man get shot to death—what was happening?