Delta Salvation (Phantom Force, Book 1) (3 page)

She waited for the man named Kai to tell her what he wanted to know, hoping she could give him answers and he’d let her go. God, she wished Marley was here, then was glad the older woman was safe.

“Follow me.” Kai spun on his heel, entering the building that had been her prison for the last two weeks.

The space was filled with cots, she’d guess it was what one would imagine a boot camp was like. She’d never signed up, but that didn’t matter to ma’am. Every day they made her get up at the ass crack of dawn, going through rigorous training as if she was a soldier. She’d even been learning how to shoot a gun. Not that she’d tell the big oaf in front of her.

“I’d keep moving. You don’t want to piss him off.”

Jumping at the deep rumble coming from behind her, Alexa hadn’t realized the large man named Oz had followed them. Lord, he had to be well over six foot with dark red hair, and muscles upon muscles. How does a man that big move as quiet as a cat? Shit, all this talk about shifters was making her crazy.

He flashed a bright white smile, leaning down to her ear. “I’m not one of the shifters, baby girl.”

“Oz, quit flirting with the woman.” Kai’s voice held a hint of violence.

“Yes, Captain.” Oz winked.

“My name is Alexa.” She stomped toward his retreating back.

He spun around fast, making her gasp as she ran into him. His arms came up to catch her. “I know your name. What I don’t is why you’re here.” His fingers bit into her biceps for a moment.

“If I tell you my story, you’ll let me go? Just like that?” Alexa snapped her fingers.

They walked into the office that had belonged to the woman in charge. The space was filled with electronics that looked straight out of the space station. Damn, she wished she’d have known the woman had all that technology in there.

Kai’s black eyes assessed her. “You got someone you want to call?”

Alexa wanted to call Marley, but all her belongings had been taken from her when ma’am and the others had taken her to the compound. Of course, she’d memorized the woman’s number, but she’d never drag her into this mess. Having made a real friend, Alexa treasured her, and would never endanger the gentle soul that was Marley.

Sighing, the events of the last few months hitting her, she collapsed into one of the chairs. “I just want my stuff so I can finally leave. My car broke down on the road a couple weeks back. I was running from my ex, and...he was following me.” She explained about running into the woods when she realized Danny was following her, then how ma’am had found her, and how the woman’s pet
dogs
had dragged her ex away. Kai and Oz listened without interruption as she kept her eyes on the floor between her feet.

“Look at me.” Kai’s voice whipped like a lash.

Her head jerked up.

“You’re telling me you just went off with some woman with glowing eyes while your boyfriend is attacked by wild dogs? Never once thinking about his safety?”

Anger replaced the dejected feeling, standing up in a move faster than either man expected, she pressed both palms into his rock hard abs. “Listen here, buddy, I barely survived his brutal attack just months before. He beat me so bad, would have raped and killed me in a dirty dark alleyway in Chicago without a backwards glance. Luckily for me a cabbie heard my screams, or I wouldn’t be standing here in front of an overgrown asshat. So don’t think for one minute I have one moment of regret that jackhole is probably puppy kibble. His mama is more than likely torturing another helpless creature, cause yeah, she’s as batshit crazy as him. She lifted her shirt to show him the angry red scar that ran between her breasts. “He used his bowie knife to cut my shirt in half, uncaring that he’d sliced into me. The doctor said he’d actually hit bone. Lucky for me I was already passed out from the pain of having my arm twisted behind my back so far that he’d broken my forearm and dislocated my shoulder.” She pulled her shirt back down, ashamed when she felt tears tracking down her face.

Oz pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay, sweets.”

She allowed the big man to comfort her for a second then pulled away. “There you go. That’s my story.”

“Okay, that’s how you got here. Now, I need to know what you saw while you were here. Who you talked to. What you heard. I’m sorry for what you went through, but it’s important to our mission that I ask you these questions. As the only other female here, it’s imperative.” He gestured to the chair. “Please sit back down.”

“I don’t know how much help I’ll be.”

“You’d be amazed at what you may have picked up on and had no clue what we can decipher.” Kai smiled.

When he smiled like that, she swore the world brightened, then wanted to smack herself upside the head. He was good at interrogations. More than likely it was all part of his plan. First he’d unsettle her with his bad cop, then when that didn’t work, he’d charm her. Fine! She would tell them everything she knew, and be on her way. Nothing to hide, except Marley. They would not mess with the older woman if she had anything to say about it.

“Have you or your men found my car or belongings?” She asked after what seemed hours of talking. Her throat was raw from talking. Oz had stood back listening, fetching her bottles of water. Now, her body was telling her she needed the ladies room in the worst way possible, and her stomach reminded her she needed to eat. A loud rumble sounded, but she wasn’t embarrassed. It was all their fault for not letting her have any food. Even the woman she was scared shitless of made sure they had three square meals a day, even if they were not the tastiest.

“I think that’s enough for now. Let’s get you some chow.” He nodded, standing and gestured for her to do the same.

Alexa wanted to give him the finger and tell him to go screw himself. “I need to go to the bathroom.” Heat crawled up her cheeks at the announcement.

“You’ll understand that one of us will need to accompany you there. For your safety. We don’t know if there are any triggers that we haven’t found yet.”

When will this nightmare end?

Chapter Two

––––––––

K
ai found a perverse pleasure in watching the woman Alexa go from dejected to angry in the blink of an eye. He would have Tay check her story out while they fed her, then if what she said was true they’d let her go. Although his body protested, their mission was to find Jase Tyler and bring him in, dead or alive. Preferably dead in his mind, but the higher ups wanted to question him. Although, Kai knew the man wouldn’t talk no matter what amount of torture they administered.

“You going to watch me pee, too?”

Her words had him looking down, a grin forming on his lips. “I’ll just stand outside. Just remember I have the ears of a hawk.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please tell me that’s a metaphor, not that you
think
you are one.”

He thought of letting her think he might be something other, but then changed his mind. “I’m all human, baby.” Holding the door open for her, he let Oz double check the stalls were empty and free of anything that could be holding a weapon or way of escape. Satisfied, they let her in.

With a grimace, she eased past him, making sure not to touch.

“She’s a cute little thing,” Oz pointed out.

“And that means what exactly? We’ve faced women ten times prettier, who could kill us without breaking a sweat. What makes you think she’s any different?”

Oz shrugged his massive shoulders. “I think she’s innocent in all this.”

“We’ll see what Tay finds out, and save our own personal thoughts until then. You got a problem with my decisions?”

“Nope, Captain. You’re the boss.” He turned on silent feet and left Kai feeling like a dick.

The sound of the toilet flushing made him aware that he’d not kept his mind on the woman in question. She emerged from the stall, going to the sink to wash her hands, watching him through the mirror. “You know it’s weird to have a stranger listen to you go to the bathroom, right? If I didn’t have to go so badly, I’d probably have had stage fright. What if I’d needed to go number two?”

Her words made him laugh. “Thankfully you didn’t.” was all he said and waited for her to dry her hands. She huffed, before making her way out the door, again avoiding touching him.

Tay motioned him back to the office. “Go with Oz and he’ll make sure you get something to eat.” He hated the thought of her going off with the big guy, but squashed his unreasonable emotions.

Alexa shrugged, walking to where Oz leaned against the wall. Kai left them, hoping his team member had something good to tell him. The brooding look on the usual happy one of Tay didn’t bode well.

“Alright. Let’s hear it.” Kai crossed his arms.

The contents of a purse were laying on the desk. “It didn’t take too much digging to find out that woman was terrorized by some fucker by the name of Daniel Reed. He’s been reported as missing by his mother Daniella Reed. If I was a guessing man, they are a twisted version of that movie with the mom and son and the shower scene.” Tay snapped his fingers. “Anyway, the cops have listed him as a missing person in Chicago, but I don’t think they are actively looking for him. However, his truck along with one Alexa Gordon’s vehicle is in a large shed at the back of the property here. I haven’t found him, yet.”

Kai told him Alexa’s story, watching Tay’s blue eyes narrow. “That matches her hospital records.” He turned the computer around, showing Kai the pictures from the medical file.

“I’m guessing we bypassed HIPAA?” Kai joked.

Tay lifted his middle finger, tapping more keys. “She met with a woman who worked with women’s advocacy groups. If I was a guessing man, I’d say they were helping her escape the bastard. She doesn’t have any family, and no close friends from what I can find. Her last employer was a large firm called CNA, in downtown Chicago. She took the train to and from work, then walked the final few blocks home, in a not so good part of town.” Disgust laced Tay’s tone.

“She only met Jase a few times. He somehow met the leader of the shifters here, and helped train them. I’m sure they were helping him hide, and possibly helped him escape. Fuck!” Kai punched his hand down on the desk. “Another dead end.”

“We gonna let the woman go or what? It’s a little tricky letting a human who knows about shifters out in the world. Should we have Kellen and his pack come and take her back to their club?”

Kai leapt over the desk. “I’m in charge of the woman and this entire operation. I’ll decide what to do with her, and she sure as shit ain’t going anywhere near Kellen Styles, leader of a god damn pack and motorcycle club. I may respect the hell out of him, but not happening while there’s breath in my body.” For the first time he noticed he had Tay pushed up against the concrete block wall.

Tay had his arms out to his sides. “Man, you need to take a step back. I wasn’t questioning your authority here. I am making a suggestion, which is what I do. Fuck!”

“Damn, I’m losing my shit. Sorry, Tay.” Kai patted Tay’s chest, taking a step back.

“Just don’t kiss and make it better.”

Leaning against the desk, they stared at one another. “What do you suggest, other than sending her to Kellen?”

“Fix her tire, and let her go about her life. I’m pretty sure she won’t say anything, and besides who would believe her?”

“We could put a tag on her and monitor her for a while.” Kai agreed.

“I also have a bead on Jase.”

“Why the hell didn’t you say so?” Kai rounded the desk, looking at the screen. “What did you find?” The pictures of a bruised and beaten Alexa filled the monitor. He hit a few keys, clearing the screen.

Tay, the smallest of the group ambled over, showing him the maps that had been saved. “Looks like he was planning to head back over the border. Feel like heading to Mexico my fearless leader?”

Dread hit his stomach. Jase Tyler was like a rattler, he liked to hide in the grass and wait for someone to come upon him, then he’d strike, hard and fast. Like a poison, he would enter their blood stream and wait for his prey to die.

“We need more intel. Make it so, and let’s get ready to move out. I want to get going before his trail gets cold.”

“What about the woman?” Tay began putting the purse’s contents back inside.

There was no way he could drag her along, yet letting her out of his sight bothered him, which made up his mind. “I want there to be eyes on her. Make sure someone is assigned to follow her, but she is not to know. This is now a military base until further notice. Get the Commander on a secure line for me.”

****

“W
hat do you mean I’m free to go? Just like that, you’re letting me go?” She was glad they’d found her bags with all her own clothes, but was shocked to find she’d lost a good ten pounds in two weeks. Stress, and working out from sunup till sundown clearly did that to a body. Her black leggings felt good to put on, paired with a V-necked tunic, she was ready to hit the road in her comfy clothes. She wondered if the job Marley had lined up for her was still available, then decided she’d find another if not.

“You know the rules. Tell no one about the compound.” Kai focused on her.

She’d agree to just about anything to get away from the hell she’d been forced in, and mean it. Nodding, Alexa held up her right hand. “I promise, but what do I tell the people who were expecting me? I had a job lined up that I missed. An apartment that is probably gone. What am I supposed to do now?” Again, she wished she could face ma’am and hit the woman, then shivered as she remembered what happened when anyone disobeyed her. Nope, Alexa would just dream about it.

“Tay has already taken care of everything for you.” Kai handed her a sheet of paper.

It took a few minutes for the words to make sense, but then she frowned. “How do you know I can do this type of work?”

Kai’s left eyebrow winged up. “Trust me, we know everything. Now, get going so you will get to your destination before dark. You’ll find your apartment is secure, furnished, and the job you are more than suited for. If you have any problems, there is a number on the bottom of that paper, as well as in your apartment where you can reach someone within the organization who can help you. Any questions?”