Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
He grimaced. “No. I didn’t bring you another one. You’re coming with me.”
“What’s the charge? I’m not going anywhere unless you can state a valid charge against me.”
The man huffed. “I’m not charging you with anything. You’re joining my team.”
“Do you have orders from my commanding officer?”
“Your commanding officer has been informed that you will no longer be part of his platoon.”
Grant wasn’t going to take that well. “What the fuck? You think I’m going to sign on with the feds?”
“You will do exactly that.”
“You can’t force me to—”
Roth’s face remained impassive. “I can. My team needs your services.”
“Did you consider asking?”
“No, because you’d turn me down.”
“Which is exactly what I’m doing now.”
“Certain agreements were made when you joined the marines. Agreements that if they were to become public knowledge could—”
I was not going to let this bastard threaten me. “I grabbed his shirt in my fist. No one will ever—”
“That’s right because you’re going to join my team.”
I hated how emotionless he was. I wanted anger from him if I couldn’t have remorse. “The agreement was that I would serve in the marines.”
He shrugged. “Things have changed. You’re needed with us.”
“Why?”
“You have particular skills that would be useful.”
I didn’t want to think about what kind of shit they’d involve me in. My years deployed had been bad enough. “My skills are useful right here.”
“I have an assignment for you.” Roth’s voice was still infuriatingly level. “You’re the best person for the job.”
“What did command say?”
“They were told the move was necessary.”
I stared at him. This couldn’t be happening. I worked well with my platoon. Grant, my commander, was the best in the desert, and I had no desire to be sent back to the States to become a lackey for the FBI. I wasn’t a machine they could deploy when and where they wished. “I want more information.”
“You’ll be briefed when you’re back in the States.”
“What’s so important that you came all the way out here to get me?”
“You don’t need that information now.”
“What I need is some proof this is legitimate.” I’d learned not to trust anyone, no matter how official they seemed.
“You know who I am.”
“I do, but I want to talk to my commanding officer.”
“That’s not possible. Your transport is ready now.”
“No way. I’m not—”
My phone buzzed. I looked down at the screen. The name surprised the hell out of me, but it shouldn’t have. The message was from X.
I’ll see you when you’re Stateside.
There was so much I wanted to say and so many questions I wanted to demand an answer to, but I responded with only a thumbs-up emoji.
“Get your things. We need to move out now.”
I sighed and did as he said.
It would just be one more disappearance from the lives of those around me. I’d done it before, and I would surely do it again. After all, I’d become nothing more than a ghost.
3
ROGUE
Paradise Ranch
One Year Later
When the door opened, I had to work to keep my mouth closed. The man who followed TJ into the house was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him.
He nodded toward my brother. “Grant.”
I barely registered Grant moving before his fist connected with the gorgeous man’s jaw. The guy stumbled back, rubbing his face but looking unsurprised by Grant’s greeting.
I glanced at Rhys, and he leaned in close to let me know the man was Ghost, a guy who’d served with them in the marines, then disappeared mysteriously. Now we knew he’d joined the FBI.
Ghost and a man we’d thought was his FBI partner had invaded our ranch, so Grant had plenty to be angry with him about, but Ghost smiled at him. I expected my brother to hit him again. Grant didn’t tolerate being mocked. I ought to know.
“I probably deserved that,” Ghost said, “but you won’t get another one for free.”
Grant glared at him. “There was nothing free about that. I caught you off guard.”
“It won’t happen again.”
The man’s confidence was seductive as hell. I didn’t doubt a man like him could disappear like a ghost. He was too perfect to exist; therefore, the idea that he would dissolve if I touched him seemed right. That didn’t mean I wasn’t making plans to try. I desperately wanted to get my hands on him.
Landing his punch hadn’t done much to settle Grant’s anger. He had good reason to be furious. Ghost had been spying on us, and the other agent had fired on Rhys and TJ, but Ghost was on our side now, sanctioned by the great and mysterious X, whom I’d yet to meet.
I indulged myself by giving Ghost a slow, considering once-over. No matter what Grant thought, if he was a friend instead of a foe, that meant he was fuckable—assuming he was real.
I tuned in more closely when Ghost started asking questions about Jacob, a friend of mine who’d needed a safe place to stay. If anything was going to get him hit again, it would be making a move on the man Grant clearly wanted for himself.