Jagger (R.I.S.C. Delta Team #6)

Prologue

Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan

Three years ago…

“Something’s off.” Her voice remained low, her eyes focused on the magnified image ahead.

Agent Julian Miller drawled his response from a few feet away.

“What’s up, Tally Cat?” Her friend and colleague glanced over from his place in the dirt. His blue eyes sparkled with a touch of humor as his dirty-blonde curls danced in the breeze. “You seein’ somethin’ we don’t, or is it just your spidey sense talkin’ to you again?”

Miller—who looked more like a California surfer than a southern killing machine—was recruited by Quantico the same year as Natalia, and he’d been her best friend ever since.

Rather than respond to the Texas native’s questions right away, she kept her focus locked on their targeted location. The early evening sun shone brightly upon the two-story compound. Its owner, Ahmed al-Asiri, was the man she and her team had been sent here to find.

According to the intel they’d been given, al-Asiri and his regime were responsible for the senseless kidnapping and torture of twenty-eight American hostages. Innocent men and women who’d been ruthlessly abducted and held captive over the course of the past eighteen months.

The ill-fated group consisted of tourists, missionaries, physicians and nurses volunteering abroad, and half-a-dozen government contract employees. A collection of human beings who’d been taken against their will by those without a conscience.

And if she and the other CIA agents tasked with their rescue failed in their mission, each one of those souls would be lost.

Not on my watch.

“It’s too quiet,” Natalia finally told Julian what she’d been thinking. Way, way too quiet. “There should be guards patrolling the hideout’s perimeter. And where the hell are al-Asiri and his minions? I don’t see a single vehicle anywhere in sight.”

“Maybe your guy, Khan, was wrong about the location.”

But she was already shaking her head. In the five years she’d used him as a documented CIA asset, Rahim Khan had never steered her or her people wrong. No matter the job, no matter the danger, he always came through.

Always.

“If Khan said this is the place, it’s the place.” The confidence in her asset remained steadfast.

“Yeah?” The grumbled response came from another agent named Keith Sinclair. “Then what the hell are we waiting on?”

Natalia ground her back teeth together and remained silent, though she wanted to tell the misogynistic jerk to stick it.

Sure, Sinclair was a solid asset in the field. And yes, his record for successful ops was admittedly impressive. On the flipside, however, the not-as-special-as-he-thinks agent was also a massive pain in her ass.

Not only did Sinclair believe he was the smartest person in every room but the guy also fancied himself as God’s oh-so-precious gift to the entire female species.

Keep on dreaming, douchebag.

“We have to be sure,” Natalia countered.

Keith released a deep curse, shifting his position to look at her from over Julian’s prone, camouflaged form. “Sure about what? Aren’t you the one who just said this was the place?”

Actually, what she’d said was if Khan said this was the place, then it was. She didn’t voice the clarification, of course. Doing so would only add to the big brute’s already pissy mood.

“I can’t green-light a breach if I think there’s a chance we’re being set up.”

“A chance…if you think…” The beefy agent’s rugged face twisted with a shake of his head. “Yeah, sure. You should definitely be the agent in charge of this op.”

Sarcasm oozed from the disgruntled man’s words. Rather than rise to the bait, she took the opportunity to put his juvenile-acting ass in its rightful place.

“That’s right, Agent Sinclair.” She met his hardened stare. “I am the one in charge of this op, which means it’s my call to make. Not yours.”

If looks could kill, she’d be dead where she lay.

“Then by all means, boss,” Sinclair seethed. “Make the fucking call. But I suggest you do it sooner rather than later. Unless, of course, you plan on turning this rescue mission into a very expensive recovery job.”

Asshole.

Natalia had been awarded the opportunity to lead this team because she’d freaking earned it. Not on her back, as was the rumor Keith and others undoubtedly believed.

Major assholes.

She’d earned the position through years of blood, sweat, hard work, and dedication. So screw Sinclair and anyone else who questioned her knowledge or skills.

Natalia reached for the small mic attached to the tactical protective vest covering her entire torso. With a tight squeeze, she pressed and held the button on the side, keying the comms unit to life.

“Overwatch, this is Alpha One.” She used her call sign instead of her actual name.

The channels they used were supposed to be encrypted and secured. Even so, she’d played the game long enough to know better than to fully trust technology to keep her and her team safe.

“Go ahead, Alpha One.” A slightly staticky voice came through the small speaker.

“Be advised, my team and I are initiating breach protocol now.”

“Copy that, Alpha One. I show you initiating breach protocol, and we’re on our way to you. ETA ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes,” Natalia repeated. “Hard copy, Overwatch. See you on the flipside.” She released the mic and looked to the man directly to her left. “You ready to roll?”

Julian sent his typically sly grin her way. “I thought you’d never ask.” His southern accent was thick with excitement.

“You know, you could at least try to act a little intimidated by the fact that we’re about to walk straight into the lion’s den.”

“Eh.” He waved the comment away. “Lions are just really big cats.”

“Yeah, with giant claws and a lethal bite.” Natalia scoffed.

Not surprising, Keith remained silent as he stood. Together, they began the trek down the steep, uneven hill.

“Keep your eyes peeled, gentlemen,” she reminded her men as their boots kicked up small clouds of sand-colored dirt.

A quick glance in either direction confirmed the twelve-man tactical group assigned to their op was on the move as well.

The two teams forged quietly ahead, moving silently toward the enemy. As they did, Natalia reminded herself that Keith’s assessment of the situation was right.

Keith was right. We can’t leave without confirming whether the hostages have been moved.

Not that she’d ever admit to the guy’s face that his point had been valid. Plus, the sooner they cleared the building, the sooner Natalia would be back home, relaxing in a tub filled to the rim with hot, sudsy water.

Bonus points if the bubbled oasis included a spicy romance novel.

Focus, dammit!

Her expression remained unwavering despite her mind’s temporary detour. She had to stay sharp, her attention undivided.

At worst, she could cost someone their life. At best, a screw-up would add fuel to Keith’s flames of doubt where she was concerned. So Natalia cleared her mind of anything non-mission-related and prepared herself for battle.

A thin layer of sweat began beading across her partially covered forehead. A single drop became noticeable beneath her protective layers as it slowly crawled its way down the length of her spine.

This was it. The moment right before all hell broke loose. What she referred to as the calm before the storm.

Seeds of uncertainty still made their presence known deep inside her gut, and that doubt was a heavy weight to bear. But she ignored it. Convinced herself that Keith had been right to push. Because when it came down to it, the annoying agent was damn good at his job.

If Khan said this is the place…

Natalia lifted a fist high in the air and signaled for those around her to stop. Standing a safe distance from the compound’s crude wooden door, she motioned for Agent Miller to do his thing.

In addition to being a rockstar best friend, Julian was also the most brilliant explosives expert in the business. She’d been quite forthcoming with that particular fact months earlier, during her meeting with the director of the CIA.

The opportunity to take the lead on this op had come as a shock, but Natalia had accepted the offer right there, on the spot. She did, however, lay down one condition…

She got to have a say in her team.

Director Benson had countered this by letting her choose one fellow agent for what he’d deemed the “mission of a lifetime.” She’d been given twenty-four hours to decide.

It took less than ten seconds.

Julian Miller, Sir. He’s the agent I want.

Benson made the call to Julian before she’d ever left the man’s office. As for Keith, the other twelve operatives on the ground, and the two choppers that were incoming shortly, those decisions had been made by the man in charge.

Julian slid the black backpack from his broad shoulders and cautiously approached the door. As planned, Natalia, Keith, and a handful of other field agents watched the front while the rest spread out to ensure coverage of the structure’s entire perimeter.

She watched with bated breath as Julian assess the entryway for any signs of tampering or some sort of trap. From over his shoulder, he gave a dip of his smooth-shaven chin before crouching down to begin rummaging through his bag.

Natalia released a silent sigh of relief while Julian expertly placed low-velocity explosives in the areas of the door. When he was finished, he grabbed the bag from the ground and motioned for her and the others to step back.

“Fire in the hole!” Julian yelled, pressing a button on the small black box held securely in his fist.

The group looked away and covered their heads with their arms as the door was blown off its hinges. Hundreds of splinters burst out into the air. Sparks flew and a cloud of dust billowed.

Just as they’d planned, Keith was the first to enter, immediately followed by Julian and Natalia. Half of the task force remained outside to stand watch while the others filed in behind her.